Recent Favorite Pictures from Lightroom

Sal Turns 30! (finally)

Yep.  The youngin is finally crossed over to the dark side.  We celebrated as a family at Sushi and cupcakes at home.

Sal and I also celebrated (sans kids) at Garrod Farms with an hour long horse back ride.  His first time ever!!  He had the BIGGEST horse on the ranch named Nicola.  I had Burk the most ADD, lazy horse ever.  He even faked a trip when we were 'galloping'.  He was very sweet though :)

 Then we had lunch in Los Gatos at Palacio.  It is a new restaurant.  We had the place to ourselves and the food was FANTASTIC. 

It was a mellow and easy going way to ring in the big 3-0.  Hopefully it was what he wanted.

C.O.W.

Proud Mommy moment:

Teetertotter Summer Camp

I signed Austin up for summer camp this year.  The Campbell Camp that Nathan and Cheyanne do also has a camp for 3-4 year olds.  Its held at Austin's (future) Tiny Tot school.  Since he JUST turned 3 he is still a bit young and one of the youngest there, but it was necessary.

1. He needs to be around kids his own age.
2. He needs to get used to being in a structured environment.
3. He needs to get used to being left for a chunk of time each day. 

This is the week Cheyanne and I have time alone together.  Nathan was at basketball camp this week.  So she was with me for drop off.  Day one was hard.  Hard for everyone.  Not only was is really busy because it was Monday, but the other camps were rained out so there were big and even bigger kids in the little kids space.  That must have been very intimidating.  Austin was on the verge of tears but trying soooooo hard to be a big boy.  He just didn't want to look at me or Cheyanne.  If he did, he might have started crying.  Thank goodness his friend Joe was there to make him feel more at home. 



This was the best pic I could get of him on Day 1.

As soon as we left him Cheyanne and I both burst into tears.  Austin is the baby of the family and we all still think of him as just that. 

We recovered and couldn't wait to pick him up.  Once we did. He had a great time (of course)! He couldn't wait to tell us he used the potty TWO times!

Day 2 was a little easier for all three of us but I still choked up driving out of the parking lot. 

Day 3 & 4 were just fine.  Austin said goodbye and ran in.  He did get a note sent home on Day 3....



"Austin brings  a lot of energy & enthusiasm to camp.  Unfortunately, Austin ran into a camper today, bonked his head, and his lip began to bleed.  Woodstock cleaned up the blood and gave him an Otter Pop.  Other than that, Austin had a great day and we are excited to have him for the rest of the week."

Day 3 pick up!  Fat lip but feeling good!

Day 4 drop off.  Eager to get in those sprinklers!

Joe & Austin!



Summer Camp Begins!!

Here we go again!  The second week of summer was fun-filled and BUSY!  Just the way we like it around here.  Nathan and Cheyanne both had Campbell Camps during the day and swimming lessons in the evening.  Nathan has moved up to Seaturtles and Cheyanne is now a Grasshopper.  Today Sal was able to watch their first "Friday Sing-A-Long".  He absolutely understood when we left why the kids love it so much there.  The staff, the games, the songs.  I don't have enough good things to say about it. 

This camp is amazing on all levels and my kids are head over heels for it.  They are already deciding on what their "Leader" names for when they grow up and become camp leaders will be.  Austin will be "Moose".  Nathan will be "Thunder".  Daddy will be "Hot Link".  Mommy will be "Banana".  Cheyanne is still undecided.   




Grasshopper Sing-A-Long



Seaturtle Sing-A-Long

 

Oh yea. I got this wonderful note on Thursday from Nathan's camp leader.  Definitely one of my proud Mommy moments.

 

 

Camping at Memorial Park!

Finally!! We finally went camping!! We have been talking about it practically since Nathan was born and finally we took the kids camping.  We were waiting until they were old enough not to ruin the trip (sorry, I love babies but babies + wilderness camping = total suckage).

My friend Laura invited us to Memorial park along with 2 other families.  We all have kids ages ranging 18 mo - 9.  It was great.  All kids were entertained although had a few hiccups - bossy pants, cry babies and know-it-alls.  The usual.

After a possibly flu/food poisoning/car sick episode we made it safe and sound.  We had such a great time we booked another trip (alone) in August!



This is actually time #2 (false alarm)



Joe & Austin
 

Eion putting on a campfire skit




Joe, Austin, Annika

The Dad




  

The kids' bed!

Skipping Rocks

 



Hiking
 

Breakfast

 



Amphitheater skits for the parents



(from right to left) Cheyanne, Annika, Austin, Bryce, Nathan Finn, Ian and Eion.
We are missing, Joe, Quinn and Lily.



Peace



Nathan & "Nicholas"

Summer Camp

This year Cheyanne is in the Bull Frogs and Nathan is in the Grasshoppers. 

Early Playtime before Camp starts

Friday Sing-A-Long

Sing-A-Long

Watching the other Campers

Nathan also is doing 2 weeks of Skateboarding Camp at the Community Center.

The New Board

Summer Camp

The Campbell Community Center offers a weekly Summer Camp for ages 3-15 at one of the local parks here in Campbell.  Its run by Nathan and Cheyanne's former Tiny Tot teacher, Miss Tiffany.  Its a little pricey, but I felt Nathan especially needed something extra this summer besides Mom, little sister and baby brother.

I put them in for 2 weeks to kind of break up the summer.  Had I known how AWESOME the program was and how in love my kids would be I'd have enrolled them for more weeks.  They are now all full and I completely understand why. 

Cheyanne's Camper Cubs is from 10-1.  This week is "Candy Land" week.  They have old school activities planned like tye-dye, camp sing-a-longs, arts and crafts etc. all with a Candy Land theme.  Every week they have one big activity on Wednesdays.  The last week they were in was a huge bouncy house and this week is a "Happy Bird Show".  A zookeeper comes out with a ton of different birds and does a small show for the kids. 

Nathan's Bull Frogs is from 10-3.  This week is "Gross Week".  Perfect!  They are having Monster theme activities as well as special treats like "dirt and worms" and "muddy buddies".  He's loving it. 

While the big kids are at camp Austin and I are having some much needed one-on-one time.  We've been playing endeless games of "I'm gonna get you" and going to Gymboree.  Its been a treat.  He's such a sweet and happy kid I just can't get enough of him.