Our trip to San Diego by way of Phoenix...

We had a great time on our big summer vacation to San Diego. Here are a few of the highlights:





Eating ice cream at Legoland - it was really hot!







Blake in the play area at Legoland












Us at the entrance to Legoland after a long hot day (he is made out of Legos)!



Kate enjoying Legoland (she really did!)





Jacob at the play area at Legoland




J and B at Miniland - with miniature versions of many famous places made out of Legos.


J playing in Mission Bay





Blake driving his Lego car




Jacob finishing his laps in his Lego car



At the starfish pool at Sea World





Feeding the flamingos at Sea World




Blake at the beach for the first time!



Cannot wait to leave the hotel and go to Sea World






Kate so excited to go to Sea World!




All of the Arizona cousins - girls on the left, boys on the right!




We had such a great time! Thanks Grandma and Great Grandma for putting up with us for a week.

busy, busy...

I made the mistake of scheduling us crazy this summer so that nobody would get bored, and therefore in trouble. The downside to this is that we are spending the summer running around to activities, and not really getting to enjoy the pools and lazy days. At least we will be on vacation in 2 weeks, so really no complaints! Here are a few recent pix of the kids......

The boys and friends at the Rockies game

J and K playing and reading - See how much they look alike (missing teeth!) :)

A Perfect Fourth of July!

At the Highlands Ranch Parade

Look at our candies, and we are only half way done!
The gang
Jacob slipping and sliding
My first July fourth barbecue


We had such a fantastic Fourth of July. Who knew that our new house would have the perfect viewing deck to see not only the Highlands Ranch fireworks, but ALL the displays in the metro area at the same time. The best part - watching without crowds and in our pajamas!
We went to the parade and festival in Highlands Ranch to start our day. Then had a cookout with friends for dinner. We played slip and slide, bubbles, teeter-totter, and big wheels until we needed to get coats and pajamas on. We started a fire in our firepit and made smores, and then watched the fireworks until the fellas could not keep their eyes open any longer. Does it get any better than that?

Balloon Guy

We went out to eat last night after baseball, and the balloon guy came to our table. Of course we said yes, and he asked if he could just make something for the boys, and not a request. So this is what he made...

A turtle hat for Jacob, and a full size Goofy for Blake. Talented balloon guy. We may go back another week to see what else he can do!

Vacation Bible School

After a busy morning at vacation bible school.......

And the best part is we go again tomorrow!

We really are still here!

2 crazies at the splash pad
Blake trying to catch the water on his tongue

At the other (shady) splash pad
Jacob - action shot!

Blake and his monkey walk
Enjoying his end of session otter pop

Jacob on the kickboard
Jacob jumping in the deep end

I guess the birth of Faith warrants a new post. It is not like I haven't wanted to post lately, just haven't had the time or anything really interesting to post. We have been at swim lessons every day for 2 weeks, and Erik and our neighbor Steve built a playset at their house all last weekend. Add in baseball, and the other usual stuff, and it is pretty routine, and maybe boring! So anyway... we are SO excited that Faith is here, and cannot wait to meet her! Here are a few pictures of us (meaning Jacob and Blake) in the meantime....

Baseball, Cards, and a New Jumperoo!

Jacob had his second baseball game this weekend, and he got to play catcher one inning. He was so excited, not for the position, but for the gear! Here is Coach Erik, not Dad :) ,helping him put his gear on.
This is the boys organizing their baseball cards

We have been wanting to get Kate a jumperoo for a few months, and have finally broken down to do it. She loves it- we knew she would! It is so much fancier than the original jumperoo, with rainforest animals and sounds. Sorry the pictures are so blurry - she would not stop jumping!

Zoo Camp

Jacob's craft bag

Blake at the giraffes
Jacob and his favorite teacher and zebra head project

Blake on the train

All 3 with the fake hippo, outside of the real hippopotamus cage.

This week has been zoo camp for Jacob again. He LOVES it! We saw his ending show today, and here are a few pix of our week at the zoo...

Cannot wait until next year!

Nice Bike Ride!!

Jacob listening very intently to Paige
Look no training wheels!
Even making the sharp turns with ease

Our neighbor Paige let Jacob ride her son Will's bike. Since it does not have training wheels on it, and it was his first time without, she said she was ready to run behind him for a while - it's good exercise, right! Well, JJ took off after about 6 steps, and is now riding all over the place without training wheels. Thanks Paige (aka the bike whisperer)! Oh, and all the other 5 year old boys in the cul de sac are waiting outside your garage for your special tutorial "How to ride a bike in 1 minute or less!" :)

On a side note... Kate's nose is healing well, but just so you far away people can see it....

4 Generations!

Not the best picture of all of us, but still a great piece of history. We are so glad that Great Grandma was able to come all this way for Kate's big day. Now who looks like who??

Sorry-technical difficulty!

Kate's Baptism, etc.....

Hard to see Grandma leave!

Morning of the Bolder Boulder

A sister's baptism really can tucker a 2 year old out!

Kate's baptism (her picture is on the screen behind us!)

This has been a very busy last 2 weeks, as it always is at the end of the school year. First of all, YEAH to Aunt Casie who graduated from Chatfield High School - we couldn't be more proud of her, and more sad that our favorite babysitter is leaving for college :( Next we had Kate's baptism, and were so glad to have friends and family from far and near celebrate that with us. Then we were going to jog our first Bolder Boulder 10k with Jacob this year, but at the last minute, Uncle Jon took my place, and the boys did great! Then we had Grandma and Great Grandma visiting until yesterday, and whew, now time to breathe, clean, and get back to our normal summer schedule. Just a few pix of the big events.....