newport 2012

We spent the past week at Newport Coast, CA.  We kicked things off with a family game night with the kids:

 

We spent Monday at Crystal Cove.  The beach never disappoints!  

Liv was much more comfortable in the water this year:

I caught Burke in a very happy/goofy/willing to be photographed mood on Monday.  I love these next few pictures of him!

 

Strike a pose. Vogue!

 This one is sweet (and *cracks* me up too):

We were excited that Patti (Rob's mom) flew in to join us on Monday.  We hit Laguna Beach on Tuesday:

 

 

We were originally planning to go the San Diego Zoo (or something like that) on Wednesday, but because Rob sprained his foot the Friday before we left town (soccer injury) he couldn't walk very well in his boot.  We threw out several options and finally decided to keep things simple and local (less driving).  We spent Wednesday morning at Balboa Island.  The kids enjoyed the ferry, riding scooters around town, and LOVED the Ferris wheel.

(Tosh looks really young here. Weird.)

 
 Took this with my phone from the top of the Ferris wheel:

Back for frozen bananas again.  Yum!

That afternoon we went to Corona del Mar.  More phone pics:

Really cute one of my boys:

Since Rob couldn't be as active as normal, I had to step it up and play some football on the beach with the boys:

 
Hewitt:  "I'm open!"

It was rainy on Thursday (and Friday) so we decided to go to a movie (rare for us).  We saw Madagascar 3 in 3D and it made us all laugh.  Getting ready for the movie to start:

We enjoyed the pools, hot tubs, and other amenities at the hotel.  We also played lots of games.  Tosh concentrating during a game of Battleship (with 3D glasses on):

 

 

Burke was loving pointing out all of the sweet (expensive) cars in So Cal.  We ended up visiting the Marconi Car Museum in Tustin and saw some really amazing cars (including a Ferrari FX estimated between 5-7 million!).  Here is Rob with the Lamborghini he had on a poster in his childhood bedroom: 

 Even a PINK car for Miss Liv:

Friday evening we went to dinner at Rob's cousin's home in Newport Beach.  Liv had so much fun with her second cousin, Abby.  Matching dress-ups!? It doesn't get much better than that.  It was a great evening which included the entire group singing "Oh Venn" after dinner.  Good times.

We beached it up again on Saturday (left my camera behind).  We watched the sun set at Laguna Saturday evening (and got some family photos--GROAN, but more on that another time). 

Goodbye, beautiful ocean!

Wiped out on the way home!

Hewitt turns eight!!!

It's sorta hard to believe that Hewitt is eight years old!  When Hewitt woke up on Tuesday, he told Rob, "I don't think I can stop smiling today!"

 

The kids are out of school for fall break, so Hewitt started the day by going with Rob to the store to pick out the cereal of his choice (this year it was Fruit Loops.  By the way, Hewitt is always so good to share with his siblings). 

 

The primary chorister in our ward (Brenda) offers to make a cool balloon for the kids when they pass off the words to all the primary songs for the program.  We've been working on this all year and I had the kids pass the songs off to me for Family Home Evening last week.  When Brenda asked me if Tuesday morning would work to come over, I was thrilled.  I knew that Hewitt would love that on his birthday.  Great timing!

 

Blast off!!! 

Liv got fairy wings (even though she didn't learn the songs --Brenda is generous like that).  I love how Liv is holding her hands!!!  I promise I haven't taught her jazz hands! 

Pirate T

Captain Pirate-- don't mess with this guy. 

Awesome Brenda with the kids:

The kids were entertained all morning:

 Liv insisted on these awesome shoes.  Probably so she could run really fast!

We made (Sam's Club take and bake) pizza for lunch (Hewie's fave) and then his two good friends, Christopher and Aansh joined us to go bowling!

 About to get their "bowl" on...

Dancing to the "Chicken Dance"-- Tosh really got into it.

The boys bowled three games and then came home for cake and ice cream.  Hewitt is suddenly into Pokemon and asked for Pokemon cards for his birthday.  I felt like his cake wasn't terribly exciting this year (Hewitt has had some awesome cakes if I do say so myself).  He really wanted the chocolate bundt cake I make, so I just added some Pokemon figures to it.  Each kid picked a figure to keep. 

Thoughtfully making a wish:

Candles out on the first try:

Cute friends!

Happy Birthday, Hewitt!!! You are awesome and WE LOVE YOU!!!

not forgotten

I'm getting a bit behind on my blogging, and there are a few things I want to get on here before I forget to write about them. 

 

Tosh scored three goals at his soccer games two weeks ago!  Later that afternoon, Tosh walked into the kitchen and Rob said, "What's up, Hat Trick?" and Tosh laughed and said, "I'm not Patrick!"

 

We hired a friend of ours (Mark Benson) to do some built-ins in our family room (we've been talking about doing something like this since we moved in over three years ago).  It isn't quite done yet, but you get the idea. 

Hewitt has been doing front flips into the pool for quite some time.  Last month he mastered the back flip (made me quite nervous!) off our high wall.  One night after doing several great flips he said, "Wow.  If I lived in China they'd probably make me train for the Olympics!"

Liv made this tiara & pencil erasers creation all by herself and was so proud to show me:

 

I was able to get away to Sedona with my friend (and cousin-in-law) Cathy last weekend.  Neither of us had ever been there.  We felt very young (mostly seniors there), and were able to do lots of window shopping, got a mani/pedi, ate some really yummy food, and most just talked.  Nice girl time. 

 

We listened to the Relief Society Broadcast on Saturday night from our hotel room.  I took this shot from our hotel balcony at sunset (during President Eyring's great talk):

Coconut soup at a yummy Thai place:

We ended up going to the same place for lunch on both Friday AND Saturday!  This portabella sandwich was THAT amazing.    They even sat us at the exact same table (different server though).  We thought it was hilarious, but hey, it was an incredible sandwich. 

Sitting outside eating on the patio-

(It felt a little warm to Cathy, but I thought it was nice and cool in Sedona. Ha!)

Thanks for flying down, Cathy!  Love you!

classic!

Hewitt pulled out his own loose tooth last night (!) and this was found under his pillow along with the tooth:

 

I love this (hilarious) kid!!!