Twin Falls and Becky's 40th

 We went to Twin to spend a week with Becky while her family was here and so the kids could go to kid's camp with Grandma and Grandpa. We started by delivering Becky's table that Scott made for her. That was fun to have Scott here for the night so we could get caught up on each other's lives. We traveled to Almo for Ezra's baptism. I have to admit I was overwhelmed and touched out by the time I got to the church. I felt bad for not really showing up emotionally for Ezra and having everyone wait for me and Grayson to come back from the foyer after he wouldn't sit quietly during the talks. But I did feel the spirit and Ezra's grandpa Cox gave a powerful blessing when he gave Ezra the Holy Ghost.

We had lunch out in Burley on the way to mom and dad's, spent the weekend with them for a minute until they took all the older kids to Yellowstone for kid's camp for a few days. Everyone loved it--even Zander who didn't want to go in the first place. He had a really hard night before we left our house about wanting to stay home and skipping camp. That's probably why I felt so emotional among other things going to the baptism. Zander spent the week before at stake youth camp right after Bear Lake, and then the next day he had another camping trip with grandma and grandpa and he was feeling overwhelmed and over stimulated. He just wanted to be home especially since school was starting the following week. It just felt like we were constantly on the move.

Anyway, I got to spend some much needed sister time in Twin and with my family in general. We had a game night at Brad's house, did lots of shopping, had a birthday breakfast out with Becky and the girls, visited Adam at his house, Had dinner with Tyson and his girlfriend, Met Charity's boyfriend, had a family dinner and birthday party for Becky, listened to Devin give his farewell talk, and finally said goodbye to him for the next two years. I'm really going to miss him.

We got Maggie's ears pierced! She is the cutest and well mannered baby. Everyone loved her and wanted to hold her--especially my boys.

Idaho sunset

Birthday breakfast!

Sydney found a worm in her fruit bowl in a berry, so Miles kept it for a pet and named it Lucy.

Big kid's camp

Trish let Zander stay the night at her house after he got back from camp so I could go shopping with the girls the next morning. She also invited him to the Blue Angels air show that afternoon. Zander thought that was so cool. Thanks Trish for taking care of him!

Tyson took Becky out for a long awaited date to Chick fil a. He matched her shirt, picked her up, brought her matching flowers and jewelry. We love Tyson. He leaves for basic training in September in four weeks.

I decided to have Becky's birthday party outside. I let the kids decorate and I put together this picture collage, but I could not get it to stay on the wall. Such a bummer because then no one was able to see all the pictures. We had three guessing jars one was skittles, matches and candles, and the last was a mystery. They turned out to be chocolates. Tim, Brad, and Zander won those. I read some memories and things that we all like about Becky; that was fun, and then read some facts about the world from 1985, and opened gifts. We love you Becky!! You make 40 look good.

Zander went out and picked out a present for Becky's birthday. He paid for it with his own money, picked out the flowers, and arranged them. He was pretty proud of himself. Poor Lucas had just gotten back from little kid's camp sunburnt and tired.

Back to School for Another Year at Bluff Ridge Elementary

 Summer flew by so quickly this year; we were hardly home at all. Maybe we'll try and take it easy next summer...a little bit. I have all four of my kids in the same school for this one year. It's going to be a great year! I love these little humans of mine.

Zander 6th grade, Mrs. Fairclough

Lucas 5th grade, Mrs. Holmes

Hannah 3rd grade, Mrs. Smith

Grayson Kindergarten, Mrs. Touchard

He found a dead dragonfly on the porch that matched his shirt so we had to take a picture with it

Soaking Up Summer in Style

 Hanging around home in between all our trips this year

Grayson learned to ride his bike before school starts this fall

Hannah and her friend Maggie

Splash Summit in Provo

The boys built a huge fort in the living room to sleep in for a few days.

This is the big eyed and lippy face Grayson always gives when he's begging for me to let him do something he desperately wants to do. Isn't he so cute?!

Zander saved most of his money he earned this summer to finally buy this Lego Ornithopter from Dune. He is really proud of it.

I got a tiny visitor in my flowerbed the other day. He was so fun the watch.

Stephen took Lucas out for a man trip to the aquarium at the mall, and they washed the truck for me to take to Twin Falls.

We went swimming with cousins! Rachel's and Miriam's boys came with us for an afternoon of fun. I even got in the pool!

Zander's deacons class drew each other's portraits for their activity. Zander was proud of his drawing because it looked "just like him"