Pinecrest--A Camping Experience!

We got to go to Pinecrest this past weekend. We made the reservations months ago, thankfully. As we are not avid campers, we did not realize how booked places can get. It was hard to find a spot when we scheduled it back then. It was definitely all full. I liked ours though because it was more secluded than other campsites.

Miss Snootie Patootie

We left Oakdale on Friday and reached Pine Crest at about 1:00 or so. When we got there, Carly said she had to go poops. We have been doing a bit of potty training the past week and a half and she’s improved each day but still has many accidents. Anyhow we brought her little potty with us because she had been wanting to go in a potty and not in her diaper lately. So she did her thing on the potty and I noticed that her diaper was dry, so I thought I’d let her wear underwear. Next thing I know Bryan has discovered an explosion in Carly’s pants. She must have eaten something because she had just emptied herself not ten minutes prior to this explosion. Ironically I was laughing about it as I tried to clean her off. Bryan volunteered to her soiled clothes to the bathroom and wash them out. He opted to throw the Princess underwear away. Sorry Cinderell, but it just wasn’t worth it!
So that was our first experience with camping, but we weren’t discouraged yet. We just decided no underwear until we got back home! We headed for the beach. Carly would not let her feet touch the sand. She hates any kind of dirt or sand on her feet. She was sitting in a little camp chair on the shore, actually in the water, and I gave her a shovel to play with, but when she leaned over to put it in the water, she faceplanted into the sand. I was holding Parker so couldn’t get to her very well, but Bryan grabbed her. She had a bit of sand in her face and hair, but not too bad. She was not happy about it though especially when she almost did it again a little while later.

Parker loved putting his feet in the water. We brought a bumbo (special baby chair) for him and sat him in it in the water and he just splashed. He also tried to eat some of the sand, but just once. I guess it wasn’t too appealing.

Braxton didn’t get in to swim, but he played in the sand, building mini forts and what not. We brought Braxton’s bike, so he really enjoyed riding it around. He went on several little bike rides with Bryan. (Only went on one with me since I almost got us lost. He didn’t think that was very fun. I have a horrible sense of direction!)

That evening we after dinner we roasted marshmallows and had s’mores, which Braxton loved. After we put the kids to bed, Bryan and I sat up for a bit and snuggled by the fire. I love being in the cold but by a fire and under the stars—it’s just perfect. It was nice to relax and talk to each other.

It was soooo cold that night. I could not sleep. Carly kept waking up crying, so we finally put her in our bed. I think she was just freezing. Parker had two blankets on him, but I put a beach towel and my warmest sweatshirt on him because I was worried. And then since Carly was in bed with us, I grabbed her sleeping bag and climbed inside and put our other two quilts on top of me. I was wearing a hoodie, so I put the hood over my head and tied it tight around my face. Then I felt like I was in heaven. I was finally warm!!
We went to the beach the next day and stayed for a few hours before packing up and heading home. We were all pretty tired. I think one night is all we can do though we brought enough stuff for a week!!

Room for a Cookie

I wanted to share something funny that Braxton said a few days ago. Bryan had made him some lunch, and Braxton said he was done and ready for a cookie. When Bryan came to inspect, he still had part of his sandwich left. Braxton said he was all full and didn't want the rest, so Bryan said if he was full, he wouldn't have room for a cookie either. Braxton pointed to his stomach and motioning to one area said, "yes, huh, this area right here is all full," and then making his hands into a circle and placing them on the side of his stomach he said, "But there's room right here for a cookie!" Bryan and I started laughing. We thought he was very clever.

Go Bananas!

Rather blurry picture, but you get the idea. They had a blast!

Bryan took a few day's off this week, so on Wednesday, we went to this great place called Go Bananas. It was such a fabulous place for the kids. I couldn't believe how much Carly loved it. She was running everywhere from one bouncy thing to the next. They had a special area for 4 and under which she liked, but then she wanted to be with Braxton and Bryan, so she went over with the big kids. There was a school field trip there for the first hour and a half, so it was a little crowded, but not bad. After they left, it was awesome. I didn't have to worry so much about Carly being plowed over by anyone. Bryan and I sure worked up a sweat trying to keep up with the kids since they always wanted us to come along. The slides were pretty fun though. We can't wait to go back. Carly keeps asking when we can go slide again.

FHE and Hot Potato!

Good Buds!

These guys are in the mush pit!

Carly sure loves her cousin London and her Uncle J. (and baked beans as evidenced on her face!)

We had a combined Family Home Evening with Bryan's parents and the Kerrs yesterday. We came early to have some swimtime, and then eat dinner. Afterwards we played games like Hot Potato and Fruit Basket (aka Do You Love Your Neighbor?). The kids had a blast. And Grammy read a story about Christ healing the leper. Then Poppy went to the store and brought back ice cream for dessert. The evening was a hit!

First Official Week of Summer

Hooray for Summer!

I think Braxton's first official week of summer was a success. We didn't do a lot, but for Braxton it was enough to not be in school. It was kind of funny because last Saturday (the day after his last day of school), he went to a birthday party for a girl from his class. His teacher was invited as well, so when we got there, I said, "Braxton, Ms. Schreiber is here." His eyes got huge as they darted back and forth. I don't think he expected to see her for a long while.

About our week:
Monday night we got to get together with a few good friends. Bryan had four roommates that he was really good buddies with when I met him in college (two of them brothers). They've stayed in contact over the years, and the brothers (John and Stu) actually live here in California whom I've talked about before. Anyway Dan McComber was another roommate and he and his wife and kids were coming through the area to go to an extended family reunion. So we got together at Stu's house to eat pizza and catch up with everybody. It was like old times!!

Thursday I took the kids swimming at Grammy's pool. We invited some friends to come along too. Jenn came with her gang as well as the Powells and the Palmers. It made for quite a few kids splashing around in the pool. Braxton can never get enough swim time. I just can't believe he used to not even want to get in the pool. (Carly's at that point.) We stayed until 6:30 p.m.

Saturday Bryan went to a conference in the bay area for Monavie. He was gone most of the day, but in the morning he got Braxton up and they rode their bikes to the local bakery to get donuts and then went to get their hair cut. Braxton just loves going on bike rides with Bryan.

Later that evening the kids and I got to go to a party for our friend Don Valk. He was turning the big 5-0. He's worked with Bryan in Elder's Quorum and I worked with his wife, Carla, in Young Womens. They are good people, so much fun. Anyhow it was a big bash, a luau actually, with a machine pumping out virgin strawberry daiquiris and pina coladas, lots of good food, and a live band made up of members from our ward. They were fabulous. I couldn't believe how good they were. I didn't even know they could sing let alone play instruments. It was great fun. They have a pool as well, so Braxton made a beeline for it as soon as we arrived, and only got out to go to the bathroom or grab a bite to eat. Other guests couldn't believe how long he was in there and how many times he jumped off the side of the pool. I had to drag him out dripping wet to go home after I'd already loaded the other kids and asked him twice to get out!

Bryan got home around 11:00pm and said the conference was great and he learned a lot. He also had fun hanging out with our brother-in-law, Jason, and Bry's good buddy from high school, Alex Roche.

Splish Splash I was Takin' a Bath!

I stuck all three kids in the tub this morning before church, mostly because I wanted a cute picture of all of them in the tub. I think we need a bigger tub! They were kind of squished in there. Parker just loves splashing around in the tub. And the kids loved playing with him.

CRACKER SNACKER

Carly says the phrase, "I'm hungry" a million times a day. Half the time I think she's just bored and wants something to do.

Bryan and Kinda

I had to take a picture of us at our Father's Day celebration because as Jenn always says, "We should take a picture to document that we were actually at the event." Usually our pictures are of the kids, you know?

Ode to Soda and Chips

My kids don't get much soda or chips to snack on at home, but I tend to let go when we're at family gatherings (like on Father's Day). So Braxton and Carly probably ate their body weight in chips and guzzled soda like it was goin' out of style!

A Little Hammock Time

Kim got Mark a hammock for Father's Day. Great fun for the kids! Funny story-one of the pictures is of Brayden and Braxton with their hands in their armpits. They've learned the lovely art of tooting with their armpits. Well London wanted to sing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, so she began singing and Brayden and Braxton decided to accompany her with their musical sounds. It was actually rather amusing. However, London was not happy about it! She was trying to sing a cute little song and they ruined it for her!

Lovin' the Water

I have never had a baby that has liked the pool. Braxton

and Carly would scream if I even tried to dip their feet in.

I decided to buy a floaty for Parker to see if he liked it, and

he loved it. He doesn't even care if he's splashed by the other

kids. It's rather fun to have a baby who enjoys it. He's so

cute! On Father's Day, all the kids were swimming so I put him

in too, and he had a great time.

Happy Father's Day

The morning of Father's Day, I let Bryan sleep in while I
took care of the kids. (On the weekend, he usually lets me
sleep in while he takes care of the kids.) When he got up,
he opened his presents and ate the breakfast I made for
him of scrambled eggs with shredded cheese, bacon and
toast. Then we got to hang out for a while before heading
to Modesto to go to Stake Conference. Afterwards we went
over to Bryan's parent's house to barbecue.

Last Day of School

Braxton had his last day of school finally!! He was in school
three weeks after all his friends and cousins were done for the
summer. Every night as we called him in from playing outside,
he always questioned why everyone else got to stay up when
he had to go to bed. I didn't tell him they were done with school;
I just told him he had to get more rest to get up for school.
On the last day of school, there was a carnival. Braxton liked the
Mad Scientist booth they had set up and hoopin it up with the
basketball. Afterwards we headed to the Black's house (who
live in Oakdale and we've carpooled with the entire year) to
have a celebritory swim party. Braxton had a great time.