This summer the girls spent a lot of time drawing using these YouTube videos. It was so neat to see all the fun drawings they made. This set was just after one day. Now they have their drawings hung all over their bedroom.

This year the Google Summer Party was at Knott's Berry Farm. Andy and the kids had never been, although when Joey heard where we were going he said, "Oh! I love the hay maze there." It turns out he was thinking of Bates Nut Farm. He was thrilled when he found out that we were going to an amusement park, not an actual farm.

 Saturday morning we met Christina at the Santa Barbara Mission. Joey learned all about the California missions in fourth grade so it worked out well that we got to visit this one.

On Friday, the kids and I took a road trip with my mom to go to Santa Barbara to visit my sister-in-law Christina. My mom and I visited Santa Barbara four years ago to see Christina when she was participating in the same music festival. Ever since our road trip to Colorado last summer, the kids have been super excited about going on another one. This one was much shorter, but they were still pumped!

I'm a little late in posting this, but Ellie's half birthday was a couple of weeks ago!

Since we are having a staycation this summer and don't have any real vacation plans, I thought it would be fun to have the goal of getting to the beach once a week. I've shared many times about how my kids aren't big "beach kids" (until we actually get to the beach), but we may have turned a corner because all three were totally on board with going this time. We went Tuesday morning at 10:00 and got a great parking spot at our favorite beach.

In the past I've often let the kids invite friends, but this time it was just the four of us, and it worked out so well. It was neat having time with just our family, and the kids had a blast. At one point, I was sitting in my beach chair enjoying the lovely weather, watching the kids frolic at the beach and I thought, "This really is paradise."

The water was frigid, but these two still had so much fun jumping in the waves.

I could hear their squeals and laughter every time the water got them.

This girl was a little more unsure about the appeal of freezing cold water. She much preferred finding shells and cool rocks. She did want her floaties on anytime she got her feet near the water. Funny that all three of my kids are naturally so cautious!

 

One thing my kids do love about the beach is that there's always so much to do. 

The kids found lots of sand crabs and even a regular crab wandering around on the sand.

They worked on some rock art.

And more rock art.

 

These three are my favorites!

Ellie's friend Cameron was enrolled in a little theater class through the city. Cameron asked Ellie if she wanted to join so Ellie tried it out and loved it! It was an eight week class, and then they had a little performance.

They did an abridged version of Trolls. 

Ellie was King Gristle,

and Guy Diamond.

 

Oh my goodness, she loved being on stage! Not an ounce of stage fright!

 

Ellie's first performance ever warranted a trip to Fro Yo Love!