A Girl's Week

The boys are off on their high adventure trip (bike ride across California) this week, so Calissa and I are on our own at home.

 Monday, we did some grocery shopping and then made 8 batches of Strawberry jam.  After that we went shopping at Old Navy and Calissa spent her gift card from her birthday.  We went out to Outback for dinner and then enjoyed milkshakes at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Tuesday, Calissa had a friend over (Gracie) all day.  We picked her up from swim team practice and then went to the Farmer's Market.  After that they played, I read and did some chores around the house.  About dinner time, she went home and Calissa and I had dinner at home (with our yummy farmer's market corn on the cob) and watched America's Got Talent.  We ended the day reading in bed!

 On Wednesday morning we picked up Lindsay and headed to the Oakland Zoo.

We had a fun day!

 Our favorite thing that day was watching the otters play (and petting the goats, and watching the monkeys, and riding the train, and getting pressed pennies!)

Uncle Drew and Christopher were at the Giant's game and Aunt Tina had to work, so she brought over Emily and we watched the girls until Drew got back about 7:00 pm. (Calissa played barbies with Lindsay for probably over three hours!  What a great cousin!)  The traffic was super bad and it took them forever to get home but we had fun with the girls. Calissa went to mutual that night to watch a movie and have some S'mores.

On Thursday, we had a church thing in the morning.  Calissa babysat some kids while I had brunch with some of the sisters in our ward.  Then, we headed out to Walnut Creek to go to Barnes and Noble to get a birthday present for Christopher.  Since Calissa had been such a great babysitter I let her pick out a couple of new books too.  Then, we walked to Buckhorn to grab a late lunch.  Once home, we hung out for a while and then I convinced Calissa to go on a walk with me.  She wasn't too happy about it until we found baby ducks diving in the water.  They were soooo cute!  That evening Gracie came over to spend the night and we went and had dinner at Skipolini's, played some cards, watched some tv, and then went to bed.  (There was also some sleepwalking by Gracie and some talking in her sleep by Calissa)!

 On Friday after Gracie left we went to Benihana to celebrate Christopher's 7th birthday!
Thanks for inviting us!  It was soooo yummy!

Then, we went and did about 3 hours of shopping in the mall.  Calissa bought a new dress and purse with (mostly) her own money.  I got a few things too with some gift cards that I had.  That night we had leftovers for dinner and then watched the movie "Zapped" on the Disney Channel.  Calissa had one last night in our bed and then we ran some errands the next day, washed dad's car and waited for them to come home! Calissa was glad to see her dad and brothers but decided that she was going to miss sleeping in dad's bed!

A quick boating trip

With our family reunion camping trip coming up next week, Drew and Tina needed to take out their boat to make sure it was working.  Originally Conner was invited along, but then I got an invite as well. (Parker was in Tahoe with Trever, Travis was at work, and Calissa stayed with Grandma and helped watch Emily (and got to spend a lot of time on her phone)).

After the drive to Berryessa it was time to launch the boat (after 3 long years - the last time they had used it was our family reunion camping trip three years ago and it broke the second night).

Conner and Drew keeping it attached to the dock while Tina parked the car. 

 And we're off!

 First up, Conner and Christopher on the tube!

 Then some time playing in the water.

There was a bit of a breeze so I was a little reluctant to get in the water myself.

 Drew and Tina

 Next Lindsay and Drew went on the tube! This was Lindsay's first time out on the boat.  She had a fun time.

 Such a cutie!

 Flagman Conner

 Drew did some tricks on the knee-board and wake-boarded as well.

 Conner tried knee-boarding for the first time and he was so good that he didn't even need to hold on!

 We stopped for a while and swam off the boat.

 Then Tina and Christopher tubed.

 Since Tina was already wet she decided to do some wake-boarding.

 Lindsay telling her dad to slow down.

 I told them that I would go on the tube with Lindsay (figuring that they wouldn't go too fast if she was on) but she didn't want to go again, so I got talked into trying the knee-board.  I got up and held on for quite a while. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be and the water felt great!

 Here are Conner and I heading back to the dock after our day on the water.

 We had a great time (and so did Calissa).  Thanks Uncle Drew and Aunt Tina for inviting us!

(Just wish I wasn't so sore the next day! - At least everyone was sore the next day too ... it made me feel better!)

Parker - end of school happenings

Parker had a very busy end to the school year!

For his final in Show Choir, they put paper plates on their backs and wrote nice things to each other.

(He did have some hard-ish finals too, but most of his grades were pretty set so he didn't have too much to worry about).

 After finals the last day of school he came outside to find his car decorated.

Hmmmm ... I wonder who did that? (Nichole)

This window made me laugh especially.

(Should have been Dodgers, but Nichole is a Giants fan)

Can't believe I have a Senior!  How did that happen?!?!?!?!?!

 That night we went to graduation to support Tyler, Nichole, Morgan (and lots of other Seniors).

These boys sat behind us and cheering loudly all night! 

 What great friends these boys are!

Parker, Tyler, Trever

 Buddies!  We're so sad that Tyler has graduated, but we're so proud of him.

 Parker and Nichole! Congratulations Nichole on all your hard work!

Can't believe this will  be us next year!  Hope it goes slowly, but I know it'll fly by!

Conner's 8th Grade Graduation

 Conner had his promotion ceremony on the last day of school.  He got some new clothes for the event.  Doesn't he look handsome? (And soooo grown up!)

 We arrived about 10:00 am, and the ceremony started about 10:30.  They held it on the grass this year.  Everyone (all the spectators) brings their own chairs.  Here is the new principal, Mr. Honey welcoming everyone.

Here is Conner standing up (with 13 other students) being recognized for a 4.0 GPA for all three years.

We are so proud of all of his hard work!! He was a dedicated student and worked really hard for this.

 Unfortunately, they spelled his name wrong!

Here he is waiting for his promotion certificate.

 Here he is getting it. 

 Dad cheering him on!

 Here we are after it was all over.

Congratulations Conner!

We know you'll do amazing things in High School!

A Surprise Award!

Parker was approached by the athletic director at school last week to gather up the Cross Country kids for a meeting one day during lunch.  He gathered about 15 kids and went in for the meeting.  She announced that their team had won an award for the best average GPA for Division 3 boys Cross Country in the whole North Coast Section!  They got certificates and a banner will go up in the gym. 

They were so excited to be recognized!  Great job boys!!