Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Week 29

Happy Tuesday!  I have a busy week ahead preparing for Brandon's birthday party Saturday.  It's his turn for a big bash and a swim party seemed fitting given that swim team just ended.  Luckily I've got extra afternoon time to get it all pulled together because no more swim practice! Only 1 more week of karate before we get a break there too.  August is looking pretty sweet!

Now for last week's pictures-


Day 197- Saturday, 7/16/11
This swim meet was a family fun meet with all kinds of crazy events like a twin race, cannon ball or belly flop contest, and ball toss relay.  The kids even got to race against their parents which they seemed to really enjoy.  Here Justin and John are waiting for their race to start.  John swam against both Tyler and Justin.  Brandon was sick :0(  Tyler beat him and Justin almost had him in the end.  He was a good sport.  No way would I even try.




Day 198- Sunday, 7/17/11
Brandon was still sick most the day and took a nice long afternoon nap that seemed to help.  He woke up asking to go outside and play so I let him, but told him not to tease the dog.  A few minutes later I look out the window and see him not teasing her but picking and feeding her strawberries.  Too sweet! She's a happy camper, and I'm glad he's feeling better.




Day 199- Monday, 7/18/11
Watermelon is one of Tyler's favorite summer treats.  It always makes him happy to see some on his plate especially after a long winter without.  I love those little round seedless melons they have now because he and Justin are the only ones that really eat the melons, and they are just the right size.





Day 200- Tuesday, 7/19/11
The older boys are at Karate so Brandon helps me walk the dog.  She loves her evening walks and will start pacing the house around 6:30 in anticipation of the big event.





Day 201- Wednesday, 7/20/11
Those tomatoes I planted a few months ago finally have fruit on the vine and we even have a couple turning red.  John is eager to make some salsa but needs a few more ripe ones first.

 

Day 202- Thursday, 7/21/11
Today was the last day of swim practice for the season!  Champs are this weekend.  Justin's hair has this really weird reaction to the pool water that none of my other boys have.  It makes his hair all crunchy, stiff, and sticky.  It feels like straw.  His swim coach noticed today during the team pep talk and decided it would be fun to shape it into a Mohawk.  She loved it, and he thought he looked pretty cool.





Day 203- Friday, 7/22/11
No swim practice today so Brandon is chilling in the afternoon breeze and enjoying the extra time to relax (coaches orders).  I must say it was nice not having to run to the pool on a Friday and having our whole family home for dinner.  This is the calm before the storm though because champs start tomorrow and it's a two day event.  There goes the weekend!


That's it for this week.  Thanks for stopping by.


Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Week 28

Is it only Tuesday?  I have a long week in store but at least the weather has been fabulous--not too hot or too cold.  While my work week is dragging, summer is flying by way too fast.  I hate to see back-to-school supplies already available in the stores and don't even want to think about that yet.  I refuse to buy anything school related before August.  At least we still have lots of fun things planned for our remaining weeks.  We'll make it last as long as we can!

Now for last week's pictures--


Day 190- Saturday, 7/9/11
No swim meet because we're still camping.  Here are my three boys enjoying some time on the lake.  This is the best way to stay cool since there is very little shade. 





Day 191- Sunday, 7/10/11
Time to pack up and head home.  We're all looking forward to a nice shower, a cool air-conditioned house, and some kisses from our dog.  It was way too hot to bring her along.




Day 192- Monday, 7/11/11
I made cupcakes to take to work for our lab assistant's going away party, and the boys were more than happy to help me with left overs.




Day 193- Tuesday, 7/12/11
It may have been cooler and foggy but it was still nice to get out of the lab and away from my computer for an off-site meeting in San Francisco.  We ate lunch at that little white building with the red roof called the Warming Hut.





Day 194- Wednesday, 7/13/11
This is the last of Tyler's pre-teen vaccines and look at his muscle tone.  Thanks to swimming and water polo he's actually got some arms on him this year.  Where has my baby gone?





Day 195- Thursday, 7/14/11
I haven't had a flower picture in awhile so I snapped this of one in our backyard.  With the cooler temps it's so nice and relaxing to enjoy the rest of our yard that is not part of the pool.  We can sit on the porch swing enjoying the breeze, eat outside on the patio as the sun sets, marvel at the beautiful flowers in the garden, and let the dog lay on the grass while kids run barefoot through the yard.  Got to love lazy summer days!




Day 196- Friday, 7/15/11
The city had a talent show today for all the day camps in the area, and as a group Camp Lakeside did a tribal dance and won first place which means a pizza party for them.  The boys had fun getting into character making their head dresses and painting their faces.  Unfortunately Brandon was sick and missed out. 


That wraps up this week.
See you next Tuesday.


Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Week 27

Happy Tuesday!  I'll have to make this quick because I'm heading to San Francisco this morning for an outreach meeting.  I can't wait to get out of the lab and away from my computer.  I've had way too much paper work lately, and I think the change in scenery will do me some good.  An attitude adjustment is in order!

Now for last week's pictures:

Day 183- Saturday, 7/2/11
Brandon was looking at a new Lego magazine that showed a picture of a real cat and a Lego cat that someone built to match, and it inspired him to create his own Lego dog, Bella.  It turned out pretty cute, and he was so proud.  We'll have to submit his picture to the magazine as well.



Day 184- Sunday, 7/3/11
This was a holiday weekend so we had a lot of people over for swimming and grilling.  I was so busy having fun I didn't take many pictures but did manage to snap this shot of Richard catching a live fly for Justin's flytrap.  We were all quite impressed, and the trap was happy to have dinner too.  Richie's da man!



Day 185- Monday, 7/4/11
What better way to spend the 4th of July than in the pool?!  It was a hot one this year so we practically lived in the pool all weekend.  I take a picture of my boys with the flag every year but this is the first in a pool.





Day 186- Tuesday, 7/5/11
Enough fun and games--back to business.  With 3 kids we never have a shortage of appointment cards especially during the summer.  I try to schedule as many things as I can while the kids are out of school because it's even crazier to do it all during the school year when we have less free time.  Now the challenge is keeping it all straight and not forgetting anything or anyone.



Day 187- Wednesday, 7/6/11
And today it's Bella's turn.  Yes, even the dog has places to go and appointments to keep.  She had her annual visit and shots today.  I wish the kids were this happy to be seeing a doctor.




Day 188- Thursday, 7/7/11
Got to love a peaceful evening.  It's time for the daily wind down.  Reading before bed really does help calm them and get them ready for sleep.  Justin would prefer not read during summer break but its part of the nightly routine regardless of school.



Day 189- Friday, 7/8/11
After a short day at work we took off for a camping trip at Lake Camanche near Lodi.  It was fun but REALLY hot--102 when we first arrived.  I was more than happy to see the sun setting today to help cool things off.


Thanks for stopping by!
See you next week.




Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Week 26

Wow! Tuesday really creeps up fast on holiday weekends.  Hope everyone had a happy 4th!  This past week has been a week of getting back into a routine with work and camp and swimming and all the other commitments we have.  At least it's a summer routine but still a routine none-the-less.  We're back to alarm clocks and bedtimes and lunches to be packed, but it's a bit more relaxed and flexible.  We're also adjusting to the heat, and all I have to say is thank goodness for our pool!  It really makes those scorching afternoons bearable and even fun.  My boys can't get enough.

Enjoy last week's pictures:

Day 176- Saturday, 6/25/11
This swim meet was all Brandon's.  He had a killer meet finally deciding to swim like a human and not a dog.  Got to love the mindset of a 6 yr old.  His goal was to get a blue ribbon not because it means first place but because it's his favorite color.  Luckily for him he earned 2 blue ribbons taking 30 sec off his freestyle time and 19 seconds off his backstroke.  Never mind that he was in a heat by himself for both events meaning an automatic blue ribbon--he's too young to understand that and swam his little heart out earning every bit of both those ribbons ;0)



Day 177- Sunday, 6/26/11
The kids start summer day camp tomorrow at Camp Lakeside so I printed out the schedule for them to get a glance at what the week has in store.  Looks like a lot of fun stuff and a great way to keep them active, social, and away from TV and video games for most of the summer.



Day 178- Monday, 6/27/11
It's back to work for me after a nice 2 week break.  First order of business is going through 200+ e-mails to see what I missed and put out any fires that started while I was gone.  Thankfully I didn't miss much! 



Day 179- Tuesday, 6/28/11
Yesterday it was 90 out and today it's cold and pouring rain at the end of June!  It was like this pretty much all day.  I wish the weather would make up it's mind.  When they said chance of rain I was thinking more like summer showers not full on winter rain storm.  Justin and I had to brave this weather and the traffic that comes with it to make a dr's appointment this afternoon, and I could have done without the rain.



Day 180- Wednesday, 6/29/11
This is Brandon's favorite thing to do at camp--make lanyards.  He learned last year and picked it right back up.  I'm amazed at how well he is at it too.  He's got some good fine motor skills and a whole lot of patience.  Now maybe we can teach him to tie his shoes.



Day 181- Thursday, 6/30/11
Between camp and swim practice my kids have very little free time (maybe an hr a day) so they make the most of it when they get the chance.  The two older ones head straight for the the video games while the youngest drags out a bunch of toys to scatter all over the playroom.



Day 182- Friday, 7/1/11
How is it the first of July already?  July is Brandon's birthday month so he was more than happy to be my monthly marker.  He's so excited but still has to wait until the very last day in July before it's his birthday.  That's got to be tough but he doesn't seem to mind.  He's just happy it's July.


That's all folks!
Thanks for stopping by.
See you next week.