August in Review

#1 Graffiti PSA

(sorry for the bad language.)
Don't get me wrong graffiti is ugly &
totally against the law,
but I also think it's kind of cool &
in this case funny & it makes a point.
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I found this little gem down at the
Vta. point, doubt it's still there, but
you never know...

#2-Camping

As a kid, my parents took us camping @ Refugio
State Beach every summer. We always went with
a dozen families from our ward including Keely's family.
Fast forward 15 years and we're back @ Refugio again,
but this time we're the parents with kids in tow!
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There's only one problem with Refugio- No Surf.
Luckily Kent and Lorne were willing to humor us
(this year). Here are the boys longing for some
decent waves and wishing we'd gone to San Elijo.
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So what did this family of 4 and 1/2 do
to pass the time (without surf)?
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Jack and Kent took a kayak out on the water.
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Jillian decided she loved the sand.
She was happy for hours digging,
building, and rubbing sand all over herself.
Unfortunately, after a while head-to-toe
sand gets uncomfortable (as you
can tell by the look on Jill's face).
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Jack caved into peer pressure and
zinced his nose a smurf shade of blue.
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Here's Refugio's blue nose gang.
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digging in the sand
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making new friends
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The kids attended a Batman birthday party
right in the campsite.
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Apparently this is what you do with a broken pinata.
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search for fallen candy
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bike riding (in a cape)
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And finally goofing off in the tent.

#3-Las Vegas Cousins
Two days after our Refugio trip we repacked our
bags and headed to Las Vegas.
Kent had a business trip and we decided
it would be fun to visit our cousins.
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Our cute Vegas cousins Lydia, Liza, and Lindy

Playing at McDonald's
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For Jack's birthday he was given this
cool pool. Sadly, Ventura was
cold and overcast most the summer,so
Vegas was the first time we opened the box.

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The kids had a blast sliding, jumping,
falling into the various pools



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While we were visiting Aunt Laura made us
her famous cream cheese crust pizza.
It's seriously my favorite homemade pizza.
The kids loved helping make it.


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Jill climbed up on the counter while we weren't
watching and got into the cream cheese-yum!

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Thanks again guys for hosting all the fun!
We really enjoyed our stay!
We love you a bushel & a peck.

#4-Sprinkler Run

Cool water was just too much temptation on
this August day. The whole play group ended up
in the sprinklers.
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Cadence, Jackson, Kai, Nico, Jillian, Dax, and Randy
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Kai & Nico are two of Jack's favorite people.
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I wasn't thrilled when these two got drenched,
but who can get mad at these faces?

#5-The Mighty Blue Jays
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This was the first year Jack was
old enough to play soccer.
And like good loving parents,
we completely forgot to sign him up!
Why weren't we thinking?
This boy needs an energy outlet!
So we put him on AYSO's waiting list and
about a week later they called to blackmail us.
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The actual phone call went a little something like this:
AYSO: "Mr. Howe we might have an opening on a
soccer team for your son Jackson."
Kent: "That's great news; can we sign him up?"
AYSO: "Well Mr. Howe that depends on you.
We need a coach for this team; if you can be that
coach, Jackson can be on this team."
Kent: "{sigh} Sounds like you've got yourselves a coach."
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And with that Jack had a team & Kent had
a new hobby after work!


Jack & Kent's first soccer practice.
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Doesn't Jack look like he knows what he's doing?
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After the teams first game.
Top Lt. to Rt.- Reed, Marcus,Nicoli, Nathan
Bottom Lt. to Rt.- Jackson, Jacob, Logan
Not Pictured-Bernot

PS-Doesn't our mighty blue jay
look like a road runner?
Just sayin'...

#6-Scootin'

Jack loves to ride his scooter to the park up the street.
In August he mustered up all his courage
to "bomb" the biggest hill at the park.
He was so very proud of himself!

#7-The Ventura County Fair
August equals Fair (or at least it does here
in Ventura. Our fair highlights this year included:


1. Waiting for & riding the school bus to the fairgrounds.
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2. Checking out all the farm animals.


3. Riding "crazy cars".
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Jack was pleased he could ride alone.
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4. Rooting for our favorite Alaskan pig in the races.

Sittin' on hay bails waiting for the races to start.
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The pigs in their race boxes rearing to go.
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charging down the raceway.
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Leaping fences. The pig racing really was
fun to watch. So fun, that Jack still brings it up
months later.

5. And riding the mini Farris Wheel.

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This was the picture we took before
getting on the farris wheel.
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After Kent snapped this photo we went
up the ramp, through the gate, sat down on the
on a bench, and as the operator was trying to
buckle our harness around my big belly;
he looked over at me and asked if
I was pregnant. I smiled and said yes.
That when he got an embarrassed look on
his face and told me that ladies like me weren't allowed
to ride. I just had to laugh because I wasn't
hiding anything @ 30 weeks pregnant!

#8-Jack big puffy hearts Star Wars!

Star Wars + Legos = SUPER BIG SMILE!