Beck & Ellery: Aug

Three months have past since I last posted anything. Whoops. We have been busy playing, tide pooling, driving race cars, picking pumpkins, running on the beach, dressing up, trick-or-treating, paddle boarding, fishing, tie dying, painting and dancing to name a few. Oh and dealing with an insane amount of headaches and migraines on my part. More on that later. We have a lot to look forward to in the next couple of months and there's no doubt we are welcoming Fall with open arms.

Paddle boarding in the bay was such a blast. Here's George, Beck and I...

Kym and Beck...

George, getting the hang of it...

We celebrated Zach's birthday with a kid-free weekend in Riverside and Fontana. We stayed in one of the most beautiful hotels I've ever been to, The Mission Inn. Uninterrupted meals, a couples massage and watching the news - in bed - til 10am! Yes please. (I miss watching the news. Something you can't do with 2 and 4 year old sponges)

I remember Zach telling me that when he was a child and there were cars racing on tv, he'd run to find his helmet, sit in front of the tv and pretend to drive. So on day two, we headed up to Fontana Speedway so he could finally race an Indy Car. It was awesome to watch but the best part was his smile when he stepped out. He came up to me and said "I need to be race car driver." I laughed it off but an hour later at dinner he said, "no really, I want to be a race car driver." After the adrenaline rush of 148 mph, there was no doubt I'd be driving us home! No surprise I found him looking up Skip Barber Racing School once we got home. Sheesh...

Our little getaway was just as good for me. I think it's exactly what I needed for my well being. About those headaches mentioned earlier... For weeks my headaches were a daily occurrence usually resulting in a migraine. If I didn't wake up with a headache, I would get anxiety about the next one that was sure to come. At some point the anxiety got the better of me and I got stuck in a vicious cycle of tension headaches causing anxiety and anxiety causing tension headaches. Not a fun place to be. Especially when you throw two young kids in the mix. After wasting my time with therapists I was determined to get my life back and found some self-help books that changed everything for me. (that, along with a headache preventative from my doc!) I had an MRI this morning just to make sure all is good in my noggin but let's just say, it was the strangest/scariest time of my life. That weekend away was the first time I had felt like myself in almost 2 months.

I now find myself thinking "what was that all about?"...

Zach and I also had another weekend away for my girlfriend's wedding. I got to spend some much needed time with my Grandma as well...

And watch some soap box races. Ah, you gotta love small towns...

Ellery and I went to Ceramic Cafe and she chose to paint a mug for daddy and a bowl for Rian...

Play time with Sydney at our place...

And the Water Conservation Garden...

And dancing with her mama, Janice at Seaport Village...

Tie dying for cousins, friends and her brother...

It was so nice to have our Aunt Diana in town. We spent one morning in La Jolla...

Go ahead, take a closer look. That IS Marla taking a shot!...

Japanese Friendship Garden...

He's potty trained!...

Ellery in the celery at the Children's Museum...

Marla may have outdone herself this year with Jordan's 12th birthday party. It was an Amazing Race scavenger hunt complete with roadblocks and detours all over La Mesa. Zach and I were two of the taxi drivers and I think we had just as much fun as the girls...

Here's Jordan and her teammate at the pit stop. Happy Birthday Jordy Lou!!!

Flexing his muscles at the Aerospace Museum...

A fire truck went down our street and with no other outlet, Beck knew they'd pass by again so he grabbed his rocking chair, placed it at our gate and waited 20-30 minutes til they passed by - only they didn't just pass by. They stopped and gave the kids a hat, Beck got to climb all over the truck, turn on the lights and wear their head set and talk to the fireman in the back. (Ellery was a bit too shy) Definitely the highlight of his month...

Right after I snapped this picture I heard "you're the sweetest Beck ever!"...

Papa Dance and Mary came into town and they were lookin' good...

Each year we're lucky enough to get an invite to a Pumpkin Party in Valley Center. This year we took along my Dad, Mary, Jordan and Rian...

And Zach was lucky enough to get an invite to go on a 4 day fishing trip. This year it was Sitka, Alaska...

Marla, Jeff and Bennett went to Boston for a vacay and we watched Rian for the week. E, B & R had a blast together. Elle is missing her BFF already...

My BFF Shana, her husband, James and their oldest, Avery came down for a long weekend. Love them!...

Swingin' in paradise...

Goopy Scoopy Station...

Arrrrggg Matey! Thanks to Amy for the pirate crafts!...

Bubbles with Gram...

Fall Festival at E & B's preschool...

And DPR's Halloween Party. This company knows how to throw a party!...

Like father like son...

Ellery and Beck are still in preschool twice a week, swim lessons twice a week and now dance once a week. I originally just signed Elle up for dance but Beck would worm his way in and keep up with the girls, so now he's enrolled!...