First Day of School

Olivia started 4th grade and Sammie 1st.  The morning actually went smoothly.  Everyone was excited.  The first few minutes at home after school were filled with excited talk and stories from the first day.  "I found my friends."  "My teacher is nice."  "I sit in the 'Europe' group."  Then I don't know what happened.  Everyone was grumpy.  Everyone was crying.  Everyone was yelling.  I was trying to sign papers.  Abby was yelling at me about homework which she doesn't have because she is only 3.  The girls had an extremely minimal amount of super easy homework and there were tears over it.  They were just so tired and finished.  So was I.
Somehow everyone calmed down after Joey got home and we ate dinner then went out for icecream for Family Home Evening. The rest of the night went smooth. I think tomorrow afternoon will be better. Whew!

Abby wishing she could go.

Sammie found her buddy Audrey before school started.  They aren't in the same class this year, but they found eachother at recess.

Staying in the Lines

I think my 3 year old is getting pretty good at coloring.

Everything is a variety of brilliant shades.  She learned it from the best.  Her sisters.

I think this the last Sea Ranch post

 Just some family pictures.  It was a blast.  I guess I only dowloaded Becky and Terry in their tie-dyed shirts.  I love how the family keeps growing.  I'm so glad my parents put this together.  It wasn't easy, but they assured us that it was all worth it.

Sandcastle

 The boys were determined to build a sandcastle.  It was on the bucket list.  We used to do it everytime we went camping on the beach with all of my cousins when were small little kids.  However we were missing the architects and engineers of the family.  No one in my family has those qualities.  We didn't have Grandpa Pebley, Uncle Neil, or Uncle Tim with us.  But they came up with their own design and I'm sure there are plans for improvements on the next one.

 I love my "Sees-ter!"

Tie-Dye and Talent Show

We all tie-dyed shirts.  I can't say we were all happy to wear them, but it was fun nonetheless.  My girls and I tie-dyed shirts when were staying at my Mom and Dad's before the trip.  My Mom and I thought it would be fun if we all did it together as a fun craft night.  Then we could all wear them at the "Talent Show."  Talent is a loose term.  It doesn't matter what you do.  You just have to do something.  Abby and Sammie did an Irish step dance.  They were awesome.  Completely self-taught.  There was some guitar playing and singing, storytelling, poem reciting, and stupid human tricks.  No one really plans anything.  It just sort of happens...and all in our tie-dyed shirts.

 (Look at that form!)

Tennis Everyone!

It's tradition.  It started when Joey and Nate had a tennis class at BYU together.  It was a brother-in-law bonding experience.  The text book for the class was titled "Tennis Everyone!"  The cheesiness stuck and became a lasting joke.  Everytime we go on vacation they play "tennis everyone" and take a goofy picture.  They are all terrible at tennis. 

The Lighthouse

We've been to Sea Ranch a few times.  The first was when I was a teenager.  Everytime we go, we go up this lighthouse.  It's one of those things that we just have to do.  It has memories.  Each of my girls have climbed up the steps to the top of the Point Arena Lighthouse and looked out at the ocean from the signal room at the top.  And everytime it is impresses.  I think it just becomes real.  Life in a lighthouse long ago.  It's fun to imagine.

San Luis Obispo

We got home from Sea Ranch and rested for a week at home and then we were off on another adventure.  (Actually I had a burst of energy and organized and put Olivia in her own room.)  Joey was teaching at a conference in San Luis Obispo and we tagged along.  Joey's parents met us there too.  We had a fun, relaxing, and also busy time.  I think the girls loved the pool at the hotel the best.  They swam and swam each afternoon.  We visited the Farmer's Market which was amazing.  I love looking at all the yummy, vibrant produce.  The streets were full of music and people.  I kept couting my kids, 1-2-3, to make sure we didn't lose any.We walked the streets downtown, went to a movie, ate delicious dinners out,  went to the Madonna Inn for dessert one night.  I loved the beautiful weather and seeing the ocean, again.  I think we got a good share of beach time this summer.  The girls loved staying in a hotel.  We all went to bed late and we are still going to bed late.  We're going to die next week when school starts. 

Bubblegum Alley.  My girls made their own addition.  Disgusting.

Pismo Beach.  Everyone from Bakersfield goes there and in the 9 years we have lived here we had never been.  It was beautiful but my girls were all in a bad mood so we didn't stay too long.

We visited the Chidren's Museum before we left.  Abby LOVED being a doctor.