San Diego Staycation - Day 1

With Paul being gone all summer we were really looking forward to him coming home for a week.  We decided that instead of making him travel yet again we'd do all the fun things we never do around here.

Paul loves waverunners, and I foresee sometime in our future we may have one of our own. 

Especially now that he has the kids hooked too.

Paul got a great deal on the waverunners.  Two for the price of one, and since I am the most "unadventurous" person I know....we called Melanie to come play too.

Nolan and Callista had a fun time playing in the rafts.

The girls enjoyed being pulled in the tube.

YES!!!!!  This is me.  I actually rode on one for 10 minutes. 

Paul made so much fun of me and how slow I was going.

Ryan had the awesome wind blown look.  I think it is quite handsome.

Callista had no interest in riding them, but she had a great time playing in the sand.

Chloe's Baptism - August 21, 2010

What a special day.  Chloe made the choice to be Baptized today.  We are so proud of her for making this decision and for taking the first step into entering the Kingdom of God. 

Chloe and her Grandpa Greg Shupe

Chloe and Grandparents Valerie and Greg Shupe

Chloe and her Grandpa Pat Patterson

Chloe and her Grandparents Pat and Gwen Patterson

The whole Family

Chloe's cousins Marissa and Camille Hardy came down with Valerie and Greg for the weekend.  It was great to have them here and it meant a lot to share this with her cousins.

After her Baptism we went to the park for a pizza picnic where we enjoyed a delicious cake

with our family and few friends.

 It was a special day for all of us.  We are so thankful Chloe for the example you set for us, and for those around you.

Happy Birthday Chloe

Chloe's Birthday was amazing.  It actually started on Wednesday with a pedicure with her BFF Julia.  They were so funny.  I had to keep reminding them that they could talk to one another.  They just sat there looking at each other, and giggling every once in awhile. 

The final outcome:

After the pedicure we went to the corner donut shop and indulged in one of life's greatest breakfast foods and Julia gave Chloe her present----a new outfit for her AG doll and a new AG book.

On her actual birthday....the excitement got even better.  It started with a visit to the Natural History Museum where we enjoyed the Dinosaur exhibit and the Gems exhibit. 

OH NO!!!!!!!!

The T-rex is going to eat them!

Whew....they were safe, but watch out Ryan and Callista...there is an Allosaurus after you now!

Papa and Chloe

Next...we went to Mimi's where Chloe chose to eat lunch.  The kids all enjoyed having breakfast for lunch.

Then.......her very first Activity Day happened to be on her birthday.

A Swim Party

Then....it was off to get her ears pierced.

BEFORE

AFTER

See the sparkles in her ears.

Then it was home for dinner, Presents, and Cake.

Callista gave her a Zhu Zhu pet.

Ryan gave her a glow in the dark Ocean Puzzle.

Dad and Mom gave her earrings, a Tinkerbell book, A Disney Mania CD, The Princess Protection Program movie, and her sparkly outfit she's been wearing all day.

Papa has started the tradition of building Hope Chests for each of his granddaughters to give them when they turn 8 years old.  It is absolutely beautiful.  It even has a jewelry box built in the bottom.

Chloe wanted a Texas Cake for her birthday. and a Texas cake she got.  It was delicious!

Happy Birthday Sweetie and thanks for a fun couple of days as we celebrated your birthday. 

I WIll Remember......

"...but the biggest mistake I made is the one that most of us make while doing this. I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of the three on them sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages 6, 4, and 1. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in a hurry to get on to the next things: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less."
— Anna Quindlen

 I will remember this day.  We went to Subway and got sandwiches and went to a great park at Miramar where we sat on a blanket and enjoyed a delicious picnic.  We played, and played, and played without ever checking the time, or caring what time we got home.  The kids' laughter echoed all the way through the park as they continued to say "watch me Mommy", and "watch me again"!  

And we even had a second serving of cookies on the way home!

Movie Night

What do you do on a Friday night when your Husband is working late?  It just isn't right to do nothing.  Afterall, it shouldn't be the same as every other night...its FRIDAY!!!!

So you invite another friend over whose Husband also works late, order pizza, and watch movies!

Callista and Ryan watching Dora and the Three Little Pigs under the piano in the living room!

Ryan and Dallin watching "Dinosaur" on the Family Room couch.

 Julia and Chloe snuggled under the covers watching

"Nancy Drew".

A Perfect Friday Movie Night!