Having fun with cousins

Over the fourth of July weekend we got to spend a lot time with the cousins. They came to visit us and they got to spend the night. One thing that we did was go to the park.

Alyssa and Natasha LOVE to play animals together. They take some sort of animal with them EVERYWHERE. They play really cute together.

Animals like to swing too!

Andrew and Kaeli climbing at the park.

We also got to swim while they were here. Here is Natasha and Jason doing tricks in the pool. I just happened to catch it.

They all liked to do silly things before jumping off the spa. Here they were doing a whole routine before jumping.

Go Preston go!

I love the expression on Natasha's face. It's priceless.

Adam, Ian, and Preston playing outside.

We can never get enough of spending time with Nathan, Renay, Kaeli, Alyssa, and Ian. We had a great fourth of July weekend!

4th of July fireworks

It was the day the kids had been waiting for. . . . . . . . . they day to light of fireworks. Preston asks about the "big fireworks" (the local fireworks display) all year long. Andrew lives to light the fireworks in our court. The cousins were visiting so that made it extra fun. We just couldn't wait until dark so we started out with the smoke bombs.

As you can tell from the picture Adam just loved the smoke bombs. For some reason the kids liked to walk in the smoke.

Cousin Alyssa, Natasha, and Preston enjoying the fireworks.

All lined up ready for the show.

Our loot. The kids would each take turns picking one out to light.

Adam didn't really like doing the sparklers, I think they scared him. I got this really cute picture though. After this one he wouldn't do anymore.

This picture turned out really cool. It is Natasha, Andrew, and Preston with two sparklers each.

The next night was our home town fireworks display. Everyone really liked it. Preston liked the ones that looked like "glitter".

After a long three days of fun with the cousins Natasha ended up falling asleep during the show. I don't really know how someone could fall asleep during a fireworks display but that just tells you how exhausted she was. She woke up after this picture and then she saw the last half of the fireworks. She was a little mad at herself for missing the first half. She said "I just couldn't keep my eyelids open even though I was really trying. Man that makes me mad!"

Happy Birthday cousin Alyssa!

Our fourth of July weekend started out with a birthday party for my niece Alyssa. She was celebrating her 7th birthday and she had her party at a local pool. When we lived in this area I used to get a summer pass to this pool so it was fun to go back (it had been at least two years).

Alyssa, her friend, and Natasha

The unique thing about this pool is that it has sand for the kids to play in and it gradually turns into a regular pool bottom. It also is pretty shallow far out which makes it nice for the little ones. Adam liked to play in the sand .
Andrew and Preston spent most of the day building different creations in the sand. In this picture Kaeli and Adam are helping.
We went back to their house for cake and presents. Notice the stuffed animals that always had to be present. Natasha gave Alyssa a little bird like hers that's green but Alyssa's looks like Polly so now they each have one.
Later the kids were still hot so they jumped on the trampoline with sprinkler under it.

Happy Birthday Alyssa!

Preston's swimming lessons

Preston has been in swimming lessons for the last two weeks and he has been improving a lot. Here is his class (I think Natasha took this picture).

He has learned how to float on his back.

He had to swim the length of the pool using a noodle and he did great.

They started off by jumping off the side with a noodle.

Waiting in line to jump off the blocks.

They graduated from jumping off the side to jumping off the blocks. I only had once chance for this picture and it turned out burry. Bummer.

Then they graduated to jumping off the blocks with no noodle. Piece of cake for Preston. He has been jumping off our spa for a few weeks now. He has turned into a really great swimmer. His only obstacle is breathing. He thinks you have to have your head in the water to swim. Therefore he can only swim as far as he can hold his breath. Lucky for him that's a long time. Hopefully he will figure this out by the end of the summer. I think he will be ready to be a Galt Gator by next summer!

The Garden

Here is some of the first produce that we've been able to pick from our garden. All the kids like the garden but especially Preston. Every day he likes to go and check out how things are progressing. We are excited too because some of our tomatoes are starting to finally turn red. Andrew can't wait to have BLT's with our tomatoes.

Meeting Porter

Last weekend we went to visit the kid's newest cousin Porter. He was born May 12th and he is so cute. I couldn't convince anyone to hold him though so that's why I'm in the picture.

Porter and his mommy Kirsten.

So fun to hold a newborn!

There was a nice park near Kirsten's house and we went to feed the ducks.

In San Luis Obsipo there is a place to eat called Firestone Grill and it's one of my favorite places to eat. They have the BEST tri-tip sandwiches ever!! While we were waiting for our food I took this picture. I just happened to catch Adam in a natural smile. I have very pictures of it. He usually gives me his "cheese" grin. I LOVE this picture!

We also got to go to Avila Beach again. The kids had so much fun last time they were begging to go back. Luckily we had good weather again.

Adam and Daddy hanging out on the beach.

Andrew and Preston playing in the sand. Can you see Natasha way in the background?

Jason built them a huge hole in the sand and that kept them busy for a VERY long time. We made a mental note - next time build hole first thing!

We had a great time visiting Porter and family. We can't wait until we can see them again!

Old Friends

We recently got to spend a day with some dear friends that we haven't seen in about six years. We were friends with them back from our old BYU days. We spent most of the afternoon swimming in our pool. It was such a blast to re-connect after all these years. It was almost like no time had past. I so wish we lived closer!!!

Dave, Laurel, Me and Jason

Adam, Adam, Natasha, Emma, Ethan, Andrew, Preston

Andrew and Ethan got along great! They are both 8 years old and picked up with each other like they had been friends for a long time.

Emma and Natasha also got along awesome. They are both girls who live in a world surrounded by boys. They had so much fun playing animals in Natasha's room and they played water animals in the pool. Emma is 6 and Natasha is 7 (both of their birthdays are in May). Emma kept calling Natasha "My-Tasha", it was so cute. They did not want to separate when it was time to go.

After swimming and playing for a long time they wanted to watch a CareBear movie. I put it on and then all their animals didn't want to be left alone so they had to come watch too!

Preston didn't have a playmate that matched up to his age but that didn't bother him at all. He is a pretty social guy and gets along with most kids. He had a lot of fun too.

Here are the Adam's. They are only about a month apart and they are both named Adam. It was soooo funny to watch them because they kept getting confused as to who was talking to them and what they were supposed to do. I tried to call my Adam AJ to help things but sometimes I forgot. If one of them got it wrong we would tell them not you, the other Adam.

Watching "The Apple"

All the kids love to listen to music and we often turn the music on our computer. When you turn them on through iTunes you can press a button to make cool designs come up on the monitor. The designs pulsate to the beat of the music. When it first comes up a picture of an apple comes up, representing the Apple brand computer. When Andrew was very little whenever he wanted to listen to the music and watch the monitor he would say "I want to watch the apple!" That saying stuck and now days when I think of it and want a few minutes to myself I suggest that we "watch the apple." They all love it.

I couldn't resist taking this picture of them all calmly sitting next to each other watching the apple. It is so fitting too that everyone except Adam has on a swimming suit. I don't know why I even buy summer clothes for them because they just live in bathing suits. It's also fitting that everyone's hair is a mess because that's usually how it is too! I also like how it shows the dynamics of their relationships. Natasha is sharing a chair with Adam and Andrew is sharing with Preston. Those are usually the match ups that work the best.