Our Summer in SLO, Part 17 {The Last Chapter}

It feels a bit anticlimactic ending these posts with this one...no great tale to go along with the pictures and no fabulous pictures of everyone we saw all together...but at the same time, it is/was sort of nice that the end of our trip didn't feel a whole lot like the end.  I hate goodbyes and so it was nice just to say to everyone, Hey, you know, we'll be back sometime soon, and I know that we will.

A special thanks to everyone there who took such great care of us and entertained us and hosted us...you guys are truly the best.

So, here we go...the Sunday before we left, we planned on getting pizza with the Pedersens and the Rileys for one last date.  We knew we needed to stop in and see our friends Ken and Katie before we left and so we did that before dinner.  If I haven't said it before, let me just say how wonderful Katie is. She lets our girls come in to her store and play dress up the whole time we are there.  And, she smiles the whole way through it.  Our girls just love her to pieces...obviously.

Clearly, Olivia loves someone else to pieces.  Their relationship reminds me of the Generationals song with the lyrics When they fight, they fight.  And when they come home at night they say, "I love you, baby." 

➹ Hello Prom picture! ➹

Liv had one last sleepover with Kendall that night and I'll admit it was a little sad to say goodbye see ya later to them.  They have such a sweet little relationship.

Even though David had a work trip to DC planned almost immediately after we came home, we wanted to make sure that we got at least one good day in with Maren and her girls --  Even though it felt like they were always with us since we were living in their house while they were gone.  The girls had fun together and we got a couple cute pictures of them singing Ariel songs for us.

➹ What a motley crew! ➹

Even though I say this is the last post...I have a feeling there will be one more mini recap.  I gave Liv our small camera and let her take pictures the night she stayed with Kendall.  If I can find that camera, I'll post a couple of the pictures in one more post.  But, until then.....good night! {And, many thanks for sticking with me through all of these!}

Our Summer in SLO, Part 16 {Farms and Farmers Market}

I'm sure I would be beating a dead horse if I mentioned just how much David loves taking the girls to the Avila Farmers Market on Friday nights.  I'd also probably be repeating myself if I mentioned that it isn't necessarily my favorite thing.  Two tiny tots walking on a rickety ol' pier?  Mmmm, no.  My paranoid mind does not enjoy all the scenarios that run through my head.  Buuuutttt, being the good wife that I am {read: control freak}, I go.

We had one last opportunity to go to Rutiz Farms and the Avila Farmers Market and we aren't nuttin' if we aren't good at squeezing in just about everything we can {and also waiting to the last minute....}.  So, we did both on our last Friday night.  And, here are the kazillion pictures from our evening!  BOOM.

Ummmm...make that a kazillion and one pictures.

Our Summer in SLO, Part 15 {Boo Boo's and Besties}

Youuuuu Guuyyyssssss!  I'm still working on posting about our summer in SLO.  And, seriously now, it was only a month!  It's getting old, no?  I'm almost done, I promise, and so I am going to work like the dickens to finish up the last couple {few?} posts tonight.  {Or tomorrow, 'cuz you know how things go.}

Anywhoooo... The girls and I had made plans with the Riley crew to hit up Boo Boo Records to see our old buddy, old pal, Ivan Ulz perform during Music Time.  Sadly, as soon as we walked in, I realized something was up.  There was no Ivan and Heidi's cd player was front & center onstage.  Either Heidi announced it wrong the last time we were there or we heard the date wrong.  Either way, we were still happy to be there rockin' out to Heidi's Hits.

➹ We planned our outfits accordingly... ➹

➹ Playing in the grass across the street from Boo Boo Records. ➹

We couldn't make the trek up to SLO just for a short music class {even though the boys are totally worth it}, so we pit-stopped it at the candy store and then made our way to the park for a bit.

➹ That's taffy in Sydney's mouth...best mom ever right here letting her have as many as she wanted while we were in the store to prevent any possible tantrums. ➹

It was fitting that we saw Sully {and Mike Wazowski} at the candy shop because that evening we took our girls along with Sarah & her girls to see Monsters University at the old school theatre in Arroyo Grande.  Fortunately, there were only a few other families in the theatre because about 30 minutes before the movie was over Sydney started getting really antsy and David sort of let her roam around the inside of the theatre.  {Emphasis on David.}  The girls had fun and really enjoyed the movie.  I think I liked it better than Monsters Inc, and I'm so glad Liv liked it because sometimes she's afraid to ride that ride at Disneyland and it's one of David's favorites.

Kendall was spending the night with us after the movie, so it worked out perfectly for us to take her home from the theatre and put them to bed.  We tried to wear them out on the trampoline and in the tub, but these girls were still up past 10 telling stories and laughing with each other.  I just love them both so much.

➹ Future college roommates, right here. ➹

Sarah came up to get Kendall the next morning and I was happy to announce that she was still in one piece and had done a great job sleeping over!  

➹ We had to show them the chickens! ➹

Liv was worn out the next day...during her usual downtime {during Sydney's nap}, we went to visit a friend and her baby {and didn't take one ding dang picture} and then stopped by to see our favorite lady at the Nipomo post office!  She was shocked when we walked in and of course had to give Olivia a little treat.

Olivia crashed out in the car seat on the way home and so I let her sleep on me for a little bit before we headed up to the Farmers Market in SLO.  We knew it would be the last time for us to see Maria and Willy before we left for home.  Maria gave Olivia the biggest hug and gave us tons of free fruit...thank goodness because Sydney was sneaking peaches off of her table like it was her job!

I'm not sure who/what we miss more -- Maria and Willy or all of their yummy foods!