Here are the kids at the pool. we stayed at rob's aunt Lynda & uncle Barry's house & it was so much fun! They had an awesome pool (with an equally awesome aka super safe fence), 2 trampolines (1 small, 1 big), ping pong table outside on their covered back porch, basketball (half) court, a sidewalk around the yard to ride scooters, a very nice dog, large lawn, toys inside, a wii, and cable w/tons of kids channels. It was like a resort for us! (did I mention all the babysitters?) When we got home, Christopher said "what are we going to do? this is NOTHING like California!"
Of course we are sad of Aunt Shauna's passing and will miss her. Her funeral was very uplifting and each of her children (my age!) spoke. She fought breast cancer for 18 months, so we knew this was coming, we just didn't know when.
We LOVED spending so much time with Rob's extended family. It was a great family reunion. Too bad it took a funeral to get everyone together!
Diving board in the pool was fun! It was a salt water pool w/salinity matching that of our eyes. Warm, but not heated. Amazing!
We found out Makayla is quite the water baby. She LOVES water!!! One hike we went on there was a stream. Everyone except Makayla & aunt Lynda and I floated up stream through a tunnel cave to something cool on the other side. While we were talking & waiting, I stripped Makayla down to her diaper & let her sit w/her feet in the water, through rocks, etc. Then she started crawling/rock climbing through the stream. I'd try to keep a hand on her so she wouldn't get hurt. (it was only 2 inches, so I was more worried about her hitting her head on a rock than getting her face in the water). but everytime I tried to help her/give her balance, she'd throw her head back, arch her back & have a tantrum that I was ruining her life & experience. finally she'd calm down & it'd give her alittle more room, but still arms outstretched to prevent a fall.
Christopher & michael had so much fun in the pool too.
The life jackets we brought helped me feel that they were safe.
At an old mining town they had some rocks to climb. The kids also liked the old-fashioned bowling.
I managed to get all 3 kids in the picture. Michael playing w/animal toys, Makayla cruising & Christopher playing the wii.
Rob's mom made this beautiful dress for makayla's birthday.
Apple blossoms and a white pinafore- what else could a baby girl want?
Love the back too
Mandy dog was so patient w/makayla. The only problem we had was the dog stealing the boys food on ocassion.
Rob's mom, the maker of the dress with Makayla. Makayla was Beth's first granddaughter.
We went on another hike, but this water was very deep and moving a little fast. It used to be a ferry stop. Rob let Makayla put her hands in, even if she wanted more than that! We had to scramble over rocks & boulders to get here, so it was nice to have so many helpers.
Uncle Barry was watching Michael. He's a fireman by profession & a very safe person. He's also a fun uncle, so Michael loved being his buddy.
At this point Shane (Lynda & Barry's 16 yr old son) was Christopher's buddy
Rocks at the mining town again.
Playing a nice Sunday game of Croquet. (clockwise, starting at 3 o'clock): Aunt Lori from Iowa, Shane, Christopher, Uncle Thomas (Rob's brother), Aunt Lynda, Rob's dad (whose sister passed), and Laurie (Lynda & Barry's daughter. Some how I didn't get a picture of their other daughter, Korrine, whose bed we stole on her bday, who is going to Ghana w/the nursing students, then a mission to Florida)
clockwise, bottom left: Lori, Christopher, Thomas, Lynda, Jeff (rob's dad)
Michael is holding Mandy's leash on the rock climbing hike (we were almost back to the car...sorry its out of order)
Rob relaxing & talking w/Uncle Barry, Aunt Lori & Aunt Lynda w/Shane playing ping pong in the background. Oakdale, CA sure is a nice place. Sorry to those on the other side of the circle.
Michael loved the trip.
Makayla loved the trip.
Christopher did too. Here he's filling in the ping pong tournament schedule. Rob won.
Thomas carrying Makayla on part of the hike.
Daddy carrying Michael
Rob thinks I look really young in this picture.
See- Makayla loves Rock Climbing. what an adventurous 1 year old. now be adventurous & start walking!
Rob w/Makayla trying to get to the water.
Michael taking a drinking break. He's so proud of the fact he can put these shoes on 'by myself!" they are a little big...he scrapes the toe of the shoe to stop himself on his bike...we need to work on braking. and, the shorts he's wearing, I hemmed them from pants for Christopher the night before I went into labor with michael. Even though I didn't do a good job, they are special to me for that reason. Thanks to Rob's mom & Rob who supplemented the pictures I took. sorry there were so many, but here's our trip's scrapbook. And Thanks Lynda & Barry for letting us stay at your house- we had a blast! (also, thanks Korinne for letting us have your bed/room, and Shane for letting the kids have your room) Thanks to all of you and Laurie and Thomas (who was staying there too) for playing w/my kids!
