Saturday, July 30, 2011

...California tripping...

This is the story of a vacation. A spontaneous vacation. Because we wanted to not be a distraction to Ryan while he was studying for the bar, and the kids wanted to see their cousins, and I wanted to be able to run in cool weather. So I decided I'd take the kids up to NorCal to play while Ryan could be home studying in peace. But that'd mean he'd miss Drake's birthday. So luckily Grammy came up with a good plan. He could stay at her house in Sacramento, while the kids and I would stay with the Taylors in the bay area. Genius. Then he'd be close enough to come over for Drake's bday. Done. After a 12 hour drive that I might have fallen asleep while driving a few times before finally pulling over to sleep! DUMB!! I just can't drive like I used to... now that I'm three oh.

First day, Gwen and Aubrey with their running cards.
They get a punch for each lap ran. Aubrey completed her 5 mile mark, and Gwen ran two that day!
Berkley Rose Garden park.
That's a huge cement slide that you slide down on pieces of cardboard!
It was chilly.... in July!!
Jelly Belly Factory.
A must.
Stinson Beach.
Yep, that's sand drool.
The boys were on bird patrol.
Karate will take care of those pesky birds.
And sticks.
Meanwhile Gwen and Aubrey dug a whole.

Then the boys were able to celebrate their fifth birthday together.
Tara made Jack this sweet pirate cake.
Drake wanted an angry bird cake - until he saw how cool Jack's pirate ship cake was.
Tara put together a darling pirate party at the Jungle.

Then afterwards we went home and played Angry Birds. Real Angry Birds.

Drake and his ice cream birthday cake in Sac.
We had a good time.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

{five}

This is my baby boy FIVE years ago.
This is him today.
I love him. So much.

Monday, July 11, 2011

{on vacay}

We're out for a bit, relaxing with cousins in cool NorCal!
We play, Ryan studies. The Bar. Poor soul.

So to help you get your McPhie fix until we get home, enjoy this video of Drake exercising. I could hear him jumping around from the next room and came in to find Drake taking a couch break to shake it.


Monday, July 04, 2011

~SEVEN~

My baby girl is 7! I don't know how I got so blessed to have such a good, sweet, girl like her. And I don't appreciate how fast she's growing. So Thursday night I made up her birthday cake and cupcakes for her party, then I kissed my six year old Gwenny goodbye forever, and went to bed remembering the night before her birth seven years ago. I didn't sleep that night. Contractions and excitement... I couldn't wait to hold my baby girl.
So now here we are, she's seven!!!

Ever since Yogurtland first got Red Velvet flavored yogurt, Gwen's been a bit obsessed. So I made her a red velvet birthday cake this year with cream cheese frosting. Decorating a cake with cream cheese frosting is so different from buttercream.
Breakfast in bed!! Also check out how sweet Drake's haircut is.

I love this picture, because Gwen is just beaming, and I look like such a dork!
Gwen had a bunch of friends come over for a waterslide in the back yard, water balloon toss/fight, and lunch. As we watched all the girls playing, I was so happy that Gwen has such good friends. They are all such sweet girls.
And later that night we went to Panda Express for dinner at Gwen's request. How funny huh? Ever since her school did a fund raiser with Panda Express, and she got to go down there and hand out fliers, and met some of the workers, Panda Express is her FAVORITE!! After that the family came over for cake, ice cream and more presents. Again, Gwen's blessed. She has good friends, and a great family. I'm so thankful for all of their love for her.
Then, Saturday night we went down town for the Mesa Freedom Festival.
The kids loved it! They had so much fun doing all the bounce houses and playing all of the carnival games. And while it was tons of fun, it's crazy how many people will go out there for it. At 8:30 at night, when we went, it was still 102ยบ! We went through a bunch of ice water and frozen lemonade, and never once did the kids complain about it being hot. I guess that's how I remember it when I was a kid. I didn't know any different, you just accept the heat because what else can you do?
Daddy and Drakey watching the fireworks.