The Marston Family: Summer Happenings

Blogging has gone by the way side as of late… but I can’t let another month pass without recording a few thoughts regarding our summer thus far. If I had to sum it up, the following comes to mind:

SWIM LESSONS—every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10, the kids and I have faithfully packed a picnic lunch and headed off to swim team/lessons. Evelyn has enjoyed her first year on team, where she practices various strokes and building endurance. She is quite the swimmer! Dane has worked on his back stroke and side breathing. He is a little fish in the water and loves every minute of it. Then there’s little Grant… he hesitated at first and threw one mighty fit after another, but now is pretty darn near swim safe! HOORAY!

2. DAILY BOARD- I’ve loved this visual summer calendar we’ve used to schedule everything from working on an art gallery that we will display in a few weeks, to summer service and library trips. The calendar has certainly kept me organized and it’s also helped me to feel good about our limited but sufficient daily routine. With a newborn, I haven’t been able to get to the beach as much as I’d like… and we’ve spent many an afternoon hanging out at home because of my lack of energy. But, we’ve tried to find a purpose in each day… and that’s good enough for me!

painting out back

3. FRIENDS IN TOWN—one of my favorite parts of our summer thus far has been the various visitors we’ve enjoyed! The Bachmans came for the day and it was such a treat to see Kai, Addie and Colby!! They have all grown up so much! It’s crazy to think that Addie and Dane were both just little babes when we met in NY 5 years ago!! So great to see Cathy and go out to lunch sans kids. And speaking of NY friends…. The Remingtons also came to town for a visit! Talk about fun!! I hadn’t seen Michelle since we moved 2 years ago… and it was such a treat to catch up and meet her little baby girl for the first time. And lastly, we enjoyed a little mini-vacation with the Rustands in town. Our kids were thoroughly entertained for 4 days straight as we frequented the beaches, learned to surf, and took a trip to Sea World. Fun, fun times.

Bachman kids

Cathy-- 6 months pregnant

Michelle and I

Michelle, Ana and baby Anna

Rustand cute girls

Blake and Grant

Best buds- Ev and Ella

Golf clinic

Garrett and Blake

La Jolla Beach

4. Broken Nose— A sad turn of events this month when sweet little Dane fell face forward into a half cement wall while scootering about one evening after dinner! A helmet sure didn’t protect his cute nose!! We felt very blessed, however, that the accident was only a cartlidge break, rather than a skull fracture….AND that after a few weeks of allowing the swelling to go down, his nose was still straight! THANK HEAVENS!

5. Potty Training- Oh man. What can I say? Potty training has always seemed THE BIGGEST hassle in my view and this time around has not changed my opinion in the least! We’ve had good days and bad days. We’ve made progress and then regressed in this journey. But I am determined not to give up, I tell you!

6. Palm Desert--- We enjoyed a fun little trip with Blake’s family to Palm Desert shortly after school let out. Highlights included Knott’s Soak City where Evelyn, Blake, Grandpa and I all rode the Pacific Spin which was quite the scare!!! We ate yummy Mexican and saw Brave with Grandma. Evelyn quickly became completely obsessed with bows and arrows as a side note and this obsession has yet to fade. We enjoyed very much spending time with Blake’s siblings- Stacy and Troy, and of course hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa!