Roadrunners Swim Meet #3 Rio Bravo

This ended up being our last swim meet. The kids weren't really enjoying it at all AND being about 4 months pregnant sitting outside in the heat for about 4 to 5 hours entertaining kids by myself (Steve having other obligations) AND having other things come up, I wimped out. However, like always they did great.

Rachel-5th place in 50 Yard Breaststroke at 55.64 and 5th place in 50 Yard Butterfly at 55.63

Matthew-2nd place in the 50 Yard Butterfly at 58.06 and 3rd place in 50 Yard Breaststroke at 47.91

Matthew

Rachel Rachel {blue cap in the middle}
Snow Cones help entertain and cool us off or a little while, especially this giant one.
Lauren & Charlie-they were snacking partners: anything they could find in anyone's bags.
Matthew & Jack-they were game partners: chess, uno, gameboy 20Questions, etc....

It's Got to be the OVEN?

I have decided to not start up my cake business here in Bakersfield for many reasons. I think I know now why I really am not starting it up again. I am getting a little nervous about my baking skills. I tried to make a carrot cake for my Grandma's 90th birthday party and they totally flopped and I mean literally all over my ovens. Then I tried to make some banana bread and chocolate chocolate cookies for the Boy Scout Hawaiian dinner/baked goods auction fundraiser. The bread was burned on the outside and raw in the middle. The cookies were way too crispy, not like I like them. I have also tried my favorite Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies and they weren't right either.
So it has got to be the oven, right? or the altitude? Surely not me?

So my SNL, Lisa, came for a visit and we had the privilege of her making us some of her famous and OH SO YUMMY chocolate chip cookies and GUESS WHAT? They didn't turn out like they usually do. Don't get me wrong, they were still delicious, but I am feeling better knowing that it is not me with the baking issues.

Matthew's Bear Award

Matthew turned 9 in January and was done with earning the requirements in less than 6 months. His den leader, Tara Kim, new what to work on to help him do this. Matthew loves scouts and is still looking in his book on his own trying to find more things to do. We are proud of you Matthew and we love you.

Roadrunners Swim Meet #2 Shafter

Ethan

Matthew
Rachel
Ethan: 8th place ribbon Backstroke 47.69 3rd place Medal Breastroke
Matthew: 2nd place Medal Breastroke 50.13, 2nd place Medal Butterfly 1.01.31, 3rd place Medal Freestyle, 3rd place Medal Free Relay 2.31.12
Rachel: 5th place ribbon Breastroke 53.94, 6th place ribbon Butterfly 53.59



What we do to keep kids entertained! Thanks Lauren for the beautiful picture.
And yes that is me, about 20 weeks pregnant.

2nd Annual Block Party (our 1st)

So we have been extremely blessed to have such wonderful neighbors. We just celebrated the 2nd Annual Block Party. It just so happens it takes place right out side our front door. We were able to enjoy the friendships we have already made and we made many more. What a fun night!

This is a view from our front door steps of all the activities.

Steve was on police duty while Lauren was speeding around the party on her bike. She is just so excited that she doesn't have to use training wheels.

Here are the lovely ladies of the block. They are wonderful!

Allison, Lisa, Melissa, Allison, Melissa & Dina

The men saw me coming with the camera and they didn't know what to do!

Bryan, Eddie & Steve Here are most of the kids from our block.
Somehow we were able to participate in watching a nice little firework show in celebration. Our Friends

And last but not least, our wonder woman of the block showing us the worm on our lawn. She is talented in so many ways. Thanks worm lady for everything.

Carpinteria State Beach

Okay, so the Spendlove Family finally got to go camping on the beach. Thanks to my wonderful cousin Linda who can plan ahead. She reserved a couple of campsites months in advance and invited us to come along. It was SO MUCH FUN!!!

We were running a little late the day we left. We had dentist appointments that morning that we had been waiting for for months that I didn't want to cancel. I wish I would have though; the family came away with 7 cavities and only 2 of us have none. Then Rachel forgot her swimsuit so we made a quick stop for that. BUT we did get there before it was too late and didn't have to eat and set up camp in the dark.

It was also a nice surprise to see my Aunt Virginia and Uncle Bob there visiting. They stayed for dinner and then drove home for the evening.

We all had fun cooking our different meals. Steve cooked up his awesome dutch oven meal and we had S'mores. I learned a few tricks from Linda and her cooking. We will now put cumin in our refried beans (YUM!) and to make taco meat go a little further add some potatoes. They also had some delicious foil dinners too. We enjoyed staying up by the campfire and we all slept great.

Dinner & Camp

Searching for crabs

My Uncle Bob & Aunt Virginia

Candle Making 101-One thing Steve wanted to make sure we did on this camping trip was make sand candles on the beach like he used to do as a kid. We brought some big candles to melt and we ended up putting some sand in a bucket, hollowed out a mold and lined it with some shells that were individually selected by the kids and then we poured in the hot wax. It turned out pretty cute!

Beach Time - We woke up to a few clouds that didn't disappear until almost noon, but that doesn't spoil any of our kids' fun at the beach, with the sand, crabs and seaweed. I just stayed bundled up in a jacket while I chatted and people watched. We watched a lady dance in circles all the way down the beach until we couldn't see her anymore and then she came back. Not only did she look silly but, wouldn't you be a little dizzy?


The Ocean Dam (It started out being a hole then a little wall that turned into a 10 man made Dam along with mote to deter the water from the damn that was protecting the hole being dug to find other water.)

Ethan mastered his skim boarding techniques with his Freaky Tiki

Our little surfer girl

This has to happen at least once while you are at the beach.



Thanks Aunt Virginia for your FB pictures and Linda for your blog pictures!