Monday, August 28, 2017

Summer 2017

We have had such a wonderful busy summer this year. After San Diego in June, we swam a lot, hung out with friends and then planned for our next adventure to Las Vegas for 4th of July. We stayed at Treasure Island and my grandma got to come from San Diego as well as my sister Katie and her husband Dennis. We got to see shows like Mystere, Love from the Beatles and The Tournament of Kings which was jousting and sword fighting. We laid out under cabanas, soaked up the sun, shopped and played. We had such a wonderful time in Las Vegas and only ate at one buffet and my dad hardly lost any money.

After we got back from Las Vegas we began to finish our backyard project. It is the last (major) project left at our house and we were ready to be able to finally use our yard with two boys always full of energy. We got new stamped concrete, a beautiful white pergola, a fire pit of crushed granite framed by pavers and then some nice furniture and finishing touches to make it comfy to head outside anytime of the day. We just had our first BBQ to break in the new fire pit, corn hole and smore cart that we made, and it was a total success. We are looking forward to many more people coming over now that we have much more space to entertain.

At the end of July, Tadd and I were able to go on a kid free weekend thanks to my amazing parents...and we went to Redondo Beach to see Katie and Dennis and then Jill and Wes also came up for Saturday. We were able to cruise all around the beach cities that my sis and her husband have been exploring for the last year and it did not disappoint. We saw Venice beach, Manhattan, Redondo, Santa Monica and Palos Verdes. We played sand volleyball, hiked, walked and drove. We ate at a yummy Mexican restaurant happy hour and tried to fit in the super trendy scene unsuccessfully. We had such a great time hanging with my sisters and their husbands and the best news was that both of my sisters are pregnant! Both due in March. Just 3 weeks apart. I cannot even believe it. It is going to be such a fun remainder of the year and into the new year getting excited for these babies to arrive.

After we got back from LA, both my sisters came to visit and we surprised my mom with a Tim Mcgraw and Faith Hill concert for just the girls. It just so happened to also be the weekend of my birthday...so we got to celebrate in general. We went to Benihana, our traditional dinner place for birthdays that we all love. Then Jill had to head home and Katie and Dennis went on a little excursion to Yosemite and Tahoe but then came back to see us again before they officially moved to Florida.

We have been so spoiled with love and attention and fun this summer...and it seems like it is coming to an end... even though the heat will continue for another few months.

Luckily, we get to go to Boston Massachusetts in September for a family vacation...so we can ditch the heat and enjoy some more family time...that will of course be the next post. Until then, stay cool!