Memorial Day Fence Painting

Garland Memorial Day Weekend Project:  Whitewash the backyard fence

Jeff did all the prep work (that I hate)… sanded and cleaned the fence.  Hooray for power sanders!  And awesome husbands who love to use them!

Then, Sarah, Zac and I jumped in with a huge bucket-o-white-paint!

Any day that I get to wear my Sears Roebuck overalls is a good day.

Saturday was our work day, so Sunday, we got to play:

Goggle girl here has discovered the excitement of going underwater… on purpose!

I even got to swim a few laps with Sarah:

Jeff’s happy place:

Pop-up tent, family members and roasted hot dogs after 2.5 hours of ultimate Frisbee:

Physical line-up:

Our doctor is so good with the kids.

Picking out charms for our running club necklaces:

I can tell it’s swim season again because my laundry room looks like this:

Homeschool day with our buddy Chad (on right):

Money math at the park:

Fun borrowed game:  Silly Sentences:

Homeschool surf club (such sweet girls!):

Last night at AWANA:

(Apparently our cat Pearl loves to be in photos.)

Last AWANA night means date night (!) for us:

End of the year award recipients that we’re sorta proud of:

“Decades Day” at workshop.  Introducing Patty Reed (from the 1840s):

Jackie Robinson (from the 1940s):

This California Rancher (from the 1840s) slays me:

Not sure what decade this bird-hat girl is from:

Thanks for allowing me to wrap up our lives here.  Too many photos… I know. 

My prayer is that these posts bless you in some way or another, and that they bless our family, now and in the days to come.

Central Valley

We stayed 3+1 nights with my parents in the Central Valley on the way to/from San Francisco and Sacramento in May.  Visalia was the perfect mid-way point between southern and northern CA.  Huge bonus to get to see my parents along the way!  My mom prepares all the food, so oh my what a gift it is for us to get to stop in for a few days here and there.  Visalia summer visits are often very warm (hello 100-110 degrees!) so they usually involve lots of swim time in the pool, which no one complains about. 

My folks were so wonderful to volunteer to watch Rachel (our 3yo) while Sarah, Josh, Zac and I enjoyed our school field trip.  Our good friends the Cliffs joined us for one night on our way back from northern California.

Night-driving on the 5 to the 405 (through LA) to the 99:

The beauty of homeschooling… math lessons on the road:

Rachel always loves playing house in the playhouse:

Backyard lunches in our wet swimsuits:

Toscana soup and too many yummy breadsticks at Olive Garden:

The boys work on a project with Grandad:

Visalia is beautiful in the Spring!

Chicken fighting has become a regular event:

One night with the Cliffs after Sacramento.  Can openers, back dives, front flips and cannon balls galore:

Our family doesn’t do sleep overs, so this was a super special treat (the aftermath):

4 Cliffs + 4 Garlands… ages match up pretty closely. Thankful for these friendships:

Thanks Mom and Dad!  Can’t wait to come back.