Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Back to NorCal...

Today we got packed up for a long stretch in Stockton.

Ron packed light-- he's only here for two days-- but Libi and I have bags for days!

We have lots of fun on our five hour drives-- today we are taking you along with us.

Libi always has toys, books, and anything else she can smuggle inside her backpack.

We do try to schedule the drive to coincide with naptime...

Tobee takes good care of Libi while she's asleep-- she also enjoys the silence!

This trip we made lots of stops. It was our very first time to Pumpkin Center. We got lunch at the Sonic Drive In here.

On the drive we make lots of potty stops-- Ron and I take turns taking the Pee Pee Princess (she inherited my nickname.)

Ron needed caffeine so we made another stop in Kingsburg...

It is a Dutch town with windmills, lots of flowers, and this fun horse in front of the Micken Donalds.

As we stop we watch our arrival time get later.... and later!

That doesn't seem to phase Libi who after an all too brief nap is ready to go!!!

When we finally get off the freeway we roll down the windows...

which makes Tobee smile!

When we finally see the entrance to the Windmill housing tract we are all relieved!

For dinner we went to my new favorite, the Velvet Grill.

Libi was excited to eat her corndog and I was thrilled to have my French Toast again.

Libi hasn't asked for a funny face photo for a while... so I had to oblige when she asked.

Their hand-made ice cream is still a winner with Libi!

She is stuck on strawberry-- which was a good choice since it's made with fresh, local berries! We are all happy to be back in Stockton!

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Happy Camera Day!!!

Yes, there is a special day dedicated just to my favorite possession (don't tell my iPhone!)

Stacy Julian (one of my scrapbook gurus) encouraged me to take photos of my camera today.

I absolutely love my cameras and I can't imagine being without one of them! It is my favorite tool for recording our life as a family and Libi's childhood.

On this holiday I don't feel ashamed to tell you that since February I've taken 20,000 pictures. Yes, I love my camera..... A LOT!!!!

All three of us made our way down to Nana and Pop's for lunch.

Libi was super excited to find a present waiting for her of some new clothes. The fruit panties were a special hit!

She was so excited to receive this gift and it makes me so happy! She is so grateful for the gifts she receives which I think is rare for a three-year-old.

Daddy spent most of the afternoon helping Pop set-up his new computer. The huge up-side was the bubble wrap that Libs got to pop....

and the box she got to hide in.

One moment she was there...

and the next she was gone!

Pop tried to take her out to the trash... Silly Pop!!

I was dressed in the bubble wrap...

some of it was popped...

and Libi used it as dressing up material as well.

"Mommy look at my style!"

There was more art after lunch! We love our weekly visits and can't wait for them to resume after our trip to Stockton.

Monday, June 28, 2010

A lazy summer day...

Since our day yesterday was full of running around and cleaning like mad people, we all stayed home today.... And for the record we all stayed in our PJ's-- it was just one of those days :)

Libi did a great deal of drawing today. My favorite piece of the day was this one. What do you think it is?

It is the sun... and gosh darn it, it totally looks like the sun!!!!

In the evening we ate some eclairs that were left over from last night. Libi greatly enjoyed hers...

so much so that she was covered in cream. Ron and I thought it was hilarious and at first she scolded us for laughing at her, but eventually she laughed along with us.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Pre-Fourth BBQ

Since our family will be scattered on the 4th of July (Ron with be somewhere between CADA Camp and Home and Libs and I are in Stockton) we decided to have an early family BBQ.

We invited the newest members of our family, the Paley's, to join us! We had such fun with them in Santa Cruz and we want to continue to get to know them better.

Our after meal entertainment was Wii on our backyard screen.

Everyone enjoying playing tennis, bowling and boxing.

There was some gender rivalry...

but Libi cheered for both teams :)

It's another short post so here are more Libi-isms:

-An on the fly prayer-- "Thank you for the food we eat and thank you for the ice cream treat. Amen!"

-"My eyes are all twinkly." After Ron turned Libi's light on and off in her room.

-"This is fun!" as Ron guns it to make it through a yellow light.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Ben's Graduation and Movie Night

Today we woke up and got dressed for Ben's big day!

He is graduating from SCLP today and we had to go support our favorite panda!

He was quite serious during the program...

but we did see a few smiles!

To our shock and amazement he even got on the microphone!!!

It was fun for me this year because I know so many of the kids! SCLP will be very different without some of these faces!

Amy and Howard were honored for all of their service to the school.

When it was Ben's turn to sing into the mic, he went silent-- but it was good for a laugh!

Here is Ben accepting his end-of-the-year book from Miss Cindy. I will really miss not seeing him twice a week next year!

Here is Ben with his paper self!

Zoinks!! Seeing this always gets me-- Libi will be in the class of 2024 or 2025! OMG!!!!!

Ron and I were in charge of serving snacks so Libi had to sit near us. Give her a cinnamon roll and she's set!

Ben couldn't wait to open his gift from us...

it was Star Wars themed. From the smile it appears that we did OK!

Love these two!!!

A little background about this photo: Back in November Howard and I both went to the Thanksgiving feast at SCLP. The parents had to help get the food out and decorate the room. All during set up Carole kept calling Howard "Ron". Neither Howard or I corrected her-- I actually thought she was talking to another Dad there that I didn't know. Right before the kids came in Carole looks at me and Howard and says, "That's not your husband!" I looked at her like, "DUH!!! I never said he was!" So I teased Amy that Howard is now my SCLP husband.

Back to the photo: Amy wanted a picture of Ben with Ron, Libi and I but he was pictured out and wouldn't do it without Howard. Ron got hung up handing out more snacks so Howard and I found ourselves standing there with Libs and Ben and so we posed.... as the SCLP couple that we are.

Thanks Amy and Ron for having a good sense of humor about this, and to Howard for being the best preschool husband any girl could ask for :)

Minus Ben here we are :)

Ben we are so proud of the young man you have become! You are so sweet and kind and you took good care of Libi this year at school. Good luck in kindergarten next year!

In the evening we had our first movie night of the summer.

Grammy and Grampy stopped by before the movie began....

and chases ensued! Grampy had Libs and all of our guests running!

It was a small group of folks tonight. Aunt Janice came with her nephew and

all of the Strassner's were there-- including Grandma. Hi Fran!!!

Cindy and Chelsea both brought their kids and Aunt Andrea and Aunt Violet came to their first outdoor movie night!

While we waited for the sun to go down there was bug hunting...

dancing,

and eating lots of popcorn and candy.

The movie was the Jungle Book...

and I had forgotten how fun the movie is!

It was a long, but very fun day!