Ready or not...

The big day was yesterday...I dropped Austie off for Jr. High and watched her walk away. My stomach seriously hurt the rest of the day. She came home ecstatic about her day, and I was happy about this. She's going to have a great year... (trying to be very positive...)

Noah was not phased by the first day... he was thrilled to be back with his friends and his workbooks. He honestly likes to do these!! Recess is still his favorite part of the day, but secretly he's hoping for math facts to start...

Ellie was dropped off at 1st grade and I was actually fine. Her teacher has known her since she was born. I'm entrusting her to a friend for the year...she's going to have SO much fun! She came home so excited to go back the next day!!

Aidan and I have had busier days this week than all summer long!! We're trying to get caught up on some neglected duties... he's been a trooper, and we even made it to his Preschool story time today!! He's VERY excited to start next week.

School Year 2009 has begun. We're off and running!

Goodbye summer...

Last weekend, we took off AGAIN for the weekend so that Corey could run a Sprint Triathlon. It was his first attempt, and he did great!! He's currently training for 2 marathons!! He leaves before the sun rises each day to train with his other crazy buddies who love to torture themselves. I can't even imagine it... I'm way too much of a wimp!!

After the race, we headed over to the beach for one last lazy day. I absolutely loved it. There's something wonderful about sitting in the sand relaxing and watching your kids have the time of their lives. They ran around and played in the waves, they helped each other, and they never stopped smiling the entire time. I took pictures, read a book, and even took a tiny snooze!! Amazing.

As summer comes to an end, I am more melancholy that usual. I know big changes are coming. Austen is entering a brand new phase in her life. She's leaving childhood behind and I am so torn. I am excited for her to begin this next adventure, but am both terrified and saddened by this. My baby is growing up! And she's not the only one... they are all a year older as they start this new school year, and I know only too well how fast this year will go... it seems to speed up every time. I treasure days like this when we are all together. It's been a fun, busy, FAST summer and I have loved EVERY second of it. I'm really not ready for it to end, for life will just get crazier, but like all good things, it must. Life marches forward, and we will be ready, I guess...

Long Live Nana Camp!

What a fabulous idea!! Mom asked if the kids could come to Nana camp this summer for 4 days of activities, cooking, star gazing, needlepoint, cousins, trips to the movies and farmer's market, planting succulents, a photo scavenger hunt, a play performance, scout things passed off (!), etc., and MOST IMPORTANTLY time with Nana and Papa. I asked, "WHEN?? They'll be there!!!"

Even Aidan got to go for a lot of the time and he was THRILLED. And all of a sudden... I was alone!!! After a summer FULL of kids and constant activities, I had forgotten what that was like! Don't get me wrong... I love having my kids with me in the summer, but this actually felt a little like heaven. I found myself singing in the car as I headed to the gym, got my hair cut, and took myself to lunch AND read a book while eating! ALL BY MYSELF.

And it gets even better...!!! Corey was able to take Friday off! So, we decided to go and check out San Luis Obispo and Pismo! We had a fantastic time wandering around and exploring... sans kiddos. Amazing. Everyone needs to do this once in a while.

SO, I'm thinking this was a win-win for everyone... Kids were being thoroughly enriched spending quality time with grandparents and cousins, and parents were getting a little bit of r & r. (Britt and Clay also squeezed in a trip!) Hopefully Nana agrees! :) THANKS MOM AND DAD!

we heart shaver

The kids count down for months for our annual summer trip to Shaver Lake. This was our fifth summer and it was all that we imagined. The kids are in HEAVEN the entire time. The food and company are always fantastic... the water is cool and we sleep with a blanket at night... a perfect summer weekend! Thanks, guys... until next time!!

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Take me out to the ballgame...

It's a summer tradition... a Grizzlie's game with the family. The Hawkins invited us, and off we went! Poor Corey is working non-stop these days, so we were happy Nana and Papa wanted to join the fun. Games are always a blast, although I have to admit that we don't watch THAT much of the game. It's definitely more about the company... (although we did cheer our team on!!)

Near the end of the game, Aidan got picked to draw a winner for some prize in front of the whole stadium. He was SO cute. He got introduced, and then was asked to say, "Hi." His "Hi" was SO adorable!! It echoed through the stadium. He was "famous" for a whole 49 seconds! The kids were VERY impressed. Thanks for a fun night! Until next summer...

San Fran

We crashed Britt's house last Saturday and have been playing ever since! They are always the best hosts!! We've been swimming and played at the park. We've been to the city twice.. even once without kids!! These pictures were taken during the trip WITH kids... We went to a fun park there and enjoyed the beautiful day... We are supposed to head home tomorrow (if Austen makes it on her flight!!) and we will miss lovely San Ramon and the COUSINS, of course. They have had non-stop fun. (and so have I!)

Lake Tahoe Adventure

Pictures really do tell the story... We had SO much fun camping in Lake Tahoe for the week. What a gorgeous place! And the company was fantastic!!! When shall we go again?

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Happy Birthday, America!

We hope everyone is having a wonderful fourth!!

Cub Scout Day Camp

Noah just finished up a week of Cub Scout Day Camp. I picked him up one night and he and his buddies giggled the whole way home... he had SO much fun!!!

They did all kinds of cool stuff... Noah's favorite things were ping pong, the hover craft, and seeing his friends. I am loving it because he has a whole bunch of things he passed off and all I had to do was get him there!!! :) Hooray for Day Camp!!

Girl's Camp 09

I was able to spend last week up in the mountains with Austen and 200+ girls. It was an amazing week. Everyone there worked so hard to make it a good experience. I enjoyed so much being there with Austen, watching the youth take over the leadership and do an incredible job, and laughing with friends new and old. I slept very little, but that little sacrifice was totally worth it.

I got to rappel with Austen and I was so proud of her!! She was terrified, but did a great job! (and she was SO excited that she had done it!) I had to act brave while going down at the same time!! I also loved the day we joined the group hiking up to the top of the "Rock". It was a super fun hike and the teamwork AND views I saw were inspiring.

There's so much more to tell, but it's late and I didn't get much sleep last week!! :) Thanks to ALL that made last week so spectacular.