Summer Loves

The last few weeks have been filled with summer love (and some summer exhaustion)...

But mainly love.

Really making an effort to be happy about where my
 life is at any given moment has been a real treat for me lately.

That isn't to say I don't wish some things were different.
Or that I wish I was anywhere but here sometimes.
'Cause I get that too.

But we've been blowing through my summer wish list
faster than I can add more things to it. The kids are happy
and sun-kissed. They're relaxed and thoroughly enjoying our
lax summer schedule. Oh, we have meltdowns. (Both them and me...)
Big ones. But we're learning to bounce back quicker than usual.
Something I've had to really work on.

Eric's been working crazy hours so we've had a few fun midnight swimming
sessions with the kids so they can spend some memorable time with him.
They especially love that. That pool is the best
investment we've ever made. They are in it nearly every single day.
Kate especially. She is a true little fish.

This little one just recently started loving the pool. She goes under water
for the first time and is quickly becoming a little fish herself.

They love playing Marco Polo.
Charlie always accuses Kate of cheating... I think he's right.

Brother always loses his shorts. He needs to get smaller trunks!

Our summer lovin'...

Beach day with Nicole and the girls

I love that she sticks out her tongue like me when she concentrates...

  Balboa Island boat ride... Knocked off  one thing off my summer wish list
while doing one I never even thought to put on there in the first place...
a boat ride. It was such a beautiful day... watching the sun set as my babies took
turns steering the boat with my best friend? It doesn't get much better than that.

I love my girl's french braids. I love that she loves them...

My 2 favorite little sisters... Their relationship is the reason I had kids
to begin with. They love fiercely but fight just as fiercely...

Balboa is a gorgeous beach town.

 

My nervous driver... he wears his worry on his face, this little guy.

We caught a seal trying to jump onto a man's boat... funny to see. Better him than us.

As the sun dipped into the ocean and I was sitting there watching my kids have
this experience, my heart filled with love. I am so lucky to lead the life that I do.
I am so grateful for all the amazing people that I have in my corner. My people.
I thank God every single day.

After our boat ride, we went for the famous balboa bars.
Charlie and Kate went for the frozen bananas and Ella?
Well, Ella always has to be unique. Sister opted for just sprinkles.
I love her.

Boys day. Universal Studios, Hollywood.
Charlie's been itching to go on the Transformer Ride for a while now,
so I promised him we'd go before the end of summer.

On that day, Jaclyne and I finally realized -- We're old!!!
Those rides seriously made me sick! I wanted to throw up half the day,
the other half I wanted to pass out from heat exhaustion. It was 115 degrees!
I am spoiled by Disneyland. There, all the rides have AC. At Universal, they're hot and stuffy.

Anyway, I digress...
The boys had the time of their lives. The same look my girls get on their
faces when they encounter a real-life Disney princess, the boys got when
they saw their beloved Optimus Prime. It was great to spend a day with
just them, talking about their favorite stuff and enjoying chili fries and Powerades.

They were so excited they actually skipped the entire way into the ride.

Angry Optimus faces...

Back to school shopping has been really fun. The tickle in my belly that fall is quickly
approaching has now turned into a full blown burning and I am loving it!!!


We've got a few more weeks of summer lovin' to do...