Day 2

The next day was Sunday and we just hung around camp. Our trip was only 5 days this year instead of the usual 7, so this was the only day that we didn't venture off somewhere else for a few hours. The kids spent all day in their swim suits hopping in and out of the water as they pleased.

Hat Creek 2011 Day 1 !!!!!!

We were very sad when we realized that Daddy wasn't going to be able to make it to Hat Creek for our annual camping trip this year. We knew it was a possibility and I had already decided that we were going to go weather or not he did, but it was still very disappointing. Aaron even said "If daddy can't go, then I don't want to go either." I convinced him that we would have more fun at camp without dad than at home without dad, but it was still sad.

Instead, we did the next best thing and brought another Nick with us! My brother was a huge help to me. He hasn't been camping with us since Charlotte was a baby and I was so happy that he came! Especially since that meant I had another driver!

We left very early in the morning and found this fun park to stop at and eat our breakfast in Modesto.







(Notice how none of their feet are actually touching the ground in this picture?)




We stopped again near Redding at a rest stop to eat lunch and watched a car catch fire! Then, after only 7 1/2 hours (our new record time!) we were finally there!!!

The first time I went was 9 years ago. All of Nick's cousins are much younger than him and his sister Charity, and they would spend as much time as possible in the water. Our kids are just about at that same age now, and they wasted no time getting in!







Without Nick there to help this year, I didn't take near the pictures I usually do. (which has made it easier to sort through) I spent the rest of the day setting up our tent , and getting ready for the week, visiting with family, and most importantly making sure Lila stayed in sight! That alone was a full time job!

Auntie Ali's Tea Party!

Shortly after Ali and Christian started dating, our kids really wanted them to get married. Before too long we figured out that what they really wanted wasn't cousins, like I had suspected, but slumber parties!

Christian invited Aaron over to spend the night one night when Ali had to work and they played games with some of Christian's friends. Aaron had a blast staying up late with the guys!

Ali invited the girls, including Grace, who is Christians niece and their fellow flower girl, over for a fancy tea party/slumber party!

The girls had lots of fun picking out their outfits from our dress-up box, and putting on make-up (blush and lip-gloss) and doing their hair!

I left my camera with Ali to take some pictures for me.

July 4th 2011

(I'm only about a month behind now!!! I want to be caught up by the first day of school, which is Monday. I'm going to be busy!)

On the third of July the girls and I made this super cute (though it was cuter than it was tasty) cheesecake flag for Sunday dinner.





On the 4th we went to Auntie Tree's for a BBQ and swimming. I love taking 4th of July pictures of our family every year. This year Lila would NOT cooperate.





This is the closest thing to a group shot I was going to get. Little stinker.







The dentist told us at our appointment this month that Charlotte's teeth should come in within the next 6 months to a year.
We might have to wait another year?? They fell out over 6 months ago!!
When I told her that I hoped she would have teeth by Christmas, she said "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth.........no, never mind. I want a DS."!



Lila wanted nothing to do with the group shot, but when she saw everyone else having their turn taking individual shots, she was not about to be left out.



Nick was finishing up his last week of training in Long Beach and was scheduled to be home on the 5th. He surprised us with a phone call that we was getting a ride to Selma and we could pick him up around 1!!

Later in the evening we went to a park by a high school that has a fun firework show to meet up with some friends.

Playtime with the Bohners

We had planned on driving home the night of our ferry ride and stopping to visit with some friends in Livermore on our way out. But it ended up being too late to get a good visit in with them, so we spent the night instead! The next morning we headed to the park for a water balloon fight!

While we were at the park (with our van packed and ready to drive back home) Theresa called me while she was driving up to stay with Marissa. She ended up convincing us to stay an extra night! Our Daddy was still in training so we really had nothing to rush home for.







After we said goodbye to Kandice and her kids we drove back to Walnut Creek and played with Johnny and Cece for one more day.

By the next morning I was definitely ready to go back home, but it was a very fun way to spend our first week of summer!

Ferry to San Fransisco

The next day we were so excited when Grandma Siggy asked us if we wanted to take the Ferry with her into the city!

(On our way to meet up with Grandma Elsie asked me "Will we ride on their backs?". I found it amusing that she wasn't at all afraid to hop on the back of a "fairy" for a ride to San Fransisco. She was only a little disappointed when I explained that a "ferry" is actually a boat!)















We didn't stay too long, which was good with 4 little ones, but they were thoroughly spoiled just the same!