Camp Spooky!!

Last week I got the most exciting email from Gigasavvy!!

Our family was invited to be part of the VIP Blogger's Event
at Knott's Berry Farm's Camp Spooky!!

Jeremy and Daddy LOVE Knott's and I was excited
to mingle with the other bloggers!

Jeremy was a spooky vampire!

Kelsey was a spunky Angels cheerleader!

Our fun day began at Lucy's Lunchbox!

We had yummy breakfast with a little monster on the side.

We hung out with Kyla and her fun family!

It was so great to be in the park before it open to the public!

The kids got to go on all the rides with no lines!

There were also a few crazy rides...

And trick-or-treating!!

 These girls had a blast together all day! 

It was a crazy good time for the whole family!

Thanks Knott's Berry Farm and Gigasavvy for a spooky great day!!

A Meier Adventure

My sister Susan and her family came down from Utah to visit in California for a week. They stayed with us for a couple days and we had a lot of fun enjoying the beach and hanging out together.

 I took them to experience their first Sprinkles cupcakes on the beach! We saw the free cupcake code on Facebook and rushed down to the store to get cupcakes for everyone.

Kelsey and I stretching our toes in the sand.

She's such a little poser!

The cousins had a lot of fun together burying each other!

He looks pretty comfy in there!

We took our Tic-Tac-Toe Blanket to the beach for the first time!

They left us Wednesday morning and headed down to my sister's house in San Diego. On the way they got in a fender-bender and Susan, who was 8-months pregnant, went into premature labor.

Not long after, Landon Christopher Meier was born!

He was tiny, but didn't need oxygen!

We scrambled to take care of their other 5 children before their daddy finally took them to other friends and relatives back home. Susan and the baby finally went home a week-and-a-half later.

It was quite an adventure, but fun to see them and meet Landon!!

Go Green Zombies!!

Soccer season has begun!

Although, I am not thrilled about the longer practices, additional practices, and all the games that interrupt my coveted Saturdays, I love the look of joy on Jeremy's face when he plays.

This weekend was the season opener and we had

a freak thunderstorm.

His game was canceled.

And then back on!

We hurried down to the field, but a lot of the kids didn't show up, so we had a scrimmage instead of a real game.

Jeremy had to play goalie for the opposing team.

It was kind of confusing for him. 

My team is coming to score, but wait, they're not my team??

Finally the other team's players all showed up and he got to rejoin his team and kick the ball!

Look at that form!

Kelsey entertained herself by practicing her long jump...

 ...and digging in the big hill of dirt and sticks behind us.

Go Green Zombies!!

Here's to another exciting season! :)

Chick-fil-A Aliso Viejo!!

We were so excited to hear Chick-fil-A was coming to Aliso Viejo!!

This location is the closest to open near our house

 and we were really hoping to get in!

As it turned out, Daddy had to work and couldn't camp with us, but I was picked and got to stay with the kids!

We love to eat the yummy chicken they give us all day!

Our playdoh is always a big hit with all the kids there!

My little cows enjoyed their lunch!

And put up with all my pictures, but don't they make cute cows??

 

I got a blood blister helping someone put up their tent.

It was ugly!! (The blister, not the tent.)

There was napping...

And as the sun went down hula-hooping...

Jeremy busted out his dance moves!

And we all had fun with YMCA!

The night was long with our leaky air mattress,

but we were rewarded the next morning

with hugs from our Chick-fil-A friends!!

Daddy's carpool partner camped out with his family and had fun.

 

Woo Hoo!! 52 free meals!!

We love the cow!

Oh the crazy things I'll do for chicken. :)

Thank you Chickfila Aliso Viejo!!!

Photo Contest!!

Hello friends and family!!

I have a shameless plea...

I have entered my 2 cute kids in a contest to win a photo session from the totally awesome Sarah Hull Photography!!

Ready?? Here's what you do:

1. "LIKE" Sarah Hull Photography on Facebook.

2. Leave a comment on Facebook under Kelsey's Photo.

3. Leave a comment on Facebook under Jeremy's Photo.

That's it!! If you have children, love photography,

or have ever been really excited about something,

you know how badly I want to win this!!

Contest ends tomorrow, so pretty pretty please vote today!

THANK YOU!!!

The Animal Magician!!

 We had the great pleasure of going to see the John Abrams Animal Magic Show at one of our Orange County Public Libraries!

John was sooo funny and so entertaining.

He kept the kids and adults laughing!

He introduced different animals,

and not just your ordinary creatures,

hello CHINCHILLA!!

We learned a little about the animals

and got to see a little magic as well!

John loves to pose for pictures!

We all loved the show and can't wait to see him again!

Thanks Animal Magician!!

http://www.amazingschoolassemblies.com/

http://www.animalmagician.com/

Pretend City Birthday Celebration!!

Last week we had the super fun opportunity to attend

the birthday party for Pretend City!!

Our family had never been, but when my friend Kyla told me that Plum District was running a way awesome deal, we had to go!!

You know we're all about the food, and there were some great vendors on hand to keep our tummies happy!!

The cake pops from Just a Bite were just too delicious!!

 Dippin' Dots were cool and refreshing and so darn cute!!

The popcorn was awesome!! Super tasty.

And after all that, we each got to fill a bag

with treats from B. Candy!!

The kids' favorite place was the stage!! They made their way around the town, but kept coming back to perform!

Kelsey loved the little chicks. I was so glad they were behind glass so she couldn't love them too much!!

The garden area was super fun with all sorts of plants to dig up and replant and all the tools and "dirt" for the perfect garden!

And she could shop to her heart's content in the Ralphs grocery store. Finally, no mommy telling her what she can and can't buy! (I am glad to see she put mostly fruit in there!)

Thank you so much Pretend City and Plum District

for a totally awesome adventure!!

Adam

Last week we had an unexpected loss in our family.

David's older brother Adam died in the night.

Although he had struggled with health problems for a long time, no one expected him to pass away so quickly, and so suddenly. His death is a mystery and a sad loss to all who knew him.

 He leaves behind 2 daughters, two parents who love him dearly,

 5 brothers, 5 sister-in-laws, 11 nieces and nephews,

and countless other people whose lives he touched in some way.

Although I have known Adam for close to 20 years,

 his death and services were very enlightening to me.

I loved hearing all the stories from people

who had known him far longer than me and who had insights

into him that I never would have seen.

He was strong and stubborn, dedicated and talented,

rough and tough, and a lover of all small children.

Above all, his reputation for helping others

is the one thing that stood out to everyone.

I mourn his loss for those who are left behind and miss him,

but I rejoice in knowing that he has been released

 from his weak earthly body and given the chance to rest, heal, and reunite with others who love him too.