Summer Slowly Sails into the Sunset

This is gonna be a fast one. Kinda like summer has been. Hard to believe how quickly we're skating though it. Rather than contemplating the end of the month, let's focus on enjoying the present moments! 

Hallie took the kids to the DeSoto Pharmacy and Soda Shoppe in the Valley after Landon's doctor appointment.

Landon channeled his inner BMX racer when we went back to the Freedom Park BMX Raceway. Mike found out that a work colleague is one of the owners of the facility. Pretty cool! So was watching the boy learning how to navigate the course.

During his time at the track, Eliza had her last dance class of the current series.

One of her favorite parts of going to dance class is driving along the “Disneyland Road” (Potrero Road south of the Camarillo grade). Why Disneyland, you ask? Might have something to do with the thrilling sharp turns:

Potrero Road Descent from Thousand Oaks to the farms of Camarillo from Robert Hummel on Vimeo.

On Wednesday afternoon, we went to Yogurtland at the Camarillo Outlets. While there, we saw friends from the ward and one of Landon’s old classmates with his mom. We had a nice visit while the kids played and were treated to a spectacular sunset. Thanks to Eliza for some of the early shots.

Mike enjoyed some time with Eliza at the pool on Thursday afternoon while Hallie and Landon went shopping for school supplies. Yes, the time is coming soon, but we will suck out every bit of summer juiciness we have left.

On Friday, we had Jett over for a visit. He and the kids lounged at home and poolside with Hallie, basking in the breeze.

While Mike worked at CLU Saturday, Hallie took the kids to the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.

Over the weekend, Mike tried to find one of Landon's missing LEGO minifigs. In the process, he corralled some of the bricks scattered around the house. After collecting most of the minifigs into   one bucket and still not finding the missing one, Eliza found it by the piano. Grr. On the plus side, we found out that we have some 500 little LEGO citizens spanning some four decades, from Classic Space through to Ninjago. 

Landon created his own variation on a Ninjago vehicle. Maybe it’ll show up as a Cool Creation in the LEGO Club Magazine.

We had Gabi and Isabel for an overnight stay Saturday into Sunday. Fergus wasn’t too thrilled, but once the kids finished playfully partying poolside and blissfully bouncing off the walls at home, they slept super soundly.

Eliza and Mom played dress-up after church on Sunday.

Have we mentioned lately how we cannot get enough of the weather we’ve been having this summer? Perfect enough to spoil a body rotten describes it accurately. Let’s take another look at that SoCal sunset. Ahhh!

Goodbye, July!

Not many photos this week. Spending too much time having fun! Between going to the pool, a trip to IKEA, and breaking out more old LEGOs, who has time to snap a pic?

Landon and Mike have started playing a fun board game Grandpa O. got us called Battle Sheep. It was easy enough for Landon to learn quickly and challenging enough to keep us interested through several quick games.

The winner? Landon! 

On Monday, Mike had some company on his morning walk.

Later in the day, we had lunch with Emily and her husband Mike and babysat baby Laura while her parents conducted some business out our way. Hallie took Laura with her to Landon’s OT, and then everyone got back together for some yummy pie.

Eliza went to dance class in the afternoon.

On Tuesday, Mike met with a student over at the Starbuck’s. He has it too good. Most days, working at or near home is a real pleasure, especially when you can end it off with a dip in the pool with the kiddos, as he did today.

Wednesday had the usual round of activities. Mom and the kids made one change to the routine by going to the library for a musical activities. Among other things, they played Las Chiapanecas (the clapping song) using filled water bottles.

When Mike went out with the missionaries to Rhoda’s in the evening, they were treated to some yummy Filipino dishes, including adobo (soy sauce marinated beef) with rice, pinakbet (vegetable stew), and misua (noodle soup). Soooo tasty!

While Mike worked out in Westlake on Thursday morning, Hallie and the kids met up with Carly and Cru at the movie theater at The Oaks to watch Marmaduke. 

One of Landon’s gymnastics friends rides BMX bikes, so he and Mom went to Freedom Park to watch bikers practice and race together.

Afterwards, we all went to the pool for an evening swim. Soooo relaxing!

Mike taught on Friday night and Saturday all day. He took the car to work Friday while Hallie and the kids had company for pizza and a movie night.

On Saturday, after dropping Mike off at work, the rest of the clan went shopping! First, though, they went to the Home Depot and built chalkboards.

Afterwards, they went to IKEA to buy a storage unit and some other home goods. They ended their time shopping for some clothes for Landon before picking Mike up.

After assembling the storage unit, Mike pulled out most of his remaining LEGOs from the garage, consisting of buildings and vehicles from towns he has built and Star Wars spaceships, and the kids had a play fest. 

On Sunday, Eliza gave the opening prayer and scripture in Primary. When she drew the selection for next week’s assignment, she recognized Landon’s name as the one she selected. She’s full of surprises lately about the little tidbits of academic knowledge she has learned! 

Timely Scavengers and Disney Fans

This week’s activities were well timed. Part of that timing was happenstance, and part of it was planned. As a result, the kids have two new-to-us school desks, and we all have brand new Mickey Mouse ears.  

The week started off with regularly scheduled and improvised activities. While Landon and Mom were out, Eliza and Dad played Eliza’s unique version of jumping memory and made Play-Doh figures.

We experienced unusually high humidity, which made things somewhat unpleasant given that we have no A/C. Then again, why complain? Eliza kept cool and demonstrated her unique fashion sense.

She also found ways to look after her little family of toys.

She’s every thread the prima ballerina of our home.

Landon and Dad built battle bots, and Later Eliza joined the party with a helicopter/biplane/bus to observe the carnage from overhead.

She appreciates having the bar swing to practice her budding acrobatics.

Landon is now tall enough to have moved from door frame splits to hallway splits, complete with sword.

The out-of-the-ordinary happenings started Thursday morning. Eliza got up bright and early and so joined Dad on his morning walk around the neighborhood. This time he took her over to Valle Lindo Park near CAPE Charter School.

As they were heading back home, a garbage truck arrived at the school, pouring into its maw several school desks and chairs. Mike paused to take in the sight, thinking that it was a shame that the school had not been able to find new homes for all that equipment. Turns out, he and Eliza were themselves being observed by the facility manager. He called them over and asked if Eliza could use a school desk, as the school had been trying in vain to get the word out so the school could distribute them to the community. Apparently, sharing gently used classroom furniture can be quite difficult, and even scrap and recycling companies have guidelines and restrictions for what they can use. Who knew? Anyway, Landon and Eliza got two new-to-them desks chairs. Hooray for scavenging! If you’re local and interested, we know a guy.

The desks were an immediate hit and got put to use right away.

Mike had to work the night of Pioneer Day, so we missed out on the stake barbecue. We are grateful to those who forged the road for us to follow!

Sad to say, that road seems to lead straight to the mall. We made deliberate plans to get up early on Saturday morning to go to the grand opening of the Disney Store at The Oaks mall. We go there early enough that only a few people stood ahead of us in line. We do not think ourselves crazy fanatics or anything, although we do seem to like store openings (the LEGO Store opening at the Somerset Collection back in 2010 comes to mind).

Waiting is the hardest part.

I mean, seriously. Boooring! 

We weren't the only fans out early.

Getting the prize for waiting: . . .

. . . exclusive Mickey Ears! 

Landon answered an obscure trivia question and won another prize as we waited. 

Almost time. Celebrate! 

After we came home (we bought nothing. Can you believe it?!), the kids played out front. 

Yes, the girl is learning how to roller blade. 

Later in the evening they went to a kids’ night out California Cartwheel Center while the grown-ups went on a date, first out to Stonefire Grill and then later back to the mall.

That's one hot mama! 

Look what we found at the mall: Sanders chocolate sauce by the bottleful! 

On Sunday, Eliza showed how she is learning to write her name: One letter at a time!

Mike and Hallie co-taught the third-hour lesson at church based on Elder Hales’ April 2015 General Conference talk titled Preserving Agency, Protecting Religious Freedom. This highlight of the talk speaks to the importance of religious freedom to preserving moral agency:

What is religious freedom anyway? It's the freedom to believe, to share our faith and our beliefs with others, to form a religious organization (i.e., a church) to worship peacefully with others, and to freely exercise faith not just in the home and chapel but also in public places. It is a fundamental principle of free societies:

To protect religious freedom, he advised the following:

“First, we can become informed. Be aware of issues in your community that could have an impact on religious liberty.

“Second, in your individual capacity, join with others who share our commitment to religious freedom. Work side by side to protect religious freedom.

“Third, live your life to be a good example of what you believe—in word and deed.”

Several resources are available to help us become informed, join with others, and be a good example in word and deed, such as the Mormon Newsroom and the J. Reuben Clark Law Society Religious Freedom Committee Website.