Our anniversary getaway

To celebrate our 10 year anniversary (it's not until the 24th, but we have to do it before Joel goes back to work), we first did a session in the San Diego temple together. Then we went to where we had our honeymoon--Coronado Island. This time we wanted to stay in Hotel Del Coronado. It was so beautiful! Our room was so perfect, and we enjoyed room service, eating at their restaurant, relaxing in the pool, and just being away from the kids for a while! We also got to go to their amazing spa where I got my first facial and Joel got a massage! And we rented a "surrey" bike to ride around the island. A big thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Shaw for watching our kids! It was also extra special because we went on Joel's 35th birthday, too! A great getaway before work and school starts! I wish we could go every year.

Balboa Beach

Last Monday we took the kids to Balboa Beach. Blake had lots of fun in the water with Joel--he was going all the way in and jumping the waves. Julianna and I hung out under our umbrella and found shells--she didn't want to go anywhere near the water. Then Joel and Blake went on the ferris wheel together, and that ride lasted at least 20 minutes! I think the ride operator forgot to let them off. It was a fun day!

Utah Trip!

We had such a fun trip to Utah this summer! I didn't take that many pictures because we were having so much fun. Here are a few:

We had a fun cousins party (my cousins) at my sister Callie's house in Salt Lake since so many live in Utah now. Only a couple were able to come, but it was still fun! These are the kids with my sister Callie's kids, Will and Lily. They all LOVED playing together.

Something I need to record about Blake eating watermelon: he called the watermelon juice "watermelon blood."

My brother, Cliff, who lives in Arizona right now with his wife, Tess, surprised me by coming for the weekend! My sister Callie went to pick him up from the airport right before the party started. I'm so glad he was able to come! My cousin Megan is in the middle.

My niece August.

Will and Lily hugging. How cute.

My sisters, Karina, Callie, and Cindel, and cousin Megan. So fun to all be together!

Best buddies!

New best buddies who love to color together!

At the end of the night, we camped in Callie's backyard. The kids loved it! They watched a movie in the tent.

Cliff challenged Blake to a game of chess.

My nephew Bradley playing with Blake. I wish I got a picture of Olive and Milo, Cindel's kids!

We decided to visit Mr. Fredrickson before we left Utah. We didn't see Russell, but we think we saw Kevin the bird. (This is a real house not too far from my parent's house built just like the house from "Up." Someone lives in it now, and it's furnished just like the "Up" house, too.)

Other fun things...the first day, the kids got to jump on the neighbor's trampoline and eat popsicles (my dad even joined in the fun); the sisters/inlaws went swimming at the local rec center without kids!; we saw "Brave;" went to my parent's ward; we took the kids to the rec center and Blake went down the big waterslide twice before someone asked his age and said he was too young; and on the last day we were planning to go to Salt Lake and see the new City Creek shopping center on Temple Square, but we woke up to an almost shattered passenger window on our van, so we had to spend most of the day getting that fixed. All in all, it was a very fun trip and so fun to be all together again! The kids keep saying they want to live there. We'll see what the future holds!

4th of July

Joel running in the Orange Stake's 5K.

At the playground before we ate breakfast with Joel's grandma's ward.

Rainforest Cafe at South Coast plaza. It's so dark in there!

Blake liked exploring the restaurant--Julianna did NOT. Let's just say it was a total sensory overload for her and she couldn't wait to leave. Conveniently, the Sanrio (Hello Kitty) store was right next door and that made everything all better. It was her first time in a Sanrio store and she went CRAZY! Wish I had a picture of her face.

Best picture I could get of them on the merry-go-round before my battery died!

We had a fun 4th. After the mall, we came back home to watch the fireworks. Fun family day!

T-ball over!

Blake had a great t-ball season. He loves his new trophy. At the end of the season, he said he still likes soccer better. We'll see what happens next year! I'm just glad to be done with sports and swim lessons for now!

Swim lessons--Blake

This kid loves to swim now! He has completed level 1 and 2. Level 1 teaches water safety, floating on back, doggy paddling, getting face/body wet. He moved on to level 2 which was much more diffcult--they learned different swimming strokes: backstroke, freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke. At first I thought they were crazy teaching 5-8 yr olds these things, but after taking the kids swimming at the pool without a lesson and seeing Blake naturally do the strokes in the water to get around without floaties I was amazed. He is abut 90% swimming--still needs help sometimes getting up to take a breath, but we are proud of all his hard work!

Swim Lessons--Julianna

This girl has been doing swim lessons for a long time now. We used funding from the homeschool charter to pay for private lessons in April and May, and then in June we enrolled her in a group class. I think she has made some progress for sure, but still uncomfortable in the water. I am proud of her for doing what her teachers asked her to do. She went underwater by accident a few times, and it scared her but once she calmed down she asked what her prize was (we told her if she went underwater she'd get a prize). We hope swimming on her own is in her future, but it will take time!