demolition derby & county fair

It was a hot and sunny day at the annual demolition derby. 

And then we headed to the fair the very next day. It too started out as hot and sunny day.  

And then the clouds built up and the skies turned dark, dark, dark. We heeded the warning and headed to the tent to consume some traditional fried fair food. On with the rain jackets and onward with the fair.   

This one time, in LA

 Months ago, in the dead of winter, one of my BFFs called to ask if I would meet her in LA this summer. Nothing sounded better and we made it happen. A few short days was jammed packed with art, beach, food, hiking, sightseeing and overall tourist activities.

 

I spent one afternoon alone, and found myself at the corner of Santa Monica Blvd & Rodeo Dr. on my picnic blanket with a good book. 

I scored some oilcloth to finish up my kitchen project.

Hours at the Getty and then a quick trip to the beach to dip our piggies in the Pacific. 

Good food. Everywhere. Silver Lake's Night Market.   

Hiking to see all the best landmarks :)

And some more good food.

Jenga & Uno

An afternoon beer at the brewery was saved by the fact that there was Jenga and Uno. At one point we did actually play Uno, but quickly the cards became repurposed as roofing shingles in an elaborate building project. 

biking

Towards the end of our summer vacation we took the bikes out into the woods for a day of casual mountain biking. We'd bike for a couple of miles then spread out the blanket for a snack and an audio book. Back on the bikes and then a break for climbing the nearby rocks. And then there was the break in the back of the car as it began to rain for a short burst.

the mountain

School 2018

3rd grade and kindergarten.
Each and every year I ask myself just how it is that we got here.
They look so grown up to me.
Sigh.

We celebrated the nigh before with brownies, ice cream and, of course, sprinkles!

camp

As I have mentioned, it has been a HOT summer thus far with only one day of blessed rain. We have been under threat of a forest closure and knew that we wanted a few nights under the stars this summer so it was now or never. And just like that we found a new balance to hot summer camping that suits our summer schedule just fine; Camp by night and pool by day.

Our secret camping spot is a short 1.5 miles by foot from the house and a few more than that by car. The boys and I set up camp one morning and sent a picture to Mr. Bejos - Guess what we are doing tonight? But then it was so hot we headed into town for a dip in the pool.

And thus began our "camping" for the summer, which really just means that occasionally we sleep in the woods. Dinner at home, camp for the night, breakfast at home. Sometimes we bike to the campsite, sometimes we drive, and sometimes a few of us walk home (in pjs). And if the day's activities wear us out too much, or we get home too late, we simply don't camp.