30 days of heaven!!! Our Beach trip . . .

Our family beach trips have gone on for eleven years. Chandler was just a little guy on our first. The first few years we only stayed a week. We soon learned that a week was just not long enough so started staying two weeks. We then figured out that three weeks would be better and that was last year! So, we thought this year we would try a full 30 days and that still wasn't long enough. The whole summer from June 1 to August 10 would be perfect. But, that will never happen. I am lucky and grateful for 30 days.

This is the first year in twenty plus years that Alvin hasn't taught summer school and that added a great deal to our summer pleasures. Even though he still went to the ceramic room to work on his own projects Monday thru Thursday it was on his own time with no student interruptions. That went on for about six week before we left for Newport Beach and again for about 4 weeks on our return before the fall semester started.

The first three weeks we were there Stephen and Chelsea and kids and Gretchen were there. Blythe came for two weeks and Cody and Chelsea and kids came for four days the 4th of July weekend. Alvin and I had the last week to ourselves which was quite, peaceful, restful and enjoyable.

By staying a month we changed places again to get a better monthly rate. Most of us liked it and a few felt a little isolated by the green hedge blocking views of the street and being in a more residential  area too. It was 121 steps from the sand, four bedrooms, 2 baths, large great room/kitchen area and green grassy front patio with a picked white fence. We all spent lots of hours (especially Alvin) under the umbrella enjoying the extra nice patio.

Alvin walked sometimes two hours every morning getting exercise and seeing the area and we biked a great deal as usual. I was hindered a little bit the first two weeks.

Bella got to go this time and she had as much fun as the rest of us.

The 4th of July the community parade and gathering at a park just a block away was fun. All kinds of "old fashion games" and face painting for the kids.

We decorated our yard and enjoyed the fireworks and our sparklers.

We made american flags.

We try to play games that involve as many of us that we can get.

We eat at TK's and Charlies' way too much! And I guess I need to add "City Donuts" across the street!

Alvin and I always go to our favorite place "Blue Water Grill" a few times.

We always check things out in the area which always includes

a visit to The American Girl Store.

Alvin and I took a hour long boat ride to Catalina Island. Never will I do that again.

And, of course the reason we go to Newport Beach is for the beach!

and, being with family.

Tatum's Front Tooth

Tatum has been wanting to spend the night so this past Friday she did. Stephen and Chelsea brought her around 5 o'clock. Alvin and I had a late lunch so we were not hungry so she had mac and cheese for her dinner. That was OK cause she loves mac and cheese. Of course she had to also have some ice cream.

We started talking about her loose front tooth. It has gotten pretty crooked from being so loose. She said a friend ate a carrot and her tooth came out. I said, "do you want to try that?" She said she did and that didn't work cause she didn't really bite right down on the tooth. So, she suggested an apple. That was the same result. So, finally she just used a tissue and pulled it out. She was pretty excited. I was a little apprehensive because I thought her mom would rather have her loose her first front tooth at their own home and I also knew the tooth fairy would have to visit too. But, I got over that quick enough!

  Pretty gross with all that blood! Of course the bed head, money and tooth itself was the morning excitement. I guess the tooth fairy left her tooth so she could show her mom and dad. I understand the next night she got more money and the tooth was gone. What a tooth fairy - he can't keep houses straight!

Froggies Return

On August 27, 2010 I wrote about our finding little frogs in our pool. Read the attached  link before I go any further.

http://janamomnana.blogspot.com/2010/08/little-froggies.html


The other night we were awaken in the middle of the night with this horrible sound coming from our backyard. So annoying you couldn't fall back to sleep. We had a bad rain storm right before bedtime so Alvin said it sounded like a duck and maybe it had gotten lost in the storm. (that has happened before) I went outside to check and in the dark I thought I saw a bird or duck of some sort in the pool. I went inside to get Alvin and then turned the light on and discovered it was not a duck or bird just my ducky pool floaty. But, we found instead all of these frogs floating in our pool. They were the noise. We removed them with the pool net and went back to bed. The noise started again and Alvin went back outside to get a few more. The next night we removed two more. Alvin thinks perhaps nine total. He also said some were mating. I had actually thought that was the reason for the noise but I grew up being a little naive. That could be another google search but I don't think I will go there.  Nevertheless, I am quite positive those were the same frogs that we put in the flower bed three years ago so they could some day grow up and die in the skimmer basket. By morning that is probably where they would have been!

Chandler

Chandler turned eleven years old on tax day. I picked him up from school the other day and in just the little time I was with him I noticed he did so many good deeds. The first was getting out of the car and moving the garbage container so I could park my car. He didn't just push it aside but actually took it to its proper location behind the fence. Then, proceeded to open the door for Cooper and Tatum. My hands were full getting out of the car so he immediately offered to take some of my load and then returned to the car later for his own stuff.  He helped with Tatum's homework, put the doggy diaper on Winston when he got him out of the crate and even was referee in the car when his siblings squabbled. I am proud of you Chandler.