Summer Adventures

Is it really already the middle of July?! Where in the world did this year go? Between Noa, birthdays and our recent nomad existence the weeks have flown by. So here is what you have missed:

Jake turned 28! Just two years to the big 3-0! This birthday was a laid back one since Jake was working on his actual birthday...and every other day for that matter. Unfortunately for him it was his turn to "crank" which  is Navy lingo for kitchen wench. This meant working 12 out of every 14 days with working hours averaging around 12 hours. Needless to say he was overjoyed when he FINALLY finished right before the 4th.

Noa is growing in leaps and bounds, which is seriously distressing her mother. Already it is hard to remember her ever being a tiny newborn. She is exceptionally strong and is hitting all of her physical checkpoints a little on the early side. She is almost able to sit up, she can roll from back to front and is already trying to use her toes to propel her forward. Its only a matter of time before she figures it out!

Rorie also celebrated a birthday, turning four this last May. She had a fabulous party with all of her friends and she told me after that it was the "BEST DAY EVER!" This made all of the hard work and preparation totally worth it. Rorie continues to have a one of a kind personality. She is super silly and exceptionally independent. In fact, as I write this she is 600 miles away at Aunt Brenda's house! She seems to be completely oblivious to the fact that she has been without her parents for over week. She is far too busy having fun to feel home sick.

Rorie and her friend Ily posing in the Bday Photo booth :)

I am exhausted from the almost solid month of travel the girls and I undertook from mid June until mid July. First was a trip to Michigan to see all of my family. My little sis and her husband were home for a wedding and my youngest sis was graduating from High School. It was a fun packed two weeks with cousins and Aunts/Uncles and favorite UP (mostly food related) activities. The one down side was the unseasonably warm weather. Ninety and humid. no thanks. I will take San Diego perfection over that any day! One of the high points of the trip was seeing my Brother's new house. My sister in law Angela did an amazing job making it a home.
After arriving home we had a couple days of respite which included 4th of July celebrations. Jakes cousin Emily and some of our neighborhood friends joined us to help make the day special. We had a ton of yummy food, plus we got to help our friends enjoy their last day as a family of three! 
Next was our trip to Utah for a friends wedding and to see Jake's family. My childhood friend Jessica was sealed in the Draper Temple to her wonderful fiance Eric. It was such a huge blessing for me to attend. It was also a chance to catch up with all of my old friends. It was the first time the Four Musketeers were together in YEARS! We capitalized on our limited time together by staying up until 4am, which we paid for when our kids awoke as bright and early as ever. Our trip luckily overlapped with two of Jake's sisters visits. We got to meet two of our newest cousins and visit with the Smith family who came all the way from Florida. Before our return home Jake's sister Brenda convinced me that Rorie really needed an extended vacation with her cousins, so the return trip was made with only one kid!

The Four Musketeers!

Mrs. Eric Barlow!

Noa and Sarah Jane :)

Aunt Andrea with the babes.

Home made slip and slide at Grandmas :)

2012 Kenison babies, minus little Nathan and Baby Boy Smith.

L to R: Beth and Sarah Jane, Me and Noa, Katie and Luke

Our fun summer will be capped off with Rorie's return and a three week visit from her cousin Dallin. We can't wait to show him all that San Diego has to offer!


Love,
The Kenisons