The Sandcastle

A few years ago, we hired a professional sandcastle builder.......yes there is such a thing......to teach the kids how to build a cool sandcastle.  Well, we took notes and did it ourselves the following year, and continue to increase our sandcastle skills each year. So, I don't mean to brag, but I think we really out-did ourselves this time.

Denny was the foreman of the project and brought most of the supplies........plywood, drill, real shovels, real buckets, trowels, water pump!
OK, so we get a little into it and us adults do probably most of the work.....not that we don't let the kids help out......in fact, some of the kids are definitely more into it than others.  Notice that you don't see any of my kids actually helping with the sandcastle.  Gus doesn't count because he doesn't actually help. Max was working on his own sand projects.  Marlee was doing whatever she wanted to do with all the girls because she's "practically an adult now". I don't really know what Zane was doing.  And I hardly ever saw Jake because he was running around with all the guys, hanging out in the jacuzzi and charging smoothies to our room.
 But here's how our sandcastle progressed throughout the day.  And it really is more like sand carving.
 And was so much fun. 

Ta Da!!!!

I don't know what we're going to do next year to top this baby!

Our Fabulous Fourth

This was the best Fourth of July yet!
Especially since Gus didn't get lost this time.
Here's how it went down.
It was Sunday, so our whole group descended upon the poor Imperial Beach ward & probably close to doubled its' size.  Jake & Max P. helped out with passing the sacrament.  They were such good sports.  I was really proud.  And the Primary President was really glad that we weren't all staying for 2nd & 3rd hours with our 40+ kids!
After church we hung out by the pool mostly, and most of the kids played games in the lobby, until it was time to get ready for the fireworks.

The annual group shot

The Oklands, the Brians, the Heatons, the Pothiers, Us, the Tanners, the Garns, the Barneys, the Christensens, and the VerHaarens.

My goal this year was to be in as few pictures as possible, what with the post-partum pudge & all, but I got stuck having to be in the group shots. Oh, well.  Such a great group of people. I dig them all.  And the kids all dig each other.

We are just so lucky to have such great friends!

the girls

the guys

Us

I couldn't believe we took this family picture before we realized that we didn't even have everybody!  Max is missing, and somebody else had to point it out to us.  I think I'm losin' it.

And some more family shots.....

I wish I had gotten one of everyone.

the Garns

the Heatons

the Barneys

the Pothiers

the VerHaarens

And more pictures..........

Then we head across the street to the golf course for the best view of the fireworks.

Caroline, on her way to her first fireworks.

We haul a sound system & generator, along with our blankets, pizza & pop, down to the golf course.  Somehow we end up on the same patch of grass every year.

When it starts to get dark, it's time to break out the glow stuff!

Pizza, music, friends, glow stuff, human rubberbands, perfectly cool weather...

Did I mention how super fun this is?

Then it's all topped off with a spectacular fireworks show.....

........Gives me goosebumps every time.

Can't wait til next year.

beach babes

Man, I love taking pictures of teenage girls!  They are so dang hilarious!
And so willing to do anything I ask of them.  Unlike 4 year old boys.  I could do it all day!

Hey girls!  I think Sports Illustrated is calling!! :)

I thought I'd post our 4th of July Coronado trip in pieces since I took a million pictures (of course) & don't want to wait to do one huge post. I feel like I'm accomplishing something that way.

We've been at the beach!

....building sandcastles........with friends.

And now I'm buried in laundry and pictures and a baby who is so spoiled from being held constantly all weekend!

.....like this.