Scott, Tonya, and the 4 greatest kids!: July 2008

It was time to break out the slip and slide---the water bill is going to be crazy, but it's summer and it's the best way to stay cool and have fun! Aren't they so cute?

Yes, she does her own outfits!

And...her own hair!

On with this crazy, wonderful life. Sofie has learned to climb on the sofa, she climbs on boxes, drawers and anything else she can get a good foothold on. The problem (one of the problems) is that she likes to stand on the sofa and has no idea that one little bounce will find her upside down on the floor. She and Livie are the monkey's of the house. Livie is constantly balancing and swinging on everything. It's time for that girl to go to gymnastics! So the other day Tomas had his friend over to play and they decided to go outside and play squirt guns. Well, his friend hadn't brought swim trunks, but they're boys, they can just get wet in their shorts and dry off. Right before they start getting wet, I go out and Tomas, Livie and friend are ready to get soaked and I say, "you guys better take your shirts off" and obediently, Livie starts to take her shirt off. Funny Girl!!! The boys were about hysterical over it, and of course my sweet little Livie has no clue what was so funny.

Sooooo, I got another new calling at church. I'm still in Nursery, which I just love. It's definitely the best calling in the church. Can anyone tell me why people get so freaked out about nursery??? I just love those little kiddos, and we have such a blast AND we get to teach them the Gospel in it's most simple form. But now I have two callings hmmm maybe they should have just left me as the Primary President! The good news is that now I not only have nursery with Liv, but I also get to be one of Tomas' den leaders. If I would have been called to cub scouts 5 years ago, I would have freaked out, but it is so fun. I loved going to day camp and those little boys are really so sweet. AND the fun continues......Summer is going by too FAST!

We're finally back from a great vacation to California. We had a fantastic time. The road trip was an experience not to be soon forgotten. We learned several things from those long hours in the car together! Here are some things learned on our summer road trip!

#1We learned that Olivia is prone to car sickness--one big puke on the way there not particularly close to a town, and only about 3 hours into a 9-10 hour drive (should be 9 closer to 10 even 11 with the drama). The poor baby soaked herself. Luckily the car was spared except the seatbelt. Tomas managed to only gag a few times and continue his pursuit to conquer the new star wars game on his gameboy before the trip was done. Sofia was engrossed in her own anger about being strapped into a carseat. On the return trip the 1 puke was more minor. Thankfully she knew it was coming and we were all on stand-by with bags, towels, baby wipes, new clothes, etc. She hit the bag and decided that she couldn't sit in the very back anymore, she would have to sit by Sofie.
#2 Tomas is a very smart but very dingy! So, there's this fly in the car we're trying to kill him, Livie is swatting at him even Sofie tries to catch him. At least 20 minutes into this fly thing Tomas from his boy cave in the back seat yells "Hey there's a fly in here!"
#3Mapquest, Mapquest, Mapquest!!! Day trip all planned to six flags, tickets pre-purchased, baby bag stocked etc., etc. We head out, pay the toll,cross the bridge, pretty sure we know where were going and then the highway ends and we're not there. Appearantly we missed the interchange so, we backtrack to the interchange. There we have choice A and choice B--I'm thinking this should be easy I grew up here, I'm sure it's B, we choose B and here we go back over another bridge, not good, I knew we were not supposed to cross a bridge again. SO back we go pay our toll again, A was the right choice, and I should have got a map and a stupid sign!!!
#4 Olivia learned that it's not a good idea to blow bubbles in a full bottle of soda. It all started with Sofie pooping her pants--no big deal that's what babies do. I looked back saw her red face and we started heading for the nearest gas station (maybe 5-7 miles down the road). I look back maybe a minute later and see brown fingers pointing in the air---not a pretty sight! We finally get that mess taken care of, diaper changed hands washed, sanitized and deodorized. Looked for a second gas station because the first was too disgusting to actually use--I can't go into details because it's just YUCKY! SO, we find another less disgusting bathroom to use we're ready to get back on the road everyone is settled, Olivia has a 7-up to keep her tummy settled and before we leave the parking lot she decides to blow bubbles in the full bottle of 7-up and BAM Olivia is now covered in 7-up!
#5 In a battle of wills between Olivia and Sofia vs. Mom and Dad. The girls will win hands down! We learned that it is absolutely possible for these two little darlings to scream inconsolably at the top of their lungs for well over an hour EVENTUALLY (not as soon as anyone might imagine) they will drift off for a short nap, and miraculously wake-up happy.....for a while.
#6 Sofia hates, hates, hates riding in a car seat for more than and hour. Furthermore, she will NOT sleep in that thing no matter how exhausted for more than an hour and a half! She has strong lungs and is persistant--she will WIN!
#7 Tomas is the #1 traveler in the family better than both sisters and Mom and Dad! He is totally self sufficient and can sleep in a car like nobody's business--I am unbelievably jealous!
#8 It is precisely these events which drive parents to say things they don't really mean, like--"We will never, as long as we live, go on a roadtrip again!!!!

Scott said if we didn't write this down we might forget--who is he kidding!!! We are already laughing, but not ready to strap in for a long trip for a while!

In between all the adventures in the car, we had an absolute blast!!!

Tomas was totally wacky when he saw wiley coyote, Olivia , however, not so much!! She warmed up though and gave him a hug and a high five after the picture.

They loved, loved, loved the rides at six flags. Tomas was not quite ready for the big rides yet, but I think he'll be ready next time.

The aquarium was awesome, of course, and they had a ball collecting shells on the beach. Sofie liked playing in and eating the sand! Tomas was like a little marine biologist--he's such an animal lover.

This was a little train ride which was so much fun in the park. They also had a little petting zoo.

It wasn't all play. Tomas and Scott helped poppi put in a sprinkler system on the hill and we planted a bunch of plants. Hopefully, this will help them sell their house soon--wish we could buy it!!