Summer Fun: Soak City and fruit leather

Our favorite Oceanside cousins invited us to go to Soak City with them before school started. It was a hot day and we enjoyed being in the water…until Sadie decided she was done and then would not stop crying! Luckily, I got her to sleep in the stroller for a little while and had some one on one time with Easy E.

One of the blogs I subscribe to (martawrites.com) had a post about making your own fruit leather. It looked so easy I had to try it. I had some strawberries and nectarines that were past their prime so I threw them in the pan and voila! Tasty fruit leather! It was gone in a flash.

Summer Fun: Camping for the 4th of July

This summer we went on our first family camping trip. The campground was beautiful and I realized how much of a city girl I am because I could NOT sleep with all the crickets chirping, raccoons rummaging around, and pitch blackness. I need to go camping more often. The kids, on the other hand, slept wonderfully and had the time of their lives! Who wouldn’t if s’mores were involved?

Gotta Go Back, Back to School Again…

Yesterday was the first day of school for Ethan and Luke! Luke started Kindergarten. His teacher is Mrs. Honda. Ethan started first grade and his teacher is Mrs. Fox. Luke was so excited and reported having a fantastic day when I picked him up at 1:25pm. Ethan was a little different. He was so upset but he made it. He told me it was pretty boring at school. Monday night we had a back to school FHE and Steve told a good story about his first day of school and going to a new school in California. He also gave them each blessings. Sadie even asked for one too! It was so cute how she sat so still. I’m so thankful for the Priesthood.

 

This one has nothing to do with the first day of school but I threw it in for good measure. :)

 

Rasmussen Reunion 2010

In early August we got together with most of Steve’s family (minus two brothers and their families) and had ourselves a little fun. We played at the beach for two whole days. Ethan and Luke were, not kidding, in the water from 10am-6pm for two days straight. They LOVED it. Ethan became a pretty good body boarder. Luke got a braver and went into the water a little deeper. Sadie just played and played. Unfortunately, Steve threw out his back at work the day before the reunion started so he spent the first two days just observing the fun.

After two days in the sand and sun we decided to venture out into San Diego. We rode the train down from Oceanside to San Diego, which was a thrill to the kids in and of itself. We toured the USS Midway. We heard from Grandpa Rasmussen about his service in the military and about Great Grandpa too. Uncle Allen promised to have some stories to tell eventually…we hope not, for Anna’s sake. ;)

 

We walked down town San Diego and rode the trains up to Old Town San Diego and got a tour of the new Mormon Battalion center. Branson and Tyler got the gear ready for battle and the rest of us searched for some gold.

 

It was such a fun reunion. We wish we lived closer to all the cousins and could play all the time like this. I need to thank Sherrie for providing me with all these pictures. There were MANY, MANY more and my kids are lucky their aunt chronicled everything since their mom was seriously lacking in the photog department.

Five

We partied it up yesterday celebrating Luke’s 5th birthday! His friends from last year’s preschool class, Aidan and Coen, come over in the morning to play. I got all fancy with my rice krispy treat cake for that one.

After a short nap for Sadie we picked up Ellie and Ryan and headed to Jumpin’ Jammin’ in Mission Viejo.

 

 

 

The kiddos got nice and sweaty running around and playing in there for a few hours.

 

Luke requested McD’s for dinner (I was so bummed) and then we headed home for cake and presents with the family.

 

Luke wanted a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. Well, I filled it with chocolate mousse and he didn’t complain that there was no chocolate frosting. He said he wanted it green so thats why I skipped the choc. frosting.

 

 

 

I think he had a good day. He told me, more than once, that it was the best day EVER. I hope so. Luke had his 5 year well check today and he is 48 1/4'’ tall and 71 lbs.! He is going to be towering over me so SOON!! This boy has never been average and it doesn’t look like that is going to change.

Luke, I hope you have a good year as a five year old. If it were up to me I’d press the pause button and just keep you here at this time in life for an extra year or two. You are growing up too fast. You start Kindergarten on Tuesday and you’re already reading fantastically! Your dad and I love you so much. Happy Birthday, Luke!