Friday, July 16, 2010

Summer time fun!

Oh my...I have been terrible at updating! What else is new? The girls are growing like weeds, and we are busy enjoying summer. Kayleigh is picking up new words and sayings every day and Campbell is *gasp* almost walking. We are up to 5 steps in a row! My girls are just growing too darn fast! Campbell will be 1 next month! Time for another...just kidding...for now. :) Baby girl is up to 6 teeth and loves to eat anything we are eating. Her personality is shining through even more these days. I'm quite sure she will be just as feisty as her sister. Oh my! Everyone comments on her big blue eyes and her dimpley grin that she gives everyone! I think she may be the smiliest baby ever! Big sister is doing great too and is making lots of neighborhood friends. She can't walk to the park without stopping by Madelyn's house to see if she can come too. She rings the doorbell and everything. Too cute!

We have had a slam packed summer. We started off with a bang in May with our two week camping trip in Northern California and Oregon. We saw some beautiful places and rain. Lots. Of. Rain. I got a true taste for the North coast of California and coastal Oregon! We stopped to see the 8 surf stations along the way and get a feel for where we wouldn't mind putting on our next dream sheet (if we don't get anywhere back East that is ;) ) and where we would definitely not encourage the detailer to send us! We actually realized how thankful we are for where we live and wouldn't mind staying in the area if we can't head back East. Our options here would be Bodega Bay, which is the station just north of Golden Gate (about 45 minutes from where we live), and Morro Bay, which is about 2 hours north of LA. We got to do a little hiking, saw some Elk, drove through the redwoods, went to the most awesome wildlife park where we got to hold baby lions and tigers, and even did a little shopping. I do take after my mother after all. ;) I must say that coastal Oregon is gorgeous! The crashing waves and even the constant mist made the ocean just mesmerizing. But man is it cold. I missed the memo that Oregon is down right cold even at the end of May! Thus, further justifying my need to shop. Ok...let's be real. I don't need an excuse. We even happened to be in Florence, Oregon for their Rhododendron Festival. It was really neat to see this small town go all out, and it is a big deal. They even have a Rhody Queen and of course being the Rhody Festival, all the bikers West of the Rockies were there. At least it seemed like it. Oregon has the most beautiful campgrounds, which are free to active duty on leave might I add. California really could take a few tips! We ended our trip Memorial Day weekend back in Cali camping at Butt Lake (I really think they could have come up with a better name by the way) with the IL's (better known as Lesa & Randy) and Brett's uncle, aunt and cousin (Lee, Renee & Sydney). It was so nice to be back in sunshine though we could see snow from the campground!?! Brett caught the first and only fish, so he was happy to end on a good note. We loved breaking in the camper and are hoping to get back out there for at least one more week of camping before fall gets here and the surf kicks up.

The best family picture we could get. <3

Cape Blanco is the furthest point West in the contiguous United States.Beautiful Oregon Coastline
Lion cubs. They were ADORABLE!
Our camper!!
June brought a few hiccups for the Bonner household. I started having a few medical issues and basically couldn't eat much of anything for a week. Thankfully Lesa and Sydney came and helped with the girls and the house while I got on enough medicine to help me eat again. We still don't have much in the line of answers. I was diagnosed with IBS, but we are still working on what caused the major issues: extreme nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and obviously weight loss due to the inability to eat. I had an endoscopy in July, and the doctor took a few samples for biopsy. We are still waiting on those results. Basically, they have me on enough meds to get me through until we figure out the issues.

When I was back on the mend, we ventured out to the Sonoma-Marin County Fair and entered our fiesty little crawler in the Diaper Derby. And...SHE WON! We have the fastest baby in Sonoma and Marin counties...well that entered anyway. ;) She actually beat 16 other babies in 3 rounds. The first round, she went to visit the other boys before crawling to the finish line, but after that, she got the hang of it and bolted for the finish in the semi-finals and finals. She even got a trophy! :) Unfortunately, all we have are a few blurry pictures, but that's ok! We had lots of fun at the fair, which had unlimited rides. Fair rides happen to be one of my favorite things in the whole world. Never mind the fact that one of the workers had his leg severed off the day before by one of the rides. Didn't stop this die hard. Kayleigh loved the rides, especially the worm roller coaster. That kid is fearless!

Crossing the finish line!! Notice all the bribery. The CHAMPION!!!

July brought well...July Fourth of course! We had a great day celebrating. We started off with lots of Coast Guard friends at the parade in Novato. There were some very neat floats, including one of Pearl Harbor survivors, and of course the always exciting Coast Guard helicopter fly over. I am so proud that my husband serves our country and am forever grateful to all who serve and sacrifice for our freedom! <3 We all went home and took naps and ended the evening with fried chicken and a boat ride on the 47' to watch the Sausalito fireworks. Kayleigh said "oooohhhh" and "ahhhhhh" after each and every firework. It was precious. Campbell slept, except for the 30 seconds she woke up to puke all over me, my coat and her carrier. :( It was cold but I think she somehow got hot in her carrier underneath Brett's survival jacket. We had the perfect view since we were on the 47' and got to be in front of all the boats and right next to the fireworks barge.

July also brought two wonderful additions to our family. Noah Brent Wike, our very first nephew, arrived in Puerto Rico on 7/6. He surprised mommy and daddy and decided to arrive a day before his schedule c-section. He is a little cutie, and I can't wait to get my hands on him! Ryan Olivia Swaney, my newest little cousin, arrived shortly after on 7/11. She is just precious too, and in pictures Noah and Ryan actually look alike, but then again, don't all brand spankin' new babies look pretty similar? I always especially miss home and all our far away family during big events like these. :(

Not much else going on around these parts other than trying to enjoy as much time with Brett before his crazy fall/winter surf work schedule is back. We are enjoying our house and yard and spending as much time outside as possible in our little pool. I've picked up a few new hobbies to keep me busy in between raising two little ones, keeping the house clean and the husband happy, and being chef extraordinaire! ;) I'm not sure couponing can be called a hobby, but as much time as I've spent at it, it surely must be! I've also been busy honing my sewing skills. I've been making baby gifts up a storm as we have even more new babies to welcome in the next few months and even made new pillows for our couch. I may just get this whole stay at home mommy thing down by the time the girls head off to school. ;)

No comments: