For our last weeks of summer vacation we squeezed in as much family time as we could.  We had cousins over for a few days while Kelly was out of town.  They were able to join us for our annual outdoor play at the SCERA shell where we all enjoyed snuggling in blankets and eating snow cones.  Allison and her friend Hadley posed for a photo and then realized their teeth had turned green from their snow cones.


 Kids played as much as possible, going to the movies and the pool and just having a fun time together.  They left Tuesday night and Wednesday morning at 4 am!!! we left for sunny California to visit my family.

The first day there our family decided they wanted to just hang out.  We went to a local park that Peter and Kathryn told us about that was designed for kids with disabilities.  It was one of the coolest parks that I have ever seen and super popular with little kids.


Taylor liked the swing but wasn't sure about everything else. 





And we got to play with these cuties:



We went to a used bookstore and all the kids picked out a new book to read.  Spencer wanted to check out their library and each kid picked a movie to watch while there.  And of course we had to get some sour dough bread at La Boulangerie.


That night I was able to go out with my sister Christina, catch up and see how much down town Mountain View has changed over the years as they did their weekly festival.


And one night we were able to go cheer on Christina at her roller derby bout.  We thought it was awesome to see her play.





We got to visit the beach twice as we could not get enough.  One time we went to Sea Brighton with my parents, Peter and his two kids and Griselda and her boys.  Except for a strong wind that started to pick up in the afternoon, we would have stayed there forever.  I was grateful Griselda was willing to drive 4 hours each way just to spend a day with us.

Lydia had a pattern.  Play in the ocean and then run back to Grandma for warming up in a towel.



Robyn would have stayed in the water forever but periodically had to get out to regain feeling.  I think maybe we should invest in wet suits.  When we saw this picture Allison started singing, "No body likes me, everybody hates me, I think that I'll go eat worms..."


Robyn loved having a little girl to play with:


On our way home we stopped for ice cream at Marianne's my new favorite place.  I discovered a new flavor - Heaven (its actual name) made up of vanilla ice cream swirled with brownie, peanut butter and hot fudge.  Peter pointed out that my sweet tooth is a little over the top!

Our other beach day was just our family where we went to Half Moon Bay and froze and loved it.  Some were brave enough to go boogie boarding and we went to visit the tide pools.  To get to these beaches I should mention how we got Taylor around.  I wished we had a photo.  Spencer just carried Taylor down to the ocean in a fireman's carry every time.  It was awesome.  I could have taken walks on the beach with my girls forever.  But teeth started chattering and the fog was pretty dense so we had to leave.


One day we went to the San Jose Tech Museum.  One of Christina's old friends that we used to babysit now works there and got us in.  Kids loved hanging out together and trying out all the tech gadgets.


Allison loved the jelly fish DNA manipulation lab as she still wants to be a biochemical engineer and she was saying this is exactly what she wants to do with her life.


Jeremy proved that he can beat Spencer in a wheelchair race.  Its good to keep Spencer humble.



Afterwards we stopped at Shoreline where we had our wedding reception 21 years ago that week for lunch.  Jeremy taught the kids how to kiss a goose.



And on Sunday we got to enjoy visiting with family, church and hanging out.  Jeremy spent an hour doing a photo shoot with Peter's kids.  It was awesome to just talk and visit.


Tuesday we got up early and made the long drive home.  Kids slept, ate and read the whole way back.  Its always sad to leave.  On the way home we learned that my little finch had died during the week.  So our house is currently squeakerless.  Taylor threw up on the way home and after getting home, showered and changed we put him in his eating chair.  For the first time in a long time he got the giggles.  I think he was happy to be back to his routine.


Wednesday was our 21st anniversary.  We decided we get a do-over.  The day was spent catching up on laundry, groceries, mowing the lawn, work etc.


We got to cheer Allison on at her dance performance where she did an awesome job and take Robyn to buy her list of supplies for school.  Robyn inspired by my sister found a roller skating outfit at Target for her doll.


We had to pack it in because Thursday while Taylor went into respite and Robyn went to cousins, Spencer, Allison and I were off for youth conference.  We had a great time up in the mountain playing hard and sleeping little can came back Saturday morning.  Spencer pointed out that when he showered the water was black.  I can believe it!

Thursday morning we had a bit of a rough start to the day.  We were up early as Allison had a peer helper thing at the junior high to be at for the morning.  We let Jasper outside not knowing Jeremy had let the chickens out.  A few minutes later we found Jasper chewing off the back side of one of our chickens.  He was covered in blood, Allison is holding the chicken who is bleeding all over and it was not a pretty picture.  While we were gone Jeremy has been treating the chicken and it is still going strong (albeit looking very gross and we are learning that maggots do have a useful and disgusting purpose in life).  Jasper spent a day in solitude and is no longer allowed outside without a leash if chickens are around.

For a year now Jeremy has been searching for a used camping trailer to buy and this week he found one so he took the kids to pick it up Saturday afternoon. Its a pop up trailer so its much lighter than our old trailer but it was bigger beds so our kids can actually all sleep in it. While Jeremy was gone Saturday night shooting the Demolition Derby, the kids all assured me that he was planning to sleep it in with him.  So good guy that he is, he grabbed his blanket and pillow when he got home for a sleep over with the kids and Jasper in the trailer.

Today was Stake Conference and everyone is enjoying a day of relaxation after all the activities of the last two weeks.  A day spent reading and laying around sounds awesome to everyone.  I haven't heard anyone say they are bored or don't know what to do today.

For my family the rest of the pictures from our vacation are here.

Saturday was our annual day at Lagoon, a local amusement park.  I have memories of going there since I was a teenager and our kids have built their memories over the years.  This year Kelly and cousins were able to join us.  Unfortunately Jason was home with a stomach bug.  We got there early and stayed till closing.  Jeremy challenged us all (except him - dang touchy stomach!) to go ride the new roller coaster.  Luckily we got there before the park opened and got to line up right away as later the lines stretched across the park.  The ride is called Cannibal and is truly the scariest ride I have ever been on in my life.  Good thing they lock you in otherwise I would have taken off as they were getting started.  This year was a little different because we skipped most of the little kid rides.  It makes me sad that we are past that point.  Instead I was taken way, way out of my comfort zone to ride things I never have before.  We had a great, marathon of a day and today all feel a little hung over.  After past years we learned our lesson and rode Rattlesnake Rapids in our swimsuit after we did the water park and before we changed.  Last year I watched everyone get soaked while I stood on the side lines holding baby Matthew.  This year kids made sure I got drenched, just to even things out.  I loved watching our kids playing with each other and with their cousins and just having a great time.  Spencer convinced Robyn and Garion convinced Kelly to do a water roller coaster at the end of the day with them saying there was only a sprinkle of water.  They got soaked and Robyn is still telling Spencer, "a sprinkle!!!".  The day ended with everyone deciding picnics and snacks were not enough and driving through In and Out right before midnight before going home and collapsing in happy tiredness.


And where was Taylor?  He checked into the respite center Friday evening and then we picked him up Sunday morning.  I think he was much happier laying in a bean bag watching Shrek where there was air conditioning.  This week Taylor finished up his summer camp.  They had a family picnic the last day where they hung up their art work, ate sloppy joes and sang songs for us.  It was fun to watch Taylor interact with the staff and other kids because he would lift his head up and give a half smile and you could tell he was enjoying himself.  Our other kids all agreed he seemed to like camp better than summer school so maybe next year we will do just camp during the summer.


This week Taylor went into the surgical center to get his dental work done.  I don't know why but being at the center by 5:45 and staying there till 11 am just wipes me out!  Taylor did great getting put out and waking up but the news wasn't so good.  He ended up having a root canal on his front tooth that they will finish next year.  The nerves were all gone and there was a hole in the bone of his jaw.  The dentist said it wouldn't have been hurting recently but I can't help thinking that a few months ago it must have really hurt.  He killed the nerves when he hit his tooth at one point.  It was slightly off color but not very noticeable.  They also scaled his teeth removing all the protein deposits from his drooling and burned away his gums.  When they did all this they found decay along all the gum lines so lots of fillings in every single tooth.  Next year they will remove his wisdom teeth as this year they were still missing one that hadn't formed yet.  Taylor spent the rest of the day laying in a bean bag, getting Tylenol and having a massage but woke up the next day happy and ready to go.


This week Robyn had her last swim meet and her end of the summer party for swim team.  She has learned how to push it while swimming now and its awesome to see her just charging across the pool.  She is enjoying all her hardware and trophies as she keeps getting faster.  We tried to talk her into year round swim team but she wants to to theater and archery club during the school year and we just can't do both right now without driving ourselves crazy.


Spencer has been working lots and enjoying what free time he has.  It seems like when he finishes jobs and any errands like getting a hair cut or running to the library his free time is in short supply.  He enjoys being able to ask if he can borrow the car and run up to the lake to go fishing or taking his bike out for awhile.  This Sunday he was on dinner and made us delicious fajitas.  With his job he is getting quite good at anything that requires butter, grease and frying.  At times I wish that his life was a little different where he had friends to hang out with but he has learned how to make his life interesting and full and seems to be in a happy place.  He grew another 1/2 inch so he was quite stoked about that.


The kids and I went shopping this week and everyone picked out their first day of school shirt so I think they are now set.  Allison got her schedule this week and is all excited to have gotten every class she wanted.  Now we just get to play for two weeks and enjoy these last days of summer.  We get to have cousins come stay with us for a few days while Kelly is out of town so my kids are excited for that.

A great way to start Sunday.  Today the kids and I were able to drive up to SLC to listen to Music and the Spoken Word.  Kids didn't complain about getting up early although halfway through the rehearsal I started to hear some really deep breathing from Spencer:


Taylor loved it.  I couldn't get any good photos of him because he kept moving his head and clapping.  Thankfully he didn't start chirping as I am sure that wouldn't sound so good in the live broadcast.  And doughnuts in the parking lot were a big hit.  Taylor and Spencer ate two apiece and couldn't understand why that was enough.  Our church time switches to 9 am in the fall so this was on my summer bucket list to go to while we could.


We got the outside of our new doors all painted and done.  We tried it out this week with pushing Taylor outside and it was super easy to eat dinner on our deck.  I think that will become a habit.  Best part is clean up just involves Jasper and a hose.

Spencer has asked for more hours at work so he is gone most nights now leaving at 3:30 and getting back at 10.  It makes for very quiet evenings around here.  We try to get some fun family activities in while he is home.  I got to take him to see Avengers one afternoon at our dollar theater.  And to celebrate Pioneer Day we went to the pool before he had to go to work.  At night while Jeremy and Spencer were slaving away at jobs the girls, a friend and Taylor got to go with me to a baseball game.  Hot dogs, card games, fireworks and watching Allison do a game on the field were a perfect way to celebrate.  Taylor wolfed his hot dog now and then hung out in the grass thinking life was pretty good.  Except for the sunburn on his face where he had wiped away his sun block.


This was the last week of school for Taylor and me and now we get a break for three weeks until we start up again.  I found a set of annotated notes for the Praxis test I have to take so I have been studying that.  I feel brain dead after an hour or two of trying to remember things I really should know like what each amendment is etc.  I registered for next semester for my classes.  So far it looks like 9 credits so I hope I can handle it.  I also got my job assignment for next year.  I will be in the same class but only three days a week.  The tough part is that on those three days three of our kids will get out an hour before me.  But they said they will make it work and help each other out.

Rest of the week has just been full of summer stuff.  Girls picked and sold bags of plums off of our tree.  Allison is limiting herself to eating three a day.  Spencer and Allison surprised me by going to the temple while I was at school one day.  I am trying to do better about not nagging them to do things so this just really touched me as they did it all by themselves.  I don't want to know what sibling prodding went on to make that happen and just enjoy that they did it.  One night this week a friend had a pool party to celebrate her daughter being able to swim again after a year and a half culminating in a kidney transplant.  It was an awesome evening to be a part of.

Jeremy got to go do a photo shoot for a vocal camp at BYU Friday afternoon and evening and will be down there again next week.  He said it was pretty amazing to see what these kids could accomplish.  He had a bad back week so he has been pushing through the days with ice packs.  Wish he didn't have that cross to bear or at least had some warning of when it would hit.  He still shows up a my knight in his white truck to rescue me when I blew a tire on a bike ride.

Robyn has been helping us remember to be more polite.  We have had LOTS of family time lately, which is great and also full of teaching moments.  We are either going to have very polite kids or very in shape kids.  Since my biggest problem is interrupting people I asked for that consequence to be sit-ups.  I could use them. 

This week Jeremy seemed to spend the week trying to fix things as quickly as they broke.  Which means our toilets are working, our van has new brakes, our car lost a huge stain, our couch cushions no longer smell like urine, our waterfall is unplugged (a horrible, gross job by itself), hooks are up in Robyn's room, a kitchen cupboard is glued back together and re-installed, a kitchen chair is put back together after breaking apart and the laptop Spencer uses for coding club is sort of working again.  He has been busy this week trying to stay ahead of the breakage around here.  What a guy.  It seriously seemed like he would fix something as a kid would walk in the room to break something else.

Allison picked our activity this week for Monday and decided to go fishing.  Spencer set up Allison and Robyn with rods and instruction.  Allison was a little outraged that her instruction was "Allison, watch me now do it like that".  And then she watched Spencer spend five minutes showing Robyn step by step how to fish, "put this finger here, and this hand here" etc. 


Friday Spencer and Allison packed a cooler of food and fishing gear and went back to the fishing pond for four hours.  Allison said it was fun but that it was an act of love on her part.  When Spencer's fishing rod broke he had Allison wade in to pick up the piece.  Allison was happy though that her arms were too short to reach the piece so Spencer had to wade in as well.  Its nice and a little weird to watch the two of them drive off together on an adventure.

Robyn got to use her coupon for a free kids' meal from her library reading program this week with Jeremy.


She is still buried into the Harry Potter series and talks of wizards and Azkaban to everyone.  This week she had another swim meet.  I wish that there was a way to do swim meets that didn't involve sitting around in the sun for four hours!  She was disappointed that she was a second slower on her free style but she beat her PR on breast and fly by 8 seconds each which she was quite stoked about.  It was funny to watch her do fly because there was a girl who was really fast next to her and you could see Robyn's head keep swiveling to see her competition.  She was determined that she would not be beat and it was nose to nose almost the whole way.


Sunday Robyn packed a picnic for us and we drove up the canyon to find a deserted spot by the river.  Jasper acted like a cat not wanting any part of his body to get wet.  The kids made it a goal to get him in the water.  He does get abused by all the loving sometimes.  Taylor was happy to be outside where it was cool and you could hear the river.  Ours kids love going up the trails in the truck and all the bumps and ditches.