Camping and Kayaking

In honor of the October birthdays in our family (mine and Jerry's), we went camping for the weekend and spent some time Kayaking in Morro Bay.  Here are a few shots from our trip.

Jerry kayaked for the first time and I think he enjoyed it.  The girls are getting old enough to learn to paddle their own boats too.  So this time around, we tied a single boat to the back of Rob's canoe.  That's Grace paddling behind Rob and Hannah.  Sarah rode with me and helped paddle from the front.  We saw lots of sea life and even got up close to a jellyfish.

Ok, Maybe One More...

Last night Sarah came to me and asked "Does it cost a lot of money to change your name?"

"I don't know Sarah.  Why?  Do you want to change your name?"

"Ya.  I just really like the name London".

"Ok, how about we just start calling you London.  It'll be cheaper that way."

"Ok"

I figure London can be her stage name someday.  She's a funny kid!  I think I'll keep her....forever and ever and ever!

A Few Funnies Until I Can Get Back to Bloggin'

I haven't had time to blog properly lately.  I have a couple posts started and lots of pictures piled up on my computer where they will just have to stay until I wade through a bit more of my real life.  Until I find time to sit down and get caught up, here are a couple funny things the girls have said to me lately...

A few nights ago, the girls had their Christmas program at school.  Hannah borrowed a cute little skirt and top to wear from a friend since we didn't have any Christmas clothes in her size.  I insisted she tuck in the top so the bow on the skirt would show and she told me very matter of factly that "If I didn't have a mom, I wouldn't tuck in my shirt"...Yeah, no kidding, you and about every little boy who ever had to dress up for something.

About a week ago, when I was tucking Sarah in to bed, she told me "Mom, I get so tired of smelling Matthew's breath.  I try not to talk to him, but he just keeps talking to me and I am tired of smelling his breath".   Ha!!!  Matthew is the little guy who sits next to her at school.  I let her know that her breath doesn't always smell like roses and maybe Matthew gets tired of smelling hers too.  She didn't think so.

Just today, Grace came in from the backyard rubbing her backside and whimpering.  "What's wrong Grace?", I asked.  "My bad word hurts", she said.  I'd tell you what her bad word was...but, well....it's a bad word.  She was upset, so I tried really hard not to laugh, but Hannah and I ended up busting a gut anyway. 

Happy Birthday Jerry

A few weeks ago, we celebrated Jerry's 17th Birthday.

He had a few friends over, Rob barbecued and I made a Tres Leches cake.

 His sisters wrapped and decorated a special gift for Him.

Yes, that would be a box of 50 bags of Fire Hot Cheetos...the boy's addicted. I remind myself that he could be addicted to far worse things than pain inflicting snack food.

Jerry has been part of our family for almost 8 months now.  Life with a teenage boy has taken some getting used to.  A lot of the time, I feel like I am on a crazy roller coaster.  But, when I am not feeling worried, scared or sick, it's a pretty great ride!  I don't know what the future holds or how this whole thing will work out, but right now, I'm glad he's in the next room (texting his little heart out). 

Happy Birthday Jerry.  We love you!

Murals for Papa's Shop

 A few weeks ago, we paid Papa Mike and Grandma Kris a visit.  They had a very special project planned for us.  We got to help Papa Mike decorate the walls of his newly completed shop/man cave.  Nothing on this earth could make the Cobb girls happier than the chance to paint whatever they wanted on clean white walls.  It felt so naughty!

Needless to say, Papa's man cave has some really pretty rainbows, hearts, butterflies and pink thingamablobs on the walls now.  No doubt his buddies will be impressed.

 Grandma and Daddy even got in on the action.

 Daddy painted his dream house...

really more of a hut, but who cares when you have the perfect wave out your front door.

 We also got to meet Daddy's long lost twin brother.....

Oh, I mean Papa and Grandma's new dog, Mugs.  



Fair Time

It's that time of year again.  The time when everyone starts coughing and sneezing...the dust in the air is so thick you can see it, you wonder if the weather is ever going to cool off, and the smell of cow poo hangs in the air.  Around here, that means it's Fair time.  Time to go eat some overpriced, seriously disappointing fried food and step in some animal excrement.  Oh yeah and see your kid's artwork (the highlight of course)...

Here's H posing in front of her artwork.  She won an honorable mention this year.  Way to go girl!
Here's a close up of her old lady (no...that is not a portrait of me...very funny!).

In case you couldn't tell, we are not really farm folks.  This was evidenced this year at the fair as we walked up to the cows and Sarah exclaimed, "Daddy that one is a girl because she is wearing earrings".  If they had an animal decorating contest at the fair, that girl could compete. 

Hey...Take a Hike Man!

OK...Don't mind if we do.

Last Sunday we went on a hike with the Outdoor Adventure Club from the High School. 

We hiked to the top of the Needles Fire Lookout.  You can't see it in this photo because it's hidden behind the tree on the left at the very top of that rock.

Here the girls are at the top waiting to go up the last few steps for a breathtaking 360 degree view.

There were about 40 high school students who went including this guy...

Being the chivalrous dude he is, he was sure to help all the single girls scramble down from rocks...hey, this hiking thing is kind of fun!

These little studettes and the big one in the background made it the whole way...about 5 miles in all.

Well...almost the whole way.  Daddy pitched in with a couple brief shoulder rides towards the very end.

It was a beautiful day!

Birthday Celebration

For their 6th Birthday, we took these two ladies to Hume Lake for a weekend celebration complete with fishing (they got poles for their birthday), row boating, swimming and cake and ice cream eating!

Daddy taught Grace how to cast her Disney Princess fishing pole.

Sarah was a pro with her Barbie pole.  Nobody caught anything, but the fun was in trying anyway.

This great looking bunch of kids joined us for the celebration!

Row, row, row your boat...but first put on some sunscreen!

It was a fun birthday weekend!

6 Years Ago Today...

Six years ago today, my babies looked like this...

A year later, they looked like this...

And a year after that...

And a year later...

And the year after that...

And one year later...

Happy Birthday my sweet, silly, special girls.  Stay tuned for this year's birthday picture.

This Reminded me of You

Two different family members have now sent this video to me because it "reminded me of you guys". I think for my ego's sake I'll go ahead and take it as a compliment...enjoy!

My Babies are Gone, but They'll be Home at 3

School started this week and everyone is officially in school full time this year...except Mom as Grace observed.  "Everyone is going to school, except Mom.  What is she going to do?"  Good question.  I still don't have an answer. 

Everyone was ready and excited, even Hannah.  The only one who cried was me, but I managed to hold it together until I got home.  I'm glad they were all so excited and ready to be there.

Here they are all ready to go showing off their new outfits and backpacks.  The outfits were compliments of Grandma Claudie who took us all back to school shopping over the summer.  In the wise words of one cute little kindergartner, "Grandma Claudie Rocks!"  Yes she does.

One very cute 2nd Grader

One silly Kindergartner

One more very sweet little Kindergartner

Checking out her desk

"Who cares about desks...we've got tricycles to check out!" 

No one ever accused Sarah of having her priorities out of whack.

It was a good day!

Santa Cruzin'

Towards the end of the summer, we had a chance to hit the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.  Rob and I both grew up playing there as kids and it's so much fun to take our kids to play there now.  There's just something about this place that puts a smile on all of our faces!

Cruisin' on the Cave Train

Bumpin' on the bumper cars

Jerry and Hannah both took their first rides on the Giant Dipper with me.  I love it and so did they!

Round and round they go...if they'll puke nobody knows!

Dippin' Dots anyone?

Giddy up horsey!

Flyin' high on the sky ride

Goodnight Boardwalk...until next year!