Home!

We are home! We arrived yesterday and already missing the lake, the lack of humidity and the pines (among many other things!). *sigh*

When I finish unpacking and a few other pressing projects, I'll be sure to update with photos and stories of our fabulous time up north!

Talk to you soon.....

Yes, I am that nerdy.

And to prove it:

These are the snacks I bought for our upcoming road trip:

This is what they look like after I used my scale to put each portion in individual snack bags:

They all fit neatly back into their bag/box and are ready to go. It's so much easier than doling out handful after handful and waaaay cheaper than buying them in the "snack size". So there, I am a nerd, a kitchen scale using kind of nerd.

OK, I'll also admit that I did the math on the number of servings that come in each box so I know exactly how much each person gets, even down to the food I am bringing to the cabin. They may have this snack X number of times per week and that snack X number of times per week.

Hey, don't knock it until you have to travel with four hungry children and stay away from home for three weeks.

We need to make this food last people.

s'more.

Here are a few more shots from our visit to
Sunny,
Beautiful
San Diego!

Ryde, enjoying the ride on the sky safari:

I think Logan was done with Auntie Lizzie trying to take his picture!

Uncle Mike giving Gage a free ride:

Lindsey, Keira, Me, Mom and Bekah at the San Diego Zoo:

Gage finally came out of his towel cacoon to play in the sand:

The starfish had no idea what was coming....

Home.

We're home. San Diego was wonderful. Some quick highlights:

• My siblings and their families came up to my parents house almost every night we were there, we felt a little bit like celebrities.
• Seeing the kids run with absolute joy on the beach while finding tons of shells.
• Sunshine, green things and flowers...all outside.
• Trying Nicole's raw concoctions....they were really good!
  
• Listening to my sweet niece, Keira, sing along with Taylor Swift.
• Having coffee with my amazing friend and fellow blogger, Jen!
  
• Getting my 10 month old nephew, Logan, to smile!!
• Watching Trevor, Tallon & Wesley get to play with our kids-nothing beats playing with cousins.
• Remembering what it was like to have a newborn (more on this later).
• Eating really good Panang Chicken and watching a chick flick with Beks and mom.
• Seeing all the boys in the kitchen cooking-totally priceless.
• Eating only the best burger ever, thanks to Mikey.
• Eating dinner at the table with mom and dad. Every night.
• Eating taco shop almost everyday.
• Being impressed by my brother John. Dude, you are a great dad and your wife rocks!
• Sea World and the Zoo.
• Casey playing hide and seek with the kids. All I heard was "Auntie Casey is sooo cool!"
  
• Watching my grown brothers chase my kids all over the playground...who really wanted to go more?

So much more, will add pictures soon. Back to trying to unpack....

The doctor says....

....it's going to be five more weeks for Randy.


I think the sunshine and good company will definitely speed the recovery!


San Diego, here we come.

Soooooo excited!

We are taking off tomorrow for San Diego and Mikey's wedding! It's just the girls this trip, the boys will be "roughing it" without us.......they'll be camping for the weekend and bow hunting for the big bucks.

I've made lists of what there is to eat, the boys' clothes are washed and put away, the "just in case" meds and measuring spoons are on the counter. If I missed something, they will survive, Randy does run into burning buildings and save lives for a living, so surely he can handle it.

BTW, my camera is totally MIA and I'm trying not to cry about it. Hopefully it will turn up by noon tomorrow......

San Diego '09!

We had a great time in San Diego and were sad to leave. It was so awesome having all of my siblings and family home for the first time in several years! Here are some pictures, I'll add more later.....

Gotta have In-n-Out!

The girls in Julian.

The girls at Janet's. Mmmmm!

The fam at the zoo.

Uncle Mike teaching Gage how to play ping pong.

Uncle Johnny goofing around with Ryde.

Cousin Reilly climbing the tree.

Tallon posing for Aunite Lizzie.

The new Charlie's Angels.

Rock Band anyone?

Coronado!

Walking with Daddy.

Cousins collecting shells!

Playing at the beach.

Gage wasn't so sure about it.

Addie loved the sand!

Woohoo....

Auntie Colie is coming today!!!!!!

Bring on the facials, massages, eating out (Thai food, yummy!), shopping (for kitchen stuff, ofcourse!) and lots of fun!!!

We'll try to post pictures in between all of our running around.....

Ryde fishing for crawdads. He caught two!!




Ashlynn looking a little afraid to climb back down the ladder in Justin's cabin.




The kids at the creek checking things out.



I am ashamed to say I forgot to bring my camera on our trip. The shots I did get were with Mimi's camera (thanks!) and I didn't get any with Aaron, Melissa or Rilynn (I know-shame on me!). So, sorry again, this is all I have :-(.

Last of the pictures (that I have done, anyway)

Ryder throwing rocks into Lake superior!



Ashlynn teeing it up.



Dad enjoying the view.



Gage's 1st b-day celebration-he enjoyed the cake, can you tell?



Golfing with the boys-I beat Randy on hole 14, again :-)!!

Pictures

Ashlynn "holding" up the bridge.



Gage, with a Coast Guard ship going under the bridge, checking out Lake Superior.



Ashlynn, working hard again, "holding up" a rainbow (the first she remembers seeing!).



Ryder throwing rocks (very intently!).

Some pictures of the trip

Ashlynn's view of the lake.



Mom, Gage and I at the lake.



Randy and Jeff taking a game of horseshoes very seriously.



Ryde's view of the lake.

Home, Sweet Home

We made it back! We rolled in about 8pm last night. We had a blast, with the exception of a few minor hiccups (my back went out on day two and Ryder was wheezing so bad from a cold we took him to the ER last week). Will be unpacking/doing laundry/cleaning out the truck today. I will try to post some pics tonight and the rest of the week!

Outta Here

We're headed north for three weeks! Going to spend some time fishing, swimming, canoeing, enjoying the family and the great outdoors!

See ya later.........

Finally, some photos!

Ryde "helping" Marilyn drive the 4 wheeler


Ryder waiting patiently to see the wildlife


The kids and Randy headed out to the the woods


The kids and I playing at the spring (the water was freezing!!)


Ashlynn checking things out

A Good Shot

Well, Randy was blessed on his birthday! He managed to get both Gobblers with one shot! Good job, babe....that's what I call "free range" turkey :-).
We had a great time at Mimi and Papa's, I'll be sure to add more pictures later tonight.

Mimi & Papa's

Here are some of the pictures from our trip to Mimi & Papa's last week!


The kids and I exploring


Papa and Gage man


Mom, Ryde and the cow


Ashlynn playing with Kit


"Cousins" (l to r) Paula, Mandy, me, Jake (holding Ryde), Justin


Mom, Papa, Mimi, kids and I

We had such a great time and always love to be there. Hopefully they look forward to having us as much as we like to visit...... :-)!