California- Part 1 & Wyoming

Start at the bottom of this post. It'll make sense.

This little stinker started to crawl just a little while we were in Wyoming. We sure had a great time with dad!

Dad tying the 4 wheelers down.

Four-wheeling in the mountains. Maia fell asleep on the way up the mountain. I have no idea how she was able to do that.

Campfire!

If you work in an auto shop, this purse is for you!

These were a steal!

Oh, this belt? "Chasin Grace" Of course! How much? Oh about $475.

Xochi and I took a trip ALONE to Jackson Hole. What did we do without any children? Embraced the cowgirl life! (or just tried on a few things we fell in love with, and laughed a few times). "Being a cowgirl is expensive!"- Xochi

Hiking back, throwing a couple rocks, and looking for more berries.

Cousins

Cute Santi

At the spring.

Hiking to Intermittent Spring. It was gorgeous! AND, we got to pick real, wild (and safe to eat), fresh black berries.

Santi and Marin gathering nature for "Nature Scouts"- a fun program created by these two creative cousins for those interested in learning more about nature. Maia almost earned all her badges!

Grandpa grandpa (that's how Maia distinguishes between Joe's dad and my dad. This is my dad- grandpa grandpa.)

Swimming in Grandpa's pool.

Maia and Abram watching "Jake and the Neverland Pirates" on the big tv. Maia's dream come true.

On our way to Wyoming, Maia had to strap in Buddy or "Budders" (formerly know as "Snow Puppy" or "Snow Pups") while she went potty on the plane. We want to make sure Buddy is always safe.

A MANDATORY trip to Rite Aid for some Thrifty's ice cream. MMMmmm!

We went to the beach with grandma and cousins! YAY! A nice beach!! Maia loved holding grandma's hand.

START READING HERE!!!

HI! Thanks for following instructions. I am too lazy to rearrange ALL these pictures so we will begin here!

The girls and I were able to go out to California for 3 weeks in August. We had so much fun seeing all the family again. We spent about 4 days in California and then spent a week in Wyoming with my dad, and then back to California for the remaining week and a half. We did all sorts of fun stuff. {Scroll up to see the explanation of pics}

"I'm Just Mad"

We were having a great day at the playground with friends until Punky Brewster (aka Maia when she dresses herself) sat at the very end of a bench all by herself with her head down. I asked Maia, "What's wrong?"

Her reply, "I'm just mad!"

"Why are you mad?"

"Nothing. I'm just mad."

There was no reason for it. She just decided to be mad.

Alrighty then. I'll take some pictures of it.

While we were at the playground, it started to really warm up. Luckily the sprinklers came on. I felt like mom of the year when I told Maia to go run in the sprinklers. (I ran through the sprinklers with her a little too. It really felt good.) I didn't care if she were soaked head to toe. As long as she was experiencing something fun and having a good time, I was happy.

I think we accomplished a lot that day.

Hopscotch

Maia loves playing outside. Here's Maia's first attempt at hopscotch. I think she did a pretty good job. I taught her how to throw a rock (or in this case a wood chip) and then jump over it going up and then picking it up on the way back. Jump roping is next. :)

Secret Blogger

I've started a new blog. It's called Just One Mom Trying. That's what I am. I've posted some crafts and other little things from jammie school.

http://justonemomtrying.blogspot.com/

There's some other things too. Just stuff I like.

Check it out if you'd like.

Nursery

I get to work in nursery at church. It is a very fun calling. I get to be with Maia and about 11 other kids. I saw these shoes all lined up and couldn't help but take a picture. The big shoes on the very right are Maia's. :)

I get to be with 2 other great women. The kids LOVE hearing stories and touching all the pictures. They absolutely LOVE Brown Bear.

And they love a story called HUG. They think it's hilarious when the baby monkey starts crying.

We have a nice woman that comes in to do singing time and she parked her shoes right next to the kids' pile of shoes. I loved this picture too.

All seven of our 3-year olds will be moving up to Sunbeams in January. Part of me will miss them and another part of me will be happy for them (and me). ;)

Dating at Home: Chocolate Tasting!

Joe and I have been trying to have different "dates" at home on the weekend rather than watching our Netflix movie or movies on TV every time.

A couple months ago we did some chocolate tasting. It was so fun. We gathered some chocolate bars from Trader Joe's and then rated the chocolate. I did some research on chocolate tasting and found out that it is quite complex (appearance, snap, feel, aroma, taste, mouthfeel). You can see from our chart below, how we rated the chocolates. The two chocolate bars shown here are our favorite. Oh my were they good.

These are the chocolates we rated (left=worst, right=best). The one on the far left tasted like dirt. So gross.

Anyway, we both agreed that it was a fun date. :)

Pools, Lakes, and Naps

Maia's baby "Toot" (She named her baby)

I love Maia's face and the clouds. (Winchester Beach)

More pools

Love this face.

Sand Castle Contest @ Revere Beach

Back in July we went to Revere Beach to check out the Sand Castle Competition that was going on. It turned out to be a festival with live music, food, and rides. It was the first time we had been to our own beach. We live in Revere. (We haven't been back since. No real reason not to. We've just been busy.)

Joe and Maia

Heidi's first experience with sand on her feet. She liked it.

Maia LOVING the sand, like always. (Check out those pretty lips! No photoshop here. I don't know how to use it.)

This one was called "Knock Knock"

This one is supposed to be a veiled woman. I liked this one a lot.

This turtle was hollow inside. AMAZING! I loved this one too.

There was a carousel there so Maia had to ride it. I was a little freaked out because it was like a shoddy carnival ride but she had fun.