Summer has flown by so fast. It was a busy one for us but good to see many places and faces. School started Aug. 25th. The kids are excited to get back to a routine and see their friends. It is bittersweet for us as parents: yes, we are excited for them to be back, but summer has officially come to an end!
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Here is a look at our exciting summer:
HOUSTON
As soon as school was out the boys and Mom headed to Houston for a visit with my father and step-mother. After swimming in their pool for a couple of days we went to NASA and got to see so much of what was going on in space. We even got to see the space station pass over us a couple of nights. While we were out looking to the sky, we had a bonus meeting with a previous astronaut who was out walking her dog! In addition, we went fishing and crabbing/shrimping and to the Museum of Natural Science. The boys got to pick out their own geode and have it broken open! That was quite a treasure!
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COLD SPRINGS, CA
The Funderburks (Mike's family) all decended upon a neat little town north of Yosemite near Pinecrest Lake (highly recommend it). It was Mike's mother Suzy's 70th birthday surprise. We toured Calaveras National Park, Columbia State Park, panned for gold, swam in cold streams, and visited lots with the family! Suzy was pleasantly surprised!
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ORANGE COUNTY, CA
ORANGE COUNTY, CA
We flew south on Christian's birthday, for a visit with my brother and his family over the July 4th weekend. We celebrated Christian's 4th birthday on July 2nd with his cousins Lucas and Kate for the first time then headed out to their cabin in Lake Arrowhead for some relaxation in the woods and on the lake...but so did everyone else in California! It was great fun, beautiful fireworks over the lake from a beautiful location. We returned back to Orange County for Lucas and Christian to go to an Art Enrichment Camp while Mike and B' returned home for work and B' went back to her mother's. Meanwhile Jacob got to have some fun one on one time with Mom. We went to Discovery Science Center where he got to lay on a bead of nails! Ouch! We also went to the beach at Crystal Cove. We got to play in the sand, water and on the rocks!
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BRENHAM, TX
We went to Mimi's (Cynthia's mother) for a country visit. We sat on the front porch and stared at stars and constellations most nights! Jacob got to drive the golf cart, while Christian drove his four-wheeler all over the property. We toured the birthplace of Texas for a little bit of history at Washington on the Brazos. The boys learned all about life in the 1800's and how children passed their time. No DS's, Wii's, or PS2 or 3!!! They got to feed guinnea hens, chickens, and grind corn. They even got to pet oxen and feed a family of pigs. There is nothing like good old- fashioned fun! (Had lots of pix but can't figure out where I uploaded them!)
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COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
Our last trip of the summer took us to our dear friends in Colorado Springs. Yvette and her kids came for a visit in mid - July. Then we escaped the heat to CS and had a beautiful experience touring the the Garden of the Gods and the Olympic Training Center! Of course, Garden of the Gods was a beautiful sight no matter where you look! The OTC was an awesome sight to see especially since the Olympics had just begun, although it was a ghost town since the athletes were in Beijing.
Awesome, nonetheless!
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Time for School!!!
Upon our return we got the boys signed up for Karate. It is Christian's first year. He was so excited to receive his uniform...then he got to go back for his intro class! He did so good that the instructor said he was more than ready for a class. This past Tuesday he began his class and did phenomenal. I am sure his big brother has been his inspiration! Jacob is starting American Karate where he will go twice a week. He will also play soccer again.
Jacob starts school in the 2nd Grade this year. He is pictured with his new teacher, Mrs. Sauer. Christian has one more PreSchool year and is pictured with Mrs. Christie.
