Little Miss Independent

I have impatient girls... or maybe just a little too girly-girl & independent.

(can you really ever be too girly girl?? I loooove it)

When I told Izzie I didn't have time to paint her nails, no prob! She did it herself... with a pink hilighter pen. And then she did Vivie. Look how much time and effort she's saving me by just doing it herself in her own creative way!

Thank heavens it wasn't the real deal or craft paints this time around!

How cute is Izzie with those yummy cheeks & sparkle in her eyes?! Love her!

Our Little Scholar

Brayden was chosen as a 2008-09 National Pop Warner Little Scholar with Academic All-American status. He finished in the top 2% of kids nationwide and proves that you can be balanced and still play football!

Each year, the most academically accomplished Pop Warner kids compete for Academic All-American status. This process begins at the association level and up through each of the eight Pop Warner regions to the national level. This year over 8100 applications were submitted. Approximately 400,000 kids participated nationwide for Pop Warner this year.

The PWLS All-American Program requires a minimum 96% grade point average to apply for All-American status. After the applications have been processed, Pop Warner determines National First Team All-Americans (35 football, 25 cheer per grade - top 1%), National Second Team All-Americans and National Honorable Mention Scholars.

Brayden & Curt attended an awards ceremony in San Diego this summer, and were invited to receive the same honors at the National Ceremony in Orlando.

Apparently Curt does not know how to use my camera.

Congrats, Brayden!

Leo Carrillo Adventures

Real tent camping hasn't been a major family activity for us...we do it now and then with family and friends, but this is the first time in a long time I booked a reservation for just us.

I grew up going to Leo Carrillo with family, friends, and with other families. It's a great little beach camping spot (actually, dirt camping, beach across the street) in Malibu with the coolest little tidepools and cove, rocks to climb, and scenery. Labor Day Weekend we took the kiddos and had our little adventure.

We saw families of starfish, big crabs, did everything 'camping style' and loved it. I got 7 thumbs up for the camp food we prepared... it was truly YUM! I only wish we'd been able to stay and take some more school off. The prep that goes into a trip like that really warrants at least 4 nights of camping even if we have to fight with spiders, winds that stir the dirt up our noses and spray a layer of yuck over everything, pests that eat our muffins and ants. At least we had flushing toilets and running water.

The only downside wasn't for us, but for the groups surrounding us because they had to listen to LOUD children. I mean, OUR loud children. We're really loud. I had to apologize ahead of time just so we didn't get the looks if Vivs decided to scream at the top of her lungs or if Monson and Kenz antagonized Izzie, who is just as loud.

We've decided that it would be a great investment to buy an old clunker RV and spiff it out so that we can have some comfort and a little more cleanliness while enjoying the outdoors. Why would we want that? Vivs won, hands down for kid who can get dirt into every crevice including up her nose in the form of dirt boogers for DAYS after. They just kept on a'comin!

Anyone care to come along and be our camping buds next time?

Family Fun

We had a full house the weekend of Brayden's birthday ...and what a great time we all had hosting them all! Izzie and Mattie discovered that they're kindred spirits.

Lexie, Izzie, and Mattie stayed up until 1:30 am just having girl talk and a regular 'ole slumber party. Pretty fun stuff for 4 and 5 year olds! We got to meet cousin Reddin for the first time and McKenzie really misses having a young baby in the house to mother. She and Reddin became fast buds. The little girls just get annoyed when she tries to mother them!

We had a beach BBQ...or at least we tried. The pits were all spoken for, so we borrowed one next to us and had yummy Costco hotdogs with all the fixins. The kids & U. Brett enjoyed the water and of course a beach BBQ isn't complete without managing to get sand in all the food. Everyone came home super dirty and covered in sand--doesn't that mean that they had a great time?

We took the kiddos swimming at our community pool...

And the adults managed to escape for sushi.

Sunday was a bit hectic because everyone was running every which direction to get back to their responsibilities, but I think a nice weekend was had by all...

How we appreciated all the support and love for Brayden's big day being ordained a deacon in our church and receiving the priesthood. I can hardly comprehend that I have a son that old! My brain just isn't catching up to how old they say I am.

We need more cousin and aunt/uncle visits! Who's next?????

Sushi...

Kenz is in heaven with Reddin and he apparently thinks those are momma's!

Pops & Bray

Ama sliding down the stairs with the girls

ice cream ice cream we all scream for ice cream!

Hanging out in the loft for an x-box tournament

U. Kevin & Bray

The gang that ordained Brayden

proud parents

Beaming Dad

TOOOO cute cousins with matching dresses made by Ama

All day tea-party

YUM. I made our famous cinnamon rolls.

Aunt Brooke getting down & dirty with the little ones

Izzie & Mattie chowin' down sandy hotdogs

she likes beer. Rootbeer.

cute cousins

the cousins that came (we're missing 7 1/2 that are in Boston & Tacoma)

...and this is how we all felt when the weekend was over