My new board!

So I wasn't planning on buying a new surfboard AT ALL this year. Yeah, I had hoped, but it was more wishful thinking. And then, this nice girl named Kirsten down in West Hollywood decided to deliver me Christmas early at a PHENOMENAL price. Gotta love Craigslist.

For those interested, it's a 9' 6" pintail, knifey rails and a nice little rocker in the nose allowing for late take-offs. The board turns super smooth and is pretty fast. The color is a lot prettier than the picture - it's a really light green, almost a mint cream color. And Dad, yes you can try it out but you'll buy me a new one if you ding it.

BTW...this picture was taken with my camera phone. Until Tara picks a new camera, that's all we'll be posting for the next little bit.

So, you may have noticed...no pictures in awhile. That's because Brad broke my camera...again. I'm kind of having withdrawals without it. I'm afraid if I don't actually document what we're doing we must not be doing anything. Well, that's not really true.

We did make it to Silverstrand and I'm not a huge fan. Part of it may be that I didn't like the whole trek with the kids by myself. Parking was limited, the walk was pretty far, and the beach break scared me with the kids. Needless to say, we didn't stay long.

At the beginning of August, I went to Indiana with just my girls. I had so much fun with my sisters and my nieces. I can't believe Taylor's going to college! Despite the humidity, I loved being there and talking to my sisters, hanging out with my grown up nieces, and eating from Sara's lovely garden! I'm sure a few more weeks and Melina would've let me put her down:P I'm pretty sure my boys enjoyed a break from mommy, a dodgers game, and just hanging out with their laid back daddy. Thanks mom for taking a picture!

We also went to Zuma a couple weeks ago. It's always great to see Uncle Chris and Aunt Lu, and Kristen and Josh were there, and Justin, and Gabby, and their new baby Liam, and Chels and Dave were in town, and Callie amazingly brought her clan all on her own and my brother and his wife even showed up. I'm finding here in California someone is always in town. It's great because it gives us an excuse to get together.

Honestly, although I love discovering new things here, I can't wait until school starts. I'm counting down the days until I can go grocery shopping during the day without 4 kids. It is exhausting to go to a store and have to say no and stop touching things and please stay next to me that many times. School starts late here date-wise (to me)-not until Sept 1. Also, time-wise, early 8:15 am! No more 9am school. I hope I can get ready early enough:) I'm excited and nervous for Ian to be in school for 5 hours. That's a big difference from 2 1/2 hrs two days a week. The first few weeks may be rough.

Hopefully, I will have pictures again someday... or else Melina will be one of those last children who say their parents never took pictures by the time they got to her...