S * U * M * M * E * R *

Summer has got us all feeling like zzzzz!  Our days and nights are filled with fun (and not so much fun sometimes...some days the kids don't want to get their stuff done all day, same old story, or they are all pushing each other and my buttons) and we love it!!  I am grateful for this extra family time we get during the summer.  But it can be exhausting somedays.  I love how the kids just fall asleep wherever and whenever.  I think I need a nap, too....

We made our Summer Bucket list.  This year, we did a sun and the rays of the sun have listed the things we wanted to do this summer.  It turned out cute!  We are busily trying to get as many as we can done!

We participated in the summer reading program which had a space theme.  Totally a blast with lots of fun activities and prizes!  Reading is out of this world!

We have been having fun doing art projects and science experiments, going on bike rides, field tripping, and more.  Neighbor Callie joined us quite a bit this summer and most of the time the kids got along.  She started out summer with a broken arm and then got a tumor near her nose so we took her a basket of fun stuff to do once and a plant and goodies another time.  She is fun to have around but sometimes she and Cov fight like siblings. Once they finally get their stuff done, we have tons of fun.  Oh I love it!

After our Hatch Reunion/Pioneer Days, we got home to finish prepping our yard for curbing and landscaping and grass, oh my!  The kids love  hate all the yard work but we are building character here and someday they'll thank us that they know how to work.  We pulled up dead weeds, raked, moved rocks, moved dirt, leveled things out, and Dave was the skid-steer star.  Oh, and we found some great caterpillars along the way.  Covey especially loved those little things! Also, one of the guys working on our yard stepped on a baby bunny.  The bunny's leg got hurt and we tried to help, but there was no hope for the poor guy.

Emma stayed in Utah to spend time with family.  She went to the Rush Funplex with the New Mexico cousins, went swimming with them and some ID cousins, did shopping and lunch with Grandma Sue, helped do yard work with Grandpa Dan, got her first Fizz with Uncle Brian, made vinyl projects with Grandma, read a lot, had a lot of down time, then she made her way to the Stoddard grandparents to work on her first quilt, eat lots of Ramen and gelato with Amber, taking water color lessons, and stayed up talking and doing art all night.

We attended the Balloons over Billings festival.  They had so many great activities and booths going on!  The kids loved getting to go inside an old hot air balloon, talking to all the Elders and Sisters serving there, try sitting in a basket, the bubbles, and we didn't even have time to do face painting or hot air balloon art and other things.  We met up with our Wilhelm Friends again.  So great to have them around and to be able to get together and do stuff with.  The best part was when they lit them all up though!  It was so fun!

We had some extra crazy weather this summer.  Lots of rain storms and a few hail storms that blew in quarter sized or larger hail.  At least we saw lots of rainbows.  

We enjoyed lots of time poolside, for swimming lessons and fun time at the pool!  Covey actually got in and loved it this year (took some coaxing and bribing but he finally did it!)!  They all did super well and passed their levels.  Emma's done and glad she just gets to hang out at the pool now.  They loved open swim, especially when friends were there.  And Sydnie couldn't get enough of the "Baby hool!" 

We went to an event called Nye goes Nuts, up in a sweet and beautiful surrounding community.  It was a fun day to be together not too far from home.  I love seeing these little towns and the spirit and closeness and all the service they do.   

We spent lots of time at the Zoo as we got a season pass.  It's been great!  Though I don't know who's more wild.  The animals or our crazy 5!

We've been trying to keep the kids busy at home.  Going on walks and bike rides, playing soccer at the park, doing active things indoors, making crafts, doing workbooks and practicing (after nagging them lots), cooking, sewing, working outside on our yard and more.  I love what these guys come up with.  One day, they came up with the Granny Three (Em, Cal and Lucy) and Sharknado (Cov).  They were performing for hours, singing and dancing like "old grannies" and Sharknado entertaining every way possible!  I love the things they come up with.  When they're not testing my patience, they can be quite fun!  ;)  

We did our first year of soccer here.  Cal has done it in the past of course, which was fun.  Cal had Mrs. Martin, his friend Casten's mom as a coach, Lucy had Mrs. DeMasters, a hospital employee, as a coach, and I was Coverton's coach.  We practiced once a week and had games once a week for 6 weeks.  It was a blast seeing these guys learn the game.  And I loved coaching these cute little 5-6 year olds. They were very energetic and fun!  Cal got the "Whopper Kick" award at the end, because he knows how to boot it.  Lucy's coach told me how fun she was to have on the team.  And Cov made a lot of progress and really enjoyed it!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All in all, it's been a busy and fun summer and now if you'll excuse me, I'll go take a nap.