Shadows of the Future

This year we skipped our traditional day after Thanksgiving tradition. We normally grab our swim suits, shovels, and often blankets and head to the beach for the day. We try out new beaches for a little variety. This year, it was just going to be too cold. It was only about 60 degrees here, which usually means around 45-50 degrees at the beach. Our California toes can't handle that type of weather, so we opted out of tradition.
In lieu of the beach, we went to the park and took shadow pictures. I had been wanting to take them for some time, but hadn't found the right opportunity. We had a lot of fun being creative with the long late afternoon shadows. We played volleyball, then came home for a family movie. Even though we weren't at the beach, we spent the day together, the most important part of the tradition.
We have been starting to form a new tradition. Last year, Jayd, Maddie and Jeff went to the temple to do baptisms for the dead. It is a handy day because it is a weekday that Jeff doesn't have to go to work. They went again this year, and we will see for the future.

The anniversary that was not

Last Saturday was Jeff and I's seventeenth anniversary. Here we were able to celebrate 17 years of being together on a weekend night rather than a quick kiss in between working late and putting kids to bed. So how did we spend it? We didn't see each other all day.
As it turned out, I went to a girls weekend in Newport Beach, while Jeff stayed here to throw a birthday party with 30+ kids for Jayd. After 17 years, romance must be dead.
But don't be dismayed because we are not, we actually planned things this way. We were originally scheduled to go to Las Vegas for our anniversary, but due to a few glitches along the way, we went to Las Vegas, just the two of us, in the end of October. We really viewed that as our anniversary celebration and so when these other things came up and coincided with our anniversary, we felt comfortable doing them.
As I said, I went to a girls weekend in Newport Beach. Allie, Maddie and I went with three of my friends and their daughters. All together, there were four adults and nine girls. It was so fun. We scrapbooked, we went shopping, we went swimming and ate lots of frozen yogurt. We took an unscheduled tour of the fire station led by the first female firefighter hired in Newport Beach. What a role model for our nine girls! We stayed up late and had a great time.
Jeff, Gabe and Jayd had their own fun here at home. Jayd went to a campout, leaving Jeff and Gabe with some one on one time. Then on Saturday, Jayd had a super birthday party (it is a little late). We combined with another friend to play capture the flag at the park. There were more than 30 boys there and they had a great time. Once they were done, they started playing football until a stray dog decided to join the fun and stole the football!

4 + 3 = 7 Stouts

This weekend we had my 2 nephews and niece join us. Their oldest is 5 years old, so we had quite a house full. At one point, Maddie was holding the 2 year old, trying to get her to eat, I was trying to cut up chicken while catching the 4 year old who kept saying "Up" then jumping from the stool into my arms, and Jeff was being chased by the Allie, Gabe and the 5 year old. He was a little frustrated because he didn't want to be chased, he was trying to get the remote to the TV to work. Then the 4 year old found some markers and completely colored his and his little sisters arms and legs before I discovered it. It was a little crazy! But then there were the times when the 2 year old would push everyone over and they would all laugh hysterically like this was the funniest thing in the world. Laughter is contagious and soon we were all laughing. There were times when the 4 year old would come and snuggle in my lap. I loved watching the pure joy and enthusiasm they had over the simple pleasure of playing in the bathtub. It was a little crazy, but well worth it. We are glad they came to stay with us and would welcome them back anytime.