Beach Bums

Boogie boarding at Strands

Christmas in July, the 24th of July, and Recipes and etc

When I was at girls camp one year we made dream catchers and I still have mine from way back. 

We did this most of the morning. Didn't do hair, but we got them done.

This is a new favorite of mine for dinner - Chili Verde Chicken Tacos

This is flatbread pizza with basil and white bean sauce and kale and parmesan. Surprisingly I loved it, but Ben needs less bread and more protein to be happy in life, so he wasn't a huge fan.  Cody and Macey loved it. Mackayla only seems to like yogurt and fruit and a few random things.

She. Doesn't. Like. Chocolate. 

Is this even my daughter?

One day the kids were talking about strength and mentioned how dad was stronger than mom, etc. I stopped them and said, "Dad's stronger than me?!" And Macey nonchalantly stated, as a true factual deduction and proof of truth, "Dad can make his boobs dance."

Then Mackayla added kind of off handedly: "Ya, everyone has different talents."

Wondering if Cody would like these books. I need ideas for him.

Is it weird that I'm already thinking about Christmas? I've been taking pictures of ideas. I don't like to do a mass spending at Christmas time, it feels easier to spread it out over the year. But realistically it still is. I just worry I'll forget about hidden stuff. I would.

Speaking of: Macey, being the thoughtful girl that she is, wants a snow cone machine. The REAL kind. And she is going to ask Santa because then she will save Ben and I a lot of money because Santa can make Anything! I Need to find a snow cone maker!!Santa better get started soon!

Does anyone else hate Monopoly, the game that never ends?

Has anyone ever even finished?

My kids love it!

Probably because it's mom torture. 

Speaking of random things. Mackayla asked me the other day, pointing to her bum. "Which tail is this? ...What kind of tail? ...A cat or a dog?"

I finally got it and told her TAIL BONE. Not cat or dog, just people. I do love cute innocent ages.

 Early morning run to Doheny beach. Tons and tons of surfers. 

Our stake had its annual 24th of July Pioneer Day celebration. 

It's always so well organized and the kids love it! 

There's tons of kids games.

Cody and Macey, best of friends or worst of enemies, teamed up for the three legged race, ended up staying for like 20 minutes, and killed it. I was cracking up, but they are impressive!

  We love the balloon man too! 

(Cody's is a fish and fishing pole, Macey a kitty, Mackayla a puppy.)

Probably two years ago Macey told me "I love little things like little hearts, little food, little toys...but I like you even though you are big." I found that in my phone and might have written that down, but just to be sure! I also found a little side note from around the same time that Macey doesn't think Ben has clothes because he always puts them all away.

Since I'm talking randomly about these things, when it's Mackayla's turn to pray sometimes she'll have long pauses trying to think of something to say. Occasionally she'll look up and I'll whisper a prompt to her with something but she'll veto it completely, so I'll have to think of other things, and we end up having long drawn out conversations. I can't smile though it will make her mad!

Lately the girls and I have been playing a game Macey made up when I'm kissing them good night. Someone tries to kiss lips and the other person tries to kiss cheeks. You try to get the other person before they get you. The girls usually say they want lips, it's a little easier. Mackayla is funny, she is competitive and can dish it out but can't take it! So tonight she told me to go easy then grabbed my head so I couldn't move and kissed my lips. To her that was fair and square:) Macey usually ends up laughing so hard she can't breathe for a second.

Coast Cave Hike

Scout pack meeting Coast Cave Hike!

Inside looking out

Outside looking in

From the Ocean Institute in Dana Point it's a one mile hike along the rocky beach to this slit in the side of the cliffs that opens to a cave. Fun hidden treasure! 

 

There are SOOO many fun things to do in southern California and I love it here!! I don't have as many close friends as I have in other places we have lived. One of my closest friends made enough tough choices that she's no longer here. Sometimes I wonder if it's the busy stage of life everyone is in and sometimes I wonder if people here don't need each other as much as other places. Maybe people here just realize I'm crazy, ha! I don't know. That being said, I think we have an incredible ward full of good people and a safe neighborhood with good, honest people, so, life is good. I do have to consciously remind myself to slow down and take time to ponder the good in life, not just experience it. And my skin has aged 50 years in the last three, but I do love being out in the sun. And the kids are like little fish. I am a terrible swimmer!! 

Pros and cons to every place and everything. The trick is to find joy in the journey, right?!

Basketball and Beach Days

Cody is playing basketball this summer. He claims it's his favorite sport. I'm pretty sure he says that about everything sport he is currently playing...so we'll see:)

His coach is a high school basketball player. The ball got stuck in the rim and he just jumped up and popped it out like it was nothing!

He's also like a high school student...we usually find out about practice... right before practice. haha. 

They lost their first game but won their second. After the first game their coach talked to them and in a nutshell said, "You guys played terrible." No parents knew what to say, a couple of people awkwardly clapped. So funny. He's sweet though. 

 We headed to the beach after the game. Can't get enough summer beach days. We stayed later this time.

Ten Miles

The kids went on a bike ride while I jogged along side Mackayla pushed Mackayla the entire way. Those training wheels! I can't wait until we get that one figured out:)

We went to the area where there's a cave hike. I figured it was around a 2 mile bike ride in and then a short hike to the caves.

The 2 mile bike ride turned into a 6 mile bike ride because the fence, that is normally closed, was open. I was sure we turned only where the CLOSED fence was. Until we came to the closed fence, almost to the ocean-but only through private property chained with five locks-and I realized we went WAY too far. 

We turned around and finally made it to the hiking part. 

Here's the first set of caves and Cody doing his impression of George Washington. 

 More George

Then we went to the second round of caves 

I tried to convince the kids to turn around because I was beyond tired.

We saw a deer, too 

But the kids really wanted to find the tree cave. We never found it! But we got to Dripping Cave. 

Then we had to turn around and head home. Just as we hopped in the car my watch let me know we clocked in 10 slow miles complete with cave exploring and lunch.

They were troopers and then Cody headed straight to basketball practice!!