Friday- Not as Planned

silly boys

The weather here has left us guessing every time we turn the corner. From clear skies to stormy skies. From clear forecast reports, to actual weather that would leave the local weatherman out of a job. Last night was no exception. We saw that there was something like 15% chance of rain at 1 am and the humidity level was supposed to peak between 1 and 4 am this morning, well it did like @100% humidity and precipitation!
I think mom and I decided that we had lived through one of the most torrential storms either of us could remember, last night. It started just after 1 am, I think I was awoken by thunder in the distant, but then I became more and more alert of flashes (no sound) in quick pulses. I was afraid at first that someone may be shining a flashlight around the side yard, and then as I woke up a little more I thought maybe the neighbors side light was flickering and as I came to full awareness I realized that what I was seeing through the cracks in the blinds was sheet lightning, going off every 2-3 seconds. Then the regular lightning followed by thunder started and quickly thereafter the rain came, and when it came it came with vengeance and its friend, the wind. I quickly closed our bedroom window so that the rain wouldn't come in then hopped up and closed the boys' window. I decided to brave it and walk out in to the living room to see if I could see the storm and great lightning strikes, but all I could see were sheets of rain blowing horizontally across the backyard and the wind howling like no other and flashes of light, brightening the sky. I decided that bed was the safest place and finally fell back asleep around 2:30 am.
ALL THAT TO SAY: we had planned to go to Whitesands today, but also saw a forecast of rain in the afternoon, and decided that after last night, we didn't want to chance it, so we stayed in and changed plans.
The weather cooled off today, most likely because of the storm, so that was a little bonus. We took the boys to a great wooden park in town and let them run around for about an hour then came back home for a much needed swim.  Here are some pictures of our park adventure, and no, I didn't get any shots of the storm. I was trying for video but it was so dark that nothing was coming through.

super neat park- adboe home and beehives (but really I think they are ovens aren't they?)

Elijah in the pueblo

hot baby

Oma and Lucas

Elijah in the pueblo

Luke in the pueblo

Silly boy squirting water out of his mouth...

I admit it, I taught him this...

Luke and daddy hanging out at the tire swing

It was a cool shady relaxing swing...

Back at Oma's Tennis School...

Oma opened up summer sessions of her tennis school/camp and had two very special sign-ups: Elijah and Lucas! Well...Elijah was really the only student, Lucas dubbed himself ball boy.  Lol! Here's some great shots and a video from our morning.

Awesome Thunderstorm at Has Borsodi

Lucky you, I mean really, you lucked out. We got an amazing thunderstorm this evening and I was able to capture a couple strikes of lightning, but some sheer chance. Chalk it up to luck.
We dine Al Fresco in the cool breezes that were a result of the thunderstorm that was east of us at the time. Then about desert time, the al fresco party was broken up by torrential down pour and the lightning storm getting closer. So we jumped inside and then got a HUGE bolt right by the house and it scared the boys, so we sat for a good while with them in our laps, watching from a safe enclosed, inside-the-house setting, which calmed them down a lit bit.  Lucas still keeps saying, when he hears the thunder, "that scare me!". LOL, he's really not that scared, unless we get another big boom.

Here are the two shots I got of the lightning, and one of Lucas and Aaron watching the show.

PS you should be jealous, we had an AMAZING Apple Pie and Homemade vanilla ice cream tonight, compliments of Oma's kitchen. mmmmm

PPS I just have to tell you that Elijah has spent his WHOLE time here in underware, and nothing else! Its remarkable because this kid will not wear anything other than long sleeve shirts and pants everyday at home, its a fight to get him in short sleeves and shorts on hot days....so underware, only, really?

A Hike and a Big Jump

Picacho Peak @ the Base

*Disclaimer: We will see if I can get two posts in today, I'm not sure we will have much to post after this, but I will try.

Today Aaron and I got to take a hike, just the two of us while Oma and Opa babysat the munchkins. They reported a full hour of non-stop swim time at Oma's swim school (yes she has many training camps, she is a woman of many talents...and lots of patience...).
Meanwhile, we hiked Picacho Peak just behind their house. Fitbit reports that it took us 12,000 steps and 107 floors. Finally I was able to make more than 7,000 steps in one day, however it was apparent that I am clearly out of shape. On the other hand, I made it up and back, mostly in one piece (I had a minor slip and was pierced by a cactus, but only once, so it was but a flesh wound.)
It was a wonderful climb and some nice time for just Aaron and I.
Here are some pictures from our journey.

looking out over the valley from the base of the peak

Midway point

Two Hikers @ the Top of Picacho Peak

a pretty cactus that opened up on our way back, all the blooms were closed on our way up

If you look hard there is a millipede on the top of that big rock

Afterward we jumped in the pool with eager children and swam for another, maybe 2? hours. Where Lucas became even more daring and started jumping A. by himself off the top step not needing us right there to catch him and then B. off Aaron's shoulders in to the pool.  Elijah is coming along slowly, we almost got him to jump off the edge....almost. They are both improving in their swimming, and I can almost guarantee that they will be swimming without wings by the end of our stay...i think...maybe its a little early to be guaranteeing that.

oops i forgot to post this last night...
Just a couple of swimming pictures and a few of a little thunderstorm that was heading our way, but didn't amount to much, our second of our trip and we haven't even been here 24 hours!!!

Morning Swim Fun

I got a fitbit! (not really, its just the band)

 Shucking Corn with dad

I love Aaron's face here!

A Storm is a Brewing....

Pictures of the Flight

Looook Post #2 of the day! This is what happens when I'm really on vacation....you get multiple posts in one day.

Here are some cute pictures of the boys on our plane rides yesterday.

First Day Back at Oma and Opa's!

I have lots to post before this, but thought I'd keep it at the most current events until I don't have anything to post and then you'll get more past events.  Stay tuned and keep checking back as I hope to post at least twice a day.
We got in at 12 midnight and got the kids down by 12:45...ughhhhhhhhhh! They woke up at 7, of course they did, so much for my dreams of sleeping til 9... And of course 7 here is our 6...am...in the morning...oh my gosh we are all going to need naps today!
So what's the first thing you do when you wake up at 7 and its 80 degrees outside, you go swimming of course!
I haven't had the chance to get the boys lessons this summer but we figured mom would be a great instructor so said nix the lessons we will learn at Oma's house! Elijah is timid of course, and so was Lucas until this happened....and didn't really stop.

Until later today...

The Real 4th of July

YAY! The real fourth!

Day time view from E&N's

Before when I said we did a whole little, we did. The 3rd and the 4th we spent in our jammies until we had to go out to the parade and Erin & Nate's house. It was so fantastic.  Since we closed out the condo last week a weight has been lifted.  There are no impending deadlines to meet, things that HAVE to get done, or things that are just looming over our head. Sure we have about 8 boxes that we need to go through and hope to keep only about 4 of them if that, but there is no pressure. We lazed about both days, and just enjoyed each other. The kids probably got more attention than they have had since we moved out last August. That is sad, but it is the truth and we hope to build on that now that we are "settled".
Anyway that is not what you are here to hear about.

We went to Erin & Nate's for fourth of July. They bought a house that over looks the water nearly a year ago, scrapped it, redid it and it was BEAUTIFUL and perfect for fourth of July. There were about 60 of us included 25 kids! WHAT! That's right. 25 kids. So Erin rented a bounce house. Best. Idea. Ever. it kept the kids very entertained practically all night.  The view was great, the people were great and so were the fire works....even though Elijah fell asleep in Aaron's arms, half way through and Lucas fell asleep in my arms about 3 minutes after Elijah. LOL. Oh well, we enjoyed the show for sure!

Jackson- Elijah's Best Bud

Its hard to see but this is the panoramic view of the backyard with all the people that were there

Blury but Luci and me.

Watchin' the 'works

Crapy pic, but we could see Concord, Martinez, Benicia, and Port Costa's fire works