Man, the rest of July was great!! Seriously, this summer has been so awesome. I have absolutely loved the break from the routine (and craziness) of the school year and it has just been such a great summer. A few things that have helped make it so great are:
1. Our pool. I love having a pool. Especially with 4 kids. It is such easy entertainment and constant fun. We have had so many morning swims that I have lost count. They love it and it helps me, too! "Sure, go jump in the pool at 7:15!" The morning swims are awesome because they are totally entertained while I can clean up from breakfast or fold laundry or even just enjoy my coffee outside watching them. Then in the afternoon, if we don't have friends or cousins over we are almost in every day by ourselves, too. LOVE it.
2. The gym. This summer I joined LA Fitness which was the best $65 a month I'll spend all summer! It has given me a little bit of downtime and helps me keep my sanity knowing I'll get a good workout in a few days a week and the kids really like going so its a win for everyone. We change up the time we go based on what we have going on for the day but normally it seems to be around 9:30 in the mornings wchih makes it not so rushed (and allows them to still fit in their morning swims!) but then gives us the rest of the day to do whatever we need or want to do.
3. The chart for electronics that I made at the beginning of summer. If I make them move their clip (which honestly I have had to do only a totally of maybe 5 times in total for all of them this summer) their behavior changes instantly.
4. Of course, having our awesome family close by and great friends to hang with!! We've had so much fun with all of the people that mean so much to us this month that it really has made for an amazing July. After starting the month with an incredible trip to Georgia and then such a fun 4th of July the rest of the month has continued in that fashion.
I have definitely loved having some downtime with these kiddos though. Not having to rush out the house in the morning or feel like the day is on such a segmented schedule has been great. Our summer still seems to have somewhat of a regular schedule with speech for Julia and Ella both once a week and then swim lessons another day once a week but it is not over scheduled by any means and we are enjoying the time where we can just hang out, play games, read books, and swim, swim and more swim without anywhere to be.
Enjoying one of the lazy mornings with this sweet crew!
Julia has become so confident in her swimming this summer and has just been amazing to watch. She's loved swim lessons once a week with Ms. Tracy and has already met her summer goal of being able to swim without a puddle jumper-way to go Julia!! She is so funny to watch in the water now that she swims without her puddle jumper-she just gets into her own little world and will bob around where she can stand and then swim around and then back to bobbing. She is just totally so happy with herself and asks to go in the pool every.single.day.
Just messing around at home! Love our not so busy, but still crazy, mornings!
The Laugesens and Bestafkas came over to swim on July 6th for the afternoon and it was a lot of fun with a lot of kids in the pool all afternoon! Rich was home from work early so he hopped in, too!
We met up with my family (minus Bubs and Hollie who were in Vancouver) on July 8th in Coronado for a concert in the park. This has become a fun family tradition to do a few times over the summer and we look forward to it! The kids (and adults!) have fun dancing, eating and just hanging out together.
These three sweet girls get along so well together and just have had the best summer with one another!
Having way too much fun with Daddy!
Sistaaaas!!! Love them so much and am so thankful we are all in San Diego together.
The kids had VBS during the week of the 9th through the 13th and it was so much fun this year with the Ozecks joining us!! It made the week so much more memorable and kind of felt like a little vacation since we hung out with them every afternoon, too. We've been listening to the VBS cd on repeat in the car (even Charlotte sings along) and they definitely left the week with positive lessons and are ready to break superheroes for Christ.
At Joseph's well check appointment back in April, Dr. Goldberg and I talked about allergy testing for him. In December 2016 he showed signs of a possible allergic reaction to amoxicillin (a rash on his legs broke out after being on it for about a week) and then he is constantly rubbing his nose and clearing his throat so we've often though that he may have some seasonal allergies. So, she put in a referral to see an allergist and on July 10th we had our appointment. He was anxious since he didn't know what to expect but he did great. We were lucky enough to have Laura stay with the girls so just he and I could go. They pricked him on the back about 12 times for environmental allergens and then on this right forearm they did the amoxicillin test. It was pretty neat to watch the hives just appear from the small skin scratch. We found that he is not allergic to amoxicillin which is good but is allergic to dust mites, and then some trees and some grasses. So, nothing awful but she did give us some recommendations to reduce the exposure especially to dust mites, such as a allergen free pillowcase and mattress cover, washing the sheets once a week in hot water and eventually getting rid of the carpet. We'll do at least the first two recommendations to see if they make any difference. He rarely complains about his nose being runny or his throat having to be cleared but I'd guess that it'd get annoying after awhile so hopefully this helps.
On his arm was the amoxicillin test which he was not allergic to.
After VBS and Charlotte's nap on July 11th, we went to the Escondido Children's Museum. We hadn't bene there in over a year and the kids had a great time. I was worried that Joseph might be growing out of it but he really enjoyed himself and they spent almost 5 hours there!
These sweet cousins have so much fun together!
When the older kids were in VBS for the week, I took Julia and Charlotte to story time at the library, which we haven't done in forever, and they loved it!
And we rode scooters in the cul de sac one day, too. It was a nice change to just have Julia and Charlotte for a few hours each day.
We went up to Nani and Poppa's on Thursday afternoon to swim and stay for dinner and smores.
This girl loves her sweets.
Then Charlotte wanted some popsicle, too!
Friday morning swim!!
Back in our pool on Friday afternoon after the last day of VBS. it was such a fun week having the Ozecks staying at Nani's and seeing them every day for VBS and to play after. The kids are so great with one another and we just love watching them grow up together.
Off to the beach on July 15th for the afternoon. We went later in the day and it was actually overcast and almost a bit chilly once the sun really went down so it was a nice change of pace.
The following week I went to Costco with all of them and sometimes you gotta open up the box of Fudgesciles immediately after leaving!
Joseph did wrestling camp for three days in the middle of July in the afternoon so we took it easy in the mornings most of those days and one morning I caught them upstairs all playing together like this. Four elves on the shelf! Most of the time they play SO well together!
I snuck away fro dinner on July 18th to meet up with Katie and Michelle and it is always such a treat to see the two of them!
Rich started taking classes this month every Tuesday and Thursday so we've kept those nights pretty low key in terms of dinner. We did dinner at the park one night, which the kids thought was simply amazing, so we'll have to do it again! It was a nice relaxing night for me, too, without any prep or cleanup!
So much swimming this month and so much quality time with Nani and Poppa. The kids spent the night on the 20th so Rich and I could celebrate our 12th anniversary!! We went out with Rich's running friends on Friday night, which was a really good time, and then on Saturday (our actual anniversary) we went for a run, out to breakfast and then went to look at a house (more on that later). We are so thankful for Nani and Poppa for taking the kids so we can do special things just the two of us and know that they are in great hands. Poppa always gets a great workout whenever we are over from all of this throwing in the pool!
Joseph and Ella were proud of their creation when we came to pick them up!
After picking them up from my parent's we had both cars since mine had to get an oil change that morning so I went to the mall for a bit and Rich took them to Phil's for lunch. They love going out to eat with Daddy and I love going to the mall by myself. Ha.
We then spent the rest of the afternoon and evening of our anniversary just hanging out as a family in the pool and ordering dinner. It was perfect.
We spent the afternoon of the 22nd at La Jolla shores with the Ozescks. It was WAY too crowded than we normally like it but the kids had a blast together and its was a beautiful beach day so we couldn't complain.
They both had broken arms with sand casts.
Another morning swim...
As mentioned earlier, we looked at a house on our anniversary and decided to put an offer on it and it was accepted. We have been contemplating moving for the past year or so. Although we love our neighbors the concerns with the neighborhood have really just taken a toll on us. We have issues with parking on our street from overflow of the condos from across the street so having what is supposed to be a quiet cul de sac always be so busy and packed and just having so many strange cars and people on our street often we finally decided to really start taking the search seriously. It has all happened so fast, and seeing the for sale sign in our yard is bittersweet but we are looking forward to it all hopefully working out and what lies ahead. Our house went on the market on July 26th. So, with all of this fun we've been having this month, this will spice things up even more with this life changing event. We'll see what happens but we are excited, as well as a bit anxious, but praying that whatever is meant to be will work out.
This is the view from the possible "new" home. This is what sold us. A lot needs to fall into place for it to happen but we figure we'll give it a try and if it is meant to be, it will all work out.
We had our friends, the Searcy family, over for lunch and to swim on the 26th and it was a great time. They have the exact same lineup as our family so the kids all have a match which works out really well!
Then we headed to the WW club on the 27th to meet up with the RBCPC crew. Always such a fun time with this group!
Chrissy snapped this picture of us as we were leaving and I love it because it is such a great snapshot of every day life for us. The double BOB was my best baby investment ever and I can't even begin to think of all of the miles logged with it. I'm always pushing it and these days there are always kids in front or behind of it and normally Charlotte trying to escape from it!
Joseph spent the night at his buddy, Jeremy's house, and had an awesome time, as always. These boys are so great ttogether and we feel so grateful to have become good friends with their family as well.
While Joseph was at Jeremy's the girls and I hit up the gym and Jamba Juice for breakfast the next morning.
We then headed up to my parents house for the night since we had an open house on both Saturday and Sunday afternoon. We swam on Saturday and then went to watch Poppa play in his baseball game. I have to say that I was impressed-he still has it for being almost 70! Seriously, amazing!
After the game we checked out a new restaurant in Escondido along with a stop for gelato so it was a great summer night!
We were so grateful to be at my parent's on Sunday, too, since we didn't have to clean so after going to church the morning and back int he pool for a bit we did decide to venture out and check out a new hike (to us) in San Diego. I had heard about Annie's Canyon awhile ago from my brother and had been wanting to check it out so we finally took the afternoon to do so. It was super neat since the end of the hike brings you through these giant boulders in very small spaces and it was the perfect length for the kids to hike; however, I will say that I didn't love the rock part at the end. It was definitely neat but I don't love being in small spaces, especially surrounded by big boulders, but I am glad we did it. I'd do it again but maybe not with Charlotte on my back :). The kids liked it and we are glad we checked it out!
Starting to head up into the boulder section.
Taking a break with Daddy.
Very cool looking-you'd never guess this was here-literally in the middle of nothing!
Charlotte enjoyed the ride-although most of the times kept saying she wanted to walk, which we let her do most of the hike, minus the boulder portion.
Pretty cool!
Two thumbs up for Annie's Canyon! Right after this picture Charlotte fell and totally ate it. Her tooth hit her lip and caused for a fat and bloody lip but she was a trooper and thankfully was ok!
The last two days of July were more of the same...hanging out, swimming, and just enjoying summer!
Dance performances almost always end up with at least one of them on the coffee table!
On Monday the 31st Ella was at speech so the three of us ran home to get a few things done during the 45 minutes and I snapped these super cute pictures of them-wish Ella was in them of course but had to include them!
And, finally to finish out the month, just a typical morning of couch jumping and shows put on by these 4! I love, love, love being at home with these guys and being there for all of the little parts of the day such as these!
It's hard to believe that July is over, which means that summer is coming to an end. Thankfully we still have a lot more adventures to fit in before it is totally over. Looking forward to August, too!!
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