Holy Smokes...that was a Great Summer!

Back to life...we started school today. I've been a little apprehensive about the beginning of the school year all summer because I just really enjoy the laziness of summer days. Thankfully, the girls proved to me over the last few days that it was definitely okay for them to return to school. The fighting was really getting to me and my orneriness was reaching peak levels. We sent our 3rd to kindergarten this year, which means that for a few hours a day, it's just me, Claire, and Jaren at home. Claire was a bit confused by the whole disappearance of her sisters and kept insisting that she should be going to nursery today. She also said her favorite part of today was when she rode the white bus...not sure which white bus she was riding, but it was her favorite. Ha ha. Cute and sad. She's going to be hanging out alone with me and Jaren for a few more years.
Here are all my darling, fun school girls with some of their best buddies. So glad to live by such great people!




Thought I better to a little (or a lot of) bragging in this post about our little guy. He's growing up...sitting, eating rice cereal, and actually just rolled over today. Yay! I was beginning to wonder if his chubbiness was holing him back a bit too much. But alas, he did it! We are all sooo adoring him still.






At the end of July, we got together with Nathan's family for a few days in the Deer Valley area. The house we stayed in was gorgeous and the company wasn't too shabby either. Denice and Jeff had lots of great things planned for us to do and yummy food for us to eat. They sure do treat us right. We hiked, biked, played the Newlywed Game, had a fun auction where Rich was a fabulous auctioneer, and many other things I am sure I'm forgetting. Anywho, here are some pictures of our time together.
On our last night together, there was THE MOST gorgeous sunset. Check out the view from the deck. Breathtaking if you ask me. And...the kids were able to play in the hot tub while we enjoyed the evening.



During one of our afternoons, we entertained one another by playing Minute to Win It. I thought it was great fun to watch and laugh. Good thing there are so many good sports to humor me.

These next folks are attempting to get the cookie from their foreheads to their mouths. A few of them were actually quite successful.








The kids loved Grandma's tickle book.

Uncle Rich patiently helped Mallory do a fun craft where she got to make a dog. Cute!

Weren't these guys so helpful? They were delighted to be handling meat for our first dinner at the reunion!