August

Our Month of August...

The first week of August we went with my Mom and Tom to Newport for the week! They rented a house on 38th street. It was fun being 3 blocks away from Craig's parents! 

We had perfect weather!

I loved that we could get up every day walk out onto the beach and not have to think of something to do to keep the boys busy!

We had lots of family visit... James with cousins Jade and Ian

They had lots of fun boogie boarding. Both James and Jake were getting braver and braver. 

 One day we took the duffy out and cruised the harbor, went and got ice-cream at the Balboa fun zone.

 Mommy trying to keep Jake warm.

 We had lots of friends visit us...

James and Jake with friends Makenzie and James

Jake and Daddy playing bocce ball

 James and Daddy playing

James playing smashball

Nonni and Jake making sand castles

 James was really big on digging holes. Every day he wanted a hole dug! Craig dug this one and James and Nonni built a village around it!

 Brianna was there with us but she and her friends stayed away from the sand throwing kids.

 Every night Jake was pooped. Actually we all were! 

 We had so much fun, the house we stayed in was perfect, we hope to go back there one day!

The next week James went to Us In The Son day camp at St. Martins. This was his first year attending. I went to camp there every year and I knew he would love it. He was in Liz Blue's group! This was a "big" camp, they actually go to the beach one day on busses. So this was the first year I felt comfortable letting him go, even though you can start at 3! He could not wait for beach day!

On Friday at mass James brought up the candle for his group. So sweet!

I was SO happy he loved camp and after mass when the week was over he asked me when they have camp again and when can he go back! He was disappointed when I said not till next summer! :( 

The blue group singing a song at mass. 

While James was off at camp Jake had a play date with his friend Alex from school and Alex's sister. They had a great time at Pump it Up!

 The boys both started "real" soccer this year. They are playing JUSA, the local league here. They both were excited. Jake a little more excited than James. James' team is the Minions and Jake's is the Blue Ninjas. They have soccer practice on opposite days. James Monday/Wednesday and Jake Tuesday/Thursday so our week is filled with soccer! It has been four years since we have been in the soccer world so I am excited to get back into it! They are both doing well and having fun. It has been so hot lately and getting them to practice the last week or so has been a challenge, but once they are there they have fun.

 We made pizza's one night. Craig is the expert pizza maker and the kids always want to help!

 Our Disneyland passes are back in effect! We were so excited! We hadn't been in a couple months!

We went early in the morning and Craig and James only had to wait an hour for the Radiator Racers ride! 

For the first time I remembered that we can do the parent switch! So I went back on the ride with James and we only waited about 20 minutes! Yay! 

 While James was on the Racers Jake went on Monster's Inc twice and got to meet Mike! He was so excited!

 We had such a good summer, I can't believe it is over!! I am ready to get back to school though and had some order and schedules back in our life!

July

Our month of July...

The boys spent a lot of time swimming with Nonni this year. 

They played lots of games in the pool like Queen of the castle.

Nonni was the Queen and they had to get in her castle, which was the step.

Jake went to the movies for the first "real" time. We took him when he was one but he didn't really sit through the whole thing. This time we saw Monsters University.

We had the whole crew with us so Jake would feel comfortable. Andi, Brianna, Chase, and Alex.

James stayed home with Nonni because he is still scared of the theater. Jake was a bit nervous and really wanted James to come but I bribed him with junk food. He loves his junk food. We had popcorn, skittles, licorice, and a slurpee! The next weekend Craig took him to see Despicable Me 2 so I think he is over his fear of the movies. Yay!

 Fourth of July we spent at home. We had a nice day playing outside. 

 Enjoyed popsicles

 Then we went to the park for the firework show.

Jake was a little scared...

 The boys are loving the beach and really having fun riding their boogie boards!

They both went to VBS camp at Jake's school for the week. It was nice to have them back on a little schedule. They both enjoyed it, although James wasn't too thrilled the first day. He thought it was kinda boring. 

 We have been spending many nights outside riding skateboards and Craig just bought this ramp for them to play with.

Jake got his first skateboarding ouchie. :( 

We went out to Palm Desert for 5 days with 8 of Brianna's friends. They wanted to spend some time together before most of them go off to college. 

 We had a great time as usual!

Craig and James tried fishing

But had no luck

 Somebody had too much sun and fun!

 Craig and I celebrated our 8 year anniversary having dinner at the Summit House. Loved this card they gave us...

 Spent some more time at the beach...

 James is very into digging holes at the beach now. He told me after he was done digging that he needed to relax and work on his tan! LOL. 

 Jake loving the sand!

I can't believe our summer is more than half way over!! We are having fun and it needs to slow down!