Happy July!

This was actually taken in June, but it doesn't really matter. Whitney was playing outside with the kids, kicking the balls back and forth. Sarah found her own ball and tried to lay on it.

We got a new van!! I am very excited! We got it the end of June. It's a 2009 Honda Odyssey. I love it! We are going to keep for a very long time.
This is the first time we went as a family to the Jelly Belly Factory. The factory was actually closed for a cleaning so it was an abreviated tour, but the kids still got free samples so they were happy.


Another first. Our first family reuion. It took place in Trinidad, ca. We camped in the Emerald Forest. It was very pretty and quite chilly. It has been a while since I've been camping so I didn't pack extra sweatshirts and blankets. But we survived. The kids had a blast. We went to Agate Beach. It was really pretty.

The kids had fun digging on the pebble beach. Whitney showed the boys how to skip rocks on a small of water on the beach.

Caleb's welcoming committee!! It was us (minus Whit 'cuze he had to work), Jed and Shannon and crew, Mom, Dad and Spencer. It was also almost 11 o'clock in the evening. But it was great to see Caleb. It took the boys a few minutes to warm up since they didn't remember him. Sarah had no trouble going to him though.

Welcome home Caleb!! A little side story. After the airport we went to Mel's in Vacaville and had dessert. Sarah fell asleep on the drive and didn't wake up the whole time we were in the restaurant. On the way home (about 1 am) I see a police car pull behind me. I look down and realize I hadn't turned on my headlight. I quickly flipped them on, he flipped on his lights and pulled me over. I apologized. He asked to see my license, obviously heard Jacob whining about wanting to go home, and let me go. Thank you officer!

Now Jared is potty trained. One day Sarah wanted to be a big girl. So she lifted the lid to the little potty, bent down, swung her leg over, and landed like so. How cute is that!

Diana and her girls came to visit. So we went to Pena adobe and fed the ducks. But there are so many geese that we didn't let the kids out of the car. I remembered Shannon sharing her last experience. So we rolled down the windows (don't you love that on a minivan?) and the kids fed the ducks. By the way, that is our new van.

Here is Katherine and Chloe feeding the ducks out of their cool van too.

Happy Birthday to Jared! Jared got the raw deal this year. I was tired of planning parties so we just did a family dinner for him and Whitney combined. I don't think he noticed the difference. Though, I decided that next year we will start rotating birthday parties and do boys one year and girls another. I heard that idea and thought it was a good one.

This is his haul. He loved all the gifts. Thanks Fam!

Jared got a Thomas cake and Whitney had blueberry cheesecake.

My cute guys!

We went with some friends to the San Francisco Zoo. The kids had a fun time. OK, I did too. Sarah saw the lions and started growling at them. It was pretty cute.

Whitney has four more shifts and then he is off break-in. We are very excited! We hope to go to Clear Lake next month for a little family vacation. Other than the reunion we haven't done anything. The kids had so much fun doing that, that I want to take them camping again. I hope we get the chance. Also, Jacob will be starting preschool on Monday. We are both very excited.