Summer is my favorite time of year!

I love the summer for many reasons, the biggest of which is that my stepkids get to spend the entire 6 weeks with us! It is the only time in the year that our family feels whole and complete to me. It is of course chaos to add 3 more kids, that have been living with different rules and ideals in another home, into our structured little world, but it is a fun kind of chaos. It is unbeliavable how fast laundry can pile up, the kitchen can get messy, and the kids rooms look like a tornado went through only touching pokemon cards, cars, and books (probably being used as ramps for the cars instead of actually read) That said I miss the mess when they are gone.

Lyndsay has been the best babysitter to Zander that I could have imagined. She has helped me to get Zander onto a nap schedule FINALLY!!! Every time I have tried in the past the babysitter has ruined it by just rocking him to sleep, now he is going to sleep on his own, and that is making him sleep longer and better. She has also taught Zander to give kisses, dance, clap and has seen him take his first steps. I am so gratefull to have had her for the summer, and am just dreading next week when she goes home :(

The boys have had an amazing time this summer to. We went on this extravagant trip in June, visiting Disneyland, California Adventure, Unversal Studios, Seaworld, and the San Deigo Zoo (where we met my all time favorite cousin Rob and his family.... that was my favorite day!!) With all that fun the kids couldn't wait to get home and relax! They have since had a summer full of bike riding, football catches, camping (even when it is in our backyard) alternating between the freezing water of the slip n slide and the 95 degree tempature of the jacuzzi, and of course video games.

Today Dylan, Aiden, and Aidan came to work with me at Torre Lakes and had a blast swimming in the lakes and trying to catch frogs and salamanders. They are such great kids and a pleasure to be with. I am so blessed!

Here's some pics of the boys today, and everyone else in the last few days.