New toys

We have been talking for the past 4 years, since we moved over to the ranch, that we ought to buy some quads to play on....
Well, one of Billy's co-workers was selling his and I told him we wanted to buy them!

So we now own 2 mini quads and the boys are in heaven! If it wasn't for the fact that it has been 100 degrees everyday and super humid, we would have already used them way more... but so far, around the house, our little neighborhood, to the mail boxes, and one trip on the ranch has made the boys super happy.  So many good times to come!

This years local fire- Whittier

On July 8th a fire started right by camp Whittier, just a few miles down the 154 from us.  It was a HOT day and it didn't take long for it to blow up and get into some dinosaur brush that hadn't burned for at least 50+ years.
And so our exciting and mostly exhausting week began of being evacuated, going back and forth, escaping the smoke, ash & heat, and being evacuated again.
Luckily, my sister and her family were in town when it started and were staying with her in laws. There was room for us too, so we stayed for 2 nights with them in Goleta. When they left to go home to AZ I thought it was a good time to start staying at home again. I had been back and forth everyday to grab things and mostly to check on the neighbors animals that I was looking after while they were away camping. So I knew it wasn't a big issue to get home and back from town.

We had lots of visits from fire friends during the week. A forest service engine with some of our former neighbors. A SB city engine with 2 fire fighters we new super well. And a Montecito engine rolled in one day to check on us as well :) We felt loved and safe.

Here are some pictures from through out the week that I took of the hillside above us. There was a lot of action around our house for a while, but i'm glad they got a handle on it and it's over with.

A first for Jameson!

Amidst the chaos of the Whittier fire, Jameson lost his first tooth! It took me a little by surprise because he just seems TOO YOUNG for this first. But he is 5 years old and he did get his teeth starting at 4 months old vs 9 months old like his brothers. Not sure if that makes a difference or not...

Here he is with a his slightly shocked smile on July 15th

And one more really cute smile with his sweet little sister

A few Summer highlights so far

We have been enjoying summer break from school!

Swimming at the ranch pool

A day picking blueberries in Buelton

  Arts and crafts

And always- beach days!

This makes me realize I don't get the camera out enough. (even my phone camera).. but at least it's better than nothing!

4th of July 2017

Soon after Baseball ended came the 4th of July. This brings a big event and a lot of busy-ness to our family too. Billy, for some reason, has been in charge of the huge Montecito station pancake breakfast for the past few years. This year they were celebrating 100 years of service to the community and so it was free and HUGE.  I know that Billy was happy when the event was finally over- lots to coordinate and do.
We enjoyed the breakfast, bought some Montecito Fire swag, and walked down to the small little Montecito parade that follows. It was a nice morning.

 On the old fire truck in the small side engine bay.

 New hat and shirt- gotta give this cute guy new stuff once in a while ;)

Leila needed a shirt and hat too!

Champions!

Just a couple pictures of Williams championship day of his tournament. They went undefeated and William was the starting pitcher for the final game! He did awesome and pitched 4 out of the 5 innings. We are so proud of him.

He was the only one on the team that was given a nick name... Bull Dog! For being so darn tough.

Baseball Madness

The regular baseball season has come to an end... but I think our baseball days have gotten even more busy! Both William and Zachary were selected to be part of all star teams. Zachary is on a 7u team that will be practicing for 2 hours every day this week until their tournament starting this weekend in Ventura.
William has already been practicing with a club team that has now turned into the 8u all star team. He had his first weekend tournament last weekend and did awesome. They played 2 games on Saturday and he was the opening pitcher for the second game in the afternoon! He pitched 2 innings, struck out several batters and the team only allowed 1 run for the game. I didn't realize how nerve racking it is to have your son be the pitcher! A lot of the game is up to him. He has to throw strikes so that the batters don't walk bases. He did amazing for his first time pitching. The 3rd inning (and final inning, since it was a timed game & there was a 15 run mercy rule) William was the catcher. Also a hugely important spot! He had to make sure he caught all the pitches thrown across the plate so that the runners wouldn't steal bases. Man, it's a whole different game with kid pitch.
Anyway, this is what takes up our every afternoon and evening. We are hardly ever home at "dinner time" anymore because we are at one field or another at a practice or game until 7 or 8pm.

Jameson is content to help field balls during practices and run around with friends during the games. Leila is a trooper and knows that every day we will get in the car to go to brothers baseball. She doesn't seem to mind one bit and has come to understand that the baseball field is her second home right now. She just smiles and makes friends with all the players, she knows all of them by name faster than I do.

Looking forward to July 1st when hopefully the craziness will all come to an end and we can get in the pool more often.... cause that is really what my pregnant body would love right now :)