1st annual 4th of July in Pismo...

So, we have officially decided that we will be visiting Pismo every 4th of July. As always we had a blast this trip! =) Here's a quick review of what we did below.

Take a look at this monster. They were calling it the amphibian. It is a boat and has wheels for land. This was very fun for all of us to watch. We saw this on the first day that we went to the beach.

How is it that the ice cold water doesn't bother kids? My kids loved the water. They were covered from head to toe in it. They were also covered in sand too.

Auntie DeeDee and Uncle Danny saved this box for Isabella and Chase to play in. It was a definite highlight of the weekend.

Then on the 4th we staying in all day because we didn't want to fight any of the crazy crowds during the day. We had a blast playing Marble Madness pretty much all day. We got Jordan hooked for sure. Then we had an amazing dinner for a late birthday for Uncle Danny. After dinner we headed to the beach for the amazing fireworks show. Chase didn't love all the illegal fireworks, or "pre-show", going on. He thought it was too loud. Isabella did too but they eventually warmed up to it.

In this picture below is Isabella's new best friend, or Jordan's girl friend. Isabella loved her!

I couldn't believe how crazy the beach was for fireworks. I've never seen anything like this! It was so much fun to be a part of the craziness.

Our last day there we decided to spend the day in Avila. The kids loved playing in the water and sand.

The kiddos were also able to try kayaking all by themselves. They did an awesome job. Uncle Danny and Daddy are great teachers.

So, I can't wait for our next trip to Pismo, only 6 more days! =)

Finally boating

Isabella and Danicia with their matching wakeboards.

Isabella trying to wakeboard for the first time.

Danicia and Isabella

Chase helping Daddy drive the boat.

Chase watching Daddy wakeboard.

I think this is the longest we have ever gone during the summer before we went out on the boat for the first time. Our first time out on the boat was on July 2nd.

Danicia and Ryan, Dylan and Brittany, and Papa Tractor and Grandma Cookie all came out on the boat with us. Ryan ended up not being able to come out because he has to work. We had a great time.

Isabella tried wakeboarding for the first time. She did an awesome job. She didn't get up but I am so proud of her for trying. You can see her attempt on the short video.

Kenzie turns one

Well, I don't have a picture of adorable Kenzie. I did take her 1 year old pictures but I haven't proofed them yet. I will post a picture of her asap. =)

Isabella wasn't at Kenzie's birthday because she was having fun with her cousin, Serenity. She went to go watch her dance in Fresno with Papa Tractor and Grandma Cookie. So this is why all the picture are of Chase.

Happy first Birthday Kenzie! =)

Ryan was so nice to be Chase's little buddy for a little while. Chase was a big boy and was jumping off the rocks just like Ryan was. It was so cute. Chase had a great time and cried when we had to leave.

Mini-piano lesson...

Well, Vola watched my kids one day so that I could go to the doctor. I came back and she was giving Isabella a piano lesson. It was so cute. Isabella was eating it up. Since Isabella can read I guess that means she is ready for piano lessons. I need to clean up around our piano so that she can actually practice on it.

Rocky Road Yumminess

Since I've been on Weight Watchers I seem to always eat the same desserts. Dessert is one thing that I WILL NOT give up. So, I have been trying to be more creative in the desserts that I make. I want a great dessert that isn't too many points. Here is one of those desserts. I actually made this for the first time on Father's Day and then the second time for Danny Stocks birthday. Everyone always loves it and can't believe that it is a low-calorie dessert. It is made from frozen yogurt, slow churned ice cream, reduced fat Oreos, marshmellows, peanuts, and fat free chocolate drizzle. It is pure yumminess. (Drool Brenda, Drool)

Treated like a princess

We went to Mikayla's birthday party this year. We usually aren't able to make it for one reason or another. This year was a great year to be able to make it.

We showed up and Isabella had her hair done. She was so excited and loved every moment of it. She sat so still in the chair and let Terri do whatever she wanted. End result...a beautiful Princess Jazmine.

Then we made jewelry/photo holders. What a cute idea.

We had tons of fun at Mikayla's 5th birthday party! =)

Fun in Bakersfield...

I just love this picture of Isabella, KK, Chase, and Uncle JJ. Yes, my brother is wearing some crazy pants...he always does. =) We love visiting Bakersfield! =)

Scrapbooking CKC style

I had the opportunity to go to Pasadena for Creating Keepsakes Convention. It was so much fun and SO exhausting. On Thursday we scrapbooked from 9-5 and made a 20 page 12x12 album. I finished all but one page with pictures and everything. Then from 6:30-9:30 we had a sketches crop where we make a ton of 12x12 pages. On Friday and Saturday we went to many classes, shopped, and we even went to a crop on Friday night. We got so much scrapbooking done.

One bummer was that Wednesday night my Mom got the stomach flu so I had to juggle my kids around for a 24 hour period while she recovered from that. I was a little stressed about it.

I also went to a Whole Foods market for the first time and I was in awe the entire time in there. It was amazing!

We also ran across a little shop called Dots cupcakes. It was actually right next door to our hotel. It was so cute and they had the best cupcakes ever. We figured they did since they were SO busy! Check them out at www.dotscupcakes.com. They are so stinkin' cute!!

I don't know why I didn't expect Pasadena to be nice but it was extremely nice. It is a VERY high end town. I loved our trip to Pasadena.

Celebrating the boys...

In June we finally had a "baby shower" for Heather and Darlene. It was a fun shower because Parker and Brew were able to come to it since they were already born. =)

The theme was chocolate so we had a chocolate fountain...yum! I also gave baby blue M&M's as a party favor to go along with the chocolate theme. I didn't do too much since it wasn't supposed to be a shower but rather a get-together for all the girls. I just had to do a few things. I couldn't resist. =)

MIchael Jackson...

Well, since I have been traveling so much I haven't had the opportunity to write my thoughts on the death of Michael Jackson. What a shock it was to hear that Michael Jackson had died. As I thought back to when Thriller was released (I was 6) I remember it still years later and watching it on MTV. As a child I LOVED Michael Jackson. His music, dancing, and style were so popular and beyond their time. I loved every hit song of his and remember dancing and signing to them with my friends. I even remember trying to do the moonwalk and totally sucking at it! =) Then in college I did a sign and song to this song still 13 years later I loved this song!

I also feel very sorry for Michael Jackson. He had to grow

up very young and also dealt with an abusive father. Then the allegations of child abuse came and the media hung him. He wasn't even able to have a fair trial. The only person who truly knows Michael Jackson's heart is God. I feel that he got screwed. He was rich and there were some who saw the perfect opportunity to make some great money. Michael Jackson in my eyes was like a child. Never having the opportunity to have a childhood he strived as an adult to have one. If someone abused my child there isn't a dollar amount that I'd take to let him go. That person would pay. I would hope that others would love their child enough to do the same thing. This is one reason why I feel that Jackson got screwed.

Well, now he is a peace with himself and now he will

be remembered as the King of Pop!

1958-June 25, 2009

Also the same day we had the death of Farrah Fawcett. What a remarkable woman she was. I saw a documentary of her struggle with cancer and it broke my heart at all the fighting she did and ultimately cancer won in the end. To have to watch someone die of cancer is the worst thing. If you haven't had the chance you have to watch the documentary. It is amazing!

Summer pictures...

Well, I took pictures of one of Isabella's best friends, Olivia. I didn't have intentions to take pictures of my kids but happened to snap a few. I went to a few new places in Lodi that I hadn't been before. We had such a great time.