July

July is always my favorite month of summer break.   Between birthdays, staycations, and the anticipation of getting ready to go back to school, we stay busy and have way too much fun.  This year was no exception.  

At the beginning of July, we spent a few days at The Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort  with a group of friends.  It was the perfect relaxing getaway!

Of course I can never sleep in, so I was up at 6 am each morning on the patio enjoying this view.  Unfortunately, this was the only picture I took because the rest of the time we were lounging by the pool!  

We left the resort on the 4th of July, which was a little chilly and rainy.  We got home just in time for it to clear up so we could go on a bike ride and play with sparklers.  

No fireworks for us this year, which was fine by me!

A few days later, Kaylie's boyfriend Ted came to stay with us for a few days.  He happened to be here for my birthday, so we put him to work to make fruit tarts for my party.

They were sooo good!  Ted is my idol when it comes to baking.  

My friends are pretty great too.  I am a strong believer of having birthday parties, even at age 36!

The husbands and boyfriends were there too, somehow they didn't make their way into any of the pictures!

The following weekend we escaped the heat and took a day trip to Dewey, AZ with the entire Lensch gang.   

And a few weeks later, I left my 3 loves and spent a week in Vegas with my sweet friend Aspen and her family.  Aspen was Kendal's Pre-K and Kindergarten teacher.  She was also my teammate for 4 years, and will always be my friend.

{Aspen with some of her students after kinder graduation.  Kendal is the one in green}

Aspen is battling cancer and needs help caring for her two sweet babies that are 9 months and 3.  I spent the week helping out with her two sweet kids.

Please pray for her.  She needs a lot of prayers right now.  She has so much to offer this world and needs to feel better so she can care for her babies on her own.  

A fund has been set up for her at http://aspenmarthalerfund.wordpress.com/ if you feel compelled to help this sweet family with all their added medical and caregiver expenses.

I got home from Vegas just in time to celebrate my adorable husband's birthday at Benihana.
Happy 39th babe!

Spending time with Aspen was the perfect way to end summer vacation.  School starts next week and Kendal is thrilled.  I am definitely looking forward to the structure and routine of the school year.    

And, we still have Kaylie home for another month, hooray!!

Grandma Margaret

My sweet grandma Margaret passed away on July 19th.  Grandma suffered from Alzheimer's disease, which ended her life at age 88.  

I've been told that I am a lot like my grandma in her younger years.  I got my "love to be busy" gene from her.  She was a social butterfly and worried a lot about everyone around her. 

 I am comforted by the fact that she has joined my Grandpa and Aunt Linda in heaven.

We miss you Grandma!  You will always be our sunshine! 

{Me and Grandma on her 88th birthday}

{The grandkids & Casey at her memorial service}

:: vacation ::

When Jason asked me where I wanted to vacation this summer after graduating, I told him I wanted to go to Disneyland!

{Note the Mickey Mouse ears on the graduation cap, and no, I did not buy one of these!}

I also wanted to go here:

{Laguna Beach}

And stay here:

{Sunset Cove Villas}

Not just to do this:

But also to meet this guy:

{Ted}

You see, Ted is lucky enough to live in Laguna.  Ted is also the man who has stole Kaylie's heart in Portland and it was killing the rest of us that we had not met him yet!  We loved having Ted hang out with us and I think they make a pretty cute couple!

We spent our days laying on the beach reading books and magazines while Kendal played int he water, walked around the streets of Laguna, ate at delicious restaurants, grilled our own delicious meal on the balcony, and attended a concert at UCI where Ted's mom teaches music.  We had an amazing time and I can't wait to go back!

Kaylie was lucky enough to stay a few extra days with Ted's family.  You can read about her adventures here.

Alabama

In April, we spent a quick weekend in Montgomery, Alabama for Jason's cousin Jenna's wedding.  It is so beautiful there. 

The wedding was held at this cute little chapel at the top of the hill in an adorable neighborhood.

Congratulations Jenna & Andrew!  It was a beautiful weekend that we will never forget!

It's been awhile...

I've been busy, like really busy the last few months.   I doubled up on classes this last semester and  spent my weekends and evenings sitting in a classroom or doing homework.

 I was stressed, cranky, anxious and a little snippy {according to one particular "friend"}.

 BUT, it's finally over.

I graduated a few weeks ago {with honors!}

I might have lost my sanity for a few months (and a friend or two), but I gained  a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education with a Reading Endorsement (and a few pounds).

It was all worth it in the end.  

These amazing people (including my parents who we somehow lost afterwards) drove up to Flagstaff to celebrate with me.  It meant the world to have them all there.  

We had such a fun weekend celebrating!  It happened to also be Mother's Day weekend, so we stayed in Flagstaff and drove up to the Grand Canyon on Sunday.

It was exactly what I needed.

{Everyone else headed home, but the Mcdonald family joined us. 

 We always love spending time with them!}

I cannot say enough about how amazing Jason has been.  I feel like this has been a true test on our marriage and we passed with flying colors.  He picked up my slack in all areas.  He cheered me on when I wanted to throw in the towel.  He did the laundry, cooked dinner, and ran errands for me.  

He was my rock.  I can honestly say that I could not have done it without his help.  

So, what's next? 

 I have become addicted to Pinterest, can't wait to spend quality time with my family {Kaylie's home, hooray!} read books for pleasure on my new Kindle Fire {thanks mom!} practice tennis with Kendal, and bake with my new KitchenAid mixer {thanks babe!}.

As for work, I am moving on up to second grade next year and I am thrilled!  I'm looking forward to organizing a new classroom, thinking of a theme, researching ideas, and teaching some of the same kiddos I had two years ago.  

Life is good.

Around here...

Kaylie is home and we are thrilled...

The stockings are hung...

The tree is decorated and the presents are wrapped...

And our Christmas cards have been sent out...

I think we are finally ready for Christmas!

Party Time

Kendal's 10th birthday was celebrated with a zebra print themed "Backyard Campout" party.  

Kendal planned this party for months and didn't skip a beat when it came to all the details (I have a miniature Kaylie on my hands).

We split the girls into two teams and went on a scavenger hunt. Each girl on the  winning team got a mason jar full of candy.

The girls ate and ate and ate...

{S'mores trail mix made of Golden Graham cereal, marshmallows, and chocolate chips}

{hot dogs, hamburgers, french fries and tater tots for dinner}

{cupcakes decorated by me and Kendal, candles made be me, copied from here}

{S'mores}

{Treats at the "Candy Bar"}


The girls cuddled up in their chairs to eat popcorn, drink hot chocolate, and watch the movie "Monte Carlo" in the backyard.

And have an impromptu dance party afterwards...

After the movie, each girl got their own mini flashlight to use on a bug hunt (we hid fake bugs around the front yard and back yard for them to find).

There was around 100 bugs hid, and Hannah was our winner that night with 12 bugs being found.  Jason has since become the winner with 14 bugs found within the past week after the party!

Speaking of Jason, he was commissioned to make these adorable chairs for the girls to sit on.
He did the pvc piping and painting of the chairs, and I did the sewing.
 (I finally learned how to sew, hooray!)

They turned out really cute and the girls had fun sitting on them while they roasted marshmallows.

Big thanks to Jason and Mike for all of their help!

It was such a fun party.  Not sure how we are going to top this one next year!

Happy Birthday Kendal!