My friends Shanell and Aleta were passing through town on their way to the airport last Monday. I offered to make them sack lunches for their air plane trip because you never get as hungry as when you walk on the airplane and realize there is only peanuts and a small drink for the next several hours. 

Here is a list of the things I wanted to do to their lunches, but did not, because I'm all about being a grown up these days…

Let Emma put Dora stickers all over the brown paper bags.

Throw away the brown paper bags and use the Elmo lunch boxes.

Write a silly note (like I do for Tessa every day)

Put Dora fruit snacks in the lunches

Cut their sandwiches up into little tiny pieces

Take the grapes off the stems and cut them in half (to reduce the choking hazard of course!)

Include a happy meal toy or some crayons and paper.

I restrained myself as much as I possibly could.  Shanell and Aleta, I hope you enjoyed the Nerds!

…get some blankets and have a slumber party. 

P.S.  Get into the bright pink lipstick first.

Last Saturday afternoon (while we were yurt camping with Tessa's school) we went to the beach.

Rogene made a sand castle with Tessa.

Emma did a face plant in the sand and got a sand mustache.

She also liked showing off her sandy "beet".

Braden went boogie boarding (is that what it is called?).

Kiara and her friends Danielle and Jazmine went body surfing.

Meanwhile, all the adults sat around.

At one point when we were building sand castles and playing in the water Tessa said, "When are we going to do something fun?"

Emma was having so much fun she didn't even notice this…

We had a blast… check out these smiles…

Tessa

Emma

Rogene

Thank you for letting me send you magazine campaign forms.  Look what I got!

What is it, you ask?  Well!  It is a plush bear pouchy type dealy thing (also called an MP3 holder)… with a hook so you can hang it on your backpack.  It has a pocket big enough for a wallet sized picture or maybe a dollar for $1 Root beer Float Day.  (I know… so lame!  This is the best they could come up with?  This is why I spent an hour trying to rustle up addresses?)

Tessa thinks it is the BOMB!  Out of the whole kindergarten class only Tessa and her best friend Brenda got one (apparently all the other parents struggled to come up with ELEVEN addresses too).

XOXOXOXO to the three of you from Tessa.

Tessa's friend Sadie's dad got married a few weeks ago.  My sister went to the wedding and got these amazing pictures of Sadie and her sister Emily.  They are so beautiful, I just had to share.  (Sadie is in the middle of this picture.)

Sadie's sister Emily

Our friends Shanell and Stephen were in town a few weeks ago (Okay, it was July.  I'm way behind on my blogging.) and we got to meet their son Cedric for the first time.  He is so adorable!  It was fun to get a glimpse into a typical day in the life of a little boy.

First, Cedric drove to meet us at Campmeeting.

Next, he showed Emma the best way to play on the jungle gym.

Then came the manly feat of crossing the monkey bars.

Next, he took Emma on a Saturday afternoon drive.

Cedric even managed to make the time to show his dad how to work some heavy machinery.

What a busy day.  Good thing little boys have a lot of energy! 

Our friend's Chris and Nenette had their Second Annual Old Fashioned Outdoor Movie Night.  Everyone brought snacks to share, we had a song service and worship and when it got dark we watched the Apple Dumpling Gang.  I haven't seen that movie in years and had forgotten how funny it is.  Since it was Chris and Nenette's 15th wedding anniversary they were going to show part of their wedding video, but could not get it to play.  Hopefully we will get to see it next year!

Chris setting up the projector and Nenette welcoming everyone to the party.

All the party goers sitting on their lawn chairs or blankets, munching on their snacks and waiting for the movie to start.

Read about the First Annual Old Fashioned Outdoor Movie Night here.  (I got MUCH better pictures last year.)

Last weekend we went to a baptism in the river.  The kids had a blast playing in the water. 

Tessa and her friend Sadie

Emma had a little bit of trouble keeping her feet clean.

Stacie, my most stable friend** (for 31 years, people!) was in town for a very short visit and we were lucky enough to be able to spend some time together catching up, shopping and having coffee at Starbucks. 

We even went to the very same mall that we used to go to when we were 16 to buy Chour Sarries (Sour Cherries) and stare at the cute boy who worked at Softee Knots.

Stacie, it was great to spend time with you again!

**It is an inside joke, don't try to understand it.  

My dear friend Shanell came into town for a few days so we decided this was our chance for a girls day out.

We went to a spa for pedicures.

Ahhh… pretty toes!

We also spent some quality time in Powell's Bookstore, did a little shopping and had a nice quiet lunch at P.F. Chang's.  You know, the kind of lunch where you aren't feeding anyone but yourself.  We had lots of time to talk uninterrupted.  (Typically when we talk on the phone we have to talk as fast as we can before one of our kids need something and we have to go.)

We both got back to find that our husbands had taken excellent care of the kids and they were having a great time.  Maybe we should do this more often?  Hee hee!