We're HOME!

WOW! After 5 weeks in Laguna, which I consider HEAVEN, we are home. I was so excited to get home up until we got to Blythe and it was 110 degrees. I think my husband was tired of me complaining of how miserable it was outside. It felt like a blow dryer was blowing in my face when I got out to grab some snacks and do a potty break. Ava says, "mom, it is so hot out here!" I said, "you better hurry and finish that ice cream before it melts!" We have lived in Arizona our entire lives and every year when I come home from summer it seems I forget how hot it actually gets here. I have to say, I did walk in my home and appreciate all that I have. There is a good feeling in our home. It might be miserable outside, but it's HOME! Top 10 things I will miss from our Summer vacation....

1. THE BEACH and the few steps we had down to it.

2. Waking up to my nieces and nephews every morning. I LOVE them like my own. They would come in our room every morning and play with Emmie and Elle. They truly LOVE my kids too!

3. Hanging out with my sister late at night while the kids were finally in bed chatting about life, researching stuff online and listening to the seals BARK ALLLL night long! Our beach house was right next to Seal Rock, you can't beat that!

4. My parents and my little sisters in the same town. We are still trying to convince them that AZ is the best place to live 7 months out of the year. Which.. they agree. My little sisters of course aren't buying it!

5. How excited I was to see my husband when he got off the plane every week to come see us. It felt like we were first married.

6. My sisters FAMOUS healthy fruit smoothies every morning! They are so yummy! I of course, had to throw in cinnamon rolls with them. I'm such a nice aunt! It probably explains why I'm still wearing my maternity clothes!????

7. The ward and Sunday dinners at my parents house. It's amazing how fast you can fit in to a new ward. The people there are amazing and so sweet.

8. Emmies few trach changes. We change her trach very often here in AZ because it is so dry. Living on the beach.... very seldom due to the moisture.

9. FABULOUS quaint restaurants and all the fun conversations we had at dinner and of course all the SHOPPING!

10.The 9-1-1 call made by the big kids while they were baby sitting. Us adults were out to dinner enjoying ourselves. I will save that for another post! There is NEVER a DULL moment when you vacation with the Simas Family! Can't wait till next year!

I will also miss this.....

Our VIEW from the family room

And this.....

Ava got this stroller for her Birthday from the "Build a Bear" store and the kids thought it would be funny to push Elle around in it. I have never seen her so interested in ANYTHING. She absolutely loved it. Or maybe she just loved all the attention and the laughs! She barely fit her bum in it. It was HILARIOUS!

And smart aleck teenagers....

Austin and Elle

Tay and Elle

A few things that I won't miss....

1. Ava and Sophie fighting because they have been with each other non stop for 5 weeks! I can't figure out how both of them ended up at Grandmas when we got home and are STILL there! Have fun mom!

2. Sharing a bathroom with my entire family. I think someone would have laughed if they walked in on Emmie and I bathing in this little tub.

3. The wood floors that sounded like an elephant was walking down them. (I guess there were times an elephant was walking down them!)

4. Getting Em, Elsie and all their stuff to the sand when Jason was out of town.

5. Sleeping with my entire family in a QUEEN size bed. I felt bad leaving anyone out.

6. Not having a babysitter available at all times! I missed my mom!

Although I will miss all these things, I am very grateful to be home. I missed our family and friends that live here. The summer is so nice to not have anything going on and no obligations but I have to say, I am ready to get back to our routine. We love Az and are happy to be home again! Although I would love to live in Laguna someday, there's NO place like HOME!

Jason had our pool ready to be filled for us when we got home so we are anxious to start swimming in this tomorrow.....

Grandma Cindy comes to visit!

Last night we had to say "BYE" again to dad. Jason has been here for the past 2 weeks and we have had such a relaxing time. Unfortunately he had to go back to work this week! He will be returning Thursday and we are looking forward to it! It is not easy to get around with my 3 girls by myself! His mom (Grandma Cindy) came out for the weekend and we had fun spending time with her as well. We are looking forward to seeing the rest of our family in AZ soon, we miss them! Here are a few pictures from the weekend.....

Ava LOVES when her dad plays with her on the Beach! She's in her HEAVEN!

Daddy and Em Bug... He does such a good job with her. She NEVER gets left out!

Grandma Cindy and Emmie

Us and Em

On the way to the airport, we had dinner at Tommy Bahamas in Corona Del Mar... YUMMY!

Ava and Dad at dinner, someone needs to shave!

Elle and Grandma Cindy 

Ava and Grandma at the Tide Pools!

Sophie and Ava with their buckets full of seashells

Emmie LOVES the beach. She was laughing so hard as the waves came up to get her. Too Cute!

The little PRINCESS

A Fun 4 Months!

Can I just say how much I LOVE this little girl? I can't believe how fast 4 months has flown by.  She has been so fun and I have to document some of her milestones. She loves to talk, blow bubbles, watch all the kids, play in her bouncer, suck on her hands and feet and grab EVERYTHING on the table when we are out to dinner! We are still out of town and have been for over a month so I will just say that she is STILL NOT on a schedule and I am her human pacifier and am at her beck and call 24/7! I am looking forward to getting on a schedule and she is going to have a rude awakening when we get home. I know that it's my fault but can you blame me? Wouldn't you want to cuddle ALL NIGHT with her? As long as she has me by her side she is in her HEAVEN!!! Her sisters and cousins ADORE her, she is definitely our morning entertainment!!! We tried to feed her some baby food the other day and she wasn't quit sure about it. She is beginning to belly laugh and we can't wait to hear more out of her! We LOVE her and can't imagine life without her!

Beach Feet

She LOVES her cat naps at the beach

Happy 4th!

Happy 4th Of July! We had such a great time at the beach all day.  We all went over to my parents beach and BBQ'd, built sand castles, played football and had such a good time! We are in Laguna every year for the 4th and it is so beautiful here. I am very grateful for this country, my freedom and most of all good family surrounding us!

Cousins and Aunt Ash!

Taylor and Ashlyn

I have to say.... Scott is always prepared and is ALWAYS willing to be in CHARGE! I love it!

If it wasn't for him, we probably wouldn't eat!

Ava and Soph

Of course.... my husband is down there in the hole helping make it bigger!

This is a horrible picture but I had to add it so my kids don't wonder where I was!

Grandpa and Emmie

I am so glad to have her and Jason back, I missed them so much!

Grandpa, Jason and Mason

Dad and Em Bug... she loves the waves when they hit her feet

Emmie, Grandma and Ava

Ava LOVES to find Sand Crabs... NASTY!!

After a big beach day, we all went up to our parents house and watched the beautiful fireworks show that their neighborhood puts on. Can't beat the 4th of July watching fireworks on the beach with the PERFECT view! I am so grateful for all that we have been blessed with!

The girlies eating again!

Grandma and Grandpa on their balcony

Emmie and Ava 

Ash with her little buddy, "BEAR"

Playing games

Tay and Elle~ Elle looks cross eyed here!

I am proud to be an AMERICAN!

BEACH FUN!!!!

We have been having such a great time at the beach! Sorry for all the pictures, it's part of my scrapbook! Most of these pictures are from the beginning of our trip. My husband has been gone and we are anxious to have him and Emmie back this week. Our family certainly doesn't feel the same when we are apart...... Needless to say, we have been having fun shopping, eating out and playing at the beach! 

Ava, Jason and Sophie

Making sand ANGELS

I just LOVE this picture, it definitely explains him! This is my nephew Austin, he is such a smart aleck! It has been quite entertaining living with a bunch of teenagers!

Little Elle Belle

It is so amazing how fast time goes by. I found out I was pregnant exactly one year ago this week on this beach and now I am back with a 3 month old baby. This past year has FLOWN!

Ava

Ava LOVES her daddy!

Sophie, Grandma McCleve and Ava

Aunt Lacey and Elsie

Elsie and Dad

Beach Babes

More Beach Babes

Trying to learn Smash Ball

Diggin!

On the balcony at our beach house

What a sweetie!