We are beaching it!

One of my favorite summer traditions is to spend a week on Balboa Island in Newport Beach. My aunt very generously allows us to stay there, thus enabling the tradition. We had a great vacation. We went to Knott's Berry Farm and Soak City for a few days, then spent the rest on the beach with the boogie boards, the kayaks, the sand and the sun. My friend Jody came with her three kids, and we had a visit from Jeff's brother and his family. It was very relaxing and fun to get away from life for a few days.

Allie said something cute today. We were reading about ancestors. She said "Great Grandpa Reeder was one of our ancestors, except he was an an-brother instead of an an-sister because he is a boy."

All Star Team

Jayd is playing on the All Star Team again this year in a double elimination tournament. He was also on the team last year. They lost two games in a row and were eliminated from the tournament. That itself wasn't too bad, but the scores were a bit humiliating, 31-2 and 30-0. I expected much of the same this year. But I am pleased to report that after losing the first game (with a much more respectable score of 11-1), they won the second game! We are having mixed emotions here. We are thrilled that they won a game and were able to taste the thrill of victory, but a little dismayed that now we have a week (at least) of baseball left. We are ready to be done with sports and get to our summer vacation.

When we moved seven years ago, I was very sad to leave my plum, apricot and orange tree at my previous home. So I dutifully planted an orange, plum, apricot, peach and apple tree the first year we were here. The peach tree promptly died, as the others took root and began to grow. I replanted the peach tree the next year. It appeared to be following in it's predecessor's footsteps, but with some TLC it started to grow. Now, seven years later, I am in the process of ripping out the dead orange, apple, plum and apricot tree (it didn't die, but has never actually produced an apricot). But look at the gorgeous peaches on my peach tree! I am so happy to have one fruit tree that has really taken off. I will try again with the others next year, but for now, I will enjoy all of my peaches.

Oh, What do you do in the Summertime

After school was out, we headed off to the library. The kids insisted on climbing the trees. They were having so much fun, and it looked so pretty with the purple jacaranda tree blossoms in the background that I had to snap a few pictures. Besides, isn't that what summer is about? Reading books, and climbing trees during the lazy days of summer?

Graduation

Jayd graduated from 6th grade! Even though Maddie graduated from 6th grade last year, this was my first graduation. It really made me think about how quickly the time has passed! I can still see him as a goofy kindergardener and now he is going to junior high! I am sure the next few years will just fly by. As a side note, Maddie will be going to junior high next year as well. So I will have another, bigger graduation next year.

Since we live in California, school is still not out! It feels like it takes forever! But we have already started our summer fun. I took Allie and Gabe to Disneyland for Gabe's birthday in May, then took Gabe and Jayd to California Adventure with the two-fer pass in June. We had the best days! The weather was perfect, the lines weren't too long, and we managed to stay entertained in line by playing grammer, math and spelling games. It made me feel a little better about the fact that they weren't in school that day!