TORREY PINES STATE NATURAL RESERVE

Last weekend we had some beautiful weather so we decided to get out and enjoy it!  We drove about 20 minutes south from us to the Torrey Pines State Park.  It is a beautiful area with nice hiking trails and access to the beach.

Here we go......

It was a fun day and I'm already looking forward to our next outing there!

DOWN FOR THE LAST TIME.....& GONE

Back in December, the fort came down for the last time.  We bought this big toy when we lived in Issaquah, WA 6 years ago.  It has travelled with us from Washington to Illinois and to California.

It took Jeff, Gabriel and Matt just a few hours to take the whole thing apart.....

The girls were still able to find some fun even with the slide on the ground and upside down!.....

Here it is all piled up and ready to be hauled away......

I really thought that the kids were going to be upset when we took the fort down, but they weren't.  Then I thought that they were going to be upset when we sold it, but they weren't.  Then I was sure they were going to be upset when the people that bought it came and took it away, but they weren't!!!!  I was the only one that was even a little bit upset when the fort got loaded up and taken away. 

I can remember when we bought the big toy and it seemed sooooo big and tall and I was sure that one of the kids was going to fall off of it and break a leg.  That didn't happen (luckily) and we all had many fun years playing on the big toy!  Now, however, it's time to have some different fun and different worrying!

I'm assuming that the kids were not upset about getting rid of the big toy because they are more than excited about the pool that is going in in the backyard.  There was no room for a pool and a big toy so the big toy had to go!  We've still got a few months of construction, but the pool should be full of water and ready to swim in by Spring!

A GOOD BIG SISTER

Here's what I found in Rena's bed one night when I went in to check on her before I went to bed........

And here's what I found in Maleah's bed........

JEFF IS 40!

Jeff hit the BIG 4-0 on the 16th!! 

He had to work, but the kids and I worked on having dinner and dessert ready for him when he got home.  He requested homemade sweet and sour meatballs and an apple pie.  Of course we had to make a chocolate cake also.

Rena did a great job of measuring and mixing and then Maleah, Rena and Cameron all worked on frosting and decorating........ 

When he arrived home we hid and then yelled "happy birthday" as he walked through the door.  He also had to immediately put on his birthday hat and button!.......

Not quite 40 candles, but we couldn't fit anymore (& I didn't have anymore!).......

It might not seem like a big deal to all of the bakers out there, but I actually made an apple pie - (from scratch - the whole thing - even the crust!)  It was one request from Jeff for his birthday dinner and I did it!  And it was even pretty good........
 

We didn't do much to celebrate, but the kids worked hard to make it a special evening for Jeff with their homemade treats and cards.  I think it was a happy day for everyone!

HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY JEFF!  WE LOVE YOU!   

MORE VACATION PICTURES

We had a great time visit friends in Washington, but also had a great time just hanging out.  Cameron and Alex had a fun week playing Alex's XBox........

The girls had fun just hanging out......

The girls even had fun in the XBox room when they had their ipods......

We spent a lot of time just hanging out......

One morning we met up with one of my childhood friends, Amy Samuelson.  She still lives in the Puyallup area so Stacy, the kids and I met her at a Starbucks.  It was a lot of fun to see her.  I went to school with her from Kindergarten through High School -- and our moms actually went to high school together also.  I hadn't seen her in about 10 years and it was fun to catch up!......

Then, we did some more hanging out at Stacy & Mike's.......

Megan was decorating the girls' earphones in thread -- and the girls were very interested!.....

Where the girls slept -- in Megan's room......

It was a great week hanging out with everyone!!  I'm hoping it won't be too long until we are all together again!! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEX!

We got to help Alex celebrate his 14th birthday while we were there visiting.  His birthday was actually on the day we were leaving, but we had a fun time celebrating the day before.  Alex decided that he wanted to go bowling to celebrate.  We all thought that was a great idea so we headed to Daffodil Bowl at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon, got two lanes and bowled two games.

Rena's ready to go........

Olivia (Megan's friend) and Megan.......

A strike for the birthday boy!.......

Dad, Suzie (a good friend of Stacy & Mike's), Stacy, Megan and Olivia.......

After bowling we all went out for pizza.  Stacy had called ahead so it was all very organized with our party of 15......

The grandparents -- dad, Bonnie, Jim & Marilyn McCullough.......

Suzie and Stacy.......

Mike, dad and Bonnie......

Maleah, Megan, Olivia, Cameron and Alex......

Happy Birthday Alex........

.....make a wish!.......

We were happy that we got to celebrate with Alex this year!  Happy 14th Birthday Alex.....hope it is a HAPPY year!