Sunshine Crew

I'm so lucky to spend my mornings and early afternoons with  just these cuties.

We are homeschooling buddies!

My days are filled with Sunshine- which makes me very blessed- cause I have an important job to do!  

And I love it!

Harvesting

Every once in awhile you have to have a party out in the garden and gather strawberries.  You can just kind of see Seth running off (through the trees)  to plaster Brigham with over ripe berries.  Ahh!  Good times, good jam, good frozen berries for snacking, smoothies and shakes.  We have had a bountiful harvest- in fact we can't store any more and they just keep coming.  Come and get em!

The obligatory giant zucchini.  We missed this one and it got so big -we wanted to see how big it would get.  Surprisingly, it stopped growing after awhile.  The kids sure loved posing with it though.

Enjoy Life!  This isn't a dress rehearsal!

Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day weekend we headed up to Island Park to do some camping.  I use the term camping lightly cause we went with our good friends the Andersons.  They have a very very nice camper that we all slept in.  

We did roast marshmallows- but we also watched a movie that night- with each of us viewing on one of their FOUR large screen TVs.  Crazy!  We even slept in a heated room.  It was definitely luxury camping.

Saturday we headed out on the Lake.  The kids found a rope swing and it was more than a little scary.  They had to swing out really far to make sure that they avoided hitting some rocks.  It took a long time to get up their courage.  Finally, Brig jumped out and showed them how it was done- then they all followed suit.  The water was freezing- well 54 and the temperature outside was only 68.  Needless to say- nobody skied but we did have fun exploring the lake.

Then we went for a drive and saw some beautiful spots.  We did a little 4 wheeling.  

Big Fish Spring was beautiful.  The water was so clear.

Fish gazing!

Muskrat Suzie

We went on a Trek up a hillside- and back down again.

Love these boys!

Head Dipping- the water here was 52 degrees.

Boys are crazy!  Always up for a challenge!

We drove home Saturday night after another movie.  Monday we performed a little Labor, played a lot and invited some families over for a BBQ and swimming.  Good times!  We got a new ice cream maker this year and have had a blast with it.  Several Sunday nights we have invited several families over, made ice cream- played and chatted.   We love getting the most out of these final summer nights! 

Phenomenal 15

Wow!  Can he really be 15 already?!?!

It was just yesterday he was "handsome, medium tiger eyes."  (Dad always sang "Pretty Little Angel Eyes to Katry and Brig wanted his own version.)

Brigham is a fantastic first born.  He is responsible, capable, bright, intelligent, thoughtful,  fun-loving, easy to be entreated, teachable, tender hearted, athletic and delightful to name a few of his great attributes.  He is a great act to follow. 

This year he is busy playing center midfield on his high school  varsity soccer team.  In our humble opinion he has proven himself to be the MVP in every game.  It is pretty impossible to out hustle him- he gives his all, all the time.  He is the president of his teachers quorum and is a natural leader.  He is a straight A student- 3 years running. (He has only been in public school for 3 years.)  He is an Eagle Scout.   As you can see he is also a very handsome fellow.

He is a great kid and we are so glad he is in our family!  

We LOVE you Brigham!

Back to School

Noooooo!  Say it isn't so!  I wish it wasn't that time of year again.  I love having everyone home and doing everything together.  It breaks my heart to see them heading off.

Katry and Seth headed out on Monday.  Katry is in 8th grade and Seth is taking on 6th grade.

They are both in the oldest grades at their particular school.

Brigham's first day of school is today.  They go a day later so that the Freshman have the school all to themselves for one day.  I can't believe he is a sophomore.  Heart breaking!!!

Yes, his outfit is scary.  He has a soccer game today and the captains get to pick what they wear.  They decided to wear their uniforms and a tie.  Lovely!

We celebrated back to school with a favorite meal on Sunday- Chicken Lettuce Wraps and Cinnamon Roll Cake.  Dad gave everyone some amazing hand tailored Father's Blessings.  We are so blessed to have the Priesthood in our home- so much strength and LOVE!

Here's to another Fantastic Year!

Our Home Away From Home

You never know when you might have to pack up and go live in a tent for while.

So Brigham got us a nice big tent that we could spread out in.

You can even hang from it!  The kids slept out in it a couple of nights and they hung hammocks from the side. That's one tough tent.  Thank you Military!

Yah- its pretty big.

And you can make it bigger- just keep adding sections.

I think we will stop here for now.  You're always welcome to come for a visit- looks like we've got room!

Championship Game

Brigham has been rockin' it out on the pitch all spring and summer playing in the men's league.  You would never know he is 40- he's still "Got It", even if he does feel a wee bit sore for a day or two after a game.

His team made it to the Championship Game, but sadly fell just a little short. 

 Its so much fun to watch him play.  

Our own little group of Super Fans!

Wrestling and flying and...

building pyramids on the side line!