Roomie Reunion

Hooray for Getaways with dear friends! I have these wonderful friends from college with whom I shared an apartment (and many other things) for 2+ years. Since graduating, we've tried to get together every 3-4 years for a getaway. The last few trips we have missed a few of our "preciouses," but we hold out hope for next time (Stacey ... Lori ... April ... hint hint).

With the help of family, I left my three big kids in Concord for the weekend and drove to San Luis Obispo for some girl time. Blake came along, but he's such an easy tag-a-long that it really was just as relaxing to have him there with me.

We stayed in a gorgeous historic home just a block from downtown SLO. It was honestly a perfect place to stay and we are so thankful to Shannon's parents-in-law for trusting us to be in their home while they were away.


The inside of the home was beautifully detailed and a perfect blend of old and new. Even the new nodded to the old. The doors were my favorite (can't really see well in the picture, but you can see the detailing above the door).


We spent a lot of time talking, laughing, taking it easy, but made sure to get out and about somewhat:

Dinner at Novo and a Concert on the Plaza

Hiking Montana de Oro (hiked up to a vista point where we saw ... fog ... but it was still beautiful and bonding and great exercise)

Here we are at the top of our hike. We look a little pasty, but otherwise not that much different than when we were in college, right? Right? RIGHT?


Then to "U Relax" in neon lights for an amazing chinese footbath and massage. Oo la la we didn't want to leave. We almost felt like Lori was there with us :) This pictures is not us ... I lifted it from the U Relax website. We were too busy relaxing to be taking photos.


We went to a show at The Great American Melodrama in Oceano. Jeff and I have been there a few times in the past and LOVED it. Unfortunately, after all of my selling of what a fun place it is, the show was actually ... lame. Bummer. But really, believe me, it's worth a second chance!

We walked the beach and shopped the shops at Morro Bay.



Sunday afternoon we visited with Melinda's family and laughed and smiled and remembered. We got to know her brothers at BYU so it was a double reunion to get to see them again.

And then we had to return to our real lives. To be honest, coming home was kind of hard after enjoying such freedom and fun for a few days. Four kids and a husband and many responsibilities makes for a lot of ... obligations.

So to my dear college friends, I love you! Do we really have to wait another 3 years?

Ben's 8th Birthday

... at Bucks Lake!

We took a morning walk to Haskins store and Ben immediately went to the freezer to get an ice cream sandwich, his favorite treat from last year at Bucks Lake. Even in the am, who can resist a such a cute birthday request? Then he even shared bites with Eliza, Brooke and Ethan. Cute boy :)


The girls worked hard to decorate the cabin with streamers. So festive (and it kept them busy)!


Ben opened presents. I put in this photo because this face is his "I don't like the sound of tearing paper" face. It took years for him to even be willing to tear wrapping paper himself. I guess he finally decided that finding out what's under the wrapping paper is compelling enough to put up with the sound.


Hooray for Lego Games! If you haven't played any of them yet, you just must. We love how they require rule flexibility. You play the game and then you change the game. How perfect for our boys!


And, of course, a round, chocolate birthday cake with the number 8. Happy Birthday, dear Ben(jamin)!


The age of 8 is a special milestone for children in our church. That's the "age of accountability" when a child can be baptized. Ben has all sorts of irrational reasons to explain why he "can't" be baptized, like, "I can't wear clothes in the water" and "I'll die if I am baptized." So we'll just wait. Meanwhile, he can still learn the gospel and grow in faith and then hopefully one day he'll flip the switch on his mental block and choose to be baptized.

Bucks Lake

We spent 3 nights at Bucks Lake on the July 4th weekend. Granny and Papa and cousin Brooke were there also. We managed to do many of the standard Bucks Lake activities:

Morning Walks to the Lodge
or what used to be the lodge (it burned down in mid-winter)

Boating and Swimming
We didn't have the motorboat, but Jeff did row the kids around
and then have them swim to shore.

Naps

Bucks Lake bath for baby Blake

A Hike to Rocky Point
Ethan even woke at 5:45am on the morning of departure
to do this hike a second time with Dad

Family Picture on the day of departure
Can you tell they were coerced?

Camping

Jeff, the best of dads, took the three big kids camping twice this summer while I enjoyed the weekend(s) home with baby Blake.

The first campout was with the Sorensen-side cousins at Lake Chabot.


It was a quick overnighter, but that was enough to fill the bill of an annual tradition. Unfortunately, no pictures to share of this one. After a night in the tent, everyone took a hike then drove to the Shadowcliffs waterslides. Eliza, who was too short last year, was looking forward to "coming of age" for the waterslides this summer. Unfortunately, though she was very brave, the slides were a little too speedy for her little body. But Ben and Ethan LOVED the waterslides. So the next camping trip followed the same pattern:

First, overnight in a tent with cousins (this time the Smith-side):


Ethan and Bryant spent the night in the little tent while everyone else stayed in the big tent. Even after a day of playing in the Stanislaus River the kids still stayed up late talk talk talking.


Here's Aunt Julie and Papa, enjoying their view of the action :)


Then the waterslides:


So that's all the camping for this summer, just two quick overnighters. The kids, of course, loved every minute and Jeff was a trooper to do so much work to make it all happen. And me? I was glad to have some time with just Blake. Did I miss camping? Hmmmm ... I do think so. I do think I'd like to join in the fun next summer. But only if Jeff comes and does most of the work :)