Angeluis' Summer Visit

We have been waiting ALL year for Angeluis to visit! We've been planning activities and looking forward to good times with our besties! Angel just found out that she is expecting again in December! We had a great time eating, talking, laughing, and playing this week!

They arrived Sunday evening. But Church has been nearly impossible all year. We attend our meetings at 11:30 which is an extremely hard hour. Rayleigh is ALWAYS asleep at that time so keeping her awake long enough to even get in the car to GET to church is difficult. Then, once we are there, she is a basket case. This particular Sunday we partook of the sacrament in the hall while she was weeping and wailing. Immediately after, I took her home and she just cried and cried the entire way. As soon as I laid her down she was OUT and so was Jack. It's always a nice time when both babies are asleep and I can read my scriptures and Engisn and take a few quiet moments to ponder and pray. Sunday's are hard as far as getting to and staying at church but we try our best to make the most of it. 

On Monday we stayed home and just hung out. They have been on the road for a few weeks so it was nice to just sit back and relax. The kids enjoyed the backyard and swimming around the hot tub and pools.

It was Kailo's 4th  birthday (crazy) so we all went to Pirates Dinner Adventure that night to celebrate!

We got there early so we could enjoy all that Pirate Adventure has to offer. We got checked in and ate some appetizers, Parker found out that he really likes mozzarella sticks!

Kailo got a new sword for his birthday! Score!

We were cheering for the red pirate, Jack! We tried our best to get into the spirit of the show. Here are our best pirate faces.

The show didn't start until 7pm so it was a challenging task keeping Rayleigh distracted and happy. She was loving the excitement of the show but when Tanner had to take her out for a diaper change she did NOT want to come back in and just screamed until it was time to go. Poor girl needs her sleep. She is literally in bed from 7pm-8am every day with a 2+ hour nap from 11am-1:30ish.

Parker was a "red coat" and was able to participate in the show at the very end! He was stoked!

We were all pretty tired the next day. I've got some super stellar sleepers!

Feeling better! Rest is a beautiful thing!

The next day Angeluis met some extended family down in San Diego and actually decided to spend the night down there. So it was business as usual for us the next couple of days. A friend from the ward invited us over to her awesome pool to swim! It was so nice getting to know some more mom's in the ward. Since I have a hard time making it to Relief Society I'm missing out on the social aspect of our ward!

We ate dinner in the backyard that night- which we do quite often.

Peek a boo! He helps me make the bed sometimes.

Rayleigh and Teo are just about the same age- just about 2 months apart. They got along fantastically and were so darling together.

Kailo and Parker had so much fun together, too! They were connected at the hip!

On Thursday we spent the day at the Aquarium. It was hot and crowded and HARD to do with all 3 kids and NO Tanner. But Angeluis helped me a TON. The traffic was ridiculous but I'm glad we did it. I'd never been and of course Parker loved it.

Strollers weren't allowed in the bird sanctuary so I enlisted Luis' help. Rayleigh was barefoot and decided to run all over the place. Sheesh.

 But she loved the freedom, of course.

The Queen Mary and a Carnival Cruise ship. That cruise ship was calling our names!

Meanwhile, the rest of my family was in Utah to celebrate the 4th of July. Josi's best friend, Angela, threw Josi the most adorable baby shower. Josi is due with another boy next month!!! So sad I missed this special occasion!

They constantly fight in the car. We need a van. Rayleigh puts her hand and feet all over Parker and then screams and cries when he pushes her away. I feel sorry for them both.....

Tanner had the day off on Friday so we spent the morning in Laguna Beach walking around and getting gelato. We then ate at RipTide sushi and swam at Robyn's!

Rayleigh was, SURPRISE, all over the place

Sushi time!

Rayleigh is such a little mother: always trying to share with Jack

Friday night Tanner and I were going to spend the night at my parents to avoid all of the 4th of July traffic but would you believe that at 5pm on Friday evening, the day before the 4th of July there was NO traffic???? It was a patriotic miracle! So we all went back to our house for a good old fashioned BBQ. It was the best night ever. We stayed up way too late talking and eating our weight in ice cream.

It's the best when Angeluis come to visit. I can't believe how much our little family has grown. It was just Angel and me for so many years, then came husbands, and now each of us will have 3 kids! The more the merrier in our group!!!! I'm so thankful for forever friends who enrich our lives! I look forward to many more adventures (big and small) together!