Lesson Learned

This is what happens when you tell scary stories to the girls right before bedtime. I hope he learns his lesson. I guess I will be sleeping alone in someone else's bed tonight!

Kids with Purpose

This week Taylor is attending a Kids with Purpose camp at our church. The camp is geared for 3rd-5th graders and is all about community service and using their spiritual gifts to give back. Taylor's 4th grade Sunday school teacher, Jen, is leading the camp and Taylor was so excited to take part.

On Monday and Tuesday the kids caravaned to Kendall Farms to weed and harvest fresh vegetables for today's food distribution. They picked enough yellow squash, zucchini and tomatoes to feed 150 families! It was hot and dirty, but they were all proud of their effort. After a morning of the kids washing cars for the church staff, we returned to the parking lot this afternoon to help with the food distribution. What an experience!

Every Wednesday, the Temecula Murrieta Rescue Mission comes to the parking lot at church to pass out fresh vegetables, packaged food items, hygiene kits, school supplies and clothes for needy families in our community. We helped bag fresh vegetables, fold clothes and carry boxes of food to cars. Everyone there had a different story and it was interesting listening to them share with us. It was humbling for sure.


Tomorrow the kids will spend the morning at a local Senior Center and on Friday they will clean the school campus. Taylor is tired from a week of hard work, but she has welcomed the opportunity to serve.

Tooth #3

Allison is hoping for an unexpected visit from the Tooth Fairy tonight. She had 4 loose teeth, none of which seemed ready to fall out, but after some rough housing upstairs with Taylor, she now only has 3 loose teeth. She came running down the stairs very excited to share the news. Then she tasted the blood in her mouth and burst into tears mid sentence. She got blood splatter on the tile and on the light switch in the bathroom, but with a few mouth swishes of water and help from Matt, she is left with a nice gap and a funny story. The tooth is already in the pillow and she is ready for another visit from the tooth fairy.

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary to my husband of 12 years! Unfortunately, we are celebrating on opposite coasts since he is in PA attending his grandparents memorial. We did enjoy a nice date night before he left with dinner at Harry's and tickets to see Brian Regan. We will take the night out when we can get it!

In our 19 years together, we have experienced so much. Early on we dated long distance while he was attending college, he was a huge blessing during my cancer treatments and was the one who could always bring a smile to my face. We shared great joy when we graduated from college, when he graduated from the police academy, when we bought our 1st home and when we welcomed both beautiful daughters into our family.

We have traveled to St. Lucia, Mexico, Canada, Hawaii and several other states together. Matt has been a wonderful provider for our family, teacher and loving father to our girls and a very caring, responsible, loving and sometimes sarcastic husband to me. The sarcasm often drives me crazy, but I love it just the same. Matt, I thank you for all you do and love you so very much. Happy 12th Anniversary!!

Memorial

Matt flew back east yesterday to attend the memorial service of his grandmother and grandfather. His grandmother Mildred passed away on October 19, 2003 but it was her desire to be buried and memorialized with her husband, Edward. Edward passed away on July 5th and the service for both will be held tomorrow at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Dickson City, PA.
Although I never met them, I have learned that Mildred was a published poet, accomplished quilter, and devoted member of her church. Edward was a World War II veteran and an avid fan of all sports at Abington Heights High School for the past 20 years.

Mildred and Edward Archabald

Geri and Matt at the church

The Archabald Home in Pennsylvania

Closet Raid

While I was at the hospital, the girls played at Lauren and Reanna's. When I returned, Leslie invited us to stay for dinner and the kids raided the coat closet while they waited for it to be ready. They sure are crazy, but they had a ball!

Welcome to the World

Lisa and Daniel welcomed Olivia Emmalynne into the world last night at 9:34pm. She weighed 6 lbs 9 oz. and was 20 inches long. Lisa called me throughout the day giving updates as they awaited her arrival. It was a very long day for her, but after talking with her this morning, she sounds great and is so in love with her little one. She ended up needing a trip to the OR after delivery and had a morning full of tests to determine that all was OK. Luckily, the tests determined that she didn't need any further surgery and she is on the road to recovery! I couldn't wait to visit her today and finally got the OK at 2:00. I dropped my girls off at a friends and rushed over to get a little "baby fix". Little Olivia is precious. She has such petite features- nose, lips, ears and eyelashes. Her coloring was perfect and her skin was so soft. The nurse made the cute little bow in her otherwise standard hospital cap. Too cute!Lisa can't nurse yet due to some tests she had today, but it was sweet watching Olivia drink formula from an eye dropper. Amazing she could fill up on just 2 droppers of formula. Grandma enjoyed the bonding time too!

When I arrived, Daniel was home taking a well-deserved nap and getting a quick shower before returning to the hospital for the evening. He was so sweet with Olivia when he arrived back in the room and was so emotional just talking about her. He is one proud Daddy! Hopefully Lisa will get to come home on Saturday. My girls can't wait to get their hands on that sweet little girl!

Sun, Surf & Sand

It has been a week of sand and sun. It seems silly to take pictures of every beach trip, but it has truly been our home away from home this summer. In the last week, the kids have been there 4 days and plan to go again tomorrow. Our favorite beach is Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, but we have found Oceanside a little more convenient during the week. The girls know the routine when it comes to packing for our beach day. The list is the same every time:

• sunscreen
• baby powder (to get the salt water stickiness off our hands)
• rash guard
• change of clothes
• hat
• boogie boards
• inner tubes
• towels
• beach chair
• beach umbrella
• garbage bags
• cash for parking
• camera
• cooler with snacks, lunch and drinks
  

Once we arrive, they sunscreen and head right for the waves. Most of their time is spent diving under the waves, boogie boarding on top of the waves or lounging in the sand as the waves crash into them. They take a break to dig for sand crabs or bury each other, but they can't get enough of the water. I even ventured in a few times and caught a few waves on the boogie board! When Matt joins us, he loves the water too and loves helping the kids create sculptures in the sand. It is the ultimate family day and I hate to see summer come to an end. The beach has been our great escape from the heat and a great spot to hang out with family and friends. We will do our best to fit in a few more days before August 17th.

Cooling Off

~What better way to beat the heat than eating ice cream and swimming at the same time~

Visit with the Curtis Crew

Dave, Jenny and the boys drove down for a few days which we always enjoy. It is hot, hot, hot so we spent most of Sunday in the pool and BBQed for dinner. I think the outdoor thermometer said 107 degrees. Ouch!

Dave on vacation!

Tanner and Allison chill out in the waterfall

Yesterday, we packed up the car for a day in San Diego. Our 1st stop was a tour of SDSU where Matt, Dave and I all went to school. Dave hadn't seen the campus for a while and he was amazed by all of the changes. Not only did we miss out on the new Love Library and Student Activity Center, they have also added an incredible Aquatic Center and Tennis Pavilion. All of my old nutrition buildings have been torn down and replaced by beautiful architecture and our old cafeteria is now filled with many of the chain restaurants that we eat at today. Sure isn't the same meal plan I was used to! Then it was off to the USS Midway docked in San Diego Harbor. Our family has done this tour before, but enjoyed it for a 2nd time.
I couldn't get over the tight sleeping quarters. 9 men slept in a room no bigger than my walk in closet. The ceilings were so low and walkways were so narrow, but the enormity of the ship was quite amazing. We struggled through the interior part of the ship because the ventilation is horrible and it was a very hot day. We were glowing, sticky messes by the time we made it to the flight deck.

Taylor gave us a thumbs up from the cockpit.


Here is a view from the flight deck. The girls loved looking at the Coronado Bridge and Seaport Village.

Our neighbors, Chip and Teresa, boarded the Carnival Elation yesterday so we called them from the flight deck to see where they were. They were able to spot us and we waved to them before they set sail. The kids got quite a kick out of that.

As if we hadn't packed enough in, we continued our day with dinner at Old Spaghetti Factory in the Gaslamp and walked over to Petco Park for a night game. The kids had fun playing tag in the grass before going to our seats.

Dave got us these great seats in outfield. We were hoping a left handed batter would shoot a home run right to us. There were 3 homeruns, but none of them made it to our section.

Our social butterfly (on the far right) joined the Pad Squad for the 7th inning stretch. She led the section in "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and chants of "Let's Go Padres". I love her enthusiasm. We left in the 9th with the Pads down 3-2 to the Marlins, but these kids were wiped. We had them in bed by 11:15 and hope they sleep in late this morning.

Swamp Fun at VBS

Mitchell, Marley, Taylor, Cooper, Zoe & Allison

Vacation Bible School has become a summer tradition for the girls and this year was no exception. The theme-Crocodile Dock-brought creatures from the swamp, bayou-themed crafts and games and great music and snacks. I think there are about 600-700 kids at this event and the church manages to keep it all very organized with the help of lots of parent volunteers and middle/high school students. Taylor was thrilled to be with Zoe in #33 and Allison loved seeing Marley and Abby in group #31. She even has Kate as her leader.

When the kids walked out of camp, they had a less-than-enthusiastic look on their faces,
which is so unlike their usual "Mom, guess what we did" attitude that I normally see at pickup. The 102 degree heat maybe had something to do with it! But as the day progressed I heard about the funny stories, festive songs and Bible lesson of the day. I love hearing their different interpretations. Allison learned that God is always with us (that is what she says after Sunday school most weeks too) and Taylor went through the entire story of God talking to Moses within the burning bush and how he proved to be faithful and keep his promises. Just a little more specific, don't you think?
Allison's group

They are anxious to see what is planned for tomorrow and the rest of the week and I will look forward to a car ride home full of stories.

Just Another Day at the Office

Matt seems to think our summer "office" is the beach which works for me. I wish we could be there every day. Today we met Wendy, Teri, Cheryl, Kate, Lisa, and Julie for our weekly beach date, although unfortunately, it hasn't been weekly. This was only our 2nd trip. The day started out a little overcast but quickly turned into a picture-perfect beach day. Allison boogie-boarded most of the day and Taylor spent most of her time watching over Carson. She will be a great babysitter in the next few years.

Taylor with Carson and Dominic

Marley, Zoe and Allison test the chilly water

Abby, Allison and Cooper

As soon as we arrived, I noticed two holes in the butt of Taylor's very old suit. I chose not to say anything knowing it would put her into a panic. We made it through the 1st few hours without anyone saying anything, but then sweet Abby said, "Do you know you have holes in your bathing suit?" That was the end of that. Taylor spent the rest of the day sidelined with her coverup on but she continued to play with Carson in the sand and was surprisingly calm. We will be bathing suit shopping tomorrow!

I did get a few eye roles from her when I wouldn't let her walk on the pier with some of her friends. There were way too many people and it was too far away, but she was feeling very left out and frustrated with me. It is a tough thing explaining that I trust her, but don't trust the motives of others on the beach and that it is my job to protect her even if it means upsetting her. Matt helped me get the point across over dinner and I think she somewhat understands. It wasn't the 1st time and certainly won't be the last.

Kelly, Felicia, Emily, Taylor, Allison & Dominic