It's my birthday and.......

I AM IRON MAN.....

Today we celebrated Avery's bday! He was quite excited to receive the full Iron Man get up. We celebrated by seeing Toy Story 3 with friends and family. Another year older and another birthday done! You are a good boy Avery, we love you!

Jake loved this.....

two teens!!

We officially have two teens in our home now......weird! Aubs turned 13 today. Last night she had a few friends over and had a "campout" in the backyard. Yes, I had to set up that darn tent again. I am getting really good at it. Nate has been gone so I have been a single mom for a few days. The girls had smores, played games and had really loud "tent talk" till about 2:00am. We spent today getting nails done, grabing lunch, shopping and haircuts. I even convinced her to get her eyebrows waxed!! She is a true teen now! WE love you Aubrey June!
A budding photographer!
Picking our her bday cupcakes! We will have a real cake when dad gets home....

off and running.....

How could I have ever thought summer was going to be relaxing....I mean I do not have to make lunches, no early mornings, no homework. Who was I kidding.....after our fun but exhausting camping trip Jake and I headed off to Youth conference for the weekend. I had the privilege of being a chaperone. TONS of fun, but for those of you that have done this know that sleeping is not an option. After two nights and three days I was one tired chaperone. During the conference we had the opportunity to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and help build a house. In the end I could not keep my eyes open but my heart was very full.

My awesome "family" for the weekend!

check camping off the list!

Our first summer activity is complete! Camping! Yes, the Lytle's went camping. Jane has been begging to go camping, real camping, not the kind that takes place in the backyard. This past week we packed up and headed down to a great campground by the beach for one night. Anyone can handle one night, right??? We had foil dinners and smores. Jane said it exceeded ALL her expectations! Next time we will shoot for two nights. It is all about baby steps for us.Jane and I visited this dang cute store often



Aubs isn't a huge camper but she was a good sport! She got a lot of reading in!
Nate is so resourceful out in the wild....

This is just proof that Jake was with us being his weird self..

Welcome summer!

Last night Nate started up the fire out back and we were all lucky enough to be thoroughly entertained by Jake. I do not know what was up with him......could it be that school is out?? it could be because he turned 15 a few weeks ago....or it could be because he got a new "summer cut"?? Whatever his reason was for acting so weird it was worth every minute.

I saved the best for last...

Don't you wish he was yours???

3rd one.....over and out!

Another little Lytle has finished elementary school......so sad. Janie is off to junior high with Aubrey. I am glad they will have each other. Jane is very sentimental and gets quite attached to things. Leaving her elementary school has not been easy, she loved all her years at our neighborhood school! Good luck next year!

A Green Dinner in honor of.....

Game 3 of the NBA finals!

Go CELTICS! You may be asking yourself why we are Celtics fans when we live in LA?? I grew up watching the Lakers with my dad...what's that saying? "You are what you marry." Oh wait! I think it's "you are what you eat." Anyway, I married a DIE HARD Boston fan. Soooo, because of that, all of us are DIE HARD Celtics and Red Sox fans. This obsession has caused Jake a few problems over the years...he is not one to keep his feelings and bragging rights to himself. All I can say is let's hope they win!!

UPDATE: Darn Celtics......grumpy people at our house tonite