Family Tradition

One of my favorite traditions that we have started with the kids is spending Sundays at Grandpa’s house.  Each Sunday after church we take the kids and a ton of luggage to my dad’s.  Sometimes it feels like a lot of work for me, taking a bunch of bags with special Sunday treats, clothes, toys, and anything else we might need to make it through the day.  But in the end it’s always worth it.  The kids love to spend time with Grandpa and we love the awesome dinners!

Here are some pictures from yesterday…

 

Thomas singing in church next to my mom.  I wouldn’t normally take a picture during sacrament but he looked so cute and we were in the back row.

 

Thomas covered Michele up with a blanket while she took her traditional Sunday nap.

 

 

 

 

 

Noelle eating popcorn while we played outside.

 

 

 

 

Michele, Thomas, and I playing hopscotch while Indy tried to bite our ankles.

 

 

Dad getting ready to cook a Stockton favorite fried asparagus.

 

 

 

 

The end our our night, the kids are clean and in their pajamas, we eat dessert and watch America’s Funniest Home Videos.

I love Sundays!!!

Lets Go Fly a Kite

While Dave and Noelle slept in late this morning Thomas and I made pancakes from scratch for breakfast.  It was my first time without help from Bisquick.  Julie would be so proud! 

They were very good especially topped with my homemade strawberry freezer jam.  I had only had the cooked kind and then several years ago Sister Welton gave me some of her freezer jam and my life was transformed.  It’s the only way to go.  It tastes so fresh and sweet, I love it!  My mom is going to laugh and say that I am finally becoming domestic after so many years of refusing to do so, but I think I just needed to find the right place to blossom in.  I think I’m finally here.

The weather here has changed dramatically in the past few days.  The temperature today was about 25 degrees less than it was on Tuesday and it was totally windy!  Not good for Thomas’ allergies but great for flying a kite.  So that’s what we did.

 

Dave spent more time flying the kite than the kids did.

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas taking a turn.

 

 

 

 

 

Noelle had to take a turn as well but to be honest she was much more interested in the dogs at the dog park down the way.

Spring?

We have decided to embrace California’s idea of Spring at our house!  So, this still being April mind you, yesterday when it was 94° in Stockton and we were  just getting over the flu, we headed outside to play in the water!  The kids had a great time and I enjoyed at least one hour without anyone crying!

I was getting excited to go to the farmer’s market this Thursday evening to feast in the bounty of the central valley but apparently they don’t open until June!  I guess we will feast from Raley’s until then…

Pretty Baby

Noelle found a Sharpie on Tuesday.  Enough said.

Fort Mertz

Dave has been so anxious for me to share these pictures so here they are.  Several months ago Dave’s mom bought a new house and it came with a huge play structure in the backyard.  At first, she and Lynn were excited to have it for the grandkids to use but the excitement soon fizzled and the decision was made that it had to go to make way for a new gazebo and a koi pond.  So last weekend Dave, Lynn, and Lynn’s friend Bill disassembled it and drove it from Elk Grove to Stockton.Dave then spent the next TWO full days putting it together.   Then, he spent the next whole day building a perimeter around it and hauling 6 1/2 yards of playground bark to fill it with.  After all of his hard work the kids  have a really cool place to play!

As Dave was working on the fort we had some landscapers come and lay new sod in the backyard.I’m so excited to have grass in the backyard after over a year of dirt at the old house and the kids are already loving the fort!!  Too bad it’s going to rain all week!