Parties! Parties!

The 4th was busy and fun. We spent a lot of time working on the yard and trying to set up the pool in the morning, but Fred just wasn't able to make the patching hold this year--the holes are just too big. What a waste to throw away a perfectly good pool that we can't fill just because the top ring won't float. The kids enjoyed the parade at noon. It was pretty small and sad this year, but we were in the shade, surrounded by Middletonites so I still enjoyed the sociality and the kids enjoyed the candy.=) Nash's and Ben and Renee's family came for the b-b-q and most stayed for the big  fireworks show and then of course we traded kids for sleepovers so it made for some good memories.

Kobe and Olive--Kindred Spirits

Our Family Circle--What It's All About

A Man With A Mission

Last Day of 17--A Perfect Age

Kobe and The American Dream

Cousins--Fun at Fifteen

Let the Pyro's Begin!

We got Mikayla a ukulele for her birthday which she is enjoying and already playing so well. She went to Fast Lane for her birthday and raced the go-cart's with Fred for her date and then we ended up in Ann Morrison park feeding the ducks (which was my favorite part). She is so enjoyable to be around.

18th Birthday Breakfast "In Bed" (She had a cousin sleepover on the tramp so we had to improvise.)

As Ordered--Berry Bagels, Mango, Spicy Sausages...

...With Cranberry Juice and Plain Yogurt With Blackberries

Modeling the Lovely Racing "Sock"

Prepping for A Daddy/Daughter Race

Lookin' Fine!

"Start Your Engines"

40 MPH feels like 80

Slowing it Back Down With Nature

My 18 Year Old Girl

Showing Her Who's Still Boss

Making A Wish

Don't Be Fooled By That Face

Move Over Brother Iz

Happy Hugs!

This past weekend Fred and Abe took off on their annual Father/Son campout and we had our Girl Party. We played games, took walks, watched movies, spent a day in the park, went shopping, did our nails and hair and make-up, went out for ice cream and Eden and the twins played Cinderella while Mikayla and I tried to get caught up on responsibilities. Good times!

Girls Party Picnic In The Park

After Our Nature Walk

She's Got The Whole World In Her Hands

  

Starting the Water Fight

Ganging Up For A Deserved Dunk

 

Kicking and Screaming

Mikayla Doling Out Justice For The Little Man

Father/Son Outing

A Fishing We Will Go

Man vs. Nature

Fred and I got to go into Weiser on Saturday and visit with Kimball (Laura son) and his wife Erin at their Open House. They seemed like a beautiful match. They met at the MTC, where they are both teachers. She seems quite deep and intelligent and kind--pretty on the inside and out. And we know Kimball is all that. I am happy for them. They both seem like the cream of the crop in every way. So many young people we know are getting married. Two more of Jordan's friend girls announced their engagements this week. What a fun time of life!

Our stake has challenged every one of us to bring a visitor to church on the 31st of this month. Mikayla and Eden are already working on it, but I'm a bit stumped. I thought maybe Dad and I could invite someone from our YSA list, but the branch took most of their records and those left are either on missions, active or we have no contact information except Facebook and they don't respond to that. I'm too nervous to ask my neighbours because I don't feel like we've friendshipped them adequately (which we need to change), but I am praying to know who to ask. The twins have taken the invitation seriously and are stressed because they don't know who to ask, so I need to set the example by inviting a family so they can feel like the children are with them, but I've always been a reticent missionary (it's the whole "I-hate-salesmen-because-if-I-am-interested-I will-pursue-it-myself-mentality-that-is-weighing-me-down"). I'm holding onto the example of my children to give me courage and insight.

Eden is off to the Boise Youth Spectacular this afternoon and SO excited! I'm anxious to hear all about it. Fred is also leaving for a conference in Vale, Colorado Saturday--Thursday, which I am not looking forward to, but he will be slowing down a bit here soon, by force, because one of the companies where he has students placed for clinicals found out he was working, on the side, for one of their competitors and because he is the Director and has access to company practices, called Stevens-Henager and threatened to pull all of his students from their  spots if he continues, so he is having to give up his RT C-PAP job. It will be a financial set-back for us, but probably a blessing in disguise because he is never home and when he is, he is quite distracted. I'm sure it will all work out, but I don't know why we can't all just get along and trust each other.

Looking forward to a slow, beautiful weekend. Mikayla and I made a strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, apple pie last weekend that was delectable, if I do say so myself. Our neighbor just gave us some blueberries and I'm pondering another concoction. Pie making is the ultimate culinary labor of love and so the perfect fulfilment.=)