Freakishly Tall, Yet Extremely Healthy!

Gabriel and Cali had their annual well child check up today.

Beautiful kids . . . I know.

I made them myself!

Okay, Todd did help a little,

but I did most of the work myself.

Gabriel is 12 years 3 months and comes in at a whopping 5' 7" tall

and weighs 103 pounds!

Cali is 9 years 1 month, is more petite at 4' 10" tall and weighs 75 pounds.

Best of all . . . both are in optimum health.

My world is perfect.

Going Commando in California

Baby James took a road trip this weekend . . .

to visit his California Mama and canine siblings.

Here James is showing Miss Beverly and Duke how to make rumbling noises simply by blowing on his arm.
Duke was amused.

C'mon in Duke! The water's fine . . .
Is Capri Sun carbonated?
I don't think Mama Monk's home will ever be the same.

But you know what?

I don't think she'll mind one bit.

Here's to those sweet California Dreams!

First Day of the Kids Summer Vacation . . .

Since we homeschool, our summer, spring, fall and winter vacations are different than what the public schools dictate.

Our breaks fall when the family dictates.

On August 8, our family dictated that we needed a break from school.

Therefore we break.

Broke?

Oh how I love homeschooling!

But I digress . . .

For the first day of summer break we went to Maymont.

Maymont is a 100 acre estate in Richmond that has the most amazing gardens and walking path.
It's also home to our favorite Magnolia tree.
Gabriel is resting on some of the lower branches.
While daring Cali decides to climb higher . . .
and decides to give her mother a heart attack by doing the one-hand-one-foot pose.
I'm not looking! so you can just stop that now.

A bit further down the path is the Japanese gardens . . .

and the most refreshing waterfall.

Alas, this was the last picture I was able to take

before the battery in my camera died.

In the end, if you know Cali even a bit,

you know she ended up in that waterfall.

She simply couldn't help herself.

It was a beautiful sight . . .

the perfect kodak moment . . .

wish you could've seen it.

Happy Summer Everyone!

Monk and Doug in Alabama

As many of you know, Doug lost his father to congestive heart failure on July 21, 2011.

Monica, Doug, and two of their pups drove across the country, from California to Alabama to say their final goodbyes and celebrate the life of a wonderful husband and father.
Monica, Doug and Mama Alabama

Our Monica and Doug.

Miss Beverly catching some rays and swimming with her favorite man.

The Stalford Men . . .

and the women that love them!

What a truly wonderful and beautiful legacy to leave behind.

We are so thankful to have Doug as part of our family.

Warning . . .

This is what happens when you don't listen to your wife:

5 stitches in the noggin!
Lesson learned . . .

NOT!

Hope you feel better soon Monique!
(Because it's always more traumatic for the wife.)

Blueberry Pickin!

It's 100+ degrees outside.

Hotter than you know what.

My kids and I thought it would be fun to bury ourselves in acres and acres

of BLUEBERRIES!

I love those plump, juicy, sweet berries.

Those faux blue round things you find in the store . . .

don't even come close.

Gabriel is demonstrating what we don't do with the blueberry bucket.
Or he may be doing the Robot dance.

You never know with this kid.

Cali tends to eat more than she puts in her bucket . . .
but with that sweet face, who's gonna argue?

Taking a break?

There's no breaks in blueberry pickin!

Get back to work!

Those blueberries aren't going to pick themselves!

Poor kids are crazy with heatstroke.

No kids were harmed during this trip.

We ended up with 10 pounds if luscious, lip-smacking blueberries.
Me thinks we'll need another trip before too long.