Fire Pits. Smores. And Other Summer Things.

Oh, yes, the weather got a whole lot warmer this week. 

The humidity is back in full force.

We are doing all the summer things! 

Fire pit ✔ Smores ✔ Beach ✔

This is where North Carolina shines bright :)

Minus the humidity, there always needs to be the disclaimer for humidity ;)

As I write this on a Saturday afternoon in April, it's 80 degrees with 77 percent humidity which makes it feel like 85.

Perfect weather for outdoor birthday parties. One of my favorite military life occurrences is when friends move where you move. These friends were part of our group in California and moved to North Carolina 6 months before us. Even though, we have lived here for a year, we have attended almost every one of their birthday parties. 

And then, we have the beach. Always needing a trip to the beach.

Saturday evening we went for a walk and 

Sunday we were back again.

 Sunday called for all the beach things. 

The water is getting warmer, so there will be more swimming.

Or lying on boogie boards taking a nap??

He just does his own thing.

All the time.

Do you have a child like that?

Just a tad bit windy.

The kids ask, "Why is it always so windy when we go to the beach?"

The weather and water are warm but it's still spring. 

I always feel like spring and wind go together. Storms and rain. It's spring! The weather is still working out it's kinks. 

Honestly, though Colorado had snow. The midwest had rain. My weather app said Temecula was 45 degrees overnight. And here we are in NC swimming at the beach at 6pm. I think we have it pretty good ;) 

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Endless Summer

I'm beginning to think summer will never end. I remember the days when I wanted summer to go on forever. When I worked at the elementary school and going back to school meant back to work.  Now, that we've moved to a new school district with a  new school calendar, I'm wondering when the heck these kids are going to be out of my hair!

With one week left, we are stepping up our end-of-summer game. We will be trying to get out of the house a little more. Enjoy cold treats a little more. Think more positively about hanging out with our siblings more *wishful thinking*. I know all you mommas out there get it! By August, your kids have had about enough of each other and possibly you had enough of each of them too. Only in the most loving way, of course :)

I am telling you Pokemon has been our summer lifesaver. At the beginning of summer, I couldn't get the kids to move away from the Xbox games. Then came Pokemon and suddenly their little eyes and ears perked up and they were ready to leave the house. I admit I'm just as sucked in by the silly app as the rest of the world. However, I totally use my kids as an excuse for that one! I play for them!

Here we are winding down to a new school year with some pool party fun. Complete with an abundance of floaties. Check in the background there must have been ten of them. Would you believe my kids have never had the privilege of swimming with these types of pool toys? They loved it.

As always, we will give this last week of summer our best effort! Bring on the ice cream and swimming and Pokestops. We've got seven days to get it all out of our system!

Daytrippin to Long Beach

I'm a little stunned it is Friday. This week was a fast one, huh? Here we are in July and I can see the end of summer just on the horizon :( Maybe I'm just being a tinge dramatic?!? I'm not sure why I feel this way. I guess the beginning of July is to summer's end as Halloween is to Christmas. Once those dates arrive, time seems to hit the fast forward button. I'm trying my best to enjoy every day. Soak up every minute of free time.

This week we had a to drive to Long Beach for a summer camp rally night. The boys are both going to YMCA sleep away camp this month. They are super excited about it! We bought sleeping bags tonight. Zac couldn't be more thrilled! He came home and packed his fanny pack with all the essentials, just in case, he gets lost in the woods. Which does wonders for my nerves already thinking of sending them off for a week in the mountains. At least, I know Zac will be safe with his flashlight and cough drops!!

While in Long Beach, we stopped by the Aquarium of the Pacific. We have been laying low this summer so it was time for a fun outing. And the aquarium was fun! The kids got to interact with some unique animals.

Feeding the lorikeets was my favorite. The boys each has a cup of food which attracted some pretty brave birds. The boys were ok when with a lorikeet on their hand. When birds climbed up to the shoulder and then on top of their head, the boys were getting a little squeamish. I don't blame them. All the fluttering around my head freaked me out a little.

The shark tank was pretty cool too. I know the shark community is really under fire these days. 

A thick glass between you and those teeth always put things into perspective again. Stay out of their tank and you will live a long life. End PSA.

My last favorite is the jelly fish petting tank.
Never have we ever is the best way to put it.
I didn't even think you touch jellyfish without getting stung.
So... if it were on the bucket list we could cross that off ;)

 

Summer Bucket List 2014

Time for the annual Summer Bucket List. Publishing our family summer plans has become an annual post on the blog. It was one of the first things I posted and first posts I repeated. I've never been real great at completing the summer bucket list. Our Summer Bucket List 2012 was pretty ambitious and we didn't complete most of it. Our Summer Bucket List 2013 was scaled back and we still failed. I've decided Summer Bucket List 2014 will be minimal and we will complete it!

If you want to learn more about Summer Bucket Lists or get some great ideas for your own. Check out The Happy Family Movement Summer Bucket List Challenge. It's a fabulous place to start gathering ideas for your very own list! Pinterest is always an amazing resource too. But when is Pinterest not fabulous?  

Summer Bucket List 2014

* Horseback Riding * Photo A Day #semperfifamsummerbreak2014 * Become a Foster Pet Family * Movie Marathon * Hike * Go to The Grove L.A. * Beach Day * Back To School Shopping * Lake Skinner Splash Pad * Fishing

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Insta-Adventures: Semper Fi Family Fun

In the land of blogging, pictures are always great content for a post. When short on time or energy ...always always turn to Instagram. I find it's the perfect social media site for keeping track of all our Semper Fi Family adventures!  I've made a goal to document at least one picture a day using the hashtag #semperfifamsummerbreak. Next month, I plan to make a photo book dedicated to our summer adventures. I can't wait to see them all in print!

Now let me share a little of what this Semper Fi Family has been up to this week!

Last weekend was the annual Military Picnic at our church- North Coast Church. We love our church. They do cool things like this. Father and daughter joined forces with another father/son duo to play water balloon volleyball. 

They dominated! Which means they end up 'on stage' with a microphone. *giggle giggle* Two introverts talking into a microphone in front of hundred or more people. Eek!

Gift cards always make it worthwhile. And ice cream.

We were party animals on Saturday. We went from the picnic to our friend's birthday party.

Where there was wine. And if you knew me in real life. After I have a glass of wine or two. I start to get a little silly. And before you know it, I think selfies are a great idea.

Random, cloudy, dim lit selfies.

Yeah.

 Ok, I take back everything I just said.

I don't have to be drinking to think selfies are a great idea!

I'm a shameless selfie taker.

There.

 Yesterday, we hit up our local library with the cool chairs? That is how we will now refer to our new library. Honestly, this is how you get kids to read. Seriously... Zac is reading Last of the Mohicans. What 5th grader reads classic lit??? A boy who wants to grab the nearest book and sit in the chair! Score!

Popsicles on a hot summer day. Of course!

But poor little Charlie. Always sitting and waiting for someone to feel sorry for him.

Usually works.

That's all. Check out more Instagram photos of our summer adventures @Semperfifam.

Have a great weekend! 

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Linking up: Life Rearranged, A Night Owl Blog, Mommy Moments

Lake Skinner Splash Pad

The beauty about Southern California is the entertainment factor.  Literally thousands of things to do at your fingertips.  Here is a local family friendly water park, Lake Skinner Splash Pad, located in the Lake Skinner Recreational Area. This is a small scale water park on the outskirts of Temecula, California.

There are two splash pads, a park, and lots of shaded areas.  A perfect place to spend a few hours with your kids on any blazing hot summer day.  I recommend packing a picnic, blanket, a good book for mom, and possibly chairs.  There are plenty of shaded areas to keep cool and dry.  The cost is $6 per vehicle to enter the Lake Skinner Recreational Areas.  The fee give you access to the splash pad, lake, and trails. 

Click the link for the Operational Hours for the Lake Skinner Splash Pad.

Kid Approved.

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More Adventures... Santa Rosa Plateau Hike Carlsbad Strawberry Picking San Clemente Beach Trail

Ride Our Bikes To The Store

One of my favorite memories from childhood was riding my bike to the store. A dollar or two in my pocket and a plethora of choices in the candy aisle. Nothing could be better. These are the memories our kids will never have. We have found ourselves kind of stuck in city life. Not that Camp Pendleton is the city but it is a very big military base. It's almost two miles to the store. Lots of busy roads and traffic. The only way to give my kids the experience was to ride along with them. I added Ride Our Bikes To The Store on our Summer Bucket List. This week we managed to cross it off. Our first thing we crossed off the summer list.

This picture is much like the victory pose. We made it! 

It's a long uphill road to the store.

I gave all the kids a certain dollar amount to spend.

Not sure why but they all chose Icees.

Whatever makes them happy.

It's all about letting them be the decision makers.

I just sat back and dreaded the bike ride home. 

I can guarantee there will not be another bike ride to the store.

I'm getting too old for this!

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Summer Bucket List 2013

Time for the annual Summer Bucket List. This is the first post or project I have repeated. I've officially been blogging one year. It's a pretty exciting milestone.

Our Summer Bucket List 2012 was pretty ambitious and we didn't get a lot completed. This summer we have scaled things down and will make a valid effort to cross everything off. Please check back as the list is continually updated with links over the next couple of months to share our progress. 

If you want to learn more about Summer Bucket Lists or get some great ideas for your own. Check out The Happy Family Movement Summer Bucket List Challenge. It's a fabulous place to start gathering ideas for your very own list! Pinterest is always an amazing resource too. There are so many pin boards designated to the list.  

Summer Bucket List 2013

Blueberry Picking * Bike Ride to the Store * Ice Cream from the Ice Cream Truck * No Electronics Day * Photo A Day * Movie Marathon * Picnic * Camping * Read a Book Under A Tree * Hike A New Trail * Make Homemade Ice Cream * Summer BBQ * Boogie Boards/ Beach Day * San Diego County Fair * Family Pictures * Road Trip * Back To School Shopping * Pinterest Project Day * Visit A Museum

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Ice Cream Truck {summer bucket list}

Summer is winding down very quickly. No hard feelings from this girl. I'm more of a fall kind of gal. Sadly the summer bucket list has remained untouched for weeks. After working my last day, we can devote the last week of summer to checking off our list.

The kids excitedly reminded me of our need to check off Get Ice Cream from the Ice Cream Truck when the chime-y music started a mile away. All three came running from different directions, "Ice Cream Truck! Ice Cream Truck!" O-K, got it!

Our ice cream truck lady was incredibly sweet. Which totally makes sense, I mean she sells ice cream! I think she was a little curious of my need to document the purchase. Maybe next time I'll explain the whole blog thing. Oh by the way, there's a picture of you floating around on the web. Hope you don't mind?

It was a fun little break under the tree with our overpriced ice cream cones. 

The kids loved it but poor little Charlie didn't like being left out.

He tried to make an emotional appeal...

 Poor guy got nuthin'. 

Maybe next time buddy!

I hope everyone enjoys these last weeks of summer. I can't wait for cooler weather and kids in school. Are you looking forward to Fall? Or are you a fan of Summer?