Happy 4th of July! As Benjamin Franklin notes, "Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” Today is a day when we recognize peace and liberty where Freedom is nothing else but a chance to be better.
The Helland Family had a great weekend. We simply did a little bit of this, a little bit of that, and a whole lot of relaxin' pool side. The weather has been wonderfully perfect---mild temps and sunny!
Steve and I started the long weekend off right. We left work early at 3:30 and met Cousin Phyl at The Rusty Pelican. I have posted about this place before. It is off of PCH in Newport Beach---amazing food and overall a great place. They have the best fish, and that always makes for a wonderful dinner.
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| Overlooking the Newport Beach Harbor |
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| Rusty Pelican, Phyl and Steve |
We ran some errands to the Home Depot Saturday morning as Steve is doing some pre-construction on his parent's house before their arrival at the end of July. He just needs probably one more week of good solid work and then it looks like he is set until his parents arrive later in the month. Once we were back home, we got the kids ready and set for splashing around in the pool. While Steve was at Costco he picked up some Tommy Bahama beach chairs, which came in handy while we sat with the boys. They love water, which is exciting. We look forward to when we can start bringing them to the beach. I think we found a smaller area just North of San Clemente Pier that will be perfect for our first trip. Saturday night we grilled out, BBQ chicken with rice and fiesta corn. We enjoyed a wonderful evening eating outside. Although after a full day of eating lunch and dinner outside, we decided to invest in some cheap highchairs so that way we don't have to keep dragging our good (well not so good once the boys are done with them...:)) kitchen chairs in and out since their toddler booster seat attaches to the chairs. We are researching between Walmart and Target for the best price but yet sturdy enough so they can stay with us for a little bit until the boys are a little more mature to understand "good behavior" at meal time. HA...I know wishful thinking, huh? Hopefully by next weekend we will be up and running. I like that we can eat outside when we can as it makes for easy clean up with the boys. It is called get the hose out and spray everything down. :)
Sunday was a day of relaxation as well. We pretty much did the same thing; ran some errands and then back to the house for pool time! :) We enjoyed a late afternoon of neighbors gathered in the driveway while we enoyed some homemade brewed beer from our neighbor, Bruce. He has this raspberry beer that is really good. We were able to see Tom and Melissa for a short bit. They have been fairly busy all weekend before they head to Cabo for a family vacation. We are looking forward to their return trip home so we can continue with our neighborly visits. We planned to grill out again, but we were enjoying ourselves and the boys were having so much fun playing outside that we just ordered pizza...easy, simple, and not to mention YUMMY. Here are some pics from Saturday and Sunday.
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| The view before turning into Home Depot in Mission Viejo |
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| Z and J ridin' solo |
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| J and Z together again |
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| Jack and Zach with Daddy getting ready |
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| Zach and Jack (getting splashed...then startled) |
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| We made it...well at least Mommy did. |
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| Zacharoo |
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| Jack |
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| Yep, as soon as the boys got their hands on the watering can, they decided they should empty the pool...watering the grass, the cement, themselves, the chairs, Mommy, Daddy, the trees, their picnic table....the list can go on and on! |
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| Good Behavior |
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| Zach --- OMG! |
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| Placying Nicely (Jack looking at the camera) |
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| Jackson |
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| Zachary |
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| The boys...Zachary looking at the camera |
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| Jackson |
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| Zachary --- on a mission for more water |
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| Jackson |
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| Okay...we got it! |
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| The boys with Daddy after nap time |
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| Watching Daddy mow the lawn |
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| Zachary |
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| Jackson |
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| Zachary |
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| Jackson |
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| J and Z |
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| Jack with his water noodle |
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| Playing |
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| What is he doing |
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| Jack...OMG...I just saw a lizard. |
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| Lovin' the water! |
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| Lifeguard on break... |
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| Relaxin' |
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| Jack |
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| Jack and Zach |
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| So we don't have a watering can but we have a cup :) |
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| Jackson |
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| Jackson |
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| Jack |
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| Zachary |
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| Zachary --- Taking a break |
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| Z and J |
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| Jackson |
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| Da Boys |
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| J and Z |
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| Zach Attack |
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| "HI" |
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| Bouncey Bouncey Bouncey |
We woke up before the boys on 4th of July as we had to prepare for the boys' first parade. I guess this has been a tradition for quite some time in that a lot of the neighbors in our area decorate bikes, children, you name it for the 4th of July parade starting at one end of the "Green Belt" and walk to the other end. We got the boys decked out...clothing and ATVs. We had to laugh because the kids made it a few short pushes of the button. They were so amazed by all the people and dogs that they could care less about driving their ATVs. We ended up pulling them in their tiny little red wagon for a short bit. Finally Steve got the car and we just went back home so they could play! :) There is always next year. HA. We pit stopped at Walmart to buy a new pool since we have had the blue one since they were one and it finally popped a hole. I am sure this new pool will get a lot of use during the summer.
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| Good Morning! Starting the day with pancakes and grapes. |
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| Zach getting ready for the parade |
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| Jackson |
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| Zach Attack |
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| Getting hydrated |
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| Jack--so the hat did not last very long! |
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| Sporting the American Flags |
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| Zach gearing up |
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| Everyone getting ready to walk, ride, get pushed, etc. |
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| 2 minutes before show time! |
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| Z and J amazed |
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| Evan, the boys' friend who turned "2" just three days before J and Z |
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| Olivia, Evan's sister |
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| Zachary |
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| Jack |
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| Jack |
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| This Dad was all in the spirit! |
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| The parade started and here we come...:) |
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| There we go...finally! |
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| Melissa and Tom with the blue push car |
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| Jack wondering where the heck is everyone going and what is the big deal |
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| HA! So they love the blue car and Tom was able to get both in the car and he pushed for a little |
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| Shortly after we got home, back in the pool we go (yep, I am fully aware the boys do not match :)) |
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| Zachary |
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| Just before dinner |
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| Playing nicely before WWII |
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| Yum...So, I make them and then send them off with Steve so everyone else can eat them :) |
I hope to have some good news to share with you all this week! :)
Cheers,
The Helland Family
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