Maddie and Kenny

This summer we have been going to the park or water park once a week with my Aunt Marie and her grand daughters (a.k.a. my cousins kids)(a.k.a. Maddie and Kenny). Josie and Maddie look so much alike at a glance that we often get them confused for one another. One trip it was quite funny when my Aunt started yelling at Josie to get in the car, completely unaware that it was the wrong kid. Maddie and Kenny are such good girls; I love having Josie and Parker play with them. This was our last playtime for the summer since we will be moving and Maddie will be starting school on August 11th. We will miss having our playtime at the park!!

Earthquake/Movie Night at the Park

Well, today at 11:42 we had a fairly decent sized earthquake. The epicenter was in Chino Hills, which is close to my mom's house. We felt the two large jolting motions and then the more wave-like motions. I was at the computer and Josie was just about to put in her American Girl hair video when the shaking started. I ran and got the kids and went outside. If you live in California you know earthquakes are a part of life. However, for poor Parker this was his first one and it has really traumatized the kid. I looked over at him after the shaking stopped and his lips were completely white. I grabbed him and his little heart was pounding soooo fast. The rest of the day we played the what if game. Parker: "What if we have another earthquake?" Me: "We probably will." Parker: "What if that picture falls down?" Me: "Then the picture falls down." Parker: "What if the trees fall down?" etc. etc. etc.
Later, we went to the movie in the park program that the Claremont Police Officers put on. They do a wonderful job; I have been really impressed! The police officers BBQ hot dogs and then personally hand them out to everyone. After we eat, the Claremont volunteers help the kids play games and do arts and crafts before the movie starts. (Which Josie of course loves!) Then its movie time, tonight it was Shrek the Third, which my mom had never seen. All and all it was a good night.

Missing our Best Buddies

My sister Krista and her husband went on a cruise, so we got to help watch my niece Ruby and nephew Porter. Parker and Porter are the best of buddies! It has been so sad since they left! Poor Parker wanders around without someone to play with, he is always saying "I miss my little buddy!" It was so nice while they were here because Parker wanted to do whatever Porter was doing and Porter wanted to do whatever Parker was doing! They were so cute, playing in the water, making their Junior Ranger hats, playing Nintendo DS, and basically being joined at the hip!

God Bless America

The Sunday before the fourth of July we had an amazing sacrament meeting program. It really had my patriotic juices flowing. At the end of the second speakers talk he got choked up and ended with a "God Bless America". I honestly never felt so proud to live in this amazing country. I hope we never take our liberties for granted.
On the actually fourth of July we went to a pancake breakfast and carnival in downtown Claremont. The kids had so much fun getting their faces painted, and going around to get the free stuff from the booths. After the carnival, we went to Riverside to look at some houses and then to J'lene's mom's house for a fun BBQ and swim. The food was amazing, so many yummy options! Lastly, we drove back to Claremont just in time to grab our chairs and blankets and head for the fireworks.

Kit Kittredge (An American Girl)

Josie, the American Girl Monster, was waiting anxiously for the new American Girl movie to come out. Truth be told I think Grandma Patti was more excited! Grandma Patti is the one that encourages the American Girl paraphernalia. She even got Josie and her doll matching shirts for the movie. Josie and I read all of the American Girl books while we lived in Nebraska. (We love the libraries in Nebraska!) So I was looking forward to the movie, to see how true to the books the movie stayed. I must confess I was a little disappointed in the movie. I don't think if Josie had read the books that she would have understood what was going on. It wasn't really a kids movie, very sad in parts while dealing with the depression issues. Josie claims that she really liked it, and that is all that matters!

Enviromental Nature Center

Yesterday we went to the Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach. It is the only completely green building in orange county. It is even insulated with old denim jean fibers, crazy! We went because the ENU has a butterfly house. It was fun for the kids to see all the different kinds of butterflies up close and personal. The ENU also has beautiful trails to go off exploring on, however you have to stay on the path or else you might get poison ivy, yikes! After the ENU we went to the beach which I didn't get any pictures of because I left the camera in the car. It was a good day!

Madison

My mom recently started babysitting this little girl, Madison, just twice a week. We had the opportunity to watch her Monday and Tuesday, while my mom was out of town. Josie and Parker loved it, they smothered her with attention and love. They helped keep her happy and play with toys. It was really fun to watch them with her. She absolutely loves Parker, she climbs up him and tries to give him kisses, it is hilarious.