Busiest (and Best) August Ever

Yes, I know it is already half way through September and I am blogging about August. I am a little behind. But our August was so busy that I didn't have any time to do blogging, or go through the 300 pictures we took during that month. Even looking back, Mike and I can't believe how much fun we had and how much we did. Here is the rundown of our August 2009: Leiws Family Reunion in bakersfield, CA and camping in sequoias; Brian (mike's brother) in town for a weekend which involved surfing, San Francisco trip, Muir woods 2 mile hike, and yankee/A's game with the boys; Mike and I to yankee/A's game; baby shower for a good friend at my house; Mike and Tyler go to Oakland Raiders/49ers football game; family trip to santa cruz boardwalk; 5 day trip down coast which included Monterey Bay aquarium, drive along Big Sur and highway 1, Hearst Castle, and Pismo Beach; oh... and celebrating Makenzie's 5th birthday along the way. Sheesh.... I still can't believe it. We had so much fun that we have deemed this past August to be the best ever.
The boys at the Yankees game. We had so much fun with Brian that weekend trying to give him the whirlwind tour of the area.

I had a baby shower for Ashley at my house-- she is obviously very loved because a ton of people showed up. It took over an hour just to open all of the presents.

Tyler at the Raiders/49ers game

I LOVE this picture!! Look at the terror on Makenzie and Tyler's face. The funny thing is that both the kids had to convince me to go on it... I don't particularly like wet rides. And then they were the ones screaming on the way down.

I can't believe how big Austin is now. He is standing up and trying to take steps and full on crawling. He is still mostly a happy baby but is EVERYWHERE! He's already starting to get into trouble.

On Makenzie's birthday, we went to one of our favorite spots: the Monterey Bay Aquarium. And because most of the other schools were already started and it was a weekday--- there was hardly anyone there. Here they are petting the sting rays.

austin and I

These two are still best friends......... most of the time.

Love this picture -- this aquarium has some seriously HUGE tanks full of fish.

Our attempt at a family photo-- Austin is too squirmy.

I can't believe my little girl is already 5 years old and in kindergarten. I still imagine her as being my little 2 year old. She is such a sweet girl... happy and just kind of goes with the flow most of the time. She was sooo excited to eat dinner at Chili's and have a whole bunch of people she didn't know sing to her.

We took Highway 1 through Big Sur and down the coast and it was BEAUTIFUL!!!!

We got out probably every 10-15 minutes to stop at a turnout to take more pictures because around every curve was another view that took our breath away.

Need I say more????

The kids and I (and Makenzie's horse that came everywhere with us on this trip, I mean, cmon... how can you say no to that sweet smile?)

An unusual picture of Austin....... holding still for more than a second.

We played at two different beaches over the course of our 5 day trip. One in Cambria where we were staying and one at Pismo Beach. We all went boogie boarding and had so much fun.... except when I got hit by a huge wave which knocked the board right into my face, turned me upside down so I didn't know which way was up, and left me rag-dolled with a bloody nose. I thought I was going to die for a split-second. That was at the Cambria beach and on our way out we saw the sign that said there were unusually big waves and a strong rip current and it wasn't the best place for surfing......... ya think?? Why did we have to figure that out the hard way?

this bird did not move and the kids were close enough they could touch it. Bizarre-- (and yes.. it was alive)

One of our day trips was to the Hearst Castle. We could not believe this place... talk about fancy.

Look at that pool behind us.... CRAZY!

Playing at Pismo beach. Austin kept booking it right towards the water. I think he will be a "fish" just like Makenzie and Tyler and love going swimming.

Playing in the ocean

Makenzie's attempt at making a "bird bath". unfortunately for her, no birds used it.
she couldn't figure out why.

Finally.. mike convince the kids to try boogie boarding and they loved it.

This is one of my favorite pictures of the entire vacation. There has always been something I've loved about the Pacific coast. I love the layers of waves and the sound of the ocean.. it is so relaxing and peaceful to me. And with the surfer and pier in the background and the sun going down... ...... aaahhh. Love it!

Lewis Family Reunion

A couple of weeks ago we went down to my parents in Bakersfield, California for a family reunion. It was so much fun to spend time with my sister, brothers, nieces and nephews. My mom is a music teacher and as tradition she usually gets out these bells for the grandkids to play with. Kenzie and I were a good team and I just realized that our bells match our shirts-- -I swear that wasn't planned. ha ha.

For the weekend, we all went up to a ranch in the Sequoias, stayed in cabins and played. We went hiking, swimming, horseback-riding, white water rafting, and paddle-boating. The kids had even a better time than we did. There favorite thing was just playing outside in the dirt and going on hikes with their uncle Nathan.


I borrowed some of these hiking backpacks for Austin and Cooper, my brother's baby.
They loved them although Austin kept trying to grab my hair, that little stinker. Austin and Cooper were born only 13 days apart. Maline and I both have 3 kids all the same ages pretty much (plus or minus a few months). I wonder how long this pattern will keep up.... what do you think Maline????

The kids most favorite activity was going on "hunts" with Uncle Nate. They all got hiking sticks and Nate was named "chief hunter" and he called all the kids his "junior hunters" and they pretended they were hunting for snakes or other little creatures. One day Nate took the four older kids out and was gone for almost 2 hours. When they finally returned I was amazed that no one was crying, fighting or being carried home. Later I found out that Nate had had to spend 30 minutes helping all of them put their shoes and socks back on after wading in a river.

From left to right: My sister, April. My oldest brother, Alan and his wife, Maline. Me and Mike. My younger brother, Jone and his wife, Angie. My brother, Nate. We were missing my youngest brother, David, who is on a mission in Mexico.

I LOVE this picture!!! These cousins are best friends when we get together. Even if it is only once a year... somehow Makenzie, Jackson, Tyler and Savanna just start up right where they left off. It's been so much fun through the years to have cousins the same age. Makenzie and Tyler are always mentioning throughout the year how they wish they could go back to NYC and stay with Savanna and Jack. Maybe one day we will actually live in the same state again and not on opposite coasts.

The grandkids (minus the babies) -- Christopher is just barely old enough to want to follow and play with the big kids. He just keeps getting cuter and cuter (although he's still pretty hard to get to hold still for a picture). I was pretty amazed with this one.

Makenzie and Uncle Nate found a salamander on one of the hikes.

This picture cracks me up. Up at the sequoias, the trees are enormous and this one had a cave inside. So we all tried to squeeze in and here is my attempt at a picture. ha ha.

One of the big trees

The kids at grandma and grandpa's

So if any of you have been to Bakersfield before, you know that it is hot, hot, hot. All there is to do is go swimming and thankfully my parents have a wonderful pool. My kids are fish when it comes to the water-- they love to be in it so it made for a good time for everyone.

Here's to swimming, laying out, and relaxing.

The foursome.

My brother, Alan, doing one of his many tricks.

This picture isn't from our reunion but from before. We went with the johnson's to a Giants game. It was so much fun but the weather was crazy. It was the middle of July and not only am I wearing a sweatshirt and scarf-- but if I would have known how cold it was going to be I would have brought earmuffs, boots and gloves. You can see the fog a little bit in the background. San Francisco weather is so random!!

Bear Lake and Utah Vacation

So..... yes, I have been a total blog-slacker. I really don't have that good of an excuse.

But I finally have gotten around to downloading and then uploading all of our pictures from our Utah excursion. We had so much fun while we were there. Unfortunately I wasn't all that great at taking pictures while I was there... which I didn't realize until I got home and it was over. I'm still upset at not getting more pictures with friends/family. Oh well. Not much to do about it now. Here are some of the great pictures I got though....

Makenzie and two of her cousins, Meg and Lucy. Cute girls!! I was amazed at how well these girls played together. I guess that must be the beauty of being 4, almost 5.

I love this picture. This is everyone that went to Bear Lake (minus Mike who is taking the picture). Unfortunately, Brian/Heather and Chris/Jeni weren't able to come (missed you). But we had a great time hanging out at the lake, playing games and just getting to know each other really really well :)

Kimber had a great cousin water party at her house. Tyler and Makenzie were in heaven.

I adore this picture of the cousins who came to the water party. Can you believe that they lined up this way by themselves?? It's almost perfectly tallest to smallest.

On one of the days in Utah we drove up to Park city to go to the outlets and stopped at the Alpine slide and coaster on the way back.

Tyler and his closest cousin, Cooper. These boys are so cute together!!

Mike's grandpa had a birthday party and family picture in Toelle. It was a miracle that every single person was able to make it to the picture. It was so good to see them again and to see Mike's uncle and cousins while we were out there.

Happy Birthday Opa!!

Some of the group who gathered for pizza at opa's house before the picture.

One of the very few pictures of Mike I have from our vacation.

One of the very few pictures of Me from vacation. Jeni and I at Uncle Richard's house.

Uncle Richard and Ryan (Mike's cousin) were so nice to let all the little kids (and some of us big kids) ride on their horses. Unfortunately, no one got a picture of me and Mike riding.

Makenzie was in heaven--- she LOVES horses! Thanks Richard and Ryan!! I was so glad to get my horse fix until next year.

Here we are finally up at Bear lake--- Cooper and Makenzie running out of the water. Why?? I'm not sure. Possibly because Kenzie just peed--that happened quite a bit.

Tyler did this literally all day one day. He loved throwing sand into the water over and over and over again. Easily entertained, I guess.

Austin was great at the lake. He loved the sand and water.... until he put some in his mouth.

Mike's dad surprised us all by getting on the waverunner and taking some of the kids out with him. Kenzie loved it!

Ty and coop get their turn with Grandpa.

Makenzie and Maddie had the same swimsuits. Aaaah, cute.

All smiles.