dinner in the boat

We packed dinner and headed out to our favorite swimming spot the other night. We happened to meet some friends out on the lake, so the kids got to play hard and Brett tried out a new ski.

With all the fun and commotion going on, Megan forgot what she was doing and literally ran and jumped off the back of the boat. When she finally came up out of the water her eyes were as big as saucers. I cheered her on, but she simply said, "I don't want to do that again" and went on her way.

Ava found her balance with her life jacket and became an independent swimmer. She was swimming all over and climbing in and out of the boat like a pro!

Savannah's first time swimming around the boat without a life jacket!

A little example of what Meggie usually does when I get the camera out!

I got brave and took my camera into the water for a family photo. It was the perfect ending to a perfect evening.

team work

No dessert until your dinner is gone.

Savannah showing Ava the infamous "plug your nose" trick.

triple digit days

Keeping cool in the lake

Last week was just too hot. We had planned a camping trip with our neighbors, but a few days before leaving, we decided it wouldn't be a good idea to be camping when it was so hot. Especially with the possibilities of thunderstorms. So we did the next best thing and did a "day camp" with our neighbors. Lots of swimming, playing, and even an afternoon nap in the air-conditioned house.

Brett getting caught in the storm.

Playing in the wind as we cook our Yoshida's Chicken outside on the camp stove.

It cleared up just in time for us to enjoy our chicken, salad, ice cream and a few sparklers left over from the 4th of July.

a birthday for Sally

Ava: Hi Mom.

Me: Hi.

Ava: This is my kitty...(pausing & getting serious)...She's not a human.

Me: Yes, I think your right. She doesn't look like a human.

Ava: Her's a girl. Her name is Sally. She wants a birthday party. Will you get me the playdough so I can a have a birthday party for her?

Afther making a cake, Ava sings...

Happy Birthday to Sally

Happy Birthday to Sally

Happy Birthday to Sally

Happy Birthday dear Sally

Blow the candle out kitty!

some "ava-isms" that make me laugh:

she said "roastbeef" but really meant frisbee: "mom will you play roastbeef with me?"
overheard in her prayer: "thank you that Savannah is not the boss of me"

the way she says delicious: de-lish-shus

now she is six

Celebrating Savannah's birthday with a family party.

My neighbor, Dolores, made her a "mud pie" cake in a sand bucket.

The jeep from Nana, Papa, and Grandma was a huge surprise...

...and a big hit with all the girls.

Not only did we have a family party, but also, this birthday marked her first "friend" party, and once again, I didn't take any pictures. (I'll catch on some time!) It was tons of fun and a huge success. She invited nine friends and we hosted all the siblings and moms too; resulting in 25 kids, 9 moms, and a couple of husbands. We had kiddie pools, a cooled-down hot tub, slip& slide, swing-set, and trampoline. I served an easy lunch with "uncrustable sandwiches" (never thought I'd actually buy PB&J ready made, but it was easy) chips, cheese sticks, applesauce and bottles of water. The party lasted a couple of hours, but people lingered most of the afternoon since the kids were having such a great time. Although exhausted from the heat and kids, Brett and I managed to make the best of a messy situation and engaged in a friendly water fight while cleaning up.






Right now...
Favorite color: Blue
Favorite movie: The Princess Bride / "Liken the Scriptures" series
Favorite Book: Can I Keep Him?
Favorite food: Chicken
Favorite treat: gummie bears
Favorite song: Pineapple Princess
Favorite toy: dollies
Favorite game to play: card game "War"
A perfect day for Savannah would be to play dollies, swing, cross the monkeybars, and ride in her jeep. (This sounds like a "typical" day...so life couldn't be better!)
When she grows up she wants to be a dentist.
The accomplishment she is most proud of right now is swimming without a lifejacket.

4th of July

This picture was taken on the 5th of July, but pretty much sums up our 4th. Water, swimsuits, sun, fun, and good company!

I don't have a single picture from the 4th of July! The camera spent a lonely day on our kitchen counter. We scrambled out of the house by 9:30 a.m. and drove into town where we parked at my in-laws and walked down to the parade, which passes just a few blocks from their place. They live in the perfect area to access downtown by foot! It is so nice to be able to avoid all the traffic. We then spent a nice, sunny day at their home keeping cool in the kiddie pool and firing up the BBQ. By 5 p.m. the girls were ready to go home and get a nap in before the rest of the evening festivities began. At 8 p.m. we headed to our neighbor's beach to enjoy an evening swim, a bowl of popcorn, and fireworks over the lake!

gone fishin'

The lake is full of all kinds of fish and the girls have demonstrated so much patience practicing their fishing skills off the seawall in front of the house, that Brett decided they were ready to get a little more adventurous. So they set off in the canoe out on the "big" lake. They had a very successful afternoon and the idea of letting all those wonderful fish go back into the water became a little too much for the girls... so the question of "can we keep them?" soon came up. Brett explained that if we kept them they would die... and if they die...we need to eat them. So...as Savannah caught her next trout she was ready to make the choice; she would eat trout for dinner. Well, Megan of course followed suit and within a couple of hours the girls each came home with their own fish. However, by the time Megan exited the canoe she was very upset her fish was dead and began crying. Ava was upset and began crying because she didn't have her own fish to hold (hence the picture) and by the time dinner was over with and the delicious trout were gone Savannah asked "why are we killing and eating things Heavenly Father made for us?".

Savannah catching dinner a second time... and clearly over her concern for eating animals.


Megan looking a little happier after the circle of life and food chain was explained to her. By the way, one bite of trout was enough for her. She's officially a "catch and release" girl.

No photoshop necessary!