....Independance weekend was a blast!

It all started with a two mile walk from the Dewey's house to Arroyo Vista Park for the annual Moorpark 4th on the 3rd celebration. Hundreds of families began gathering on their blankets and lawn chairs in the early afternoon and by 5:00 the live bands were rocking out and the carnival activities had begun. Jayden had her first face painting experience, Zach ate 3 whole pieces of pizza, and we bumped into many old friends. And although we didn't last till the 9:00 fireworks show, it was an incredible memory-making kind of day and we will be adding it to our holiday tradition repertoire.

...Jayden went to VBS.

The theme for this years Vacation Bible School was Jesus is a Blast, but it might as well have been called Jayden had a Blast! She and her friend Abby Jane were the only 2 year olds in the bunch (they were called "Squeaky Beakers") so they received undivided attention from their leader, Jordyn, who is also one of our favorite babysitters. Jayden learned the motions to all the songs on the accompanying CD and her all time fav is "Never Let Go", a contemporary worship song. A month has almost past and she is still talking about all the fun she had there...can't wait till next year!

...we love our cousins!

Marty's sister, brother in law, and their 2 kids, Ilana and Blake, live in Solana Beach just yards from Santa Fe Christian Schools where I attended kindergarten through 12th grade.

A couple weeks ago we treked down to there to celebrate Ilana's and Blake's Birthdays. It was a gorgeous summer day for BBQ'ing, blowing bubbles, walking to the park, jumping on the trampoline and hanging out with Marty's family.
Uncle Tommy and ZacharyGrandpa, Zachary and Marty

...summer weather is perfect for play.

Jayden and Zachary play so well together (except when they don't :)) and I've had the best time watching them run, jump, stroll and squeal with each other. Here are some pictures of the fun they've had recently.

..we spent a couple nights in San Diego.

By 3:45 a.m. Tuesday --yes, as in the crack of dawn--I had both kids buckled in the car for our traffic-less trip to Encinitas. I hadn't seen my friend Tracy since our trip to Hawaii together with our husbands. She was only 5 weeks pregnant back then in October so I was eager to see her baby bump.

She and I enjoyed an enchilada feast at El Torito for dinner and then I headed up to Orange County with my mom to see my brother perform at the Gypsy Lounge. Needless to say I didn't hit-the-hay until after midnight, and the next day I definitely felt 30 years old. Wednesday morning my mom and I took Jayden and Zachary to have coffee and nibbles with Tracy at Java Depot in Solana Beach. Some of the best moments of our stay at my Parentals was watching Jayden and Zachary enjoy their Uncle Andrew. Jayden has a real affinity for him and has often asked him to pray for her for her 2 year old needs :) Andrew, quite appropriately, nick-named Zachary "bam-bam" and it seems to be slowly replacing "Hooty" (Jayden's term of endearment for him).
Jayden's favorite moment of the trip was discovering the new Disney Princess sheets that Mima and Papa had bought for her room at their house. All day long she said she was sleepy and would ask if it was time to put on her Jammy's.
Zachary spent most of the time in the backyard dragging around a PVC pipe, eating leaves and other random objects, and just being his typical Dennis the Menace self.

...we have wonderful friends.

Exactly one week ago Marty and I attended the celebration for Katrina Atsinger's 30th birthday. Katrina and her husband Ted have been "home' from Holland for a month and she was soooo thrilled that her bday could be spent with dear old friends. The festive evening was hosted by her wonderful in-laws at their home in Camarillo. The food was absolutely divine -- Italian pizza's hot off the bbq, Grand Marnier injected strawberries, Israeli cous cous, prime rib, salmon, pork loin, and on and on. The best part, of course, was seeing familiar faces from Marty's time at Oaks Christian and one of my closest friends April Ringnalda (1 year ago she and her husband and 2 children moved to Colorado).

Ted and Katrina Atsinger

I instructed Marty to be sure to take a good picture of April and me, and this is what I got :)

Katrina was the English teacher at Oaks Christian and April was the French teacher. I'm nowhere qualified to be a teacher, but we are still the best of chums.

...We went to the farm

Underwood Farms is just a mile away from our home. It is beautiful open acreage with fresh produce (you can pick your own strawberries), lots of animals, and train rides and activities for kids. Last week we had the privilege of going with a few of our friends. Katrina and her daughter Clara are "on Holiday" from Holland and were able to join us. Three years ago she and her husband Ted packed up and moved to Europe to pursue and amazing job. Lisa and her boys, Luke and Ryan, also joined us for the day. It was Luke's 3rd birthday and we celebrated with lunch and brownies.Clara and Katrina, who is 3 1/2 months pregnant.

Jayden and Luke really thought they were conducting the train.Zachary and Ryan contently hung out in their strollers.

Kate, my Tuesday and Thursday helper whom Jayden has named "auntie Kate", also came with us and it happened to be her 17th birthday.