Summer 2013...it's a wrap!

O.k., it's official, summer is over...so, I had better do my summer wrap post...the Summer of '13 will be forever remembered as Swimming lessons with friends

summer strolls

summer games...

summer parties and summer foods...

dress up on lazy days

The Gorge with friends..

Our Anniversary part I

Part II

My parents' anniversary...

The girls and the terrible (not really so terrible) two's

Yor and Dar (Bonnie & Bret's Jet Ski's)

Deepened friendships

 

Popsicles...bike rides

Walks...

Sunglasses...

...the Lake...

...the many, many canopies we lost to the wind...

strawberries, strawberry pies, strawberry cheesecakes, strawberry  trifles...

...the beach

the toes...

Meeks, of course, anchors summer every year...

 

Happy moments

Max's first day of full time Preschool!

This is Max and Faith (our neighbor whom we share carpool with) and one of Max's best friends,

They are so cute together... 

Here they are at Mrs. Merlee Mccort's preschool (that's what Max calls her)!

 

The kids all love her...she was also Max's nursery teacher in our ward before the split! We are so happy she is our teacher!

Max and his friend Taliah, she is just the cutest girl. Max was happy to have her in his class, again.

 

Max is  a Super Stars preschooler now as well.

He has really enjoyed the consistency of everyday school and has learned to give new things a chance! 

Lia and Kiri miss their brother when he is gone and spend most of the time asking if it's time to pick Max up yet...however, there are moments of happy Bubble Guppy dancing where they seem to enjoy a little girl time!

Happy 40th with my parents in San Diego!!!

My parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary this year and we decided to all rent a beach house together. Here are my parents and my maternal grandparents in their wedding shoot

 

This picture is emblematic of why I get so bugged when beautiful girls say they looked like boys when they were little...some of us actually looked like boys...in fact my hair is shorter than my brother's...though it's a similar cut...I'd say my bangs are a setting shorter. California circa 1984

 

 

Here we are about 15 years later...Peter and I were both in college in this shot...so,

 California circa 1999

 

Here I am with Max, Lia and Kiri on the flight over to my parents' house in the Bay Area

Max had to get some Dim Sum in while we were there

Peter, Parker and Christina at the park

Devon (A.K.A mini Peter)

I can not get this picture to turn....but I love Devon's face as we walked to the beach by my parents' house

Kiri, Max and Lia playing on the beach

Lemur Lia, Kiri and Max in San Diego

I love every one's face in this picture...especially Devon's!!!

 Lia & Kiri LOVED the show at San Diego Zoo!!!

It was spectacular!!!

 

Max loved the Sesame Street and Play area the best...

 

 

Elmo, Zoe, Super Grover & max

My dad will hate this picture...but seriously, how could I document a family vacation without this picture?!?!

The rides were quite fun!!

We also got to see the Pandas at the San Diego Safari

My parents, Peter & Christina watched the kids while we got to go to the San Diego Temple. It was so beautiful and we got to do some work for family members. Someone recently joked about our temple attendance in passing...I was surprised by how offended I was at the jab. I neither think it's anyone's business how often we go to the temple nor is it an appropriate source of pride over anyone else if their attendance or adult to child ratio in their family is higher than anyone else's... and that's all I have to say about that. I, as a matter of principle, try not to broadcast temple attendance, church volunteering or community service...so, there you have it...

We were able to go to a wedding reception while in San Diego

It was at the reception that we realized what amazing dancers our kids are...Max and Lia in particular could not get enough of the dance floor!!! What fun kids we have!!! All in all it was a wonderful trip and a happy reminder of the importance of family and what an amazing legacy we are all building!!!