Start to summer, summer, summertime!

It was officially summer as of June 11th and we were excited!  The distance learning honestly was fine...not ideal, but fine, but couldn't imagine it going much longer so we were ready!  The first week we were all about Finn!!  We were trying to help Linz and Paul out since the arrival of baby Nora and Nani and Poppa were busy hiding Syd and Cole since they flew in on the 10th.  Due to covid, the Zicklers wanted to wait 2 weeks to see the Ozecks since they had just flown on a plane so we decided that we would wait a week to see the Ozecks so we could hang with Finn and give them some rest.  We did the beach, the strawberry patch, parks, the beach again and just had a fun week with him!  Then on the 18th all the great things happened!   We surprised our kids with the Ozecks which was awesome and our pool was ready to swim which was also awesome!  The kids just thought that we were going to Nani and Poppa's to swim and then Cole and Syd jumped out from behind the avocado trees.  It was awesome and brought tears to all of our eyes!!  Yay!  And then that was the start of such an awesome summer wtih them!  The kids didn't even feel like we were quarantining since we saw the Ozecks literally every day (except for 2 weeks when Nonna and Pop Pop came to visit and one other random day) and we just bounced back and forth between our pool,  Nani and Poppa's pool, the beach and other outdoor activities.  It was so great!  

All these cousins so happy to be together!

So many pool days!!!  Honestly, we are so thankful!!  

There was water in the pool for a week but we couldn't swim in it since it had to settle which wasn't as bad as it sounds because it sounds like it could have definitely been torture but this picture does make me laugh-Charlotte wanted to swim so we set up the little pool for her right next to the big pool!  

Being filled up...almost ready!  

Here are our first official pool jump photos!  Yay!!  So thankful for Rich's hard work for making this come true and for us working together to figure out a design that we were both happy with!  We are so happy with it (other than the spot on the bottom in the deep end from the pebble tek but supposedly that will be taken care of at some point...). Always something, but overall it is amazing and the timing couldn't be better!

All summer we alternated between our pool and Nani and Poppa's pool. Colors/categories has been the game of the summer and it is amazing to see Charlotte and Finn swim from one side of the pool to the other without a problem at all now.  To think that back in April when Nani and Poppa's pool first opened and both of them were hesitant about swimming is just crazy since now they are full blown swimmers!  So proud of both of them!  

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We have loved snuggling with baby Nora!  It is going to be so fun to watch her grow and I just love seeing all of the cousins together.

And, of course, still getting lots of snuggles with Murphy, too!  

His quarantine hair is going strong!

A little cleaned up by Dad! 

We've been doing weekly bike rides/runs at Miramar which have been really nice because then I feel like I get a run in once during the week and even though some mornings they complain (normally Ella) by the end they are happy they come (normally!). 

The kids got camelbacks from the Easter bunny which have come in so useful, especially during quarantine since we are only doing things outside.  It is so nice not to have to carry water bottles in my backpack anymore!  

The cousins discovered the top of Nani and Poppa's side yard which was a hangout for about a week until we put a stop to it because we were afeaid they were going to ruin the sprinkler system or end up face first coming down the hill...it was fun while it lasted!  

June is awesome because we get to celebrate both Daddy's birthday and Father's Day!  We had a great two days celebrating him and this year was nice because they were 4 days apart so felt like a little break in between since some years they are back to back or even on the same day!  On his birthday we celebrated with his favorites-Italian food and peanut butter cup cheesecake!!  And on Father's Day we celebrated at home with breakfast and gifts and then went to Nani and Poppa's to celebrate there, too.  It was a great few days!

Name game time on Father's Day!  

We all know of Rich's love for dogs so were all cracking up when Smoky just jumped right into his lap and snuggled with him one afternoon.  

These two have such a special relationship and friendship.  There have been days when they will literally disappear into their bedroom for hours to play.  I feel like their personalities really complement one another really well.  Sure, every once in awhile they get on one another's nerves and they complain of having to share a room at times but overall they are  kind to one another, play so well together and truly are great friends.  I pray it continues.  I have noticed that when they disappear Charlotte is almost never involved but I think that it is just their ages at this point-Charlotte is still a bit immature so hoping in a year or two the three of them really can play well together.  

The kids were really excited when I told them that starting the first Monday of summer (like 4 days after school ended) that they were going to have to do a workbook page each day and read...thankfully they didn't complain too much and got into a good routine with it.  It helped that Syd and Cole had to do the same thing, too!  

It has been so great to have the trampoline back!  It's crazy that we went for 4 months without a backyard at all and now within a week we have the trampoline back, a place to scooter, the soccer goal set up and a pool!  

Caught them jumping with Daddy one night which is always fun!

Fun at the park!  Playing at the community park was also in our summer rotations of places to go and they always had a good time.  

Summer also means more downtime (although after being quarantined for the past 3 months not a whole lot has changed) but here are some random pictures of the downtime from the month of June...

Charlotte ready to sleepover at Nani and Poppa's

And this girl is still coming into our room nightly to sleep and most nights ending up in our bed...I know it won't last forever!  I still am laying down with her every night  in her bedroom (on the floor, holding her hand) to get her to sleep every night, too. Again, I know it won't last forever.  She is also still wearing a diaper to bed and one thing that makes me laugh almost every night is that after I put the diaper on, I'll go to pull up her underwear and pajama bottoms and she always says, "Undies first"-she never wants me to pull them up together.  Funny girl and her funny little mannerisms.  

Watch your mouth game is still going strong, too.  

To finish out the start to summertime here are a select few of the hundreds of selfies I find on my phone daily!!  They all make me smile so I don't mind though.

These girls are SO happy to be back together!!