Summer swimming

The boys have been interested in trying out swim team for a while.  We never ended up capitalizing on their excitement of last summer's olympics, but after trying it this summer their excitement is definitely still there. 

First day pictures:

Practicing streamlines 

I was so proud of the boys for practicing things and trying even when they weren't totally sure of themselves.

Neither of them had ever used a kick board before, Scott picked up pretty quickly, Owen struggled for a while, but let me tell you that kid does not quit.  Ever.

We've been at it a few weeks now and the boys are hooked.  They even participated in their first meet (pics to come!).  Just incase we weren't in the pool enough, now we go from our pool to the oaks pool for practice, and then most nights right back into our pool.

Happy swimming!!!

Lopez Lake camping

The day after school got out we headed to Lopez Lake for a weekend of camping with Grandma and Gpa.

We arrived late Wednesday and woke up to our wild turkey camp neighbors greeting us.

Fortunately or not we ended up with one of the hottest weekends this year.  But lucky for us we were right next to the campground water park.

We spent the whole first day riding the slides and hanging out under the mushroom waterfalls.  From open to close, literally Scott was one of the last people up and down the slide.

I think they rode these slides at least 100 times.  I would know because I rode with them.

Then we all took turns braving this bad boy.  Brian rode with each of us, he said Scott was pretty terrified.  Owen seemed to be all smiles by the end.  And I got whiplash, but that's another story.

Mama deer and her baby walking through our campsite.

Campfires (although it was still super hot)

It was the perfect kick off to summer!!!

Yoga retreat weekend

The weekend before Scott got done with school I escaped for a girls getaway with two of my very best ladies! We planned this way back in january or february and it couldn't have come at a better time.  We were all on end of the school year burn out (one is a teacher and has high school kids, the other has a high schooler, middle schooler and an almost kinder) - we were DONE with school routines, sports commitments and it was the best way to kick off summer.

Sandy and I headed up early friday morning and basically ate our way from Thousand Oaks to Montecito.  We arrived to the grounds of the yoga retreat early and got to explore and get settled before our first yoga class.

Paper crane gardens....:)

Pre yoga/meditation, post dinner, or vice versa.  The whole weekend was yoga, meditate, eat, repeat - so revitalizing. 

Labyrinth meditation, which was made over a few month period on the property by a group of monks who did it as a trade for their room and board.

Cacao ceremony

Surriena and Stella our magical leaders and teachers

Sisterhood 

We drove home via Ojai, because why not!  And discovered Revel where you can do kombucha flights....my people!!!!

So obviously we did....

It was the perfect weekend with wonderful women and it filled my soul!

Ending of some chapters...

I hate the ending of chapters.  I know they are necessary and their are seasons for everything, but it still doesn't make the endings fun.

Scott had the most amazing baseball team this year, parents, kids, coaches - the whole shebang! They all learned so much and grew as young athletes and as a team, but most of all they were just the best kind of people.

We came back in the playoffs to finish the season off 3rd - so huge for our dudes.  We celebrated the end of the season with a pool party at Coach James and team mom Lenka's house. 

Loved watching these crazy dudes party and celebrate.

The best coaches ever! Scott got the "toughest player" award.

So thankful that we made so many friendships this season, we hope to keep in touch with many of these families for years to come.

Classic next morning picture after partying too hard/late with your buddies the night before. 

We also said goodbye to the school year at Bridges with their annual bridging ceremony, that some how falls on the hottest day ever.

But it didn't stop us from enjoying the night celebrating all that Scott has accomplished this year.

And then it was time to say goodbye to team.  The hardest ending of a chapter yet.  Team class has been our home for the last 4 years.  Its where I learned to be a better mom, and where the boys learned the most valuable social emotional skills that have already taken them so far.  Its where my kids come back to to recharge.  And in Scott's words, "its where I grew up."

Owen being slow to warm upon arrival.  Ms. Jennifer knows just how to find him and bring him right in.

The magical team teachers and some of my favorite women on the planet!

OG mom tribe.  We have all been in team together for all 4 years, most of our kids are like siblings to each other.

Team teachers and me and Andy (my person!)

A lot of us, but so so many not pictured.

My gift to team at the end of the year picnic.  You can't really see here but it says "welcome to TEAM a magical place to grow"......and it really is.

I could go on and on and on about team and horizon hills.  It is truly a magical place and our family was given the greatest gift in our time spent here.  I know we are ready to move on, but we will carry all we have learned with us and share it in our community.  But a little piece of my heart will always be in team class with these four!

And finally the end of first grade (for now).   What a year it was, but I can honestly say that it all happened for a reason and despite the emotional roller coaster that it was I am grateful for our growth and investment in our school.

Ms. Marsi's first graders 

Excited to be back in class with Ms. Marsi in the fall!

Nashville

In between some of my last posts Brian and I snuck away for a quick trip to Nashville for his sister Nicole's wedding.  Originally we had planned to bring the kids, but as we kicked the planning into high gear we realized it was going to be pretty tough to get them there with such a quick turn around, plus the end of the school, plus baseball playoffs, so even though we missed them it was actually super nice to get away just the two of us!

In between wedding activities we were able to spend some time in downtown Nashville and see the sights and just enjoy each other's company all day.

Heading down broadway.  I have to say, I'm a fan! What a fun and lively city.  The humidity and heat I can do without though.

We scored some awesome seats right next to misters and a fan on the top of Acme, a bar that looked out over the river and Titan's stadium, so we planted ourselves there for several hours.  

Brian ordered us a couple drinks and made them doubles just so he wouldn't have to go back to the bar as many times.  Well a double at home is just that, like two shots - nothing crazy.  Well apparently in Nashville is a whole glass.  

Yeah, see my cup?  Full of tequila, straight.  When Brian brought it over I told him there was no way I was finishing that.  Fortunately Gerri met us for a few hours and I was able to share with her! It was pretty hilarious!

Date day with my guy! So happy!!!!

After that and some BBQ for dinner we headed to an Alan Jackson concert.  It was AMAZING!  First of all Alan Jackson is for sure the music of my childhood.  I knew every word.  To every song.  And the outdoor atmosphere was super fun!  

All in all a great day and a great trip.  I have zero wedding pictures because I'm terrible about carrying my phone around at weddings.  But just know it was beautiful and the bride was stunning! So very happy for Nicole and Jake!

Counting down to summer...

Now that summer is finally here it seems like the last few months flew by, but those last 3 or 4 weeks of school seems to last forever while we were in it.  

Scott has been LOVING the "who were" book series.  If you haven't discovered them yet I highly recommend them.  All sorts of historical figures, events, places etc. written in a way that kids can really start to understand them.  We have been reading at least two a week these last few months and Scott really wanted to keep track of all he had been learning, he kept getting confused as to who came first or which invention led to which new discovery so we came up with the idea of creating a timeline and adding facts and details as we read.  Hello visual learner. 

Scott really enjoys history, science, math, anything with facts.  He likes to know what happened, how it happened, how things work - he likes right and wrong answers.  These books have been perfect for him.  His last writing unit in school was poetry.  He hated it.  Haha, this is much more his speed for now. Truly if you haven't tried these books go now and check some out!

Memorial weekend we had lots of bbqs and swimming with friends.  Of which I took almost no pictures.  But I did manage to snap this one of Scott and Riley, just hanging out chatting - basically like teenagers! 

Another day, another round of pitching the kids into the pool from 6 feet in the air!

Owen heading in to his last official day of Team class.  So many emotions for this mama!

Owen and Kenz on their last day!

Typical day in team, squeezing your own OJ for snack.

Baseball playoffs you guys.  Who knew?!  The excitement, the stress, the exhaustion.  Our little giants finished the season 6th and then went into the playoffs and ended up 3rd!  We had at least 2 or 3 games go to extra innings.  I was proud of these boys after every single game!

Just a little "bear, hunter, princess" to kick off a swim session.

We also got to attend cousin Tyler's high school graduation party.  When I met Tyler he was younger than my kids are now.  It blows my mind a little!  The boys had fun swimming and having a few golf lessons...

The next morning the boys ran their first ever race.  And these lucky dudes also got to run into their former and future kindergarten teacher (not by accident, she drove me to the race and then the boys met up after my 5k).  Ms. Tori is so awesome and we are so excited to be back in her class next year with Owen!

The boys did great, but we did learn a lesson about pacing.  They both started out in a dead sprint for the first quarter mile and got really burned out quick.  Next time we are gonna take it slower and see how we do. 

But they were not gonna give up because they couldn't wait to get their medals.  HAHA, amazing how much kids love medals and trophies.  They are pretty excited about their new hardware.

I don't consider myself a runner most of the time.  But something about races is pretty fun and inspiring.  It was an honor to run with these two ladies that morning for a 5k.  Both former teachers of the boys, my kids and our family have sure lucked out in the teacher department!  Ms. Tori and Ms. Dana are two of my favorites in the world!

After all that running we hit the farmers market for eggs and my favorite coffee drink and gluten free donuts from Joi cafe and then it was time to head home for not stop swimming and marco polo. 

Nothing better than them!

With only a few days of school left for Scott I could almost taste summer at this point!!!!