I feel like the summer is already over. Not because it is, but because of all the fall activities that have start-ups right around the corner... and the 65 degree weather today only added to it! Soccer practices start on Monday, curriculums have (mostly) been ordered and organized, piano lessons are on the horizon, and AWANA will soon be starting. Although we are not even to the halfway mark in August, the pull of Autumn has definitely shown up and I can't say I am completely sad about this turn of events (I just love the bustling schedule and fresh expectancy of a new season of learning). But... I will miss this:
June 13Trooper Riley, resting with his mom (my sister), Jeanne (I don't know why this picture won't rotate). Riley got tired more quickly than we were used to, but he was always quick to bounce back and always ready for more! The boys spent a lot of time outside playing basketball, riding various vehicles and throwing styrofoam airplanes
June 18A quick picture in front of Primary Children's Hospital (Zane, Isaac, Colby, Brenna, Ian and his red boots!). God gave us a perfect opportunity to visit Riley...perfect timing as far as his procedures and our health. In fact, Isaac, Ian, Colby and I even got to go into his room on this particular day, where Jeanne read a story about a duck doctor named Waddle who treats cancer patients. And, the following day, Isaac got to go with Uncle Don to Starbucks and then up to Primary's to play video games with Riley.
June 25Vacation Bible School was in Rome this year! The boys were super excited about seeing Paul in prison talking to his guard about Jesus, getting into the underground church by finishing the "fish" sign in the sand, and spending their money at the market place. Fantastic! The kids were not separated into age groups for this VBS, but into family groups. The boys were thrilled to be able to be in the same group.
June 27Superday was really and truly a super day! Hot, bouncy castles galore (with very small waiting times, carnival games and great trinkety prizes, lost a shoe, watched a trick horse, saw almost everyone in Cheyenne that we know (ok, not really), found a shoe- only wish we would have brought a lunch!
4th of July snakes! Beloved and traditional 4th of July snakes! I'm sure George Washington would have been fascinated as well!
July 4I bought A HUGE container of poppers thinking it was a mixed bag of smokers, poppers and fountains...ummm...I guess not! But, the boys (and Scott and I) had a great time with these. Fun 4th of July despite the very heavy rain on our parade!!
July 7So... we are blessed with a whole, big back yard and yet the boys choose to re-create their mining camp adventure site next to the road (Ok, yeah, I encouraged it! Kind of reminds me of all the fun I had playing in the gutters in front of our house when I was little!) :)
July 9How can he possibly be four?(Next thing we know, he'll be getting married and leaving the nest!)
July 9Colby sporting his new policeman jammies and playing with his new 'cars characters'.
July 9Inspired by his 2nd cousin Keenan (who drew a picture of McQueen for Ian way back in maybe 2006?), Ian has drawn fleet after fleet (or sheet after sheet) of 'cars character' memorabilia.
July 10This is a classic maneuver... brother #1 slaves away cleaning up the yard of "deposits." Brother #2 supervises... I know, because I was child #3 (thanks for all you've done for me over the years, Jeanne and Carter!) :)
July 20
Isaac, Ian, Colby and I got to spend some time in CRMC's box, watch some good rodeo and rustle up some grub-including lots of cookies! (Zane took a nap at Mrs. H's-thanks). Frontier Days is always great and this year's was no exception! We had a wonderful time watching the Indian dances, meeting the frontier's men and outlaws (and seeing their weapons-high point for the boys), buying bows and arrows and watching the Thunderbirds!
July 22The boys love the bows and arrows that they bought at Frontier days! In fact, one of Ian's arrows had to be taken off the roof before we were cleared to go on our trip to Michigan. And it was so exciting to have three quivers come in the mail from Great Gramma Clarke after we got back-thankyou so much!
July 25What a treat to see my brother, who just happened to be in MI recruiting. He was able to take a break and meet us at Wendy's! Who would have thought! What perfect timing...although, changing Zane's diaper on the floor of Wendy's bathroom was less than appealling (tmi?).
July 26Zane hitting the beach in Uncle Rick's hat
July 26Pancake breakfast with Great Grandma Balyo.
July 26Gigglies with Great Grandma Clarke.
July 27Making memories with cousins Jack and Heath.
July 26Beautiful and freezing cold Lake Huron! I discovered (after only about 15... ummm...years!!) that my personality is much sunnier in the invisible ice-bath WITH a wet suit than without! (If you are curious what the lake might feel like, take an ice cube and rub it on your arm for a couple of minutes! :) Ok, maybe it's not quite that cold...or is it?
July 31A warm, sunshiny day on Mackinac Island and a good picture to end on...beautiful boat ride over (and fun bumpy ride back), BBQ picnic and shopping, superman cones and unexpectedly seeing our friends, the Moores.
As you can imagine, such a lot has happened since these particular events... but I will leave that for later, as... 1) I need to go up and fix lunch for the starving and Lord of the Flies children upstairs, 2) after 10? years of owning a computer and digital camera, I am no further ahead on understanding the complexities of downloading photos (despite Scott's best efforts) than I was in '99 when the "internet" was still a bit of a phenomenon (at least for me), and 3) the refrigerator/stove/oven repair person(s) is at the end of his/her/their scheduled huge window of time that they have carved out of my day and should be here momentarily-we'll see!
