The Scullen's Summer

Well....the Scullen's have been busy. It is quite obvious since I haven't posted since...well...early May. Yikes. The summer has come and gone and school is back. We have had an exciting summer to say the least. Get ready for picture overload...I am going to try and catch us up...and these are just the highlights! Ha!

Caroline and I kicked the summer off with the annual "Mother - Daughter" Trip in May. It was fantastic. Long gone are the days of no babies, sleeping in, 3 cups of coffee, lots of late nights with yummy wine...No...this trip has evolved. It is different, but just as refreshing. I now come home from this trip utterly exhausted, but with my heart smiling, and my spirit revived! I need my second moms and my best friends. One year passes way too slow.

This year we rented a home in Galveston, TX. It was gorgeous. Yup...could have moved in. Loved it all.

Daily walks by the "Grammies" and kiddos

B.L.I.S.S

Probably one of my favorite times each year. Our daily card games poolside. Only now they are precisely coordinated with the babies nap times!

Evelyn and Caroline

And sweet Weber....the only guy on this trip. Surrounded by lots of drama and lots of pink!

The Moms...

The daughters that could make it! Katie and Carrie were soooo missed!
And yes...that was our sunset view every night over the marsh.

Caroline and I went straight down to Corpus Christi to visit "Pops", my dad, after. We had a great time. She loves her "Ops" as she calls him! Dad and Kathy make such a great pair!

And then....yes....we have a 13 year old. Wowzer! Emma Grace invited some of her "besties" along with The Kings, Brett's parents Bob and Gina, and Aunt Linda. We all went to a local Japanese restaurant where they cook the food in front of you. So much fun. A late night movie followed...

Can you believe they are all Thirteen?!?

EG caught what the chef flipped up to her. Awesome!!

Getting cheered on by Grandma Gina

Apparently we can't take anything too seriously...

This summer we also had lots of al fresco dining....at Moe's no less...

This is Caroline at the end of a 14 hour - delayed- flights canceled- longest day ever--Just me and her!

EG completed the Whole 30!!! Willpower baby!

Kate and Christopher went up to Nashville to both attend Kids On Stage and stay with their grandparents. Kate went last year and this year Christopher decided he wanted to try it out too. He did mostly the art classes and Kate did a fun combo of art and "music"

Here is a video of Kate and her hermonica class performing. Wait for the second verse...we had no idea she was doing a singing solo and she nailed it!!! We think she has such a great gift!

This cutie also had a birthday in June...12!!! We celebrated with him up in Nashville at the end of the Kids On Stage camp. He got to go to his favorite steak house! Oh Happy Boy!

We actually managed a few date nights this summer too! VERY rare...but even so much more appreciated!

This summer we had our first ponytail!

Spent time at the lake

Learned how to drive a boat

Caroline, Brett, and yes...Jake spent a lot of time in the kayak. He loves it.

We bought a house and sold our house all in about 3 weeks time. Here was our LAST SUPPER at the house. Fantastic memories there that will not fade but even more to come in our new house.

And Oh Yeah...in that 3 weeks time we also took a unforgettable trip to California with all 4 kids...like I said...not much happened this summer.

We surprised the kids with a limo pick up from the San Francisco Airport. Dad and I had to sip some Champs of course!

Here we are just after we arrived. We rented this condo in a great location. Near Coit Tower....it was a 3 bedroom so it gave us some room to spread out. And...it was close to all the action.

San Franciso was amazing...the weather...the crazy people watching...and oh yes...the food!

One of my goals while in SF was to run as a family across the Golden Gate Bridge. Check.

Rode a ferry back from picturesque Sausalito...

Straight to a SF Giants game on a perfect SF day....it doesn't get much better.

Went on a great SF tour...pictures by The Palace of Fine Arts

Don't ask. While on the tour. Will be used for blackmail later. :)

Took the Alcatraz tour. The Audio tour was a must. We felt like we were there when it was in action. Kinda spooky but oh so cool.

It was a little windy...

Hiked the steps to Coit Tower...

Coffee...lots of good San Fran coffee...

While we were in SF, Caroline and Grammy Vay went to her best friend's house in Saratoga (abt 45 minutes away). They had good quality time together and Caroline was completely spoiled. We love The Roth's!

They have an amazing Cali house with a magazine worthy backyard. We met up with them for a great BBQ

After leaving SF we drove to Santa Barbara and stayed with my Aunt Sue. Santa Barbara is probably my favorite place to be. It is the perfect combination of ocean, mountains, and the air just feels better there. UGH! I did not want to leave. Brett, EG and I all ran in a local 5K....I want to be a true local if you know what I mean. I think I have planted a good seed in Brett...

After the race we met up with everybody and ate Italian at this perfect restaurant complete with bocce ball courts tableside! Cousin Amber came and played too! The kids loved hanging out with her!

Hot tubbed at Uncle Jesse's..with a great view of the Pacific..

My sweet Aunt hired a driver for us and arranged a day in the wine country. Mom and Sue took all 4 kiddos while we had a day together. It was fantastic! I love my husband!

Here were the rest of the clan while we were relaxing..at the zoo of course!

Took runs by the ocean in Santa Barbara...that just makes my soul feel good

Kate and EG discovered H&M and Forever 21 this summer....pure fashion love for teenagers!

So long Santa Barbara....my love! Hello Disneyland!!! We arrived and my mom immediately whisked away the older 3 to California Adventure. They stayed until midnight of course. They are the party animals.

They love crazy Grammy Vay. She is up for anything!!!! We all had the sweetest dreams staying right there at the Disneyland Hotel. It was sooooo cool!!

And don't you bet we were at Disneyland the moment it opened at 8 am the next day. Making every second count!

Soooo much fun....and the best 2 hour nap in a stroller ever!! We just kept going - she has no idea what she missed!

Toasting to a great day with cousins, and Aunt Sue. At the Disneyland Hotel, Mom got us into the concierge level which basically means a huge lounge on a top floor with a great view. And unlimited drinks (of any kind) and the yummiest snacks all day long!!! We made sure to get our money's worth

And with that, we bid a sad farewell to Californina!! Ugh...it was hard getting on the plane. We all had such an amazing family vacation that no one will forget.

Moved into the new house the day after we arrived home from Cali. I don't know what we were thinking at the time....whew! Enjoyed our pool a ton!! This was our "welcome to the neighboorhood roll"! Ha! It was all done in love of course! One of the reasons we loved this house and snatched it up was the neighboorhood. Seriously great families here!