July was pretty much the perfect summer month-it had a little bit of everything. Visits from family, visits from friends, camps, days without anything on the schedule, days with a lot on the schedule, a beach getaway and a bunch of other random fun thrown in there. It was a great month!
Lots and lots of pool time!
Lazy (which is used very loosely) mornings!
Definitely crazy hair mornings!
Ella's summer goal was to learn how to ride her bike without training wheels. On Saturday, July 1st she asked Rich to bring her to the park so she could meet her summer goal and sure enough by the end of an hour or so she was riding around the park by herself. She did awesome and we are so proud of her!!
Joseph and Julia bounced from the playground to riding their bikes while Ella and Rich did laps and laps and laps.
On Sunday, July 2nd we went to Coronado to bbq with Mike Baskin who was in town visiting his family. We had a nice time catching up with him and then we went to walked across the street to the Ozecks new home and we all walked over to the concert in the park. The kids had so much fun dancing and playing with one another and it was such a nice evening!
Julia, our little dancer! She is always dancing at home and often asks me to dance with her or will put on a show where she stands on top of the coffee table and performs for everyone. She was in her element here
So much fun!
The boys were more into wrestling than dancing but still had a lot of fun!
On Saturday July 8th, Rich was in a class for the entire day to get his contractor's license so I was looking to keep the crew busy. Thankfully Hollie was nannying for her family over the weekend so we had them along with the Ozecks come over to play and swim all morning. The kids had a blast and it was a great way to spend the day!
Rich's class was on Sunday as well so after taking everyone to church by myself, which after I was glad I did but during the mass was definitely questioning my sanity, we headed to the children's museum in Escondido. We had been there once when we first moved here so the kids were excited to go again and we stayed for over 3 hours! They loved it!
Julia was not a fan of the chickens. She stood on a chair in the corner and would grab on to me tightly every time one got a little close to her. Joseph and Ella loved the experience though!
Even Charlotte got in on the fun!
For the week of July 10th through the 14th, Joseph and Ella went to VBS at our church from 9:00 to 12:00. They had a blast and are already asking to go back next year and it was a nice change to just have the younger girls for a bit. We ran at Lake Miramar twice that week which was a treat for me, went to story time one morning and was able to get ready for the beach camping trip without having to bring all four kids with me!
Here is Julia (in her pajamas!) feeding the ducks at Miramar.
Rich was actually gone for this week in San Jose so on Tuesday after VBS we headed down tot he zoo to meet the Ozecks for some late afternoon fun. This hippo was awesome!!! So up close and personal!
We got to see the pandas out, too!
And then we saw all of these cute zoo animals!
Laura found this sweet little animal, too!
Julia was deathly afraid of this thing but the boys loved it!
Back in the pool on July 12th after a morning of VBS.
Love hanging out with this silly girl!
On Friday, the last day of VBS, they invited all of the families to a prayer service and then for an ice cream social so the younger girls and I were excited to join them. We went into the church for the prayer service and then they performed a song for us and then we all enjoyed ice cream sundaes. We received a cd of the songs that they learned this past week which we listen to constantly now and they are actually really great!!! There were a few mornings where Ella was complaining about something or something was bothering her (like her sneakers one morning) but the minute we were in the car and her favorite song came on her outlook totally changed. I actually have found myself singing along to the songs when the kids aren't even in the car!! Ha.
After a great weekend beach camping we were back in our pool with friends from RBCPC one afternoon.
Rich had to travel for one night during a week when he normally was supposed to be in San Diego and it fell on a wrestling night so we decided that I'd take Joseph and the girls to his wrestling practice so he wouldn't have to miss it. He has been going every Tuesday and Thursday nights since the end of May and seems to really be enjoying it and learning a lot. Rich keeps saying how much he has improved since the beginning and really sees potential. We believe in giving him the exposure to a variety of activities at this age and then we'll see which he wants to pursue in the future. The girls really liked watching him wrestle and hung out on the side of the mat and tried to perform the drills. I was pretty impressed with Julia's headstand!!
On Wednesday, July 19th, we had a fun date night with this crew! We went to the Birch Aquarium for a "Green Flash" concert series. My parents had gone earlier this summer and raved about it so they offered to keep all of the cousins for a cousin sleepover so we could all go out together. It was a fun night out, although the music wasn't really any of our tastes, but we enjoyed the beautiful views and fun company!
Rich and I picked Charlotte up that night but the older kids and a fun time with Nani and Poppa the next day. I went over around noon and everyone was having a blast! Joseph, Ella, Cole and I went to the recycling center to cash in on the bottles and cans that Ella and Joseph have been saving this summer. It was a neat experience but it was hot and I don't think Ella or Joseph are dying to go back and do it again for the $5.00 that they earned, but I'm hoping that they will.
Nani and Poppa are seriously the best!!!
On Friday, July 21st our dear friends, the Kneller family from Texas, came to visit us for the weekend. We have been so excited to see them and had such a wonderful weekend with them! They arrived on Friday around lunchtime and after hanging out and catching up for a bit at home we made our way to Torrey Pines to hike and enjoy the beach for a bit. Rich met us after the hike and we all ended up at Roberto's for dinner for some authentic Mexican food.
On Saturday morning we were up early and off to the zoo. It was more crowded than what we are used to since we normally go during the weekday but we saw a lot and had a great time. We did the bus tour for the first time which everyone enjoyed!
Eve brought me these awesome hot pink Texas earrings so I had to wear them to the zoo!!
Ella wanted to wear them, too!
After the zoo we went to Coronado to enjoy the bay, dinner and the views of San Diego from Village pizzeria.
Messing around while waiting for our reservation
We finished off the day with a nighttime swim! It was a day full packed of fun and sun! After breakfast on Sunday morning they were on their way to enjoy a full week up the California coast. We are looking forward to their next visit already.
After the Knellers left we spent the day getting some things done around the house. One of my summer projects/ideas was to build a towel rack for the pool towels. Rich, Ella and Julia were hard at work making it happen!
That night we celebrated our anniversary together as our family! Our 11 year anniversary was on Friday when the Knellers arrived so we will go out one night together in a few weeks but we had ice cream sundaes with the kids on Sunday night.
Messy Charlotte on July 25th helping me fold laundry while the other kiddos swim.
The girls and I took Joseph to wrestling again on July 26th since Rich was out of town so found ways to entertain ourselves while we waited. The girls really do play so well together. They have been playing a lot of family, doctor and preschool this summer with Joseph joining them occasionally. I've caught Ella saying a few times while playing, "I'm wiped out from all these babies!" I'm pretty sure she's picked this up from Doc McStuffins and not from me but it makes me laugh every time!
And then they all enjoyed a big bowl of cereal after his practice (that is his normal routine after practice!)
We also started swim lessons at the club in July. They were held the last week of July and the first week of August from Monday through Thursday. Julia actually started private lessons with a lifeguard from the club earlier at the month without much success. Most lessons I had to get in the water with her and she was crying for the entire thirty minutes. This totally caught me by surprise since she LOVES the water and to swim; however, the minute her puddle jumper came off she would freak out. In the beginning she did not like her teacher (Ms. Tessa) but thankfully by the end of her private lessons she grew to like her so she was excited to find out that Ms. Tessa would be teaching her group lessons as well. Tessa was excellent with Julia-very patient and understanding. On the first day Julia got in the water and did well for the first half of the class but by the second half of the class she was in tears. She managed to finish the class but was not happy. Day two she wouldn't even get out of the stroller and every time I tried to persuade her to try she broke into tears. I told her that since she wouldn't even try that all of her privileges (dessert, Doc McStuffins, extra snacks) would be taken away for the day and after having to sit in my bedroom while Ella watched Doc she came out and said that she'd try swim lessons the next day so that seemed to work. The third day was better...she at least got in the water. She wouldn't let go of Miss Tessa but at least was in. By the fourth day she was excited to go and did almost everything that she was asked to do. She has been practicing a lot with Laura and my dad and is making really good progress with both of them. She definitely caught us by surprise with her reaction to the lessons but are glad that she is making progress and has gotten over the initial fear of swimming without a floatie.
By the end of the session she was jumping off from the deeper section and even went off the diving board without the puddle jumper. Granted, the teacher was holding on to her and basically placing her in the arms of another teacher in the water but she did it!
We had fun swimming with friends after most lessons.
Jules would often put her puddle jumper on after lessons and then we couldn't get her away from the diving board.
Ice cream almost after every class! We pulled out all of the bribes! One of the other awards was that she got to choose the movie for "movie night". She chose Beauty and the Beast which is her favorite and she dressed up in her fanciest (and most favorite black sparkly dress) and sat glued to the tv for the entire movie!!
On July 26th I was making dinner and honestly thought to myself, "I love it when they are all playing quietly and so well together." No more than 5 minutes after having that thought, Ella walked out into the family room and I looked at her and said, "Do you have bangs!?! Did you cut your hair??" It all seems like a bit of a blur after that but I will say that I was very calm and only had a few tears in my eyes and then tracked down the missing hair in our bathroom's trash can. The story is that the girls were playing hairdresser (which they often idea) and it was Julia's idea to use real scissors!! Julia did a pretty decent job if I do say so myself with giving Ella bangs and thankfully Ella only cut two of Julia's curls from the back which aren't even noticeable. I took Ella the following week to my hairdresser to straighten everything out and it still catches me by surprise sometimes that she has bangs but thankfully they lay really nicely to the side and aren't too short so they definitely aren't awful! Figure it was bound to happen sooner or later in a house with three girls and it could have been a lot worse!!
We continue to have musical beds this summer...
We went over to a friend's house on July 29th for a bbq and smores.
Wish her eyes were open but love her and her crazy curly hair!! You never know what the morning will bring!! She has even started saying, "I love my curly hair!"
We finished out the month with a playdate with the RBCPC crew on July 31st. After 4 hours of pool and park time, this sweet girl was tuckered out.
Some days seemed to go on forever (especially those when Rich was traveling) but the month really did fly by. It was busy but it was such a fun, full month!
