Accounts and Afterthoughts of August

I should actually start with the end of July because my roomie from freshman year at BYU passed through our town on her way to a Giants/Dodgers game in San Fran. I was able to introduce she and her family to my favorite breakfast place, First Awakenings, and then I was able to have Laura and her (almost) whole family come over for dinner that night. It was so wonderful to see/hug her, meet her kiddos and reminisce with her parents and little sister.

For your enjoyment:

THEN.... (12 years ago..gasp!)

and NOW...

You still got it Roomie!

Now into August, a lone female elephant seal came up on Carmel River Beach to molt, so we made a family outing to go check her out.

A monumental moment this month was Lily starting kindergarten. It was one of the happiest days of mine and her lives. No tears, just smiles and good byes!  

The school is only a block away and so we mostly walk. Here she is taking strides with confidence on her first day.

Her real classroom was still under construction on the first day of school and so the kids made do with a temporary one for the first 3 weeks.

 Lily didn't care. She was so excited to be there and had been counting down the days until this very one. My only complaint thus far is that a week into kindergarten she came home wanting to write notes to a boy named Jon...love notes. I "heart" Jon. 2 Jon "heart" Lily. She was trying to hide them from me and sneak them in her backpack to take to him. Yikes! I don't remember having crushes until at least 1rst grade. We have rewritten those notes together and they now read,"2 Jon You are my friend. "Heart" Lily". That is a little better at least, for now. I don't even want to know what we are in for.

I can't fail to mention that Lily lost her first tooth back in July. I got it on video but not on a still-shot. She was SOOO proud of that gap in the bottom of her mouth!

We spent a few Saturdays out at Garland Ranch in Carmel Valley. There are some beautiful hikes that we never really get very far on due to our little complainers, I mean, darlings.

I don't even know what we are doing here. Probably celebrating the arduous 100 ft. we had just hiked.

The second time we brought friends out with us and I forgot my camera. The boys, as in men, caught a plethora of crawdads and the kids had a blast with the vicious little crustaceans!

Wow, that is all I have for August. Short and sweet.

Carlsbad in July

On July 1 my little brother Seth returned home from his 2 year Latter-day Saint Mission in Honduras. His return was cause for a party at our little airport in Carlsbad NM.

Here he is hugging our Meme. (My dads mom)

We got him a vanilla Dr. Pepper from Sonic to welcome him off the plane.

You can see the little plane that he flew in on behind us. The people on the plane thought there was a local celebrity on board because of the crowd gathered and all the screaming at the airport. It was funny because the pilot got off first and soaked up some of the glory and took a bow. Then came Seth off of the plane, we were all hoopin' and hollerin', the kids were holding up signs and it was a joyous reunion!

A few nights later we had a homecoming party for him at the church. Here is all but 2 of my Meme and Papa Jenkins great grandkids.

After party fireworks. I LOVE the lack of restrictions for fireworks in New Mexico! Daisy...not so much.

On the 4th of July we bar-b-qued at the Volpato's home. My 5 year old nephew found this king snake and immediately knew what it was. Isn't it cute?

My handsome dad (Punkin) and Daisy.

Every year an amazing firework show is done by the Pecos River. We could watch them from the bar-b-que.

Me, my bro Seth, and sis Jamey.

Lily mowing with Punkin. This was my job in high school.

Seth found a box turtle in the yard and Daisy was smitten by it.

She showered it with kisses, despite its attempts to bite her, and kept squealing "I touch it! I touch it!"

We spent lots of time at Meme and Papa's pool with the cousins.

We also played at the little water park in White's City which is at the bottom of the hill to the Carlsbad Caverns. Here is my Uncle Joe D. teasing Daisy.

We hit the free nightly bat flight that evening and of course they don't allow you to take any photos. The one I did sneak of the bats has disappeared (serves me right, I guess). Here is Daisy and her cousin Ridge walking hand-in-hand down to the main cave opening.
The bat flight is truly spectacular, it had been over 15 years since I had seen it last!

We also spent some time on the Pecos river. My cousin McKenzie and her hubby Mike live on the river and they let us play with their water toys. We had a blast jet skiing, tubing, and wake boarding!

Future, pro-wake boarder.

The last night there, my dad planned a minute-to-win-it family game night with real cash prizes!

First, there was putting as many penne pasta on a spaghetti noodle with your mouth as possible.

Second, how many M&M's can you suck and move with the straw. I am pretty sure I beat Sean in this one.

Last was the shake all 6 ping pong balls out of the kleenex box while it is tied to your waist game.

This was hilarious. We were all cracking up.

Here is my big sis Jamey shaking what her mama gave her.

My dad in action.

It was such a fun trip home! I sure love that family of mine!