so long, june.

The end of June, already. Can't believe it. We're halfway through the year now. Wow.

So I'm looking back at my calendar... My Google Calendar, to be exact. Have you tried this amazing tool before? I use Google Calendar DAILY and sync it with my Blackberry. It is definitely an everyday tool I use to keep my life in order. With 5 children and lots of activities, classes, appointments, etc... it certainly makes my life easier and I can't recommend it enough.

So... the month of June rolled in quietly for us. We started out with laid-back weekends including fun stuff like a bonfire-- along with roasting marshmallows! The girls got a kick out of it, for sure. The big sisters passed on the fun, unfortunately...



No big events at the beginning of the month, and then... BAM! Everything hit us at once mid-month. The main event of the month was the triplets' Spring Dance Recital. The girls did a great job, adorable I tell you!

Here they are at the recital rehearsal... (cute)



... and on Recital night.



Then there was the visit to the cherry farm, followed by the beginning of swimming lessons...



Wrapping up the month was Kindergarten Graduation, but watch for those pics and story in an upcoming post.

June was a busy, busy month for our family and just the beginning to a busy, busy summer!

weekend.

We stayed home this weekend... Pretty much anyway. Yesterday (Saturday) we did step out to take the girls to a birthday/swim party. Although it was hot, they had a blast! As usual, they took the opportunity to glam it up a little for the party. Aren't they adorable?



Just a bit ago, we dug into more of those sweet delicious cherries from our trip last week to the cherry farm.

Is there anything better in the summertime than a little bowl of cherries in the afternoon?


I don't think so.

cherry farm.

We went to visit Riley's Farm last week, to pick our very own cherries at a REAL cherry farm.

It was the best time we've had together in awhile! Good family time!

Look at my sweethearts, checking out the orchard while we picked cherries:



... and this as we were heading out of the orchard back to the barn to pay for our pickin's!



If you have a cherry farm near you, our family recommends that you visit and pick some cherries... we had a great time!

bento catch-up.

We are soooo behind on bento Fridays! Well, here's a quick catch-up:

Here's bento lunch from 3 weeks ago... We actually made these for the girls on Saturday at home because I totally forgot to make lunches for school on Friday:



... and from two weeks ago:



... and finally from this past Friday:



We are a little over a week from the last day of school for 2008-2009, so we still have one more school bento lunch coming up this Friday. After school's out, I'm not sure how often we'll be making these adorable little lunches, but I'm pretty sure we won't be giving it up completely. There will be plenty of reasons to pack a pretty lunch this summer, I'm sure!

8 things.

A play on the "8 things" quizzes, sent to me by a friend...

8 things I look forward to:

1. Swim lessons for the triplets this month.
2. A visit from my favorite aunt this Sunday!
3. Taking a vacation of one kind or another this summer.
4. Scrapbooking all the layout ideas I have in my head.
5. Going to the Aveda spa and having a massage; I don’t do it often enough.
6. Working on the many projects around our home.
7. Spending plenty of time at the beach in the next few months.
8. Reading a few books on the bestseller lists!


8 things I did yesterday:


1. Caught up on lots of blog-reading.
2. Cancelled the recording schedule of my favorite TV shows on DVR; they’re in re-run mode for the summer.
3. Cooked Mexican food for dinner, it’s my fave.
4. Bought the triplets the organic cotton bed sets I’ve had my eye on!
5. Ate potato chips after midnight with my 2 oldest daughters.
6. Talked on the phone with my favorite aunt for about an hour.
7. Researched twin size beds & mattresses online for most of the afternoon.
8. Fell asleep reading a book about “green living”. But it was late, I was so tired!


8 things I wish I could do:

1. Find the time in my busy days to exercise.
2. See my good friends more often.
3. Pay off my mortgage and be 100% debt-free.
4. Return to college.
5. Move back to Hawaii but still be able to fly to Tucson monthly to visit my parents.
6. Eat as much as I wanted and never gain weight!
7. Be a photographer for a living... and actually make GOOD money!
8. Hire a permanent housekeeper.

Oh yeah... forgot to mention... no bento today. Bento Friday ruined due to low supplies on-hand. Must go to the grocery store this weekend and replenish pantry. Bummed.

bento friday.

Yes, I realize it's Wednesday and I'm posting this almost a week late. Don't know what happened... life, I guess. Don't worry, you didn't miss much... it was a pretty boring bento last week. It's okay, I can admit it. I'm aiming for a little more of the cute factor this Friday.




Let's see... Nutella sandwich (always a favorite), teddy graham cookies, fresh blueberries and some Keebler club crackers. Just the right amount of food for my little 36-37 lb. kidlets...

More coming soon, I have more to share but I'm short on time today. :)