Neighbors

 We are blessed with amazing neighbors.  Sad that Avery's buddy, Hope, and her family are moving in a couple weeks.  We love the Brewers who moved in a bit ago (2 years?) have kids the same ages as our youngest 3.  Ralphie rode a couple blocks in the double stroller with his buddy like this.  It was so cute.  He just liked to have his arm around his friend.  Finley and Lilianna wanted to be princesses with their new crowns the other day.  Cute little gals.

2019/2020 School Year

So it begins again!  As usual, summer flew by. I started summer with apprehension about having all the kiddos at home all day.  Next thing I know they're gone and I'm not ready.  We were thick into our summer groove, but so life goes.

Summertime Creatures

 As I drove home from the Y on the south end of town, This buck posed majestically for me.

 We ran into the Larsens heading out from the trail we were about to enter for some family photos.  Kyle sent us this picture of the bear they spotted, but mr. bear had left by the time we hit the trail, thank goodness!

 Squirrely, spying on us from the tree in our yard.

 This squirrely girl was tired one night and crying hysterically as we were preparing for Avery to say the family prayer by listing things we love about her.  I figured we'd skip Finley because of her fit, but she surprised us by screaming through her tears, "I love Avery because she's nice to me!". It was really funny.

And then there's this boy who can get out of his crib with ease.  He's growing so fast that I'm sure I'll blink and he'll have outgrown my spiffy blue tennies.

Avery takes pictures of Tigger whenever she finds him in a cute position.

The Boys

Let's talk about some funny things these boys have said recently.

Henry is always planning and studying the calendar.  Tate used to obsess over maps.  Anyway, Henry insisted we celebrate his half birthday last week with a treat.  The morning of, he asked  me to let his speech therapist, Keri, in on the occasion so she could bring a gift.  I had to explain that we may be the only people who celebrate half birthdays and that we don't do gifts. lol.

There was a recent news article about a 17 year old boy who went blind because he only ate 5 unhealthy foods for most of his life, like white bread and french fries.  I told the kids about it as a warning because our kids are such picky eaters.  I was talking about it while driving home and when we arrived, Henry, who had been in the back of the car, was crying because he didn't want to "go flying".  Apparently, that's what "going blind" sounded like to him and he was afraid he could float away!

Eric saw Tate's wallet on the ground, so he hid it to teach Tate a lesson about putting his valuables where they belong.  After Tate searched for days, we told him what Eric had done. Later he told me that when he has a kid he would do the same lesson and Henry agreed.  Apparently they respond well to tough love!

Day Camps

Here's a couple snap shots of our day camps we've tried this year.  It started over spring break for some fun and to give the older kids some leadership opportunities.  We had a bunch of friends over and a different theme for each day.  I can't recall each theme, but my favorite was medieval day because we had some good books and a cool castle to play with.  These pictures are from the one camp we did this summer.  Just for a few hours in the afternoon we would have the older kids read books to the younger ones, and then serve snacks and do a craft and play some games.  This one was a gaming edition where we split into groups and played games, focusing on good sportsmanship.  It's always loud and chaotic and super fun.  Parents who drop their kiddos donate some money for the big kids to split and they've really enjoyed that! 

Family Reunion

 My generous cousin let us stay at her cabin in McCall a couple weeks ago for our family reunion.  It was the perfect space.  It was perfect weather.  I have a perfect family.  You get the point.  I look forward to this every year!

 Ty and Ash rented a pantoon and took us all out on turns one day.  Here's 2 year old Davin loving swimming in the lake all by himself with just his life jacket.  He is a real thrill seeker!

 A gaggle of cousins having fun.  Bre and Tony rented jet skis one day, which was also super awesome.

 The view from the house! love love love

 Tate got up on the paddle board, which is harder than it looks.

 Avery and Ian enjoying the paddle board together.  They were two of the cousins on the lake for the longest I'm guessing.

 Enjoying the sandy beach.

 The diving line-up.  Nice form, Ashley!

 Ember pulling Davin in the tube.

 My personal favorite-the kayaks!

 Ian, Lydia, and Ember out for some evening fishing.  It was so windy that Ian ended up fishing on his knees to keep from blowing off the dock!

We saw lots of deer by the house.  This guy was bidding us adieu as we packed up to leave.

It was just such a fun week spent with my favorite people.  The cousins get along so well.  Dad had a couple fainting episodes and had to be taken to the hospital one night.  They ran tests which gave no answers and sent him home with a heart monitor to record whats going on should he faint again.  Nothing has happened since then so we don't know what that scare was all about.

Ashley knows the area and took us to some restaurants and a great ice cream joint.  We went on a hike to a waterfall.  Travis brought the movies and fixed our Wii, which has Henry on cloud 9.  The first part of our drive was windy for hours and the 3 youngest puked.  Kristen advised I find some medicine and it was amazing.  It knocked all the kids out for the ride home and we were puke-free! 

 Bumper boats! Presenting: All the cousins-in order!

Birthday Girl

 Finley is my guage of how long we have been in Missoula since I was at the end of my pregnancy with her when we moved here.  My friend, Danielle, was the first to welcome us to town at church and with play dates.  We just said goodbye to Danielle tonight as they move to New Mexico tomorrow.  She's one of many friends who have been moving away recently.  It's always so sad and meloncholy a time to say good bye to dear friends.  I do think that someday heaven will include being able to spend time with all our friends from everywhere all at once.  Teleporting, I suppose?  Back to Finley's birthday on the 17th.  She had a rainbow cake last year and requested the same this year.  Hope and Avery decorated these bad boys.

 The day before her birthday she was rocking these goggles.  Tonight she was having a rough time and crying pretty hard during prayer time.  It was Avery's turn to pray and our tradition is to go around the group to say what we love about the person praying before that person prays.  She was still hysterical when it was her turn, but she still yelled through her tears "I love Avery because she's nice!" It was really funny.

Birthday morning gifts.  We wanted to have a casual party at the river, but weather didn't allow it, so we had a little play date that week.  This is Finley's swimming report card from July that makes me laugh.  "Sometimes very silly" is an understatement.  Her latest favorite joke is to put her butt on my arm or leg or anywhere on my self and push out a fart.  Then she'll laugh and laugh.  She's very silly and we love her!