Recently.

Backyard burgers… with alcohol-free margaritas.  What’s not to love about a salt-rimmed glass of ice cold limeade?

We love the Make it Plates decorated by our family this summer!  Watermelon balls and burgers with sautéed mushrooms and onions.  We don’t always go all out like this, but the stars aligned and we happened to have great toppings.

The devoted Mr. Garland has a new toy:  a quad-copter (4-blade helicopter):

Jeff + SJZ went ice skating thanks to a Groupon (that expired, but thankfully they still let us use it):

Josh models a CPAP ventilator face mask.  He’s going to start a new fashion trend.

This sweet 3.5yo girl has stopped taking naps.  That means the last hour before (an early) bedtime, matters of life are very fragile.  Hello drama.

Here’s Sarah, rockin’ her math lesson:

Jeff and I played the Game of CLUE at family camp over the summer and I thought that it would be fun to personalize it for our family (minus all the murder weapons and murder suspects)!  Thus, the game “PLAY” was born.  You try to guess “who” was in “what room” playing with “what toy.”

We each picked our own personalized Lego Mini Figures for our game pieces… and I picked out 6 small toys out of our junk drawer.  It’s a great game for logical elimination skills.  The devoted Mr. Garland’s mini figure has  Woody’s (Toy Story) long legs for extra height.  Turned out we didn’t have any blonde hair Lego pieces for our daughters:

Was it Zac, playing with the yellow magnet in the bathroom?

So fun to bust out my guitar and practice some songs for the pre-school bible study co-op class I’m teaching with my good friend Jenni Cliff. 

Our last visit to the Wave Waterpark… it’s been a fun summer!

I married the best man.  You’d think Jeff is big enough to warrant his own inner tube, right?  Oh no.  He’s got multiple kids draped all over him.  Can you even see him in his wide-brimmed sun hat floating down the lazy river?

Tide Pools and Surf

Our friends who live by the beach invited us over for a Costco pizza dinner on the sand.  Such a fun evening of surfing, tide pooling, and amazing God-crafted sunsets.

Alison and Rozanne:

Pizza buffet was by the sea wall here (the devoted Mr. Garland, Josh and Elliot play frisbee on the sand):

Perfect waves (Louisa and Grace):

Josh, Zac, Evie, Rachel, Charlotte, Louisa, Grace, Elliot and Sarah at low tide:

The tidepool highlights were an 8” sea star followed by a dolphin sighting:

Rozanne and Jenni:

Such amazing clouds that night:

God has always blessed me with awesome friends (Jenni, me and Ro):

Evie and Sarah:

Mom and Dad to the Rescue

My mom and dad swooped in to help us out for a few days.  They are amazing.  The kept the kids busy with their schoolwork and fun outings (Coaster train ride into the city, Safari Park).  Mom took care of the “food” department, making every amazing meal.  I am so spoiled.

I was a bump on a log and basically did nothing.  Back pain is still my (unwanted) best friend, so I spent time flat in bed, and at chiropractor, doctor and physical therapist offices.  Woo to the hoo.

***VIDEO*** of my dad conjugating the verb “IS".  Such talent.

When my mom and dad are in town, you can count on 5 o’clock happy hour every afternoon, with special drinks (soda for the kids and wine for the adults) and a munchie (it was chips and guac here).  Do you think Rachel is just slightly amped up that she gets to have a Mt. Dew?

How come we didn’t have happy hour when *I* was a kid, hmmmmm?  I guess it’s a grandkid thing.

My dad took the kids to the Safari Park (making good use of our zoo passes):

My goal at any amusement park is to not spend a dime.  My dad splurges on things I always walk past:

Sarah, Josh and Zac were selected to participate in the bird show (because there a whoppin’ 8 people in the audience).  What treat to go to fun places mid-week when it’s empty:

I love Sarah’s hat decoration!

Thanks, Mom and Dad for everything.

Surf P.E.

September and October are wonderful months to hit the beach in our area.  The tourists have gone home, and most kids are back in a classroom.  Our classroom is wherever we are (often outside), so we loved catching some waves with our homeschool surf club friends.  After surf club was over, we lingered a few more hours to enjoy our picnic lunch on the (mostly) empty sand.

 

4 kids waiting for the final rinse before we head out: