Vacation

This summer we decided to take a vacation and go see my brother in California. We enjoyed a long drive to California, stopping along the way to see some great places.


Here is Katie and Elle (always dressing like twins) after church, we visited Saddleback church (Rick Warren, "Purpose Driven Life" author)



Jason, my brother, with Shelly and their youngest, Hannah.

The Refinery, the youth building at Saddleback Church. Really cool.

We drove Pacific Coast Highway our last night in CA, we stopped in Oceanside and let the kids play in the sand. Great memories.

Does it get any sweeter than this?

I need to get this one framed!

Las Vegas strip

Hoover Dam, Nevada

We took a tour of the generators which involved taking elevators to the bottom of the dam. I don't remember one word the tour guide said. My mind was saying "get me out of here before we all die."

Grand Canyon

Kade is one tired boy here at the Grand Canyon. Johnny was loving every minute of the Grand Canyon. He's planning to go back to camp and hike for a week. Me...not so much. We decided he could go back with his dad and brothers for a week and maybe the girls could stay in a cabin back in Flagstaff!

Katie wanted to pose herself here! Love it, girl!

Summer Fun

For Katie's 7th birthday we surprised her with an American Girl doll. Since Katie was about a year old she has never been into dolls, in fact she has always disliked them. Animals have always been more to her liking. We were hesitant to invest in a doll that would be thrown in her closet just like "Baby Alive" was last Christmas. But Katie has become attached to her doll and surprised us.

Katie opening her "Just Like Me" American Girl doll. I'm so embarrassed about the mess in the background, that's just how it is when a 2 year-old is running around playing with his blocks!



Johnny made this bed just for the new doll. I sewed bedding which matches Katie's bedding in her room. Johnny and I were more excited about the bed/bedding as the doll. American Girl bed from the catalog...$125. Wood, spray paint, decal from Lowes made by dad...$35. That just makes me smile right there! Bedding was leftover fabric from Katie's bedding...free.



Here is Katie Jr. sleeping in her new bed.



The bed is sturdy enough Kade could sleep in it.

Slumber Party

We invited 5 girls, 4 came to our sleepover. Bailie, Anna-Claire, Emmaleigh, and Jordan.

The girls were painting animals in the backyard then played in our little pool.

Sleepover cupcakes, each girl had a cupcake to look just like her!


Katie, Anna-Claire, Emmaleigh and Jordan (Bailie not in picture because she had not arrived yet.)