Where Did Summer Go?

Okay, so the hot weather is still here, but when I realized yesterday that today was the first day of school (for most students), my first thought was, "Where did summer go?"  Seems like just yesterday that I was looking so forward to the husband having a break from class and homework, when things would slow down and we'd have all sorts of leisure time.  The only part of that equation that happened was no class -- for what seems like only the blink of an eye.  The last of summer assignment was barely finished in time for a little getaway last weekend, and now here we are, almost back to school again (his classes start next Tuesday) -- starting all over again.
I just took a little tour of the memory card on my camera to refresh my memory as to how our "summer break" could have already come and gone, and here's what I found...
Last weekend we snagged a little getaway and headed south to escape the heat.  On Friday we went to Anaheim - had dinner and then just strolled through Downtown Disney, stopping to listen to the musicians and spending a little time in the Lego store.  On Saturday, we continued south and stopped in at DelMar Racetrack near San Diego.  Going to the horse races has been on my "bucket list" -- something I've wanted to do for a long time.  I wasn't sure what to expect -- in my mind was a combination of what I've seen on TV and in the movies -- and I was not disappointed at all. 

We paid for reserved seating -- which turned out to be a good move.  Our seats were in the shade and we had a great view of the finish line (below)

It was so much fun!  We allowed ourselves $20 each for the day (10 races) -- so in my mind that meant $2 per race.  However, when we opened the program and saw a horse named "Kins Funky Monkey" -- well, we were both doomed and I wasn't sure we'd stick to our budget.  Turns out we each bet $5 on that race -- I picked Kins to place and the hub picked her to win.  She came in 2nd --  meaning I turned my $5 into $15 and the hub lost a quarter of his wad on the first race.  At the end of the day, between the two of us we came out with about $15 of our initial $40.  So I guess we can't say that we were big winners, but it wasn't a bad price to pay for a fun day of entertainment.

Yep, they have a real-live bugle boy and he played before every race!

We could also go right down to the paddock (I learned all the lingo) to see the horses before the race.

Next time I'd like to go with a group -- it seems like it would be a lot of fun with a bunch of friends.

Moving on, Avery had her fourth birthday on July 3rd - but we actually celebrated for a good week!  She had a little gathering of friends at the park on the 3rd, then we went to the Shafter fireworks that evening...

Birthday Girl with her Mommy

Kinsley LOVED the fireworks!

She gave each one a nice "ooooooooooooooohhhh"

And then we finally finished the birthday celebration with her official party on the 8th.

Avery helped me do the baking.  This was our first attempt at cookies on a stick -- they were a lot of fun and we will definitely do it again.  We made a Strawberry 7-Up cake (it was a variation of my champagne cake recipe using a strawberry cake mix and 7-up in place of the champagne.)  It was yummy -- even if we did get a little crazy with the shaved chocolate decorations! We made the flowers on the cake with colored candy melts and piped them onto wax paper until set.

 

We've also had several sleepovers with our favorite overnight guests.  Avery has figured out that if she asks to come for a sleepover, this Grammy rarely says no!  We had both girls for a sleepover on Friday night, then on Saturday morning, we got to go watch Avery's gymnastics class.

Check out that cartwheel -- definitely her best move!

With Andrew and Jaclyn buying a new (to them) home and moving, and planning a wedding, we've been busy.  Here's a little sneak peek at some of what I've been working on... 

Ring pillow done, one dress done (I told you, just a peek), one in the works, dessert tablescape under construction -- and less than a month to go!

Well, all the above, plus our trip to Utah with our high school group, a week at camp (for the hub), birthdays for Jaclyn, Layne and Mr. Wonderful, and preparing for a new year of ministry with our youth, that's where summer went!