Road Trip to the South Bay

Last weekend we went down to the Bay Area. First stop was grandma and grandpa Middleton's house. I had many happy memories playing here on holidays and many other occasions so it was fun to take my kids there and tell them stories about when I was their age.

 

Then we stopped at my friend Wendy's house to see her and her family. Some of you may remember her from my wedding. She was my maid of honor. It is always so fun to see her!

 

Wendy and I courtesy of Trevor the photographer.

 

Her husband Steve. Goofball.

 

Saturday we got up early after sleeping at my dad's office studio apartment and headed to Watsonville to pick Olalliberries! YUM! We went here... www.gizdich-ranch.com

 

 

 

 

The fruits of our labors. This was only $20. I made the YUMMIEST berry crisp for Father's Day, we ate berries for days and I still have a bunch in my freezer.

 

After berry picking we headed to the beach. We couldn't decide where to go because growing up 45 minutes from the beach I had too many favorites, but we finally decided on Seabright. It was WINDY and if you were wet, COLD! The boys went for it anyway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brent dragged Carson screaming with fear and anger to the water because he didn't want to touch it because it was so cold.

 

Then they would turn around and Carson would change from terror scream to giggle scream as he ran away from the waves. They repeated this over and over. It was hilarious!

 

 

They dug a hole for Carson.

 

He lasted two seconds before crawling out.

 

Final stop was visiting G.G.(Brent's grandma) at her house near Santa Cruz before our 3 hour drive home. Busy and fun filled weekends are the best!

 

swim lessons

Last week the boys finished up swim lessons. Cade is still at the age where they forget what they knew how to do from the year before. I was glad Cade remembered he knew how to swim by the second class. It sure makes it easier when only one person can't swim when we make trips to the pool.

 

 

On the last day the kids look forward to the diving boards. Our clubhouse pool doesn't have one so they LOVE to jump off these!
Ethan jumping off the high dive...

 

and the low dive.

 

 

Trevor was annoyed that I signed him up for lessons. He told me he was too old, but he ended up being the youngest in the most advanced class they offer. He got a kick out of beating the other kids speedwise and even beat some of them endurancewise with all the laps they had to do so I think secretly he enjoyed going and probably forgave me after the first day.
Trevor jumping off the low dive...

 

the high dive...

 

and practicing his diving.

 

 

I am not a good target...

I am a mom. I go in and out of my house all day long or not at all. Sometimes I leave for 10 minutes and sometimes I leave for hours. I lock my doors and windows. I don't own expensive things like flat screen T.V.s or expensive jewelry. I don't drive a super fancy car. So why would anyone target me? They would have to be watching to know when I left.

Dear robbers that came to my house on Thursday while I was at the pool with my children,

Were you just waiting for a day that I left my upstairs master bathroom window open? Sometimes that is open when I am home. Did you see me leave? Would you have come in anyway if I was still here? I am sad. Not angry. Just sad. I am sad you felt it was necessary to open every drawer and cabinet in my home. I am sad you had to make a huge mess tossing everything in my bedroom and bathroom looking for cash I imagine. I am sad my husband had to take a day and a half off of work to help me clean up the mess and fill out paperwork instead of doing something fun as a family with that time off work. I am sad you took off with my children's bikes making them sad because they have nothing to ride. I am sad you had to empty my 4 year olds piggy bank. Was the $3 in change you got worth it? I am sad you took my husband's wedding ring that represented something worth way more than what you can sell it for. I'm sad you have a shotgun that you will most likely use in a crime or sell to someone to use in a crime. I am sad because of how uneasy and sick to my stomach and close to tears I felt that last few days. Most of all I am sad that even though I can monetarily replace these bikes, change, wedding ring, shotgun, mp3 player someday what I cannot replace is the safety my children felt in their own home. You had no right to be in our private happy place. You have stolen something from my children and I am going to work my hardest to get it back.

Sincerely,
Rochelle

P.S Luckily, I have something called the priesthood in my home. I was able to get a blessing and now feel peace. I am sad you don't know what that is, because if you did you would not have done this to our family.

2010 Baseball

Trevor and Ethan played on the same team this year. I wanted to take a year off baseball and all it's craziness, but Brent, Trevor, and Ethan talked me into it by keeping Trevor in the American level instead of moving him up to Nationals so it would only be one team to get everyone to. It made the season a lot more bearable.

 

 

 

 

Brent spent a lot of time here. He was the only scorekeeper for our team so he did all the home games.

 

Ethan had fun stealing bases this year. (not allowed at his level last year)

 

 

He was the only 7 year old on a team of big 8, 9, and even 10 year olds, but still held his own and smacked the ball.

 

Ethan hits and drops his bat all in one motion. Brent thinks this is a hard one to teach and Ethan just does it all on his own.

 

Grinning on 3rd, getting ready to GO HOME!

 

His ALL TIME FAVORITE was playing catcher. He just BEAMED when he finally got the chance to play.

 

 

Trevor still LOVED playing pitcher and pitched almost every game.

 

 

 

 

He still hits well too and had 3 homeruns this year!

 

 

One of the games they were short a coach so he filled in at 1st base when he wasn't up to bat. He looks like bossy comes natural huh? Must be an oldest child thing.

 

At the end of the season, he was voted (by his teammates) Best Pitcher on the team otherwise known as the Cy Young award. He was pretty excited.

 

Carson and Cade had a lot of park time and making faces at the camera time during games.

 

 

 

 

 

It's always fun when grandpa comes by to play during the game too! My dad is such a goofball.

 

 

They took 2nd place in their division so the league picked up the tab for these HUGE trophies.

 

Now we are officially enjoying summer!