4th of July

On the 3rd of July we went to EDH to watch the fireworks. It was so hot we sat in our car with the AC running while we ate dinner. We sat there until it started to get dark, then we only walked across the street. We didn't have the energy to go down to the mayhem that was Town Center. While Ben was walking to the store for a cold drink, we had some spare time and the camera came out.

 Finally, the fireworks! Evan and Ben don't share my love of fireworks, so it meant a lot that they sat in the heat to watch them with me. 

The morning of the fourth we were heading out the door to the parade, when my phone rang. Casey was on the other end and he was in Sacramento! This was a nice surprise because he hasn't been to our new house and just minutes before Evan was saying how sad it would be to celebrate the fourth without seeing any family. Casey and Jazmyn were a little hot. I haven't seen Casey in shorts for a very long time, and he had to borrow flip flops because he doesn't own any. 

We went to the Pleasant Valley 4th of July parade again. The entire thing lasted 18 minutes and this video shows the majority of the parade route:)

 We were in Auntie Brooke's pool from, oh, about 5 until about 9. We would get out, instantly dry off and get hot and get right back in. Needless to say, we played a few games. I was observing this particular game of baseball, and it was hilarious.

This is one of Casey's many attempts to get into the batter's floaty. It was comical to say the least:)

 Many, many, many minutes of the three weeks of swim lessons were spent trying to get Evan to jump in the pool. He would if he was holding hands or even a finger, but only did it once on his own. We were all just chatting, when out of nowhere, he jumps in. Granted he has his life jacket on, but he wouldn't even do this before. Huge accomplishment for our little man!

 Finally, we hung out at Auntie Brooke's long enough to do fireworks since they aren't allowed in El Dorado County. 

 Evan's only request was for smoke bombs...until Ben lit one.

 A very tired boy saying good-bye to his uncle. They were driving without AC, so they were leaving in hopes of beating the heat. It was still hot outside at this point, but at least the sun wasn't beating down. Thank you Uncle Casey for the visit, and thank you Auntie Brooke for the use of your home. They made all the difference this 4th of July. 

Summer = Tumbling + Swimming + BASEBALL!

Evan has been keeping active this summer, which means I have too! We have had some play dates, but most of the time it is just us hanging out. That means I have also gone swimming frequently and played a lot of baseball. In this heat the swimming is welcomed, baseball, not so much. I have had to be flexible on the no ball in the house rule since we hit triple digits for multiple days in a row. We weren't lasting more than ten minutes playing outside. Luckily there is also a lot of baseball on TV. Now there is a sentence I never thought I would say! I have watched more baseball this summer then in all of my life combined. Evan wakes up every morning and the first thing he wants to do is watch highlights online. He can quote facts and stats about the Giants, A's, and whoever else they might be playing, have played, or are going to play. When this boy likes something, he is all in. Right now he is downstairs with Ben, the game is on up here too, and I can hear him yelling, "Out! Go Giants!" At least I am learning along with him. Ben is often shocked by how little I know, and doesn't understand how I don't "get" many of their rules. For example, Evan and I think if they hit a pop fly high enough that they make it to first before it is caught, he should be safe.There are many others, but I am sure as I type them, they won't sound nearly as reasonable in print as they do in my head.:)

At the beginning of the summer Tumble Time does a showcase for all of the younger tumbling students. Evan is in a Kinder 1/Kinder 2 combo class, but for the demo he was placed with just Kinder 2. That meant that he was trying things for the first time in front of a room filled with parents. If you've been there you know there are always parents watching, but this was different, there were chairs EVERYWHERE! He did a really great job and was proud of himself afterward, as was I. 

 Doesn't he look so grown up in this picture?

 To celebrate Father's Day we went with Ben, his parents, and his sister's family to the Rivercats game. It was HOT. Hotter than hot. We couldn't even sit on the seats! Regardless, we had a good time. We had Merlinos, many waters, and kept spraying each other with our misting fans. 

 Evan got a new batting helmet to add to his rapidly growing baseball gear (Ben couldn't be more excited that he finally likes a sport, and therefore buys him just about anything he wants). He even got Dinger to sign it!

After the game the dads got to run the bases with their kids. Evan wanted to go again and again, but like I said, it was HOT!

 The ride home was quiet except for all the snoring. Like father like son:)

We finally made it in to get a hair cut. The after shot makes it look like he is showing off his new hair, but really he is saying, "Don't take my picture!"

 Swim lessons started the day after Father's Day. We had him in private lessons, and as you may have noticed from our Montage blog, he was not real keen on getting in the water. By the end of the first week of lessons, he was putting his head under the water to retrieve the toys! 

 Caleb had lessons right after Evan the first week, so they got to watch each other. I think this may have helped Evan. 

While we were in Crescent City Evan got to watch his cousins Alysha and Bella perform at their dance recital. When we go home in a few weeks he will get to watch the culminating performance for their performing arts camp. In the meantime, he is making up his own dances. If you listen carefully you can hear him tell me when the boys and girls are on or off stage, who is in front, and who he is dancing with. I love how well rounded he is, since minutes before, as you will see by his outfit, he was in the living room playing baseball. What you can't see is us sitting on the floor watching an empty "stage" because it was Alysha and Bella's turn, and he wasn't in that dance. I love these videos, Ben not so much. Let me know if you notice his signature move:)

 We have lived here over a year, and we finally experienced Cameron Park Lake for the first time. We love the little swimming lagoon because it is shallow. Evan felt comfortable cruising around with his life jacket on, even with all the big extended day camp kids running/swimming/jumping around. We rented a paddle boat and decided we definitely need one for our lake. 

 This is Ev playing ball in the house because it was 104+ outside. 

By the end of his third week of swim lessons Evan could swim across the pool without help! His form is a little crazy, almost comical, but he did it. He still gets freaked out and panics from time to time, but there is one teacher there that he feels so comfortable with, and when he is with Zoe he can do it all. Unfortunately she wasn't his teacher, she was the supervisor. Regardless, he has made huge progress and I am very proud of him. 

SWIMMING!

Montage

For those of you that don't know, my sister used to have this amazing job. Amazing because she was there from the beginning doing tasks she had never done before, and excelling at them. Amazing because she worked more than anyone I know. Amazing because this was her view every day. And finally, amazing because she would spoil us each time we came for a visit. For this visit, Victorio carried on her tradition. He treated us to lunch, set-up at the beach and again at the pool, as well as drinks and dessert by the pool. This place is truly amazing, but I enjoyed it so much more with Alysha on the receiving end of all this pampering. Because if there is anyone who deserves it, it is her. Thank you for an amazing vacation Titi!

 Playing frisbee on the beach with Cousin Amanda

 A little drawing in the sand only to have it swept away seconds later, and repeat!

 This is the spot where Ben and I had our engagement pictures taken, gosh, NINE years ago?!

 These twins were fearless when it came to swimming, Evan not so much. I don't know how Andrea keeps up with them! It was great to get to spend so much time with them and their mama.

 Montage definitely knows how to WOW their guests. We didn't even tell our server that it was Evan's birthday, but he overheard Lani telling the birthday boy good-bye, and the next thing we know he was presented with this. There was no conversation about whether he liked Lightning or not, the server just happened to pay attention to his swim clothes. I tell you, this birthday never seemed to end and he couldn't have been happier.

 We stayed the night across the street at Aliso Creek. We were all pooped and sunburned, so it was a night of snuggles and Little Mermaid. 

 The fold out couch was a bit slanted; providing a lot of entertainment!

 Now for the long ride home. Good thing he has a Jayhawk bear temporary replacement. As amazing as Montage is, nothing is better than having Alysha in Sacramento.

 Another fun vacation in the record books!