Summer: Month TWO!!

July was a busy month at our house . . . it seemed like we were running almost the entire month.  We were still able to squeeze some fun in though.  The first week Chase and Trey spent at the Burley pool working on the requirements for the swimming merit badge.  Chase was able to finish it and Trey has one requirement left.   

We had a pretty low-key 4th of July which was great!  We went to the Rupert 4th of July parade that morning, and it was HOT!!  I was really good to make sure that everyone got sunblock on . . . everyone that is except for me.  I put it on my face and arms, but completely forgot my legs and they go fried (enough that I could hardly walk the following day).  The little boys loved seeing all the tractors, fire trucks, police cars, and horses. 

We went to lunch at Burger King and then picked up our fireworks on the way home.  The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing and swimming in the pool.  That night we let off our fireworks.  The older three boys were more interested in lighting the fireworks than actually watching them.  It is going to be interesting when we have ALL six boys each wanting to light the fireworks. 

Chase went to Scout Camp at Camp Bradley during the second week. He was able to earn 8 more merit badges as well as do some fishing with his Scout Master. He had a great time!

The third and fourth weeks were full of dentist appointments for cleanings and fillings, doctor appointments, and swimming lessons.  We told Chase that because he had completed the swimming merit badge that he didn't need to take swimming lessons, which he was more than excited about. So he got to stay home and take care of Declan, which was much appreciated because there was no way that Declan would have sat for an hour.   The boys did great in swimming lessons and all passed their classes and will move up to the next class next summer. 

We spent an evening bucking hay bales.  Can I just say how nice it is to have boys that are strong enough to do a good chunk of the work now . . . especially since I was unable to help out this year other than drive.  After the work was all done we finished off the night with homemade chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches and italian sodas.

July was also filled with fun in the pool, canning beets, a bike wreck (Chase), fixing a car, and lots of fishing!  It was a great month!

 

 

Summer: Month One

I have been having a hard time keeping up with blog posts lately . . . slacker, I know.  In order to get caught up and hopefully stay that way this will be a general post of things that went on in June, month ONE of summer.  Which amazingly is already a week behind us as we are already into month TWO, where does the time go? 

FHE treats--chocolate lip and moustache suckers!

Chase off to NYLT (National Youth Leadership Training) for a week at Camp Bradley. 

  Closet cubbies in the little boys' room that Trey built for one of his projects for his Family Life merit badge.  He did such an awesome job!  I love the shelves!

Mmmmm....summer's first S'MORES!

  

Spray plane . . . they love to watch it fly over

  

Swimming in the flooded field

  

Sneak peek at baby K

  

Cuddle time with mom 

Fun shower gifts for baby K

We also had reunions, trips to both Boise and Hamer, and baby room projects, but pictures are yet to come of the room . . . still a work in progress!

Swimming lessons

Last week the boys finished a two week stint of swimming lessons. Trey and Layton were in the same class and learned how to do back and front floats along with kicking and dunking their faces. Layton is quite afraid of the water so this was a good experience for him. It has made a big difference already. Chase learned the different strokes (back, crawl, breast, and butterfly) along with rotary breathing. After some of the lessons they were allowed to float in the lazy river. They all loved floating in there and playing tag.

4th of July Fun!!!

Doug & Kathryn and Mathew (Kathryn's brother) spent 4th of July weekend with us! It was such a fun time. We were invited out to the Roylance Family Pond for the 4th...in Kathryn's words "Pond? This should be called Roylance Lake!" Trey caught a BIG large mouthed bass there that he brought home and plans to have for dinner real soon. The boys played in the water most of the day, getting out only to snatch a bite to eat here and there. Doug, Matt, Kathryn, and Mathew had fun going down the slide and off the rope swing. Yes, can you believe it???? Matt was in the water!! Yay!

After our fun there we hurried home and got ready for the Othello Fireworks show. We weren't prepared for how chilly it was going to be....most of us were quite cold but had a great time watching the fireworks!