**Warning: Incredibly long post forthcoming. Probably should have split it up and spaced it out, but then…well, the chances of it all getting posted this year would slip dangerously close to nil. So, grab a cup of coffee, sit back and away we go!”**

Yesterday I spent the day at school helping with registration/roundup which means…our last week of summer is slowly dwindling and school starts – Monday!

I know I say it every single year, but this summer really flew right on by. We managed to pack a lot in to our short few months. Er, none of which I managed to blog about. So, here is a quick little tour through our summer adventures – selfishly posted so I have it all documented somewhere.

First weekend of summer: San Diego for Starlings Nationals Tournament.

Em and her team placed 2nd in the bronze division and Emma had a GREAT weekend. The brand new glasses gave her confidence and she had some really great saves. Perfect way to end the season. Then, Daddy jetted off to China, and the girls went the opposite direction to Michigan.

The Two Week Michigan/Wedding Trip.
The first part of the Michigan trip we spent prepping for my brother’s wedding. The prep part included getting my parents’ backyard wedding ready in between rain storms.

The bridge awaiting to be decorated.

Thankfully the rain held off, Daddy made it straight from China, nobody fell in the pool, the wedding was lovely, and they are now happily hitched.

After the festivities we took the girls to Ann Arbor to get them excited about going to UofM. (NO…I know that our Cali girls would NEVER make it a winter in Michigan…but Daddy can still dream.)

Our favorite eats stop.

And then Daddy traveled back home while the girls and I continued up to the great North to spend some good quality cousin time.

We fished.

We festivaled.

We celebrated birthdays.

We monster-trucked.

And finally it was time to get back to our freshly painted house! (That saga, er…story you can find here.)

Next up: San Diego Safari Park and Comic Con.
Daddy had to make a quick stop in Boston, so he left us in San Diego for a few days on our own and the girls and I hit the SD Safari Park.

It is actually pretty cool. You get very close to the animals…

…or you can get up and over them in a balloon like this.

Which looks more like this.

When we had had enough monkeying around, we flew down and hung around at the pool and waited for Daddy to get back to the west coast.

J. has been going to Comic Con for years…like 10, 12 years maybe?

The last few years the girls have been accompanying him and finally they talked me into “just going to see it for a little bit!”

I waited til Sunday morning and then trekked down with them. And I can honestly say…It wasn’t nearly as wretched as I had imagined it to be and it was kind of entertaining.

I was able to visit a lot of the artists that the girls love. Met Katie Cook, who we have all been a long time fan of. Got some cool art from Joey Chou which I LOVE. Spent a lot of time in the “crafting” aisle – which was surprisingly cool. In fact, I didn’t really spend much time in the actual “comic” part at all.

After a few hours when it started getting a little crowded and people started getting a little “shove-y”, I was ready to get outta there.

But, I may certainly be talked into popping in again next year!

Last trip before school starts – Camp Surf.
We have never been to a YMCA camp, but after visiting this one in Imperial Beach – HIGHLY recommend them.

I’m not sure anyone ever counted, but just from the Girl Scout families we had 60 people from our school, and the Cub Scout families joined us too, so I think we had well over 100 peeps representing from our school.

We pitched our tents on the sand about 10 yards from the shore, so we got to fall asleep and wake up to the ocean waves. But the best part of the weekend was that the Y counselors take care of everything! Food, clean-up, activities…it’s all covered.

They taught us how to surf – Addie was the best at it. The trick is to “POP up when the wave takes the board.” MUCH easier for an energetic little 7-year old to do than an over 40 Mama!

Gracie looked totally in her element and we had to drag them out of the water at the end of the day.

And the camp even organizes a “skit night” that anyone can join in. The Y counselors were hilarious and when the girls weren’t in the water they put together a little skit, too. (Harry Potter Puppet Pals, if you aren’t in the know…)

Pretty Potter Pals from carrie voris on Vimeo.

I think every one of my Girl Scouts (and MANY of the parents) have already asked if we can do it again next year, so we have put it on the docket for next summer, same weekend. Save the date!

Miscellaneous other summer fun.
For the few weeks that we were home in between all of the trips, we managed to squeak in some serious friend time, too.

We birthday beach partied with Audrey for her 10th.

And had some campfire smores.

We hiked Eaton Canyon to find the “falls.”

Daddy and I celebrated a 20th anniversary.

We found a new cool band and got to go backstage at their concert.

And we found a Harry Potter Diagon Alley in the middle of Los Angeles.

Which takes us all the way up to today. Still 4 days left…any suggestions to pack a little more in?