Haircuts!

Ryker and Ben really needed to get their hair cut before the wedding and despite them not wanting it to happen, Emily and I had to make it happen.

We found a super cuts and went in to make an appointment and then I saw the price. $17 for a boys cut? No, thank you. We left to try to find something else. I looked up a Fantastic Sams and called them to ask about prices. They told me $10 and we liked that deal a lot better. We headed over and took a before shot of our hairy beasts.

Ryker was definitely putting on a show for my camera.

After the cuts Rykers stylist rang him up and after asking me how old he was charged me $18. What! Apparently since he is 12 he is considered an adult and charged adult prices. Totally not cool but what could I do, he was already cut and styled so I had to suck it up and pay. 

The after shot.

These boys look so much better and so handsome!

Summer Solemate 5K

After the beach Stephanie took Rylee and Kenedy home with her for a couple of days. Kenedy sent me this picture of Rylee wearing a sweatshirt that Breana gave her. She is such a little cutie!

Flex it pink was doing another virtual 5k and this one was scheduled to be run while we were all in California. I sent a text to my Mom and Sisters telling them we should do this all together since it was perfect timing. I signed up Kenedy and I again and my sisters and Mom all signed up also. The morning of we all got together at the park to run our miles. 

I ran with Heather and I am really glad I did. She helped keep me motivated and we made pretty good time. We were first place out of our group! Woop Woop!

I was sent an extra medal in my packet and so I contacted Flex it pink to let them know and to see what they wanted me to do with it. They told me to go ahead and give it to someone who can be motivated to run the race with us. Avy expressed an interest in running and I told her if she did I had a medal for her. Rylee and Avynlea both ended up doing all of the miles and since I already promised the medal to Avy I did not have anything for Rylee. She was pretty sad but I told her I would contact flex it pink to see if I could get a medal for her. Though still a bit teary she agreed to that plan. I let her wear my medal for our pictures to help her feel better about it all. 

Kenedy walked/ran with Isabelle, Avynlea walked/ran on her own and Rylee walked with Alyssa. No matter the time or the way, everyone finished and I am so proud of us all!

Isabelle, Emily, Kenedy, Ashleigh, Heather, Stephanie, Alyssa, Elizabeth

Avynlea, Rylee, Camryn, Bonnie and Erin

3 generations of flex it pink runners

After we were done we went and got doughnuts and while we were there Stephanie slipped her medal around Rylee's neck and told me she could have it. That was super nice of her and Rylee and I appreciated it. Erin also told me she would give Rylee hers which was way cool. So thankful for my generous family!

Later after we all showered and changed Heather and I were wearing our Disney Vans so I snapped a picture of our shoes. Minnie for Heather and Ariel for Elizabeth

Huntington Beach

On Wednesday we decided to take the kids to Huntington Beach. We were going to miss our annual camping at the beach but we still wanted to get in a bit of beach time. We got there early enough that it was not crowded and we got a great parking spot and beach spot. Stephanie and her family came along with us. The Vans US Open for Surfing was going on at this time and Kefford walked with Avynlea,  Ryker and Dillon down past the pier to check it out. It was a lot farther then they thought or anticipated but I think they enjoyed checking it all out.

When they got back I was able to take some pictures of them playing on the beach. Kefford took my phone with him so he could get some pictures and I was left with nothing. :)

Jennifer lives just down the road from where we were at and after letting her know where we were she and her Husband Parker came by for a quick visit. It was really good to visit and chat with her and catch up on all the happenings.

Kefford managed to sneak in a couple of pictures of Stephanie and I chatting.

Elizabeth and Stephanie

We were able to bring Jaylynn with us which was really great.

Kenedy and Alyssa

Dillon and Ryker

Rylee, Camryn, Avynlea and Jaylynn

On our way home I tried to take a picture of us in the car. Kefford did not want to be a part of it but I let him in the shot anyway.

I love being at the beach and am glad I had the chance to be there for the day.

Natural History Museum

While we were waiting for the Dolls to get their hair done Kefford was looking online for another adventure. He found the Museum of Natural History was close by and we decided to go and check it out. I looked up online to see what time they closed and saw that it was 5:00. We got their at 4 and decided to go for it anyway, we only needed an hour, we were excited to find out that the last hour was half price admission, deal!

I have never been to a museum that had a Dinosaur exhibit and that was so fun to see.

The museum had different animal exhibits showing them in their natural habitats and the presentations were super impressive. All details were carefully thought out and portrayed, I loved it!

Avynlea was super excited to see the Grizzly bear since that is what she did her PACE presentation on. She was able to tell us so much about the bear.

I love the move "Gone With the Wind" and it was really exciting to see an actual dress from the movie that Vivian Leigh wore in her portrayal of Scarlett O'Hara. I think it would be so fun to wear a dress like that, it is so beautiful!

After the museum we headed over to Downtown Disney so the kids could check out the Lego Store. All of the girls favorite Disney Princesses/movies were represented

Beauty and the Beast

Alladin, Rylee loves Jasmine

Sleeping Beauty, Kenedy loves Aurora

After our long day of fun it was nice to get back to Mom's to hang out with my best friend!

American Girl Doll Store

After Hollywood we headed over to The Grove, an outdoor mall. Avy and Rylee both got American Girl Dolls for Christmas and we found out that there is a store in LA so I told them we could go while we are in California. They have a little doll salon in the store and we made plans to have them get there hair done. 

Once we got there we made an appointment for their hair and the next available spot was not for a couple of hours. Kefford and Ryker decided to take off and go to the Lamborgini dealership while us girls walked around the mall. 

Kefford and Ryker caught back up with us and we took some pictures of the kids goofing off.

When we got back to the store we saw that our dolls were next in line and we had only a little bit of wait.

First up was Caroline and Rylee was so excited to watch her Doll get her hair done.

Then Saige got her turn. The girls picked out what styles they wanted for their dolls and also picked what color ribbons for their hair.

Hollywood Walk of Fame

On Monday we decided to drive to LA and do some California sight seeing that we normally do not have time for. Kenedy really wanted to go to Hollywood to see the walk of fame and the TCL Chinese Theater so that was our first stop. 

I thought it was cute before we left that as I was doing Rylee's hair she was doing her Dolls hair.

It was fun walking Hollywood Blvd and seeing names we recognize. Most of the stars we did not know, some I recognized but my kids did not and then there were the few we all knew. 

At the theater it was hot and really crowded which made it difficult to find handprints. The only one I wanted to find, Shirley Temple, I could not find. 

We were all excited to find the Harry Potter slab!

As we were walking the Blvd we had a lot of people trying to selling us maps of stars homes and we would just say no thanks and move on. One guy was sitting and making rosettes out of corn leaves and was offering one to us. We told him no thanks but then he said it was free and so Avynlea took one. It was a pretty impressive rosette!

Avynlea and I found Johnny Depps handprints for Kenedy who really likes him.

Family shot in front of the Theater!

Driving to California and a Bridal Shower

Friday morning we left for California. Ashleigh and Andrew Brown are getting married on August 1st and we came down the week before whereas most of the other siblings will come down closer to the end of the week because they are going to the beach for camping the week after. Kenedy has girls camp that week and we have other stuff going on so we are not doing the camping with the others. Next year hopefully. Since we are not going camping this year with the rest of the family we did not have to pack a ton of stuff and there was more room in the car. 

We got there Friday evening and on Saturday was Ashleigh's Bridal shower. I asked my Mom if they could have it closer to the wedding day so that I could be there and promised that I would help out with anything and after talking to Connie Jones and MaryBeth Stevens, who were hosting the shower, said they would have it the Saturday before and that I was in charge of games, prizes and drinks. I decided to do the candy bar match game which was fun and gave 20 people the opportunity to win a candy bar. I also did little advice cards for the guests to fill out to give Ashleigh some marital advice and I did a water punch for the drink. 

Avynlea, JayLynn and Rylee at the shower eating lunch

The shower started outdoors and that is where we ate lunch but it was so hot that it was moved indoors for the game and present opening.

I wanted to do something unique for her shower gift and after perusing Pinterest I found this really cute print. I was not wanting to spend the $25 for the girl selling it on ETSY to do it for me so I asked my friend Lana who is awesome with photoshop if she would make one. She did and it turned out awesome. Printing it at Costco cost $4 and I got the frame from Hobby Lobby with a coupon so it was the perfect price. I was so thrilled, it turned out exactly how I pictured it with the frame. 

Connie has a pool at her house and as soon as my girls saw it they asked if they could put their feet in. I told them they could and saw exactly where this was headed. Sure enough by the end of the shower they were completely submerged in the pool. No worries. Connie said they could swim and so I had Kefford bring some suits and we let them swim for a couple of hours while the rest of us visited.

I am so glad I got to be here for her Bridal Shower, I really get tired of missing out on everything so it was really nice to be able to be here and be involved.