Back To School Night #3!

I can't believe this is our 3rd Back-To-School Night Family Home Evening. The last 2 years we have made goals that we can work on all year. While we aren't perfect at our past goals, we are still working on them and adding more.

We mostly just ate a bunch of food (I love all of the fresh fruits and veggies we have available this time of year. I just added some grilled chicken kabobs and french bread.) While we ate we talked about our goals for the year.

I have it this quote framed and hanging up in our dinning room to help us remeber.

Damon is almost a big 2nd grader. Where does the time go?

County Fair!

A couple of weeks ago I followed these two boys around the good old county fair.


We spent a lot of time at the Super Slide, 'cause lets face it, it was the best ride there.

The boys were funny on the spinny rides, and I think they liked them, but we always ended up back at the slides.

I did ride the hammer with Taylor and I got sick. The crazy carnie worker offered us a 2nd ride, but I declined. As soon as my stomach settled I made a mad dash for the greasy fair food.

I can't wait for the funnel cakes at the state fair in just 2 weeks and counting. I wonder which topping I will get this year? Hmmm! Anyway, we all had a good time and I ran into a few people I haven't seen in such a long time. BTW, Taylor is getting big. I had to send this picture to Ryan to show him how much he has grown in a year. CRAZY!

We headed East, to the Wild, Wild West!

Yellowstone is so facinating!



We had such a great time. And, I learned how big Bison really are! Look at that thing!

Enjoying the great outdoors right in our own backyard!

This time of year, I feel extra greatful for each day I can spend outside because I know before long I will be forced indoors due to the freezing cold.

I was feeling that greatful feeling the other night while we were busy making tin foil dinners in our fire pit.

Damon was pretty excited since he was finally taught how to use a lighter, and really wanted to help start the fire. He tried to reassure me, by telling me he had been practicing. Telling me he had been practicing with a lighter was not exactly the reassurance I needed. I was reassured by the fact that Tyler was supervising.

Why is it that food tastes better outside? I have my theories.

After dinner and talking to our neighbors about their recently deceased dog, we started the smores. There was a marshmellow or two that would rather burn in the coals than fill our tummies, which brought on a few tears, but in the end we all got nice and full before we attempted a sleepover on the tramp. That lasted til about 3:00 a.m. like most tramp camping does at our house. That's when the thunder started. Tyler grabed Damon, I gathered all of our stuff, and we ended up right back where we belong, our nice cozy beds. Damon was a little disappointed when he woke up wondering how he got in bed, but I woke up a lot more comfortable than I would have outside. The star gazing was a lot of fun. Maybe we will just stick with that next time... Na, I'll never get off that easy.

First Harvest!

Arugula is all we have been able to harvest yet this year (and a little lettuce from thinning). We were really late planting our garden, but better late than never. Damon loves eating anything from the garden. He has also diligently watered the garden almost everyday. He has been a big help.
We tried a variation of this recipe and it was pretty yummy! Definitely something we all liked a ate a lot of.

They "sang as they walked,"

We pulled each other around while eating cotton candy. (Not the same.)

We also ate a bunch of other stuff, like popsicles, snowcones, hamburgers, watermelon, lemonade, parade taffy, Pepperidge Farm goodies... (It was a good summer food day!)

Gathered candy.

Spun around. This "fan powered" swing was so fun. Damon was barely under the weight limit and I kind of think the man in charge didn't really believe me. (BTW "the man in charge" was non-other than Don Aslett.)

Played in bouncy houses and got pulled around the fairgrounds.

Chased the baby goats. (Damon didn't really want to hold them, just chase them around and say he could catch them. He gave every goat he caught to some little girl who just wanted to hold them.)

The horses were a hit that day, from the tiny pony in the parade to the races at the end of the day.

Right before bed we finished up all the fireworks and party poppers we still had lying around the house. (As I have mentioned before, Damon has sensitive ears.)

The day was so much fun and I love celebrating the pioneers (even in our modern way.)

No longer a twenty-something!

But no worries. He's still got skills!
Happy Birthday Tyler!

Summer Fun!

July might be my favorite month. The 4th is a great start.

This year we had some friends and family over on the 3rd for food and games in the backyard, and I didn't take a single picture. Opps!

The next day we made bacon/bleu cheese/avocado burgers, homemade fries and root beer floats. They turned out pretty sweet!

Then it was firework time. Damon has always had really sensitive ears. He loves the fireworks, but doesn't want to hear any kind of booom! Silly boy! At least he has no shame.

This last weekend we also enjoyed some classic July activities with Tyler's family.

Camping! It was...dirty! (I even took Damon back into town for bed. I know "Party Pooper!")

At least the kids still look super cute all covered in dirt, bug spray, sunscreen, smoke, food...

Another exciting addition to this years camping experience was 6 little boys running around with pretty sharp sticks "Rat Hunting" as they liked to call it. Kinda hope that one doesn't become a tradition.

Then it was off to the lake. Ahh! The Lake! I just love it there.

June!

What a month. Here are a few of the good times.