July Update - Part 2 - MONTANA

The kids and I had the opportunity to join my parents on their "lake vacation" this year. It was, as always, a wonderful time.

The "painted rocks" that give our favorite lake its name

Taylor heading out with Grammy on the tube

Taylor's first try at kneeboarding. He did great!

Aric had no desire to do water sports this year, but he was quite happy to drive the boat.

Swimming with Uncle Shane

Playing in the water on a hot day - what could be better?

Hanging with Grumpy

"Camp Apple Pie" - toast surrounding warm pie filling, cooked over an open fire

The big frog the boys caught one day...they also caught a few minnows

Jumping to Uncle Spencer

Another of the spectacular views we really miss...this one is Trapper Peak

All the family except Jeremy... It was sure a rare but special treat to see all my brothers at once

We attended my parents' church picnic... Spencer was the MC. Here, Taylor's participating in a food relay. Lots of the kids ended up with candy or fun things to eat...poor Tay had to eat jarred baby hot dogs (he doesn't even like regular hot dogs, so this was a real challenge!)

Playing with cousins

Seeing the baby calves

We spent a day at my Grandparents' place revisiting a lot of my childhood favorite things to do, like playing in the ditch...

...eating raspberries right off Grandma's plants...

(Ascha and her little cousin had a great time together. Here, he's feeding her raspberries. :-)

...having popsicles, then sending the sticks down the creek in a race to the bridge...

...swinging with Papa...

...or jumping out of the swing yourself...

...going as high as possible on the teeter-totter...

...playing in the "Tiger Tree."

All these things are sweet memories from my childhood and it is such a blessing to be able to see my kids enjoying the same experiences. I'm so thankful my Grandparents are so happy to share special moments like these with another generation of kids.

Of course, on our way through Idaho, we stopped and hung out with our friends. Here we are at Coeur d'Alene's "Art in the Park."

Thanks to all our family and friends for sharing such a special visit! Much love!

July Update - Part 1

July 4th - cuddling on the hammock watching the fireworks

enjoying the sparklers

Hanging out at Lake Merwin on the weekend with good friends (so good they even watched Ascha while they sent us out on the lake in their sailboat! Thanks!)

Camping on the north side of Mt. Adams

It was beautiful but very buggy, and of course, I left all our bug repellant at home on the counter! We managed to survive the mosquitoes and have a good time anyway. We swam and even got to have a German Brown Trout for part of our dinner. We hiked around with Jeremy the next day while he scouted out potential elk hunting country. (Ah-ha! The real purpose of our family camping trip is revealed! :-)

"Good things come to those who wait"

The boys have wanted a ride-on ever since they saw one at the neighbor's house. We've always flatly refused, but they had sold some of their old toys at a garage sale a few days before we found this used yellow Corvette. The boys were able to buy it with their own money and they absolutely love it!

Our first parade! None of the kids had ever been to a "real parade" before. They are now big fans.

The same festival that brought the parade also brought a carnival to town. The boys rode a kiddie roller coaster. Taylor loved it, but Aric was upset because I wasn't riding it with him, so he pouted through the whole ride. It made for a pretty funny picture.

June Update: Ascha's First Birthday

Ascha's the star of the show this month. Our beautiful baby isn't staying a baby long. She's been walking and running for a while, she's independent and feisty and fun...and on June 23, she turned ONE!

party preparations (this one's for you, Ann!)

not sure what to think of the giant butterfly Great Grama & Papa sent her

Do I have to touch it?

The big kids all loved it. I fear we may have started a tradition. :-)

Notice the foot up in the air - this is her customary position when sitting in grass

It's party time!

What, I can't touch that pretty light?

Yeah! I love frosting!

Cake (aka pumpkin bran muffin) sure is yummy! Mama may as well pull that trick this year, because she probably won't get away with it again. :-)

Ascha figured out unwrapping quickly and opened her presents with gusto!

This hug was so sweet and spontaneous. She loved her cuddle buddy (until it became associated with bedtime. She's no longer enamored with it. :-).

So fashion forward while taking baby for a stroll. She loved her stroller but couldn't navigate it well at first. When she'd get stuck in a corner, the boys would try to help her, but she'd just scream. She's not about to let her brothers take HER new toys!

This tea cart and tea set were much the same. She stayed up very late playing and didn't want to let Mommy take the pieces away from her before bed.

What a great first birthday! She even got to have both of her Grandmas celebrate with her!

Before the Grandmas headed home, we went to a fun park. This extremely crinkled nose is a trademark Ascha look.

The boys didn't get left out. Grammy gave them a special treat of a night of tent camping with her in our backyard. Grandma Janet gave each boy the special treat of cooking the breakfast of his choosing and allowing him to help as much as he wanted.

(special thanks to Daddy on the assist for camping night! The smores were a nice touch. :-)

June is also the month of Jeremy's birthday, so we celebrated him on the 28th. This is the first time since I've been married to Jeremy that he wasn't sad and feeling old on his birthday...he thought he was turning 33, but he only turned 32, so he gained a year. :-)

Lastly, here's a look at one of our many "pets." This time, it was a moth, but the boys have caught many caterpillars, butterflies, moths, and even a preying mantis this summer. We have much to be thankful for - we love where we live!