Whirl-Wind Week

West and I just got home from a week of intensity down south. It all started with our family trekking down to celebrate Father's Day at Mimi's house. We spent a couple days with Mimi. West played in his little pool, but also got to try out the big pool too.

His favorite spot at Mimi's house was in his great-uncle Greer's rocking chair.

Tuesday we took Daddy to the train station so he could head home in time for his meetings.

West and I stayed behind, spent another day with Mimi, then headed to Redlands to visit Grammy and Pops and help Auntie Lowie get ready to move to Belize.

Amazingly, we were able to move and pack up Auntie Lowie in two days! Early Saturday morning we said our final good-byes to Auntie Lowie and headed home.

I will miss my dear sister!

For Daddy

Westly here! Did you know I have the BEST Daddy in the whole wide world?! I do! He is so funny and always makes me laugh. He works to hard for our family so Mama can stay home with me. He puts God first in all he does. He loves Mama, I can tell. I could go on and on. All I know is I love him very much!

For Father's Day Mama and I made some special gifts for Daddy. Mama took pictures of me wearing a sweater like Daddy's and one of his ties. That's his lunch box!

I got to pretend I was a teacher like him, using pens and writing Nedge!

We also filled a mason jar full of his fave Reeses Pieces

I want Daddy to know how much I love him

We put a few pictures in a frame that he can keep in his classroom all year long!

NEW BLOG!

I've just launched a brand new blog called Between the Lines: Life As a Full-Time Mom Moonlighting as an Author!
And it's just what it sounds like. Please check it out at www.fc-shaw.blogspot.com
I'll be posting Mon, Wed, and Fri.
Enjoy!

Adventures in Orcutt

This morning we took West on an adventure to Old Orcutt. We started by browsing through the farmer's market in the Orcutt parking lot across from Albertson's. From there we took him to the little library and he had his first library experience by playing with their puzzles and books.

Then we stopped at the Golden Donut and he got his first taste of a donut, and just like his Mama he loved the chocolate bar.

We ended the fun with a peek at Critters and Fins Pet Store and a quick pop into Fresh n' Easy for a dinner ingredient Mama forgot to buy. We had quite a fun morning enjoying Orcutt and its summer fun!

June's Craft Projoect

This month I made my sister some travel gifts. She is leaving for Belize the end of the June and will be gone a whole year ::gasp:: (That reality is still sinking in). I first made her her a few coin purses.

Next I made her this cool travel case I saw on Pinterst. I took a pot holder and folded it in half

I sewed on a cute button and used an elastic hair tie to latch it closed

Inside I sewed a bunch of snack-size ziplocks

Then I filled the ziplocks with all kinds of travel-size necessities

Everything fit snugly inside the potholder and is just the right size for her carry on

Nifty idea, right?

This Is It....

(No, I am not blogging about Michael Jackson's last performance.) Rather this is the last week until summer vacation! Michael will be done with school on Friday. Now I know I am not working full time (at least in a job that renders a paycheck) But when Michael is on vacation, I get to be on vacation. Just having him home makes things easier: he helps with Westly, sometimes he'll take West on early morning outings so I can sleep in, and he makes life more fun.

We are SO excited for this summer mainly because Westly is older and will be more fun. Here's a list of some summer plans:

Westly's first beach trip
Visit the Drazin clan and Mimi
TAHOE!
Fourth of July at the Manor (now a tradition)
Walks to Jamba Juice
Visits to Sprinkles n' Scoops and the new Dollar Tree nearby
Quality writing time
Movies
Picnics
Dinner with friends
Day trips to SLO (not just on the weekends)
Livin' in up!