Big Bear

Big Bear Car Show. Friday night after football, we drove up the mountain to Big Bear. Saturday morning, we walked around the village enjoying good music and fantastic cars with some of our favorite people. It was fun to walk the streets with Papa and share his love of cars and some of his memories. . .

Girls

Boys

Cousins and Snow Cones

Candy Cane Seating. Sweet.

The boys loved all of the Flames.

Big Bear Weekend Part II. We took the kids to the Animal Rescue Reserve. It is a tiny "zoo" where injured animals from the surrounding area are taken. Some are missing limbs, some just need TLC, but all are fun to watch. Some favorites were: The one armed Bear who performed Kung Fu with a stick. The Sitting Bear. The Sleeping Fox. The Wrestling Coyotes. Sarah, Percy, and Bill ( three baby owls). The Bald Eagle Brothers. The "Statue" owl. Snowy owl. There were a lot of owls. Lots of Wildlife Fun.

Lindsay loved this guy. His expression was hilarious.

Sleeping takes cute and then brings it up a notch.

I feel the same way about my kiddos.

Ahh, togetherness.

Back at the cabin, the kids worked all afternoon and into the night digging up rocks with sticks and making a fort. They were filthy and happy on our ride down the mountain.

The making of a Fortress

This little girl is as sweet as she looks. She must have gotten a dozen mosquito bites. Funny thing is, I didn't get one while I was out watching them. I must not be as sweet as I thought. At least I am not the only rotten one, nobody else got any either.

These guys were doing an excellent job of excavating rocks. Thanks for taking a moment to give me this great pose.

Legoland

The weather was warm, we had 9 cousins all together, the summer is nearly over, so what better time to take a trip to Legoland to check out the new water park? Thanks for the nudges Lorie and Brady, we had not been since Ryan was five. He still managed to cram his adult sized body into some of the "6-12" year old rides. He hasn't been 13 for a whole year yet, and Justin will be 6 in less than a year, so we sort of made it work. A crowded day, but overall, a success.

Some braved the slides, others went on the lazy river. That is, until someone pooped, and it had to get cleared out for an hour. It happens. Glad we were on the slides:)

Uno

Dos

Tres

Cuatro! Gotcha, Mr. Pants.

Back over at the Main Park. More Water.

Mr. J and his Mimi

A tight turn

A tight squeeze

Two Jousting Boys

Our favorite ride was The Dragon. Everyone loved it (times 4).

Miniland was Amazing. Such detail. Such fun. We heart Legos.

Pictures

As I pulled these pictures off of my camera for the week, I was reminded of life's little lessons. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Each picture deserves just a few. . .

Justin learned how to cut his own steak while listening to music. Doesn't music seem to make any task easier? Nothing else can inspire, touch, reveal, or motivate more. A plugged in tactic, he has most likely learned from his brother.

The lessons we learn from work are lifelong. The kids helped Ryan cut down and dig up the peach tree. (The squirrels were winning). Merit badges are fabulous. (Mostly)

Summer thunderstorms were discovered to be warm and fun, so what better time to go dancing in the streets with bathing suits and rainboots? The kids wanted me to do the same. Tempting.

At a water park day, the kids learned that rolling down the big, grassy hill in their bathing suits can make for itchy skin. My brothers and I used to do this at the golf course near my grandparents house. Yes itchy, but no we didn't stop.

This weekend, we learned that soccer tournaments aren't that bad when you can squeeze a movie in between games. Despicable me was really cute.

The kids learned that the ice cream from the ice cream truck is actually not poisoned, however the ice cream man might be.

Thursday - Beach day. These days are not necessarily lazy days. There is some serious building going on.

A few more summer pics . . .

Ryan packing up early to head out from scout camp and up to Bass Lake.

A great week at Fiesta Island.

Alie and Presley at Ashley's wedding.

Nana and Hoho with all ten grandkids.

And lastly, $1 Jamba Juice day. The yumberry - yummy!