For the past few years, a bunch of our friends have been going down to Carmel Valley Ranch for 4th of July. This year we decided to join the fun and we had an absolute blast. There were 9 families in all and 18 kids – all under the age of 8! Having the 4th on a Tuesday made for an awesome long weekend. The kids did a “camp”-type thing each morning until after lunch and then we all had fun together at the pool, playing tennis and running around. On the 4th itself they had a bunch of fun games like the three-legged race, water balloon toss and pie eating contest. We took a ton of pictures, but here are some of the highlights…
CANNONBALL!
Maile doesn't actually like eating s'mores, but she enjoyed making them.
Lauren doing her best attempt to join in on the chubby bunny fun!
Hannah and Maile - they've known each other forever and whenever they get together fall right back into the fun 🙂
Maile and Lauren doing the tube thing...
(Almost) all of the kids - a couple little ones were already asleep...
Younger sister posse - Willa, Kate and Lauren
Pool side snow cones with the crew
Hot tub!
Mommy crushed after dinner Jeopardy with the kids...
Lauren took her first tennis class with her friends...
We are ready for the water balloon toss!
Three-legged race - Lauren and Dexter
A big sister is the absolute best partner in a three-legged race
We got A LOT of swim time in 🙂
Maile Girl taking flight!
Lauren is a little lighter than Maile Girl - Daddy didn't adjust well enough on the first toss 🙁
Love my girls
Mommy and Lauren getting some quality pool time in
And we're done. (Ride home 🙂
Maile had her birthday party on Sunday over at Nagata Dance where she takes dance class. Ms. Nagata put on a great party for Maile and her friends – and she was absolutely masterful keeping the kids entertained and paying attention.
Maile had a blast playing all the different games and dancing around with her friends. She was awesome with Lauren too – making sure she felt included – just a model big sister.
Good times had by all and a great way to celebrate turning 6!
Maile Girl all ready to party - the blue hair streaks are courtesy of her birthday present from Grandma and Papa Boston...
Dance class in action - Maile and her friends had great fun playing all types of dance and movement games with Ms. Nagata
Digging into some snacks on a beautiful day outside after working up an appetite with the dancing...
When you say 'smile' Lauren really give it her all these days!
The full group
Nothing like ending a birthday party with a big group hug for the birthday girl!
Per Maile’s request, we had her birthday party at Pump It Up – the mecca of bouncy houses. The party was a great success with the kids (and some of the parents) all running themselves ragged followed by pizza and birthday cake. Some highlights below…
Hannah was the first to arrive!
Listening intently to the rules of the road
Reaching for the top ribbon...
Lauren dragged Mommy, Daddy and Aunty Jen all over the bouncy houses...
After all the bouncing Lauren was happy to be on the ground...
Judging by the sweat, I think it's fair to say Maile had a good time!
What in the world?
I make this magic ball float! Me!
Taking a break and soaking in the fun
Maile Girl in her chair of honor!
And here’s Maile Girl blowing out her birthday candles…
Birthday #5 was definitely a big success. Very thankful for all the friends that came to help us celebrate!
(Click here for the video.)
Lauren, Maile, Kate, Hannah, Willa and Sophie
We headed down to Hannah’s house for a play date with the girls both older siblings (Maile, Hannah and Sophie) and younger (Lauren, Kate and Willa). We made a good effort a group shot – but not quite there yet 😉
I know we just posted some pictures of Maile and her sister from another mother, Hannah, last week – but the girls got together again last weekend and this video was just too cute not to share.
Maile and Hannah at 4.5
(Click here for the video.)
by Papa K on February 27, 2014
We don’t see Hannah quite as often these days, but when we do Maile and Hannah fall into the sisters from another mother that they are…
Then (June 2011)
... and now (February 2014 - Maile and Hannah at 4.5)
We headed down to Hannah’s house for the Super Bowl and while the outcome wasn’t what we had hoped for, we still had a blast watching the game.
Before the game, Maile set to work creating a Go 49ers sign!
Who cares about dinner - that Beyonce!
It's always fun to see Maile and Hannah together - even though they don't see each other as frequently, they still have a special bond...
... which made it increasingly cool that Lauren's very first friend is Hannah's little sister, Kate!
This picture made me look back and the first time Maile and Hannah met…
3 years ago, Maile was the big girl on the play mat with little Hannah (with Wills too!)
by Papa K on September 9, 2012
We went down to visit Hannah this weekend to have some fun and meet her new sister, Kate! I caught this funny video of Maile and Hannah practicing some yoga together…
(Click here for the video.)
Maile and Hannah don’t see each other nearly as much as they used to, but when they do get together it’s like they haven’t missed a beat! They act just like sisters – which means they play together nicely most of the time, but they can also drive each other crazy. Before the tears though, we caught a couple pictures of them just being two little girls at Hannah’s 3rd birthday party last weekend…
Hannah, you are HILARIOUS!
What is better than sharing a seat with your best friend and eating a lollipop?
Pay attention to me!
All the adults headed in the house and Maile and Hannah just sat together and talked and ready each other stories...
Guess what? On Saturday, Mommy and Daddy took me to see Thomas the Train! Yep, the blue one. A bunch of my friends from school came too and Vincent and Hannah! We all went on a train car and Thomas took us on a ride – he’s a pretty busy train, so it was cool that he made time for us.
(Dad note: We were having so much fun we didn’t take a ton of pictures – if you can believe it, not a single shot of Maile with Thomas himself! Trust me though, this isn’t a visit she will soon forget – she had a blast!)
Once a summer the Roaring Camp sets up Thomas the Train - and the kids come from all over!
I really thought Thomas would be bigger. Yeah, me too.
Hannah and Maile had a blast watching the forest go by from the side of the train car...
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Daddy (and Mommy) for taking me to see Thomas!
