SLO Vacation

It's been a couple years since we went to the Central Coast. We were able to get away from the heat for a few days before being welcomed home to nearly 100 degree weather! 

First pit stop: Firestone

Lucas's super loose tooth fell out during dinner

Grandma with the kids

Second pit stop: Doc Burnstein's

Firestone's and Doc Burnstein's are two of our go-to places every time we're down here. We tend to come when school is still in session so downtown SLO is pretty slow and quiet.

Pismo Beach

On day two, we went to the beach and Pismo pier. At around 10 in the morning, the beach was pretty empty, hence the clean background. 

Lunch @ Wooly's (with the nice ocean view)

Sometimes it sucks being the third child

Windy family pic on the pier

 Resting (and taking a break from Evangie) at the hotel lobby

On day three, we took a one hour drive south to Solvang. There really wasn't much to do in this small, tourist-trap Danish town. There were these butter cookies we bought. I wish I tried one there because they WERE THE BEST BUTTER COOKIES IN THE WORLD! When we left Solvang, I said I wasn't going to come back. Boy was I wrong! Those cookies are worth it! 

Took a tour around the downtown area

 Three Shinns in a (Danish) shoe

Ate at a restaurant in Pismo on the way home

On the final day of our trip, we went to Avila Farms where we got to ride a tractor to the field, eat corn, feed animals, and I think that's it. 

 Waiting for the tractor to move

Avila Farms

 Big kids feeding the animals

... and that was our summer SLO trip!

From April to May

Things have been insane in the membrane lately. Not lately, since April. There was the signing of my contract again to teach, some major house stuff about to go down, kids ending school soon, husband's birthday, and whatever else that went down. Nobody told me that being a mom to three kids, two elementary aged, was going to be go-go-go all the time.

 Little Miss Trouble

 Mother's Day picture with three little rascals

Celebrating Dan's birthday 

 Celebrating Dad's birthday @ Benihana's (5 years and going...)

Their "dad smile"

 Last day of school

Big Lucas and Little Lucas

 Found this little gem off CL for my littlest rascal

 Speaking of rascal...

 Messing with her Big Sis's stuff

 Light sabers galore

 Girls' Day

 Evangie's first time at HH

First place we went once school's out

... and that was April and May in a nutshell!

Spring Break And Then Some

Life must be crazy lately cause it's already been a month since the last update. I guess that's what happens when you have three kids and just one you. Shrug.

Start of SB ends with their school's Walk Run Challenge

Go Lucas Go

Go Charlotte Go

Spring is here @ Rita's

 I'm cooking all the time, so they like to copy me

These three eat a lot of food

 Strolled to our neighborhood park

 Hanging at the mall (these two are too big for this stuff!) 

Little one's not too big though

 Putting them to work

 My little sous chefs

 Looking back at our 2017

Easter was a bit different for us this year. Instead of dressing in our Sunday's best, we spent that morning volunteering for our church's Easter egg hunt. It was crazy... so this year, no nice family Easter picture. I also didn't have the time/energy to visit the Easter bunny at Bass Pro Shops either. 

 The best pic I have of the trio on Easter Sunday

With cousins

Baby cousin

Lucas picked up a new hobby over break

My baby suddenly looks huge (13 mo vs 3 mo)

 Posing @ 'Co

Having fun while Daddy looks for real glasses

 Creepin'

And that's it! The kids only have five weeks of school left till summer break! FIVE! That means I have five weeks of "maternity" leave left till summer... and then it's back to the work grind. It was a fun year. I enjoyed "sleeping in", wearing sweats/leggings all the time, and hanging out with my crazy baby (most of the time).

Spring is (Almost) Here

The kids got a chance to enjoy the sunny weather before the rain a couple weeks back. 

"Glamping"

Big and Little

I once thought Charlotte was a replica of Lucas. Nope, I was wrong. Evangie is the exact replica of her older brother. Char is a close second though.

Lots of sunny memories will be made in this tent

This past week was also Spirit Week. I firmly believe that Spirit Week is secretly a "Kill Your Parents" week. It's tiring dressing them up. I'm glad everything is back to normal this week.

Pajama Day

Disney/Hero Day

 International Day

Crazy Hair Day

Green Day

While the kids are at school, I get alone time with Evangie. Today is the start of the fourth quarter at school. I'm definitely going to milk this last quarter before I have to think about school stuff again. 

She's not that innocent

Another future shopping sister

Always getting into trouble

Always snacking

Evangie is a great cruiser nowadays. She is able to stand on her own, but when she realizes she's standing without any support, she just plops herself back down again. On weekends when the older kids are around, she does not exist in pictures (yet) because she's always being carried. One day, Evangie, one day...

Bookstore on Saturday

Char (and I) want this!

Taco Thursdays

Shopping @ TJ's... three kids, three carts

Riding ponies at church

 Besties?

I had to snap this picture from last night! I have never witnessed a more intense love/hate sibling relationship before. They are the best of friends, they are the worst of friends...

 And it's Spring tomorrow!