Firebombs 2012

Soccer has begun and Avery's team is called The Firebombs (Avery chose the name!)....and I'm the team mom!  Her best friends from the down the street and Lexi (cousin) are all on her team.  If that doesn't make it a fun season for her I don't know what will!  Their first game was last weekend.  She played goalie twice and defender twice.  Even though they lost, they have some skills and I suspect they will be winning very shortly.
Justin and Devin are playing baseball this season and have had a couple practices, but no official game yet, so those pictures will be on their way.  It's going to be a fun and very busy season!

Fun in Hollywood

A couple of weeks ago my friend Lindsey and I went to see the taping of So You Think You Can Dance. We had to be there about 6am to line up because the first taping (the group number) taped at 7:15!  So, we left at a very early 4:30am.  After the group number we would have had hours to hang out and have to line up around noon to get a seat at the 4:30 taping of the rest of the show, but they asked us to go over to Price Is Right and in exchange we would receive guaranteed seats and wouldn't have to stand in line all day.  No brainer!  That show will be aired on October 1st and we are sitting in the middle and I believe we get on camera quite a bit.  I'm wearing a bright blue shirt.  Drew Carey was super funny in between takes and we got to sit in A/C, so that was great.  Then we headed over to SYTYCD.  We sat in the choreographer and friends and family section, so we had great seats.  It was really good, but a super looooooooong day.  We went and grabbed dinner after and then headed home. I think we got home around 10:00.  The above picture is us in line for The Price Is Right and then the warm up guy took a panoramic photo of our audience and posted it on FB.  That's our audience.  It looks much bigger than it really is.

Last hoorah of summer

 On the last week of summer break we went to Lake Casitas and Pismo Beach (again).  We camped with our friends, the Forrests at Lake Casitas.  They were on the last leg of their almost 2 week trip and went home after that.  It was the hottest week of the summer!  At home we heard it was averaging around 105.  One day it got up to 111!  Where we were it was 100.  It was hot enough!  Luckily, we knew we were heading to Pismo where we'd get major relief at around 68 degrees.

The kids set up their duct tape craft table and made a few sales.

 Devin lost his tooth the first night we were there.  I used the same trick on him as I did on Avery a few years ago.  I told him to hold it tight and show how he wiggles it and then I slapped his hand and out came the tooth!  It shocks them, but then they are so proud.  :-)

 Haley trying to keep cool.

 Dinnertime with the Forrests

Playing around down by the dock

 Trying their hands at fishing...surprise!  No luck!

At the Lake Casitas Water Park

 Devin, Tyler, Aiden, Avery, Justin

 We went to Ventura beach one day to get some relief from the heat...only to be cold!  But we'll take it!

 The kids only lasted a very short time in the water because it was too cold

 The opted to play catch and hang out

 After 3 nights and 3 1/2 days, it was time to head to Pismo!  At first they gave us a really small spot, but Kirk talked to them and they moved us to a very large one and we were very happy campers (literally!)

Behind the campground, right in front of the beach there is a runoff area.  We tried to get Haley to swim in there, but all she would do was walk around.  She doesn't know she is a water dog I guess.

 

A typical sight in our trailer.

 Duct tape stand.  They made a good amount again.

 Eating our favorite meal in Pismo - Clam chowder from Splash Cafe

 Movie night in the main square at the campground

Swimming time.  Always fun!

Aaronic Priesthood

Justin received the Priesthood the Sunday after his birthday.  Kirk ordained him and his sweet, old teacher that supports him in all his spiritual decisions came.  We are so proud of him!  The next week he passed the sacrament for the first time and sweet Sister Burd (who has moved about 30 minutes away) came to support him in that too.  We just love her.  She's his number one supporter.  He's a lucky boy to have her in his life!  Justin, we love you and are just so proud of the young man you are becoming!

First Scout Camp

Kirk went up to Scout camp for one night to help out.  These are taken with his phone, so they are very poor quality.  Just look at these dirty boys!  They were bragging about not showering the entire week (luckily the did swim!).  He said he had a great time and he earned FIVE merit badges!  Three of them will count toward his Eagle.  Woo hoo!

 Because these tents don't zip up they said raccoon came to "visit" every night.  They'd peek their heads in, sniff to see if anything good was in there and then leave.  Eek!

R.I.P. Charlotte

While Justin was at camp Avery found a baby bird that fell from the top of our second story roof.  After reading up on it we waited for the mama bird to come and feed her, but she didn't, so Avery convinced me to take her and try to help.  I mixed dried dog food with warm water and some hard boiled eggs (found that several times on the internet...if you find it on the internet it works!).  Avery named the little thing Charlotte and Charlotte ate really well the first day.  The next day she lost some interest in it, but over night she had sprouted tail feathers, so I thought maybe there really was a chance.  By the 3rd day she was pretty lifeless and she died.  Poor little Charlotte gave it a shot.  We buried her in the backyard and Avery decorated her grave.  I also took some pictures of her siblings who grew very fast that week! They flew away within a few days.

Justin's 12!

Justin turned 12 on Monday.  I can't believe it.  He is now in Young Men's at church and will be getting the priesthood!  So crazy and so exciting!  Because he was leaving for Scout Camp for the week at 4am on his birthday, we did a mini celebration the night before.  He doesn't like cake, so he requested cupcakes.  I know, I don't get it either.  :)  This year was the year he was to have a friends party, but he opted for the money it would have cost for that party and asked...ok, begged and begged and begged, for a cell phone.  We finally caved and he now has a cell phone, but we insisted that he not be locked into a 2 year plan, so we lucked out and a friend gave us her old phone and his present is we will pay each month through Christmas and then he has to pay for it himself (watch out...he'll be asking everyone for money for Christmas so he will be able to afford it).  Not being locked into a contract gives us the freedom to shut it off at anytime for any reason.  Makes me feel better.  :)  Anyway, he's a happy camper (literally...gone the entire week!).  Happy birthday, our wonderful, sweet son!  We love you so, so much!!!!!

Construction

While we were gone on our fun week away construction got under way.  Thought I'd post some pics of the beginnings and how it currently looks.

Funny story about this outhouse.  While the kids and I were in HB at my parents, Kirk came home from Dana Point to no plumbing or water.  He had to actually use this thing that is there for the works.  Ugh!

 All the green grass you see below is gone.  It's now all dead.  :(

 And this is our lovely ruined front yard.  Nothing as really bothered me so far, but this is a little sad.