Summer 2016

So this year we decided to renovate our very run-down and depressing front and backyard. We are incredibly pleased with the final outcome after lots of annoying construction dust and noise. Since we are now paying for this lovely backyard, we opted for no vacation this summer and stayed home to enjoy it! We had fun roasting marshmallows and hanging out by the fire at the very start of summer but it's been too dang hot to enjoy it much lately. Cheers to future fall breezes!

So all in all, we had a lazy summer. We stayed up late and slept in a little longer than usual...

I went upstairs to go to bed and found two little sneaky stinkers had stolen my bed!

We spent some fun days at the beach! The boys made me a birthday cake out of sand and sang to me as I embraced turning 35!

And we spent a lot of time at Disneyland! It was hot and crowded, but still remained magical!

Archie loved having his big brother home all day. He had someone to help him play dress up and build forts and all the things that I'm no fun at!

The boys took gymnastics this summer and loved it. They were jumping and somersaulting all over the place! We spent a morning practicing at the trampoline park.

Can you spy Carter?

Lastly, our big adventure is Carter finally lost TWO teeth! He's been waiting forever to get a wiggly tooth and all of a sudden he had two and they fell out about a week apart. He is thrilled to return to school tomorrow to show all his friends!

Tonight we say goodbye to summer because school starts tomorrow for BOTH BOYS. I can't believe that Archie is finally starting school and he is thrilled and I am a little emotional because that means I will no longer have my little morning companion. I'm going to miss our Target runs and park days and lego building mornings. My house is going to seem very quiet for 3 whole hours a day, 5 days a week but I'm sure I'll survive it! :)

Spring Break 2016

We just got home from a glorious mini-vacation in Santa Barbara. It was so much fun to take the kids there but it made me feel kind of old.... has it really been 15 YEARS since I was in college there?! It was fun to walk down State Street and remember all the date nights Dave and I spent when we were so young... and throwing two wild boys in the mix definitely made me view the city in a new light!
First, we checked into El Capitan Canyon campgrounds. I had heard great things about this place but had never been. After our brief stay I totally recommend it and am already trying to plan our return trip! The campgrounds are situated a little north of downtown SB, and although you are at the beach, the campgrounds are across the freeway and hidden in the beautiful hills and trees. This is NOT your average campground... it is "glamping" and it is glorious! There are cabins, yurts, and  canvas tents. We stayed in a yurt and it was huge! Big tall domed ceiling, three beds, wood floors, electricity, a small fridge, and a heater. The boys were eager to get the firepit going and we roasted hot dogs and marshmallows. I think my favorite part about this campground (besides the gorgeous scenery) was the market and restaurant. It was really nice to wake up in the morning and just run down to the restaurant for coffee and a really tasty breakfast! Next time we plan on bringing hardly any food and just ordering our meals from the market. (I know the true campers will think this is crazy but seriously, this is my style of camping!)
We checked out the next morning and headed to the Santa Barbara zoo. It was breezy and sunny and beautiful and we had a blast. Then we checked into the Montecito Inn (designed by Charlie Chaplin!) and showered and relaxed before spending a fun evening on State Street. The next morning as we were having breakfast with the other hotel guests (who were mostly older people) Archie exclaimed loudly, "WHERE DO BABIES COME FROM?!" The entire restaurant was laughing which of course egged him on and he asked that same question like three more times to my total embarrassment!

Road trip ready!

Our adventure yurt!

The campground had a great playground and even a pool!

Their funny face selfies always crack me up!

Nothing beats snuggles by a fire!

Archie is an early bird. He's eating donuts in the morning while everyone else sleeps!

I woke up to the sunlight streaming in through the roof.  

My early bird went to the market with me to get coffee and OJ! 

Nothing beats bacon, breakfast burritos, and pancakes!

The elephants are so cute!

The Santa Barbara zoo grounds are beautiful! 

Awesome hill with cardboard surfboards!

Watching cartoons in their undies!

Our hotel was lovely and it felt great to relax!

Super yummy ice cream!

The weather was absolutely perfect.

Soaking up the warm sun!

When we got home, Dave and I had a fun day date (just the two of us!) at the Segerstrom Center and watched the Book of Mormon musical. Sadly, today is Sunday and I am having a hard time getting this family back in our reality routine of work and school. We sure did love spending this week together... I'm looking forward to planning another getaway soon!

That's a wrap!