Beating the Heat

Things started warming up this weekend...it was downright hot by San Diegan standards. So we decided to beat the heat while being productive by washing the car, which then turned into a fun time of slip-n-slide!!

Hannah is an expert at slipping and sliding, and Kate enjoys watching everything.

Jeff was clearly eager to jump in the mix as well.
But the fun didn't stop there...we went to the backyard and got the water slide going and filled the kiddie pool.

Thank goodness for cold hose water on hot days!

Coronado!

This year we took a week long vacation in San Diego. Oh wait, that's where we live. But, when the rest of the country is experiencing a heat wave or a hurricane watch, it's hard to leave the 70-80 degree weather with sunshine in San Diego. So, we pack the Swagger Wagon with as much as we possibly could and drove 20 minutes to beautiful, sunny Coronado where we stayed in a lovely house with the rest of Jeff's side of the family. We were 1 mile from the beach, and enjoyed great weather, company of family, delicious food and a few naps. I only mention naps because naps are important for a good vacation. And it was good. Just look at these pictures!!

We were at the beach a lot and enjoyed digging, splashing in the waves, soaking up the sun and playing in the sand.

Uncle Roger burying Hannah in the sand.

Cousins eating sand together...I mean playing together!

Some park time too!

And the brothers all enjoyed wiffle ball. Jeff won the title of MVP for yet another year! He's unstoppable!

We celebrated Kate's actual birthday, as well as an honorary cake for all the other birthdays and a night out to celebrate Roger's 60th birthday early!

 

And hugs, hugs, hugs!

Girlie Playtime

We just returned from a week long vacation in Coronado (more posting on that later) and have really enjoyed just being home. Sigh.

We spent the morning today reading books, tickling each other and taking care of Natalie (Kate's favorite doll) who had "a fever, a very bad cough that kept me (Kate) up all night, and wax in her ears that needed water to clean it out." The water was just Kate's way to get to play with water. I walked away and returned to find Rachel Lee's activity table pushed up against the couch and when I asked if Rachel Lee moved it Hannah said, "No I did it so she could be apart of everything." Too cute. I love when my girls think of each other and take care of each other. It's a blessing to see.

 

Sisters do love sisters.

Three Year Old Tater Tot!

My Catherine Grace turned three on August 17. We had a great party for her with friends and some family the weekend before her birthday which included chicken nuggets, a water slide, a pinata, and cake pops, all tied together with a Strawberry Short-Kate theme. She smiled all afternoon and enjoyed being the center of attention.

In attendance we had 23 adults and 16 kids...Jeff and I were totally surprised that the adults actually outnumbered the kids, which is rare at this stage of life for us. Not all the kids would join in the group shot, but here is the best effort to get a picture of most of the kiddos together:

 We love our short-Kate!

Thw waterslide was so fun...we just took our hose, put it at the top of the slide and viola - a water slide fit for a slip sliding short-Kate time!

The chicken nuggets were a special request from Kate who is ALWAYS in the mood for chicken nuggets whether it is breakfast, lunch, snack or dinner. She is a nugget lover these days.

The pinata was also a hit...pun TOTALLY intended!

The kids enjoying the candy loot!

Poor baby was fed green beans and  carrots while everyone ran around eating...

Cake pops! Hannah, Kate and I spent the day before the party making strawberry shaped cake balls and dipping them in melted chocolate, sprinkling them with chocolate sprinkles and occasionally sampling some to make sure it was tasting alright :)

We had such a great time celebrating Kate with friends and some family.

My Sweet Catherine,
I love that you wanted a strawberry shortcake theme for your birthday. The bright colors and the sweet fruit really capture the essence of who you are: bright and sweet. You deliht us with you silly sense of humor and your genuine quiet honest nature is so refreshing to be around. You are a true blessing in ur family and we love honoring you with a party fitting your sweet and carefree nature. I love you to the moon and back!
Your Mama

Here's to A New Day

Yesterday was an exceptionally bad day. In fact, we're in a bit of a hard phase with Kate. She seems to have a knack for sneaking off and within seconds creating chaos. And, she seems to know when I am distracted and take advantage of every. single. second.

But back to yesterday...

I was planning some errands for the day and realized that tuition for Hannah's school is due. I called Jeff to double check our finances, and I hung up and the cell phone said 2:00:00...2 minutes people. In that time Kate had stripped down, chalked herself head to toe in blue chalk and, (and this is the kicker!) cut. Hannah's. hair.

The cut was short and right in the front. I noticed hair on the floor and said, who cut the hair?? Hannah then said, "Kate cut my hair but I didn't want to tell you because I knew you'd be mad." And this is the stage Hannah is at: hiding important information and sometimes lying because she knows better.

And she was right. I hit the roof. I have found that my girls can upset me like nothing else lately. Maybe it's fatigue, being out of touch with my Mom friends, the fact that we've been busy, or the fact that with Jeff's work schedule lately I haven't had a moment to sit and think or veg or do whatever I want, like pray. Whatever it is, there is this angry side of me that has emerged this summer and quite honestly, I understand Hannah's fear telling the truth when she knows angry mom is going to rear her ugly head.

So, after a time out, clean up, showers and the removal of all art supplies I gave Hannah a hair cut. I staggered some bang in the front hoping to hid the fact that the cut is so short. It could be worse. And hair grows back. And Hannah didn't mind the hair cut. So angry mom, this is a message to you: take it easy. Words and actions can never be undone, so watch what you say, watch what you do and you need to love each these precious girls as Christ loves you.

Here is the end result...feel free to tell me how beautiful Hannah's hair is. I would love the extra bit of encouragement.

Kate's Birthday Party

My sweet Kate is almost three. We let Kate decide what type of party and with whom she wanted to celebrate and let me tell you that it was the best attended party we have EVER had. It just goes to show that everyone loves and wants to celebrate out Kate. So, 24 adults and 16 kids came to our small 2 bed, 1 bathroom house (yes, one bathroom for all those mostly potty trained kiddos!) and we turned out backyard into a water park!

Lunch Break

One perk of working so close to the beach is that we can meet Jeff for a lunch break and enjoy some beach time. It was a cooler day, but Hannah and Jeff strill braved the water while Kate, Rachel Lee and I kept the sea gulls from stealing our lunch (literally...the gulls poke at your bags until they find food and then fly off with your lunch!)