Summer Business {Part 3}

Finally, the last instament in my Summber Business series. This has been one crazy, tiring, fun filled summer. I hope this isn't a regurgitation of my Instagram {I'm @bugandbelle over there}. Let's recap the weeks, shall we?

FIRST of all, right after my Houston family came into town, my little sister {aka Auntie Katherine} came out for a visit from El Paso, where she has her home with her soldier husband and their two pups. I couldn't get enough of her. We're only three years apart in age, we grew up together, and even though we've been apart for a good amount of adulthood, she is my heart and soul. 

After I let Caleb stay up late to help me pick her up from the airport, we had Costco pizza at the Gresch Compound.

We had to do the cool new thing and hit up the Anaheim Packing House with all of our friends who hadn't seen her in so long. And even my dad tagged along {did I mention he'd won $400 playing Bingo at Pechanga?}. I'll let you guess you payed for dinner ; )

One thing I'm not all too fonde of at the Packing House is that it closes near 9pm. Each vendor really has it's own business schedule, but in my opinion they'd be better off staying open til at least 11 on weekends. Anyone??

My first time at Umami Burger and all I ordered was this amazing drink {the Rico Suavé}. It was sweet, but cool; it was like drinking a spa-day. Oh and I had a few bites of Tara's Truffle Burger. Hot DARN it was amazing.

Auntie Katherine joined us for a morning at the Newport Pier. The surf was calm and easy, the tide was low and it made for a mother's dream when it came to watching my kids. 

We headed to our usual spot at DTD. Lilly Belle so beautifully modeling her adorable skirt by Melanie at The Twirl Shop.

We ditched Katherine one day and had Sunday dinner with the other side of the family. Caleb requested that he wear his wedding clothes {sure kid}. And the. They were both standing on this chair, reaching for tree branches. They were wobbling a bit, so I asked them to sit down. And then my heart exploded. I whipped out my phone, Caleb voluntarily put his arm around her, and I died a thousand deaths. Moments like these are so precious to me because they don't happen all the time. They're usually screaming...and I mean screaming.

Monday came and we headed to the Aquarium with Katherine, Tara, and my Dad. 

This kid tried to drink the water more than once; he'd seriously swim in there with the stingrays if it was allowed.

This next part was something we'd never seen before. It's a giant model/demo that illustrates how rainwater flows through Southern California and into the oceans. There are buttons to push to make it rain, and it's complete with a scale model of the topography of the region and the local freeways. Caleb was in heaven. He knows every freeway we drive, everywhere we go, and every street. It's a thing. A big thing.

And this thing spins around, so duh, he loved it.

And who knew they had a little stingray?! He was so thrilled.

And the glow-in-the-dark jellyfish. Always the jellyfish {because you can touch them}.

We ended at Island's for lunch, and sated goodbye to Auntie Katherine : (

We recently had a date and went back to the Packing House; this time for a Popbar. It was delicious. 

We also had dinner at Tony's Deli. It was SO SO GOOD; a new favorite {owned by Hero's in Downtown Fullerton}.

I usually hang out at home with the kids. Our one-car-situation forces me to get creative. This day we marched up to the dollar store and boughtpopsicles. 

We brought home Mighty Mouse Cream Sodas for the kids from Tony's Deli. Caleb was making his Mighty Mouse look like Santa with a Bugle. 

We enjoyed an afternoon at Prehistoric Pets with Auntie Tara and the snapping turtles {not to mention the anniconda, the monitor lizards, dragon lizards, and all different kinds of snakes}.

Friends who say yes to having you escape your house for an hour are amazing friends. SC, I'm so glad you're so awesome and only live up the street.

Likewise, neighbors who bring you Dutch Country pretzel dough are awesome neighbors to have. 

Explored a new splash pad.

Fifty cent cones at IKEA {way past her bedtime}.

We've been spending a lot of time at the park. Lots of picnics.

I hope my silly faces always make her smile.

Had a fun swim day at Aunty Christy & Uncle Steven's new apartment, and ended at George Washington Park. Lilly was quite taken with twin sisters who were having some quincenera photos taken. And now I wanted her to have one when she's fifteen. Ya?

Hurricane Marie to the southwest has caused crazy surf at our beaches. After our Chipotle date, we cruised down to the pier to see it. It was gnarly.

I love him.

And last night we played in it.

Salty, sweaty, sandy.

Counting down until Caleb's first day of First Grade...four more days! 

Hugs, friends!!