Love it/Hate it

I have a love/hate relationship with this boat. I find it annoying that it is still sitting in my driveway from the summer. Why?

Because sometimes it lives up to it's name:

...so we are still waiting for a part from when we had starter issues during the youth trip in Aug!

But how can I be too mad when it has brought us a lot of family fun over the years? Sigh.
Weather is gloomy outside today, so for now, we'll just be grateful for sunny boating days.

Discovery Bay 2010:

Jones & Clarke crew = good times!

In session

First day of school
(Only two schools this year...yeah!)

Our 5th Grader

Our two high schoolers

And first day back to school for me too! Just got a job with the school district working in various elementary school libraries. Should be fun! As opposed to the Alcatraz library:

Summer stuff- part 2

Love this city! It's been years since we lived near San Francisco and the kids were too young then to remember our trips to the city, so we took them back and did all the fun "touristy" things like Lombard St, plus a few other personal favorites.

Alcatraz--Cassie looks like we might leave her there!

Wayne's favorite San Fran restaurant did not disappoint.
I love how it says "Wayne's liquors" in the background!

Ethan said finding Mythbusters studio was the highlight of his trip--even though we couldn't go inside.

If you can blow up this photo, you can read the funny sign taped on the Mythbuster's door.

Cassie and I pretended like this was our charming Pacific Heights house for a moment.

and my fav, the Painted Ladies. The one on the left end was for sale and it was green, too!
It's just waiting for me ;)

Summer stuff-part 1

4th of July w/Bruce & kids-
Weather was a little cold in July, but we had fun anyway. We froze waiting for fireworks and at the beach, but it LOOKS pretty.

the boy cousins made a great cake

The "before" and "after" pictures of the house:
Here's the "before", complete with faded paint, pink flamingos, signs on the door/garage and old boat. Pretty sweet!

"After" - now that's MUCH improved!
(Still with the boat, but at least it's been running this summer.)

Got rid of the play structure.....

to make room for this.....

The kids literally jumped for joy and have used it every day since.

Driver's License

Pretty good summer for Brynn!

when they are bored

Here's a few things the kids have thought of to keep themselves busy this summer:

Baking bread (thank you YW leaders!)

Making crazy moustaches--you wouldn't believe how much time this killed, how much they laughed and how many pictures were taken. And it's cheap, too!

Making a banana cream pie...are you sensing a food theme?

Cassie made this cute chalkboard for her
camp secret sister...

And talented Melissa W. was so sweet to have the girls over to sew these darling wallets--fun fabrics, fun project. Thanks Melissa!

Goodbye LRMS

Here's a few of Cassie's 8th grade end-of -the-year events. It will be strange to not have a kid in middle school this fall.

Cassie had Ms. T. all 3 years for choir. We will sure miss her! Cass got to sing & play "Bubbly", which she had also performed at her piano recital this year.

Cass & Rachel posed for Brynn just before the 8th grade dance....so cute!

HauteLook

HauteLook is a new client where Wayne is currently working in L.A.. They have a website that releases 3-day, blowout, designer sales via e-mail. You can pick up products like: jeans, purses, watches, sunglasses, shoes, other clothing, and much more at 50% to 75%+ off. They really have some great products. It's free to join, and they already have over 2 million members. Just click the following link to check out their site:

http://www.hautelook.com/invite/WClarke526