Travel, Birthdays and Lazy Summer Days

Another busy week has come and gone.  Owen and I headed back to Palo Alto late on the 20th.  We had a quick clinic visit on the 21st and we were back on the flight home in less than 24 hours.  No medicine changes and he looks fantastic.  His weight is still down to 50lbs but he'll catch up eventually. We get another two week break and will head back on July 4th for biopsy.  I'm just a little bit exhausted, but it's all worth it.

Last summer we used to joke and say "one day we'll look back on this long hospital admission and wonder how we got through it"... now it feels like so long ago.  We are so very grateful! 

 My birthday was Friday and we didn't do anything crazy.  Joe's Farm Grill is just down the road and they do free birthday meals so we had to do that.  Their espresso shake is so amazing!  These three munchkins make everyday so fun.  I'm going to be so sad when school starts. 

 We went to Olive Garden (Owen's choice) for my birthday dinner.  We hadn't been in forever and it turns out two entrees can feed our entire family of five with leftovers.  It was a great birthday and it's time to reverse the clock.  I'm 38 now and I have so much I want to do before 40!

 We have been dog sitting for Larissa's fam while they are on vacation for three weeks.  Sam loves Logi, until Logi chases him around with the ball popper or just annoys him in general.  Sam found a green ball, buried it, then Logan found it.  Sam was playing with it inside and as soon as he looked away, Logi grabbed it.. poor Sam.  He gets rewarded in plenty of food Logan drops on the floor.  Owen and Kam just pet him and cuddle him.  No crazy ideas, I am not an animal person.  Maybe one day. 

We have a pretty lazy week ahead of us.  I'm trying to clean out closets and just get stuff done around the house. Most of our summer days involve the boys running around in their underwear, toys sprawled out all over the house, plenty of "iced lollies", late afternoon naps and then Daddy is home. I am soaking it all in.

Summer Living

This summer has been busy!  I find myself taking a step back and soaking in every little moment.  Kam had Summer Scrubs through U of A this week.   It was a week long medical school camp and she LOVED it!!  They really gave these kids a direction and explained the journey to medical school.  She did intubation, ultrasound, CPR, sutures, dissections, attended lectures and made friends.  It's a competitive process to be accepted and we are so proud of this girl.  Of course she won the award for 'Best Jokes' on the last day because she is her Father's daughter.   

Logi has been a busy boy. He is outgrowing his naps, just like all our kids do by about 28 months.  He still needs them and usually falls asleep when he just can't keep his eyes open another minute.  We had a few visitors and friends come by this week.  Owen had an echo and cardiology appointment in Phoenix this week and all looks well!  It's just been a busy week for us all and we wouldn't have it any other way.

On Sunday, we celebrated Father's Day and our 18th Wedding Anniversary. How has it been 18 years??  We also celebrated birthdays this week and it was a good excuse for the kids to make us chocolate cake. We are so lucky to have such great men in our lives, especially my husband who works hard to support our family, spends quality time with each of our kiddos, and respects my role as a mother and wife.  We love you babe.

I say it all the time, but I am so grateful that my kids get to grow up with their cousins.  They all play so well together now that they are older.  No more bickering and fighting over toys.  Also, I am in love with our play room!  It's a dream to have adults in one area of the house having conversations and the kids off in the playroom keeping busy. 

It's a new week and it's a HOT one.  We are having record breaking heat in desert.  I don't know why it hasn't phased us yet.  We go outside, run errands, drink lots of water and it's not that bad.  Owen and I are headed out to Palo Alto today and crossing our fingers that our flight isn't one of the cancelled ones. :)  It's just another Summer in the desert.

Oceanside

When my in laws mentioned they had reserved their time share in Oceanside for the weekend and invited us along, how could we say no?  The kids and I decided last minute to pack our bags and make a weekend of it.  Carson is in the thick of their busy season at work so it was just the four of us.  The six hour drive couldn't have gone better, my kids are a dream in the car.  We listened to lots of crazy music and I like to annoy my children by belting out the lyrics, usually not the correct ones.  We had a lot of fun!

 

We arrived on Friday afternoon and ate dinner on the harbor with Monica, Todd, John and Tyler.  My in laws were taking the older boys out on the deep sea fishing trip for the weekend so we had the time share to ourselves.  We stayed out late and slept in.  We spent plenty of time at the beach.  It was overcast and a perfect 68 degrees.  Logi hated the beach at first and kept trying to walk back to the car saying "home, we go home".  Then he learned to love it and wouldn't stop talking about "da beach."   Kam and Owen were in their element.  They love the ocean!

 

We grilled dinner at the time share, relaxed, watched a little tv and enjoyed the cooler temps.  The trip was short and we were on the road Sunday driving home.  These kids are the easiest to travel with.  Just give them a water bottle and some loud music and they are content for hours.  We made it home in time to spend the evening with Carson.  Kam picked the movie for movie night and we settled in with Beauty and the Beast.

 

We are so happy.  Blessed.  Thankful.