August wrapped up summer for us but we enjoyed A LOT of summer before the month was over. We are so thankful that the Ozecks extended their stay until August 21st so we had almost the entire month with them. Summer truly was so awesome because they were here! It didn't even feel like we were quarantined or in the middle of a pandemic since the kids had so much fun together and were just so happy to be together. Such great memories from this summer!
We spent a lot of time in August discussing school options for the kids for the fall, too. Some days we wer pretty certain that we were going to send the kids to St. Michael's -we actually applied and the kids were accepted-but in the end decided not to send them this year. Poway had us decide if we were going to do virtual or in person and we spent the week debating over which one and chose in person then to find out two days later that the entire district decided to do virtual only through January! We then found out that the start date was pushed back to September 2nd so that at least allowed us to enjoy all of August without worry about starting school. What a ride this all is. We are confident that it will all work itself out and that we'll just continue making the best of it but there sure was a lot of back and forth this month regarding the school decisions.
Thankfully we spent all of our days just having fun though and enjoying the last month of summer!
Such the best summer with this crew! I truly hope that the kids never forget this summer and I know that when they think of covid and quarantine they honestly will have great memories and we understand that not all families have this type of situation or had this experience during covid which makes us ever the more grateful.
Since the Ozecks extended their stay we were able to celebrate Sydney's real birthday together! We spent the day at the beach and then had dinner and pigout pail for dessert at Nani and Poppa's. We were so happy to be able to celebrate the day with her!
A major milestone took place on August 22nd when Ella decided to cut her hair!! She has been talking about wanting it short for a long time now so when Shannen offered to cut our hair at Nani's, Ella wanted to get in on the action! She had 11 inches cut off so she was able to donate it to Locks of Love which was awesome! She loves the short hair and it looks so awesome and so healthy!
Speaking of hair...Joseph has some crazy quarantine hair!
Other big news this month is a first lost tooth for Julia!!!
Rich has taken Joseph and Ella to the archery range a few times this month with Justin and Jeremy Laugesen and Joseph and Ella really seem to enjoy it. They come hot, sweaty and with big smiles so I guess they're having fun.
Ella loves finding heart shaped things!
Mornings with Poppa at the community park playing baseball!
We celebrated my birthday this month, too, of course, which was a wonderful day! I was awoken to many fabulous gifts and cards from everyone and then went on a run and then we bbq'd, swam and hung out for the rest of the day with all of the family. It was a great birthday! The kids hung out late at Nani and Poppa's the night before my birthday so Rich and I were able to have a date night (takeout in our backyard) which was super nice, too! It was a great start to 41!
Katie gave me some fun beauty masks so the girls and I all tried them on the following
morning!
Spa Day!
The swimming continues all August long...
At Nani and Poppa's pool, too!!
Colors/categories...game of the summer!!!
Crazy enough the first night swim that we did wasn't until late August after the Ozecks left. I think since typically we would spend all day in the pool and since it was staying light out so late that we were pooled out by the time sunset came; however, one night we had Mike Baskin over outside and the kids were swimming and just having so much fun that they stayed in until late and then loved it with the lights on and everything. We will definitely be doing this more often now!
More August beach days, too.
And, just a whole lot of cousin fun!!
Exploring in the backyard. Joseph has really gotten into exploring back here-hanging out on the rock and venturing down to the big tree-he loves it!
Charlotte was on a birthday kick all month long where she would request/demand for us to sing to her. Sometimes we would pretend without a candle but sometimes she would want a real candle lit and then everyone singing. She was upset in this picture due to something not going her way (I can't remember what but she is very specific in her demands and if they are not met she is not happy!!!). She is something else.
Daddy and Ella tag teamed to get the tooth out. Julia was pretty nervous about it so Ella wiggled it for a little bit and then Daddy took a turn. Jules started to get upset but by that point it was already out!! Daddy pulled it out without her even knowing it!
Poppa has been so great about taking Joseph and Cole, and sometimes the girls, fishing this summer and the kids absolutely love it! They don't catch much but always have the best time!
At the end of August we had a close call to a major disaster! It was bedtime and I was laying down with Charlotte (as I need to do this every.single.night) and Julia and Joseph were in Joseph's room. Ella walked into her room and turned the light on and the fan came crashing down to the ground from the ceiling!!! Ella was calm, cool and collected about it. She came into Charlotte's room and told me and I told her to go and get Daddy since he was downstairs on the couch-at first we thought she was talking about just the box fan falling over but once walking into the room you could sure see that was not the case! We are so thankful that nobody was in the room when it happened and that there wasn't any serious damage (other than the fan). We cleaned up the mess from it and unfortunately the girls went awhile without a fan in the room but eventually Rich installed another one that hopefully will stay put.
Once the Ozecks left I figured I had to find something new for us to do to make the few weeks before school started not seem so sad wtihout them here anymore. Thankfully I found an instagram account about hidden swings around San Diego so i jumped on that and on the day that the Ozecks flew out we jumped in the car and headed to Carlsbad in search of a hidden swing. It's a neat setup where they give you only the coordinates (and a few photographs) and then you have to go on a short hike and try to find the swing, or swings. The first one that we found was overlooking a lagoon and there were a TON of tiny little crabs all over the place so everyone loved it! Well, Char didn't love the crabs, but she did love the swing! We went a few days later with Finn and found two swings in this huge open field in Carlsbad and then went a few days after that with Daddy where we found two swings along a creek which was super fun. They've been a lot of fun! There are about twenty swings hidden around San Diego currently so i created a chart with them on it and we hope to find them all!
At the first swing that we stopped at the little beach was filled with hermit crabs which Joseph, Julia, and Ella loved...Charlotte not so much!
The rest are just random pictures from another great month together. So thankful for all of these kiddos and for making the days so much fun.
We've loved watching this little one grow this summer and she is so fun now that she's so much more alert!
They asked for donuts on a string one more morning, so sure, why not?!
We went to Webb Park for the first time in a very long time and it was such a hit! From feeding the ducks to the koi fish and turtles, they loved it!
Sign of the times...ahhh, covid!
I received the sweetest care package from my old student teacher in Hawaii. She is fighting a cancer battle and I sent her a card letting her know I was thinking of her and she returned with an amazing care package. She is so thoughtful and so generous!
So many selfies
Sleepover with Finn!
Just a typical day!
So thankful for the trampoline this summer-between that and the pool the kids have been thoroughly entertained and active!
Charlotte received a letter from a girl who will be in her preschool class which totally made her day.
By the end of the August Charlotte was the only one who had a definite plan with school and we knew that she was going to start on September 9th. She had her meet the teacher day on the last day of August and was so excited...well, and a little nervous, too. She held onto my hand the entire time and wouldn't leave my side so it may be a bit of a transition but I know she's going to love it and do great! We're excited for her. Nani is kind enough to always buy them a back to school outfit-this year she didn't take them shopping but they each picked out an outfit online and went for takeout. Charlotte insisted on this "my Mom is amazing" shirt and also insisted on wearing it to her meet the teacher day-she's good for my self esteem!
Despite covid and the world shutting down around us we are so grateful for truly an incredible summer. Things really didn't feel that different for us and we are so thankful for that. Here's hoping to a smooth start to the school year and fall.
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