the very, very last moments of summer vacation.

SMILE!

We've been SUPER busy squeezing in a ton of fun before Jack starts KINDERGARTEN tomorrow morning!! (And Caroline is starting a full time preschool schedule too...but she'll be in the same class at her same school, so she's not QUITE as excited as our little man.) Anyway, that's a whole different story for tomorrow's post. For now, here's what we've been up to as we took advantage of our last long summer days of vacation!

For his birthday "party," Jack wanted to take his bud Spencer to
Chuck E Cheese. I was super grateful because they had a great time, and
it was much cheaper and easier to manage for me! But for some reason,
the only person I took pictures of was Caroline! Oops. 

I promise the boys had an absolute blast!

We hit up Baskin Robbins ... and someone really, REALLY enjoyed
their chocolate ice cream.

REALLY ENJOYED IT.

 A long time ago, Spencer's mom Chrissy gave me this kid's desk. I had grand plans for it at the time but of course, it's been sitting in the garage. Last week, Jack and I got it out, dusted it off, and brought it in the house. Then we went to Home Goods and got him a matching chair, lamp, and little organizer for it. Even if he won't have any "real" homework for awhile, it's really important (in my mind) for him to have a dedicated study space just for him. It's in the back of our living room, in the play area for now, but it's all his and Caroline isn't allowed to mess with it (his words.) He's really proud of it and I hope it helps him when he needs it!

Some crazy moments in the life of Caroline Crosby....

I don't know why I found this pose so funny...I just did. Her legs! Lol!

Even her binky wears sunglasses.

And even princesses do manual labor.

 We went to Molly Birbach's 5th birthday party last weekend - talk about a perfect California day. The weather was phenomenal and we really enjoyed playing at a neat new park with friends!

I really should buy stock in Tide Spray. This girl...smh.

In preparation for kindergarten, Aunt Sissy and Uncle Colin (and Doak) sent Jack a care package. He was so excited to get it and he's been working on the workbooks at his new desk all week! :)

Super cute!! Made me just a little emotional. :)

Caroline borrowed Charlotte's protective gear at the park, and wore it for an hour.

We hung out at the Dix house with Spencer & Daniel as well as the Duke kids: Corbin, Cason, and Kinsley. Here are the littles enjoying at a snack at the table! How cute are they?!?!?!

Mikila, Chrissy and I were all pregnant around the same time with these kids...
and now look at them!!!! 

I got back to the gym and got out on some runs with my buddies!! YAY!

Jack imitated Justin perfectly.

 On Friday we had kindergarten orientation and we found out who was in Jack's class and who his teacher is. I am THRILLED that he was put into the class that I secretly wanted (not that any of the teachers wouldn't have been great!) But it really puts my mind and heart at ease. Here are some pictures of our afternoon at the school...

Outside his classroom! #1, Mrs. Toohey. 

We had a fantastically awesome family weekend yesterday and today. First, we took a family hike at Rancho San Antonio County Park...it was hot, but the kids went a solid 2 miles without complaining! 

Without shirts though. Oh well, you can't win them all. 

The views were awesome.

Then, we went to the pool to cool off...where Caroline JUMPED OFF THE DIVING BOARD! It was so funny, she just decided in her head that she was going to do it and bam! There she went! We were all so proud of her.  And then she did it OVER and OVER and OVER!

After the pool, we all took quick naps and then Justin and I dropped the kids off at the "inside park" (drop off babysitting) for a date night at the movies. We saw Guardians of the Galaxy and it was really good! And of course the kids had a blast running and playing later than their bedtime. 

This morning, I got up early and headed down to Felton for the now-tradition of running the Race Thru the Redwoods 10K trail race. It's a small, local, awesome race that takes you up and down some amazingly hard hills in the Santa Cruz mountains. Here are a few of my awful blurry shots:

Those views tho.

I made it! Injury free, and faster than I thought. Yay me!!!

When I was done, Justin and the kids met me in Felton and we all got in one car and drove down to Santa Cruz. We had plans to hit up the Mystery Spot (but apparently you need reservations for that...another day!) So we did plan B, which was going to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk.

We had never been - and honestly, I don't know why. It was awesome. So much fun! It's like California's version of Coney Island - cheesy carnival games, roller coasters, rides, food, etc., all right on the beach.

She was SO EXCITED.

The weather. Amazing. 

They had a gondola - zip line type ride, and Caroline was ALL about it. She loved being
"up REALLY REALLY HIGH MOMMY!" and pointing out all the birds,
kites, planes, people, etc etc. 

Our view.

We rode a lot of rides too, but I don't have pictures of a lot of those. Jack and I rode some really fast cars, we rode the spinning teacups as a family, the boys played some carnie games (and Jack won a stuffed snake!), we had garlic fries & corn dogs & ice cream, Caroline rode some cars...

And at the VERY end...we ALL rode the log flume drop ride as a family! Justin got the whole thing on video --- the kids (Caroline included!) loved EVERY SECOND of it. The video is awesome and as soon as YouTube gets its act together and uploads it, I will post the link. It's one for the ages.

We are all tired little kiddos and going to bed soon for our big day tomorrow. Overall, I am feeling reflectively thankful for an amazing weekend, super fun kiddos, and an awesome husband who has as much fun as I do doing all these things as a family :)