Summertime

Getting the shed built was much more time-consuming than having the yard excavated. That's why we hire professionals. All I have to say is that intelligence does not always translate well in regards to a speedy shed-raising process. There was a lot of arguing over how things were to be done. Isn't that what instructions are for? Lawyers...not the speediest builders in regards to wood and nails. But seriously, the shed looked great and they did a great job!

Poor Emery gets dragged around everywhere! We had a great summer...a picture I just couldn't resist. Sometimes a girl has just got to get her beauty sleep! This huge machine was in my backyard when I got home from girl's camp. We were land-scaping our backyard. And the head foreman let Ben take a ride in it when he was all done. Ben was elated.

Summer Lakedale Trip

I have been so bad about updating my blog. But I am going to try to do a better job! Here are some pictures from our Lakedale Trip this summer. It was such a nice trip...went with Tom's family...and got to spend more time with daddy than we have in a long time. It was so beautiful. It's a campground near Friday Harbor. We had to take a ferry out there...and the kids had a blast...it tuckered Emery out!
Rebekah and her cousin Julia! They almost got blown away!
The whole family in matching shirts!
Tom and I decided to hike around to the lighthouse (the rest of the family drove to it!) and it was one of the high-lights of the trip. My little adventurers wouldn't have it any other way!

Rebekah's Baptism Pictures

Rebekah did a photo shoot with my sister-in-law in her baptism dress. She looked so beautiful! It got me a little teary-eyed. It's hard to believe that she's 8. She's always been such a great little girl. She's self-motivated, sensitive and very endearing. We love you, Rebekah!

My sister-in-law's blog is kimrobinsonphotos.blogspot.com if you would like to see more of her stuff. We have loved all of the pictures she has taken of our family. Thanks Kim!!

Happy 4th of July

Went over to The Cousin's House on July 4th to watch fireworks. They really liked the super-long sparklers.

Trying to get them all to smile at the same time is almost impossible!!

The Three Amigos....literally!

Most of the clan...
Emery at the park July 3rd...

Rebekah talked me into climbing the rock wall with her. It didn't seem too hard at the time but I was sore the next day!!

Is this really summer?!?!?!

Our summer had not been very warm. This was one of two sunny days that we have had so far. But we've managed to stay very busy. Between Summerfest, basketball camp, T-ball, swimming lessons, church playgroups, the gym and family coming into town, we have had a very fun-filled and eventful summer. And we're just getting started. This little girl from church was giving Ben a flower (dandelion) and I managed to get a picture of it. Esther and Emery going down the slide at the gym...

Benjamin swinging on the rope at the gym...

Ben, Rebekah and Esther going down the slide at the same time...

The magic show that we went to where Esther got to participate in a four kid levitation!
Ben climbing the rock wall at Summer fest...
Rebekah climbing that same wall.
She made it to the top...

Father's Day at our house!

We had Father's Day dinner at our house this year. The first thing we did--Daddy Bingo!

We got daddy some of his favortie treats! Tom is not a big fan of presents but he put up with it!

So, of course, he shared with the kids! The dinner table was all ready!

We also made a tree with tributes to our fathers and grandfathers. It was a fun night with family!

Basketball Camp for Esther and Rebekah

Esther and Rebekah were able to attend the Lady Hornet's basketball team. It is run by the head coach and players of the White River High School Girl's Basketball Team. It was such a great camp...very organized with skills actually being taught to them. Esther was the best at "boxing out" and Rebekah was the best "stealing." If you notice in this picture, Esther has her fingers tapped on her right hand. She got her first jammed finger...I told her it was the first in a long line of jammed fingers. I was a proud momma! Rebekah shooting...
They got their certificates from the head coach at the end of camp...
Here they are with their teammates and student coaches.

Ben playing T-ball

Ben was able to play T-ball for the first time. He has played soccer and basketball before but this was his first time playing T-ball. He loved it!

Here he is with his friend, Riley!
He loved batting...and for his first time, he always did great!

Last Day of School

After school was over, we met with some friends at a park to celebrate... Emery found a pal of her own!
We made caramel popcorn for the kids to give to people at school....
Then each of the kids made their teachers a fancy clipboard....to say thanks!