Poor Triton and Alexis

Last week, Maddy, Kaitelyn and I took the dogs for a small walk around the apartment complex and a quick stop at the dog park along the way. We came back and the dogs were completely exhausted. Poor puppies, they're not used to the heat and humidity.

I couldn't resist...(hee, hee, hee). Poor Luke, this is what happens when he works day shift.

WOO WHOOO... DATE NIGHT, BABY!

Last Friday, Luke and I were able to get out on our own for a quiet dinner to ourselves. Matt and Maddy were kind enough to take Kaitelyn for us. However, we dropped Kaitelyn off at their place at 7pm with a big bag of toys and books (thinking they would have a long night of playing ahead of them), we were wrong. Kaitelyn crashed at their place a half an hour later. Maddy was crushed that she couldn't have more time with Kaitelyn to play. I guess we will have to do it again.

Luke and I didn't do anything fancy schmancy, just dinner at Coronado Brewing Company and and evening stroll along Mission Beach. It was nice to get out just the two of us for once. I think this was the third date night we've had since Kaitelyn was born.

Prayers for Montana Crosby

For the past year, I have been following this caringbridge journal forwarded to me by one of the girls that I work with, she is friends with this family. I am just so saddened by the recent news of this little girl Montana who is just a year older than Kaitelyn. She has been battling an extremely rare form of childhood cancer (stage 4) called, "hepatoblastoma". This is an extremely rare form of childhood liver cancer and it quickly spread into her lungs and it just doesn't seem anything is wanting to work.

Please read her story if you have a chance and please pray for her. I haven't had a chance to meet the Crosby family, but I've gotten to know them over the past year through the caringbridge journal and newspaper articles written about them in Washington. Since becoming familiar with this situation a little over a year ago, it really has put things in my life into perspective. I enjoy every moment I have with Kaitelyn and cherish the memories we have. Life is too short!

www.caringbridge.org/visit/montanacrosby

Thank you for your support.

UH OHH...

You know those disclosures on bags that tell you they are not a toy and to keep away from small children. Well, who really takes them that seriously?!? Our little silly milly put a bag over her head for the first time on Sunday. She's such a goober, I had to take pictures to share with everyone. We had fun and I made sure she didn't keep the bag over her head for very long.

ENJOY!

always has a balloon in hand

Kaitelyn loves to sit on Mr. Beagle

First lesson in driving...

Last Saturday afternoon, we took the boat out with some friends.
We did the usual, wake-boarding, tubing and basking in the sun
at San Vicente Lake. Kaitelyn got her first lesson in driving the boat.
She's a natural, I wish I had the same enthusiasm as her.

Our friend Kevin adores Kaitelyn, however she never gives
him the time of day. This is a rare moment for the two.

She loves that thumb.

Luke towing the boat out of the water.

While we were lounging on a little beach, Kaitelyn started jumping for the first time. It's a new thing for her so now she's jumping all the time. It's really cute even thought she doesn't get much air in her jumps.

Kaitelyn is talking (babbling) a lot more these days. It's so cute to listen to her little voice and watch her read her books aloud. It's so fun!

Retro Stache...

Yep, I'm pullin up my drawls

So what are you going to do about it??

All the guys Luke work with had a mustache growing contest for two weeks. This was the outcome of Luke's two week growth. Last Friday was the last day of the contest so they all went out that night to a local bar for a public display of their staches.

I told Luke that I thought he looked like a 70's stalker. No one else concurred.

Last week, Kaitelyn and I had lots of time to spare in the evenings. So, while Luke was at work making the BIG bucks ($$), Kaitelyn and I tried out some new parks (to us). We had lots of fun, however at this park there was a strange man lurking around us while we were there. I was so nervous that I packed our things up and hit the road for my favorite park in Mission Bay. This guy, which unfortunately, I did not get a picture of kept following us and watching us. It was very scary and my worst fears were getting the most of me even though there were other parents with their kids around.

An evening playing with teddy bears

An afternoon spent at the Sprayground...









On Thursday, Luke and I took Kaitelyn to the Sprayground in Santee and spent a couple of hours having fun in the sun. Santee is a cute little town just East of San Diego.

A gal who lives in our apartment building told us about the sprayground so we decided to finally go check it out. Kaitelyn loved every minute being there. She was so funny at first because she would get close enough to feel the mist from the sprayers and then make a run for the fence squealing in laughter. It was only after mommy stood in the sprayers that she was brave enough to walk into them. Once she was wet, there was no stopping her from the fun.

Celebrity Sighting in San Diego...


Left to Right: Capt. Larry, Brandy, and Capt. Phil

On Saturday, we went to a Boat and Yacht Show with our friends Matt and Maddy. Two of the guys from the Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch" were there to visit and provide autographs. I'm a big fan of the show so you betcha I was there to get my picture with a couple of celebrities.


Kaitelyn loves water fountains

Burn Update...


Night of July 31st


Morning of August 1st

It amazes me of how resilient children are. Kaitelyn's burn is almost completely healed. She's got new pink skin and a couple of small scabs left. I think her burn bothered me a lot more than it ever bothered her. She is such a tough little girl.

A parents worst fear...

Last Sunday, we returned from running some errands. I got Kaitelyn out of her car seat and put her down next to the truck like we have done many, many, many times. This time was different. Kaitelyn was walking along the truck and fell against the HOT muffler of the truck. Her teeny tiny little right arm got burned. We didn't even realize what had happened. She cried a little, but not much.

Within an hour, her little arm blistered up. Then within a few hours, the blister was so full that it burst. It just makes me sick to my stomach when I think about it. We've just been keeping it bandaged up and clean to avoid infection. Amazingly enough, it doesn't seem to bother her at all. She's only bothered by it when I put a new bandage on.

A day in the sun

Last Saturday, Luke and many others got up early to enjoy the glassy water out at San Vicente Lake. Well... that was the intention, but they didn't make it until after 7am. By then, the waters were already stirred up by other wake boarders and the wind. We spent much of the day in the sun visiting with friends and making new friends. Later that evening we met up at another couples place for some good wine, food and conversation.

We also celebrated Luke's completion of his 8 year contract with the Army. July 25th was his E.T.S. date with the Army. We no longer have to worry about another tour overseas. One of our friends, Kevin purchased Luke a bottle of whiskey in celebration of his duty.


Check out them decorating skills

Grandma's Visit...


Grandma Rose came to visit from Kansas. She was in town for a week and enjoyed her stay with us. Kaitelyn was spoiled with all the attention and new toys grandma bought her. During grandma's stay with us, we did many things. We visited the Fashion Valley Mall, the Maritime Museum, Cabrillo National Park in Point Loma (to see the highest lighthouse), Wild Animal Park, Seaworld, toured San Diego in an Old Town Trolley, and most importantly spent a day making authentic mexican style enchilladas from scratch.

During grandma's visit Kaitelyn rode a big carousel for the first time. We stopped by Seaport Village after our tours through the Maritime Museum. This is where we rode the first big carousel. She was a little nervous especially since I found one of the biggest horses that moved up and down to put her on. But she stayed on and didn't cry. After that, she was a pro when we rode two more different carousels.

One evening, we went to SeaWorld to check out the new "Shamu Rocks" night show. My mom really enjoyed the show. Kaitelyn however, fell asleep while we were sitting waiting for the show to begin. I guess since she saw it once, she figured she didn't need to see it again.

We really enjoyed our tour of San Diego on the Old Town Trolleys. We made two stops, one on Coronado Island and the other in Balboa Park. You buy a ticket to ride the trolleys and you can pick from 8 different destinations to visit. You can make as many stops as you would like.

Kaitelyn posing with g-ma in a new outfit

Our visit to the Wild Animal Park


Part of the Maritime Museum Fleet




Seaport Village - first carousel ride

Cabrillo National Park

Coronado Island - these sand dunes spell out Coronodo

Shamu Rocks Show

"There's no place like home" - one more pose before grandma is back off to Kansas