THEY'RE GONE

I am sitting here writing this in a VERY quiet house.......all of our house guests have headed home -- and I already want them back!!!

Bonnie and Katherine flew back to Seattle on Thursday. Mike, Stacy, Megan and Alex are in the air flying back to Seattle as I type and dad is in his car driving back to Vegas.

It was a FUN week full of a lot of late nights, yummy junk food, long - hot days, long - slow lines, fast - dark & scary rides, a sandy beach, a refreshing pool and LOTS and LOTS of smiles and laughter!!!!

Here's a look at our week:

Day #1 - THE BEACH

We loaded up in 2 cars and headed to the beach with enough gear to keep everyone happy for the afternoon.

After the beach we went back to our place and dad & Bonnie supplied us all with a great dinner from Costco!

Day #2 - UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

We got up early Sunday morning and made the 2 hour drive North to Universal Studios. Peggy, Gimi and Scott met us there and we had a fun, full day. We all stuck together for most of the day, but for a little while dad, Bonnie, the kids and I broke off to do "younger" type rides while the "big kids" went on the bigger, faster, scary rides.

Megan, Alex, Cameron, Kate and Rena.

Day #3 - DISNEYLAND - The happiest place on earth!

We spent the night Sunday night in a hotel just a few miles away from Disneyland so we were up and moving and at Disneyland first thing Monday morning. Gimi didn't stay in the hotel with us, but we still had Peggy, Scott, Dad, Bonnie, Katherine, Mike, Stacy, Megan, Alex, Me, Cameron, Rena and Maleah. (Jeff had to work.) Again, we spent most of the day together but did split off for awhile to do some different things. This time Peggy spent some time with the kids and I in Toontown while the bigger kids did some big rides.

Cameron lasted until about 11pm but couldn't keep his eyes open any longer while he was waiting for Mike, Stacy, Megan, Kate, Peggy and I to get off of the Space Mountain ride!

Day #2 - BACK AT DISNEYLAND

We spent another night in the hotel and were back at Disneyland first thing in the morning for another day at "the happiest place on earth" - (Stacy kept reminding us that's where we were!).

Cameron and Alex got to build themselves new light sabers at the Star Wars gift shop inside of Disneyland. It was Cameron's birthday present from The McCullough's and he loves it!!!

Maleah with a very dirty face, but a BIG smile after she just finished off a big round sucker!

Cameron really wanted to ride in the horse drawn street car - so here we are ready for our ride!

We stood in-line for almost 2 hours to meet the princesses!! Actually, Bonnie & Kate stood in-line for 2 full hours while Maleah napped in the stroller, I guarded the stroller with Maleah napping and Megan and Rena wandered between the line and the stroller. It was well worth the wait when they got to meet Snow White, Cinderella and Aurora.....

While the girls were waiting for the princesses Stacy & Mike took Alex and Cameron a few different places. They got to drive the cars that Cameron was dying to go on......

and they met Pluto.....

After a few hours in Disneyland we headed over to the California Adventure park.

We had some YUMMY ice-cream while we were waiting for the Electric Light Parade.....

We ended our trip to Disneyland with the Electric Light Parade and then some shopping at one of the stores in Downtown Disney. We loaded all of our tired bodies into the car at about midnight and made it back home to Carlsbad at about 1am.

Day #4 - A DAY AT HOME AND AT THE POOL

On Wednesday we hung around the house and the community pool in our neighborhood. The kids had a great time swimming while the adults had a great time visiting and watching the kids. We spent most of the afternoon up there taking advantage of the pool, the bbq, the great weather and the great company!

Day #5 - SEAWORLD

Mike, Stacy, Megan, Alex, Me, Cameron, Rena and Maleah spent Thursday at SeaWorld. Bonnie and Kate flew home that day so unfortunately they weren't able to join us. (Dad had to take them to the airport and Jeff had to work so they didn't join us either.) We had another fun day - we saw the Shamu show, the dolphin show, the sea lion show and quite a few other exhibts throughout the park.

Alex got a new polar bear and Cameron, Rena and Maleah got new penguins. They have wanted these penguins since the first time we went to SeaWorld so it was a happy time for all (eventhough it's hard to tell with the pouting Rena is doing - she was tired!) :) Megan also got some sounveniers, but not an animal!

We went on the Flying Elmo Fish ride.....

Alex, Mike and Megan got soaked during the Dolphin Show -- but that should have probably been expected since they sat in the "soak zone"!!

Day #6 - ANOTHER DAY AT THE POOL

We spent most of Friday at the pool. Peggy and my cousin Gimi and her family - Paul, Gimi, Taylor, Ryan, Haley, Scott and Taylor's boyfriend, Mark - all arrived on Friday morning. We packed up some goodies and headed to the pool to barbeque, swim and visit.

After the pool we decided to head to "Old Town San Diego" to check it out and eat dinner.

Everyone around the table - Steve, Paul, Gimi, Stefanie, Cameron, Jeff, Rena, Megan, Maleah, Ryan, Haley, Alex, Scott, Mark, Taylor, Peggy, Stacy..........and Mike was taking the picture!

The kids were alittle bit tired by the time we got done (they were actually tired before we ever left the house to go) so Rena got a piggy-back from Grandpa back to the car!

Day #7 - THE LAST DAY

(It can't really be over already, can it?)

Mike, Stacy, Megan and Alex had a flight leaving back to Seattle at 6:30pm so we just spent the morning and part of the afternoon hanging out together. The kids did some playing outside, they went swimming for a short time and then we had to say good-bye!! :( Dad drove them to the airport and then he headed home to Las Vegas.

The Herrens - Haley, Paul, Ryan, Gimi, Scott, Taylor and Mark.

Stefanie, Stacy and Gimi

Steve, Jeff, Cameron, Stefanie, Rena, Maleah, Megan, Stacy, Alex and Mike.

It was a GREAT week and I am already looking forward to the next time we all get together. I'm actually already planning everyone's next vacation for them!! :)

THEY'RE HERE

Our fun week has begun!!!!

Grandpa Steve, Grandma Bonnie and Katherine arrived on Thursday night and Mike, Stacy, Megan and Alex arrived last night!!!!

Rena and Maleah were so excited when they woke up this morning and Megan was in their room. They, of course, immediately woke her up and haven't left her side since.

Cameron and Alex went straight to the "Lego room" (also know as a dining room) and are already building some cool things.

Grandpa, Grandma and Katherine are still sleeping, but we are looking forward to a fun day today with everyone at the beach and then off to Universal Studios tomorrow and Disneyland on Monday and Tuesday!

KIDS GAMES

The kids spent the last week at a Vacation Bible School camp called "KidsGames". It ran from 8:45am - 12:15pm each day and the kids had a GREAT time! Cameron got to chose a primary activity - he chose basketball - and the girls got to "play" each day. They came home with new art pieces that they had made and singing new songs that they had learned.

Monday morning - ready for camp - dressed in the official camp t-shirts!

Friday was "team day" where everyone was suppose to wear their team color - Rena and Maleah were both green and Cameron was purple. Cameron doesn't have any purple so we had to take one of Rena's purple t-shirts and wear it inside-out (so that you couldn't see the pretty flowers that were on it).

We had a picnic lunch and "jumping" time (in the blow-up bouncy's that they brought in) at the church after the camp was over on Friday.

The kids did really good and had a lot of fun all week. Maleah had a bit of a break-down on Friday morning and didn't want to go to camp, but after one of the volunteers peeled her off of me and she stopped crying she had a good time.

"LOOK AT ME.....I'M DOING IT!"

We had a BIG, EXCITING night last night.........

Rena got rid of her training wheels!!! She did so great and picked up on it FAST. I held on to her seat for about 30 seconds, let go and off she went!!! She started out with knee pads (just in case) but quickly got rid of those after making a few laps around the cul-de-sac!


Maleah also had a big night riding her "big" bike. She got the "hand-me-down" bike from Cameron (notice the pink horn that we got to try to dress-up the boy bike - she also has a new girly-basket and handle bar streamers that haven't been put on yet). She hasn't been able to ride the bike by herself - it was still too big for her. BUT last night she decided to give it a try and she did GREAT!

Cameron also had a big night (ok - his wasn't as big, but he thought it was cool).........one of the neighbor boys let Cameron ride his skateboard for awhile. I think I know what I will be getting Cameron for his birthday next month!

MALEAH'S 4 YEAR PICTURES

OUR 4TH OF JULY HOLIDAY

We celebrated the 4th of July at a barbeque at our neighbors house.....

One of our neighbors friends brought this little dog with him and Rena LOVED him!! She was so concerned about the dog all night long. She really wanted to bring him home, but luckily his owner wanted to keep him!!! :)

It got a little chilly in the evening so it was time for a fire.....

And what better thing to do around a fire than make smores?!!?!!!

Rena your marshmallow is on fire!!!!!!!!

THE BEACH

Our 4th of July Holiday started on Friday afternoon. Jeff had to work in the morning, but came home early and we all headed to the beach. We all love spending time at the beach.

The kids love to dig and build and dig and build and dig and build..............

The girls had a great time jumping and running from waves with Jeff. Maleah got knocked over one time and was covered from head to toe with sand. She didn't like that very much, but once she got rinsed off and got all of the sand out of her hair she was ready to go again.

Cameron just likes to dig and build and dig and build and dig and build..........

Jeff buried all 3 kids in the sand........

The thought it was cool until they tried to get out - and were stuck.........

Jeff and Cameron built a mountain............

It was a fun day at the beach even though it wasn't a very original idea.........

I recently met a man that lives here in Carlsbad and he told me to just wait until September. He says it's the best month to live here because the weather is beautiful and the tourist are gone!!!!! :)

A DAY AT THE POOL

We had some beautiful weather on Saturday and took advantage of our community pool and barbeque. We headed over at lunch time before it got very busy and were able to get a good couple of hours of fun in!

Jeff (with his white skin and lots of sunscreen) did the barbequing of hamburgers and hot dogs.

Maleah's ready to get in with her fish floaty that she got for her birthday, water wings and matching head band (she's very stylish)!

All 3 kids really enjoy the water.

Rena LOVED being thrown into the air.

Dad was still here visiting and took a little dip to cool off also.

We will definitely be using the pool a lot with the nice weather!!