Summer Tales

I can't believe the summer is over- Labor Day weekend is this weekend- where in the world has the time gone?

We have had a great summer. I was going through the photos and realized that we took 700+ photos in August. High time to revisit the photos and fill some of you in on our summer!


Elliott has also taken to making faces and being silly. Sometimes I can break him out of a mood just by making some crazy face at him. Thank heavens kids are so silly.


This ride was pretty cool- they had to pull the rope and it would take them up- then let go and they would fall- both Craig and I were a little curious how Elliott would like this- he LOVED it- totally loved it. The bummer- all the rides were 2 people rides so this one was a Daddy and Elliott ride.

We took a little day trip to LegoLand in Carlsbad. They have a big water area that they claim is all about pirates- bit of a let down- but all in all was a good day with my boys.
Best ride at LegoLand- it is hilarious! It makes little clopping noises and moves up and down like it is galloping. So funny.




Elliott and I just liked the colors of this Lego dinosaur.








We decided to take a couple of days and take the boat to Catalina Island to go camping. It was beautiful and surreal. Where our little campsite was- truly made us feel like we were on an island. It was a boat in only site and we were the only ones in all 3 of the sites in the area. My first ever- Sleeping right next to the waves. So perfect.





I know- a little cheesy- but hey- we wanted a family picture that we would remember- where we were and what we were doing.


Between all of the company and Elliott's new love of the beach- we spent many a day there this summer. We had the greatest time. Quite blissful- well, most of the time.







All of my beautiful nieces. Crystal, Kimberly and Kenyon. Crystal and Kimberly were able to stay here for a little over 2 weeks with us- we all had a great time and have missed them- especially El.







Days in the pool- many days in the pool- we are a wee bit water logged. Craig has had a good time getting El to jump off different parts of the pool. It has been funny watching how El is so much more brave when just Craig and I are in the pool with him verses the whole crew.

New Bike

We got this fun learner bike for El- well we got it for him for his birthday this week- however, he found it last week- so we broke it out and he has been going to town ever since. It has been so great for him.

My Elliott

35's

One. Word. No. Explaining.


1. Where is your cell phone? purse
2. Your hair? blonde
3. Work? Momma
4. Your father? Cows
5. Your favorite thing? Boys
6. Your dream last night? Swimming
7. Your favorite drink? Water
8. Your dream car? Unimportant
9. The room you're in? Kitchen
10. Your fears? Breathlessness
11. What do you want to be in 10 years? Momma
12. Who did you hang out with last night? Family
13. What you're not good at? Patience
14. Muffin? Yum
15. One of your wish list items? Vacations
16. Where you grew up? Idaho
17. Last thing you did? Sang
18. What are you wearing? Grubbies
19. What aren't you wearing? Bathingsuit
20. Your pet? Nope
21. Your computer? Laptop
22. Your life? Lovely
23. Your mood? Mellow
24. Missing? Alonetime
25. What are you thinking about right now? Waterfalls
26. Your car/truck? Fun
27. Your summer? Hot
28. Your relationship status? Happy
29. Your favorite color? Pink
30. When is the last time you really laughed with meaning? 4:30am
31. Last time you cried? Wednesday
32. School? Tear
33. Least favorite weather? Hot
34. Soup? Minestrone
35. Movie? Hilarious

Feel free to try this on your blogs.

If you know...

Craig and I have gotten quite a good laugh at my new title. If you don't know- it won't hurt you- if you do know- well- can't we all quote "The Office" by now?

Anyway- it's been fun making a change. I am sure there will be a new one sometime soon too- I am always changing things on here- helps me in my need to be creative and make something (besides breakfast, lunch and dinner) since I am not doing floral design anymore. I am missing it a bit these days. Hence- the blog changes...

Messy

Pardon the mess- I am in the middle of a change.

Let's see...

Let's see- should I go on a bike ride with dad?

I do already have the helmet on...

Hummm...

These pictures totally made my day. My two boys took a ride together tonight and E was so stinking excited- so I thought I'd take a few shots of him. This is what my little actor came up with for me. So silly.

Cardboard box -what?

Elliott has the GREATEST imagination! I love it. Everything in the house (and outside) is something more exciting and thrilling than it once was. For instance- a cardboard box is quickly a pirate ship and my vita mix plunger thingy is a pirate sword- way more fabulous than what they were before.

Gag me with a spoon

Craig and I were both lost in our own little worlds last night- he was reading and I was working on my blog transformation (of sorts). I was ranting on about something and out of my mouth popped -gag me with a spoon. Who knew where that one came from- there are some funny things that have been said in this world.

Elliott

A Saturday at the beach with my boys. Where did he learn to use a shovel correctly? Isn't it so cool how they just learn these things?

7 Randoms about C

This one was hard- sorry to those of you who I tag- I only know a short few that have blogs- so you get all of this stuff!

Instructions: These are the rules…. each player starts with 7 random facts about themselves on their Blog. People who are tagged need to blog 7 facts about themselves and post the rules as well. At the end of their blog list 7 people you are tagging. Let them know that they are tagged by leaving them a comment.

1. Although many of you might think I love food because of all of my weird eating habits- I actually dislike it very much- for the most part- except for the simple things that take no time to prepare and eat. It takes too much time out of my life. I wish I could just take a perfect food pill 3 times a day and be done with it. I wonder why in the world everything must revolve around food- why can’t we just enjoy each others company without basing it around a meal and dessert? We would all be getting a lot more done if this were the case!

2. I’m a closet mini trampoliner. Since E and I are home all day and the stroller isn’t his favorite thing to be in- my exercise at present is the mini trampoline. I love it! Any time of day I can use it and it makes me feel great. Elliott loves it too.

3. I have totally fallen in love with the Farmer’s Markets in our little area. They are tiny compared to some- but they totally make my day and I am totally giddy walking around trying things and buying things.

4. I can’t swim. Well, I can swim- but I am no kind of swimmer that looks good or does it well. Good luck to Elliott! Thank heavens Craig is a fish.

5. I’ve never been a fan of scrapbooking but I totally LOVE making cards and pretty things with paper.

6. I used to teach water aerobics and yoga/pilates mat classes. I am no master by any means- but it was awesome to do and I (at the time) never had felt better or more healthy.

7. I get totally annoyed with people who do not enjoy their husbands. They get annoyed when they are home and they talk about them going back to work (after the weekend) as if it is a relief. So sad really. Craig is my best. The weekend and days he has off are the best days in my life.

You're It (if you have time- this is a tough one- took me forever!):
1. Jennifer
2. Mandy
3. Stephanie
4. Karlea
5. Wendy
6. Jeff and Shelly
7. Cami

Pirates, more and more and more pirates

Happy Birthday to Nate! Nate turns 3 on the 10th so we had a birthday party today. He cleaned house on pirate paraphernalia- now there is enough to go around- for everyone! It was so funny watching each of the kids dressing up in their own choice of pirate garb. Not one time did they fight over something the other one had- there was that much to go around! So funny! The all proceeded to march around and then have a pirate band that marched around!

A Week with Dad

Craig took off Thursday and Friday this week. It has been the best week! We love having him home! We haven't done anything- yet- we have done so much- we are exhausted! We are a little water logged from swimming- somehow it hasn't gotten old. Elliott seems to be enjoying himself.

Scuba Diver Elliott

Elliott is ALL about stories about himself- that we tell him at night. At present, he likes stories about "Elliott the Diver" going through the ocean of bubbly goo and the chocolate river (he has no idea that you can't see in a chocolate river). Anyway- when Craig got out his fins to go body surfing and Papa Dave got out this old kids snorkel mask- it was the GREATEST day! Craig, Elliott and I all had to keep taking turns putting them on and being divers. So silly.

Boating Begins

Craig's dad bought a boat this last week- so now we have a boat in our lives. At first, I must admit I wasn't exactly excited- more neutral. Now however, after seeing E's excitement and totally complete blissfulness on the boat- I have changed my mind a bit. We had a good time just cruising the bay- but when we FINALLY made it to the ocean it was really fun. Somewhat like a ride at an amusement park. Especially with my 2 1/2 year old on my lap while we were flying and bouncing around! Crazy madness now that boating has begun!

Elliott's new I Love You

Elliott loves to give hand signs. We have taught him the hang loose, rock on, peace, and now I love you. It is the best! We guess he has one crucial hand gesture left to learn- we will let him pick that one up somewhere else- probably on the freeway. Totally kidding......
Actually, I think he would love sign language. The kids in our primary at church are learning a song in sign language and he loves to do it too- we'll see.

Pirate Paraphernalia

E's love of Pirates doesn't seem to be dying down- it is hilarious! He has been quite the collector of pirate garb. Flags, little pirate men, Captain Jack Sparrow anything (he hardly even knows who or where he came from), swords, swords that make noise when striking (love this one), guns, hats, pirate's booty (yes that is what we call it), and so on and so forth. It has been fun to watch this pirate passion emerge and keep going and going and going......

On to you...

4 JOBS I'VE HAD:
1. Lerner New York- clothing store
2. Satellite Technology- seriously- cold calling phone sales
3. Every Blooming Thing
4. Botanical Images- my own floral design studio out of my house before we had El.

4 MOVIES I CAN ALWAYS WATCH:
1. Some Like It Hot
2. Delirious- it’s a weird thing between Shelly, Spencer and I
3. Emma
4. Some Kind of Wonderful

4 PLACES I'VE LIVED:
1. Sun Valley, ID
2. Rexburg, ID
3. Newport Beach, CA
4. Costa Mesa, CA

TV SHOWS I ENJOY:
1. The Office
2. The Bachelor
3. Platinum Weddings- I’m all about weddings and flowers
4. The Backyardagains- what can I say? Everyone with creative kids loves this show-

FAVORITE FOODS:
1.Peaches
2.Cherries
3.Tomatoes
4.Cucumbers
(Go ahead- criticize away……if I’ve heard it once…..)

WEBSITES I VISIT (ALMOST DAILY):
1. Gmail Account
2. My friend’s Blogs
3. People
4. Can't think of anything else

PLACES I'D RATHER BE RIGHT NOW:
1. On a walk in Idaho at night out in the country with my boys
2. Farmer’s Market in San Francisco- never been to any that are better.
3. Reading a Book
4. Snuggled on the sofa watching a movie with my boys

4 BLOGGER BUDDIES TO TAG:
1. Stephanie Smith- Player- if you would get cracking.....
2. Evaly
3. Madeleine
4. Cami

Happy Father's Day

I found these pictures yesterday when looking for one of El and Craig wrestling that I love- these I had forgotten about- I love them! I couldn't have picked a better man- who has also proved to me that he is just as good a father as he is a husband. Elliott is lucky to have someone like Craig to love him forever. He has such a sweet gentleness about the way he loves Elliott- I love watching their relationship and their cute connection together. Someone once said something to me about how they loved just watching their husband play with their children- I at the time didn't pay it much attention- however- now that I am a momma- that is one of my favorite things to do- watch E with Craig. I am proud to call him mine- for eternity.
Happy Father's Day to my Craig.

Beautiful Things

Beauty is attractive to me- not necessarily "people" beauty- sometimes.
Beautiful things- music, sounds, words spoken, nature, laughter and many other things. I find that I say the word- beautiful- all of the time and that I am always on the look out for beauty and what it does for me and for my soul- so this said- I will allow this part of me to take shape here.

A new hobby

For Mother's Day- my sweet Craig got me a camera. I have been wanting to dabble in photography a bit- and he knows me well- he must have thought it was a good idea. He knows more about the subject and is helping me to learn different things- lenses and such. I do not guarantee anything fabulous- nor will I probably ever use "photography speak" but I hope to do something wonderful once in awhile.

Park

A good friend of mine introduced us to a new park- well- totally new to us! I have had yet to find a cool park near us that I liked and that E liked- until now! It was so fabulous that we took Craig back the next night (you can tell he liked it- one must play at the park when they are there right?) We had a great time- pirate ship and all!

What- No more Thongs?

Well, it is official- I can't stop calling flip flops- thongs. Who stole the thong name from us and decided to give it to underwear? Who? A few years ago Craig called some girl in our ward to go get her "thongs" so she wouldn't forget them- she replied embarrassed- "Brother Streiff you can't call them thongs, they're flip flops." However, to us, they remain thongs.

El got his first good pair of thongs. So far so good. Today was a good thong day- he decided they were squishy so they were cool by him.
(Yes, I giggle as I now imagine Elliott getting his first "good pair" of thong underwear. I shall try and call them flip flops.)

Seriously?

I try to not get too involved in celebrity stuff- but seriously- who is this Paris Hilton? She is so lame. I am completely appalled and utterly annoyed that she only had to go to jail for what 3 days? Seriously! I say- send her to jail and leave her there- it would be such a shame to not have to hear about her on the news before we hear about any real news. Such a shame.....

Sprinklers

Yorba Linda has the best parks! They are all clean, well kept and beautiful. While my mom was in town Shelly and I took the boys and her to one of the YL parks. While there these HUGE sprinklers turned on and the boys went CRAZY!!! It was so much fun watching them run through them and get totally soaked. They had the best time- something we will do again for sure.