5 Generations

My Gram Bette came to stay with us last week.   She and I have such a special relationship.  I am not sure if it is from living with her when I was little or what, but I am so thankful for the relationship I have with her.  It is really so good for my soul.  She always makes me feel unconditionally loved, and what more could I ask for?  I hope that when my turn as a Grandmother comes, I can take and channel her love to those after me. 

While she was in town, we met up with some long lost family members. It was my Gram's cousin that no one in the whole family had seen since my Grandmother was 10!  It was a great reunion and felt like some puzzles pieces clicking into place.  It just felt "right".  While preparing to meet those family members, my Grandmother had brought along some photos from her family to remind her cousin of faces, and follow ups. 

This is a 5 Generations picture, with myself as the little one being held by my mom on the right.  In a day where it is hard to come by 4 generation pictures, this 5 generation is a gem! 

I am so thankful for my time in growing up in New York.  That family is where my roots are, and have always been.  I would give anything for us to be able to live there now to give my boys the same type of family bonds we just don't have out here.  Those are some special ladies in that photo.  Can't wait to find more family treasures like it!

After 8 Years

When the boys were 5 months old, the weather was finally perfect enough for Don and I to have our first real family outing. While we were out, the boys needed to be fed and the bottles were in the car and rather than all of us making the trip back to the car, Don left me with the boys. I was TERRIFIED. I was so scared they were going all 3 start to get hungry, cry and cause a scene. I took them out of their gigantic stroller to distract them and laid them on the grass. They never cried, they just laid back chilling out. It was such a relief, and a huge bonding moment with them. Last week, we went back to the same fair and I HAD to take this pic of them again.

3rd Grade!!

THIRD GRADE!!

Your dad took off work Friday to go to the teacher meet & greet with us.  He is like that, never wanting to miss out on what's going on in your life.  Since he was home two days, he led you to believe that Saturday night was Sunday and school started the next day.  On our way out to dinner, Luke had seen a bright start in the sky and we did the whole "star light, star bright" and made a wish that PLEASE can we have an extra day of summer.    When you woke  up the next morning, I am not sure if you figured it out or believed in the magic.  No one talked about it much, I think because you wanted to believe. 

My mind can't wrap around you are already this big.  You boys make me so proud with your kind hearts and sweet smiles. I know you'll do great in school this year.  Go third grade!

San Clemente

We had an incredible spot!

Right now we are on our last trip of the summer.  We are camping at San Clemente State Beach.  It's a beautiful campground with a gorgeous view from our spot, number 88. 

You boys are at an age (8) where we feel comfortable letting you ride your scooters around the camp. Up and around you go, it gives you some freedom while giving us some quiet.  Lots of people ride their bikes, walk their dogs and just come by to see the view of the ocean.


Today (like yesterday) is just a lazy day at the beach.

Jaxon has no fear and keeps going too far into the water.  Yesterday a lifeguard boat came up to Don and Jax, apparently their distance made the life guards nervous as well!   It is great to see Jaxon find something he feels he excels at. 

Lucas really seems to enjoy the whole beach package.  He has a good time whether he is digging in the sand or catching more waves.  Luke is happy no matter if he is just hanging out and jumping over waves, or taking the boogie board and riding waves all the way into the beach. 







 Wyatt is much more cautious in the water -too many wipe outs maybe?  He calls out to Jax and Lucas if he feels they are too far out in the ocean.  Sometimes he is so worried about them he won't see a wave coming up until it crashes into him!  Mostly he was only going in as deep as his chest, but on the last day Wyatt was back in his wet suit and riding the waves once again.  Mostly in the shallow areas, but at least he's trying it!

 

All three of you especially love the train that comes right by the beach, making sure to get up to the tracks each time.  It's really a picturesque beach with so many umbrellas and people everywhere.
Hard to believe you'll be back in school soon!  Sometimes this summer dragged, but I am bummed to think we will have many months before we can do this again.  You boys are growing up so fast and we really are enjoying the people you are growing up to be.  I wish we could bottle up days like these. 

IKEA

Your dad just put up some LED lights on your bunk bed. He did them so not only will they light up the bottom bunk, they'll light up the whole room!  While he was putting them up, we were wishing there was cool stuff like this when we were children :)  You guys have the coolest stuff!

Family Trip

Lunch on the Summit

Mining for jewels

Cool Cousins!

Our nightly view

Hanging with Pops at the Rescue Zoo

Going up SO high on the Summit Lift

The Alpine Slide Crew

A few weeks ago, we went to Big Bear, Ca with the Robinson side of our family. Uncle Donny and Aunt Michelle, Uncle Carl, Aunt Cassie and Aunt Leigha, Nana and Pops were all able to meet up and spend some family time together. We did lots of normal fun vacation stuff, but it was so many firsts for you- even though you are 8 years old. You learned how to play pool, you played Laser Tag for the first time, you went on an Alpine Slide, and for the first time in your memory, we went to a zoo. You got to catch up with your cousin Dylan, who you really didn't remember from their visit years ago. You thought he was pretty awesome like you did Matthew and Cathryn since you love your older cousins and try so much to be "cool" like them. You hung out and enjoyed playing with your much younger cousins Ryder and baby Jake. We went fishing on our last day, just the five of us and caught a fish for the first time ever. The trip was wonderful, the sunset each night from the back patio was so beautiful. Roxy came with us causing some issues at first, but she was so happy to be included.

OMGosh! You are 8!

Corona Del Mar, Ca

Here's the deal kiddos, it has been a while since I have blogged.  I have drafted a few blog posts (about the Christmas accident, 2nd grade, etc) but I haven't posted them yet.  Basically technology is changing, and you are changing and it hasn't been in the norm to sit on this computer in the corner of our hallway and keep this blog up.   BUT -as I am writing this- I have downloaded an app on my phone and hopefully it will bring the convenience back because obviously, it has been too long.

Last night I was online checking Facebook and your dad asked if our blog is still up.  Happily, it was.  I spent until 3 am (!) going through the blog, reading posts while laughing and tearing up.  Your dad was long asleep by then, so there was no one to share it with, but I soaked it all in.  I am thankful for this record of your childhood.  It helps my guilt since your baby books were a bust and not kept up.  All these pictures and stories made me realize that -first of all, your personalities have always been the same- and second- it is so important to update at least once in a while for posterities sake.

Right now you are 8 years old.  We are in the midst of summer vacation and have taken a few trips this summer to California.  We had been camping, staying at hotels and even a week in Big Bear where Nana and Pops rented a cabin for our whole family.   You guys are hilarious while simultaneously making my blood pressure rise from all the arguing and testing.  I feel all I say all day long is "be nice, be kind, speak kindly please".  My brain is still stunted from the toddler years and my memory is shot, but I wouldn't change this life for any other. 

A little about you now. You are into playing the X Box Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Heather got you for your birthday.  Games like Mine Craft, Superman Returns, and Need for Speed seem to be your favorites.  You love playing on the tablet, or just watching Netflix on the tablet even though you could watch it on TV.  There are tons of kids on the street you love to play with, the Sumis, Higgins are full of girls, as is Maile's family, but you are only beginning to mind that you are the only boys. 
 
 You guys either are literally hugging and wrestling or fighting and arguing.  It is rarely in-between.  You make your Dad and I crazy, and generally we need wind down drinks most days.  You also make us laugh all the time, out loud laughter.  We love spending time with you boys, especially since  we're well aware how fast you are growing and that there's only so many years to keep you close to us before you start spreading your wings.

So with that in mind, I am going to try to keep this blog up here and there, more than once a year, hopefully. We will see.