oh what do you do in the summertime...

Gwen is back at it in synchro.  It's really fun to watch her and how much she's improved over the last year.

First place!

 She's been working really hard to get her splits.

 Drake is killing it on swim team this year.  He's been put in the fast heat, and his relay team took second!  I love how proud he was of that.  I love that he doesn't complain about having to go to swim this year.  It's great what confidence does.

Second place freestyle relay!

We attacked Camelback with cousin Cloe.

I've been studying for the bar everywhere possible.  My best block of time is when the kids are in the pool each day.  Then Drake steals my phone and takes random pictures (like below) and plays Bad Piggies.  He's an addict.

Gwen made cookies almost everyday the first week of summer.

I had to tell her no more cookie making since it usually leads to a mess, and many calories consumed.  But I love that she can read a recipe, and do it all by herself!

Christmas in July

July is a crazy month in the McPhie home.

The kids and I have our birthdays, hence the Christmas in July feeling, and we are at the peak of swim season.

Gwen was so excited that her friend Kate came back to Arizona again this summer.  So they decided to do a duet together for synchro.  They did a cute little routine to a Taylor Swift medley and got first place at regionals!!

Then these little cuties also did a team routine to The New Girl In Town from Hairspray.  Since they couldn't have their hair all big like in Hairspray (because their hair has to be put in a bun and then covered with gelatin so it doesn't get messed up or move in the water), they went for a big hair bow.  

These girls got second place for their team routine!

(I think, I can't remember, isn't that horrible?!)

So on to the birthdays.

Gwen kicks off July with her birthday on the first.

This was a big one, our little girl turned EIGHT!!

She wanted a "Brave" birthday party, so we rounded up her girlfriends to go see Disney's Brave.  

Now you have to know Ryan to know how excited he was for this.  But let me try to explain.  McPhie.  Scottish name.  Ryan served his mission in Scotland.  Ryan LOVES Scotland!  So he was relieved that Disney finally created a Scottish princess.  

To add to the Scottish excitement, he took the afternoon off to help with Gwen's party and accompany the girls to the movie... in his kilt!!

Gwen and Drake loved it!

Some of the girls thought it was weird.  

"Why are you wearing a skirt?  Boys aren't supposed to wear skirts."  

Ryan quickly let them know it was NOT a skirt.

Seeing the movie, and the men in their kilts helped.

Look at cute little Drakey, being the ladies man.

Gwen's actual birthday was on Sunday.  A FAST Sunday!  And cute little Gwenny was all about fasting since she was now eight.  So we had her birthday cake that night at Gigi and Papa's.

Part of turning eight in the LDS church is reaching the age of accountability.  That is the age when children can be baptized if they choose.  Gwen definitely wanted to be baptized and counted down the days.  

Look how sweet they are.

The baptism was beautiful and afterwards our Bishop asked me to bear my testimony.  Umm, okay.  Maybe he doesn't remember I can hardly do so without bawling.  You see I'm very emotional when talking about my gratitude for my Savior.  Couple that with my admiration for Gwen and the good choices she's made and being surround by so many loved friends and family members.  I was an emotional mess.

I hope Gwen knows how proud I am of her!

Next was my birthday.  It was pretty kick back, but just how I wanted it to be.

I got to hang out with my kids during the day, go on a date with Ryan that afternoon, and hang out with my family that night.  

Then later go out with my girlfriends who spoiled me and took me to Jesterz for a hilarious night!

It totally looks like I have a bald spot in this shot!

Next up was Drakey boy's birthday.

He was asking me how many days and hours till his birthday ever since Gwen had her birthday party.  So it was his turn to have a bunch of boys over and play with light sabers, water balloons, water squirters, beat a pinata and eat junk food.  

 He had a good time.

 Apparently I didn't get a picture of Drake's birthday cake, but it was cute, you'll just have to trust me.  It was a Lego cake, with a red, yellow and blue lego.  And it was super yummy.  Again, you'll just have to take my word for it.  ;)

Here he is getting his 6 pancake.

He was so tired!

And so we survived most of our family's birthdays, swim is over and summer is winding down.

School is just around the corner, but until then, I will squeeze every bit of fun out of what is left of the summer!

MAY

A post of pictures:

So, after Ragnar So Cal, and my 10 miler in 100º, my iPod was kaput.  Not because of the lake that I jumped in to keep cool (I kept it in my hand out of the water), but because of the many bottles of water dumped over me to cool me down.  So the screen didn't work.  I took it into the Apple store to find out I had three days left on my warranty.  They handed me a brand new one! L.O.V.E. it!  

But then a week later, I dropped my iPod and this happened:

And now there is no more warranty.  Boo.  So I just took some packaging tape and laminated the glass so that it won't keep chipping off.  My iPod now looks like this:

Also in May was Mother's Day.  This has got the be the greatest holiday ever thought up.  My kids and husband celebrating me?  Yes please!!

Look what my cute boy did-

He made my bed (super good BTW), and then he leaves this behind so I know that this good deed was done by him.

My babies and I on Mother's Day-

Drake also has been obsessed with "Army guys" lately.  He harassed me to make him an Army guy outfit, so I raided the thrift stores and Party City, and came up with this.  You can't see the sweet patches I sewed on the sleeves, but just know that this Army dude outfit is legit.  

Our next adventure was a trip to Northern California.  Whilst there, I went for a long run with my friend Kassidy (since I'm supposedly training for a marathon next weekend.  I'm gonna die!).

All I have to say is that if I lived in Sacramento, I'd run the river trail every Saturday and never get bored with it!  

Especially since I'd be keeping an eye out for these-

From Sacramento, we cruised over to Concord to round up the Taylors, then headed out to Santa Cruz for beach camping over Memorial Day weekend.  

 Jack and Drake were overjoyed to be together again.

 And Gwen and Aubrey got right to playing house.

 Yes, we let Drake use a pocket knife to whittle a stick.  Don't you let your 5 year old play with knifes?

 Look at how gorgeous this place is!  And this campground is on a cliff just above the beach.

 And this is the stuff I've been dreaming about since returning....  Pizza My Heart pesto pizza.  mmmmm!

 pure silliness

 This Gwenny girl was so determined to boogy board.

 She braved the FREEZING cold water...

 and tried,

 and tried,

 and tried,

 and finally rode a wave in.

Then we packed up and drove the 12 hours home.  

 Just in time to start swim team.

Gwen got right back in the swing of it.

 Drake is still trying so hard to get it down.

 And a shot of this cute boy's belly profile.

 These AZ babies are freezing when they get to the other end of the pool and have to get out of the water, so they lay on the side walk to stay warm.  I mean it's only 105º, who can blame them for being so cold?  ;)