Sum, sum, summer time...

I think that after getting so far behind on my pictures this summer I just avoided my camera for a while. This last week it has slowly been making a reappearance in our lives and so...

Yep, Soni lost another tooth. It has been loose all summer and finally I just reached in and grabbed it. She thought it was extremely painful until she saw the tooth in my hand. Now I get such a kick out of her lisp. She is going to a surprise princess party next week and every time she asks about it I have to tease her a little bit.

Austin and Phil ran another 5K last Saturday, I was planning on running it too until my friend talked me into running a marathon this fall so we did 12 miles before the race. That's my friend's kid that's running with Austin. They're both so dang competitive, but they really worked together and planned a tie at the end. They came in at 26:42...speedy boys.

We went to the reservoir last week and took Sam and Joe. Their older sister was the one killed in the auto accident and they spent most of the week at our house. It was good to have them here and I just wanted to help anyway I could....the problem came when Eve and Sam floated away from the creek and out into the reservoir. They can both swim, but there was a pretty strong current and they both panicked. Phil and two other boys jumped in to get them back to the shore. It was a little scary there for a minute, but my biggest fear was telling the mom who had just lost a daughter that I just about drowned another. I mentioned it as casually as I could and I'm pretty sure she was so emotionally wiped out it didn't even click on her register...and she let me keep the kids several times since then, so I think we're all good.

So....next week school starts and again I ask myself..."why do I send my kids away all day?" Yes, they drive me crazy, but it's a good crazy and things are awful quiet when they're gone.

Inner Runner

When Eve was little she loved to run, but as she has gotten a little emotional older she has been hesitant to really try. I keep teasing her about finding her inner runner...that when she does, she will just take off and never look back. Well, it took the zoom lens on Trevor's camera, but I think we found it...

...check out that form....

....maybe her inner runner is a sprinter instead of a distant type.

Watch out world......

I know this was AGES ago, but the story must be finished. When you have events like this...

and this....

and this....

oh, and this...

well, the story must be told.

After spending time in Utah with family down there we loaded up the van with food and headed to Idaho. We got to hang with Jim, Shaye and cutie Sawyer before everyone came and all the festivities got started. I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised. I knew Shaye would be a good mama, (love ya, Shaye) the surprise came with my little bro Jimbo...who knew? Jim has always been a softy...in a tough manly sort of way of course, but man...Sawyer has his daddy whooped! That was so fun to see...worth the trip right there.

Wednesday was for work. I knew it was coming, in fact I usually enjoy a good project out on the farm, but boy this was one heck of a project. I just kept thinking what a monster it would have been if we all weren't there to do it together.

And after the work, we got to relax in the shade of what was left of  "the tree"...even half gone there was still plenty of shade to go around.

And flowers...from Grandma's bloomin' yard. It knew Mom wouldn't be there but showed off anyway.

Thursday was all about celebrating this sweet little munch and her decision to be baptized. She is such a kind, giggly little girl.....

...with a little glint in her eye that makes you wonder what she's been up too. Being so far away from family, I miss some of these special days, so I felt very lucky to be able to be there for her big day.

After the baptism we headed out to the middle of nowhere for a little family reunion fun. Having grown up on a farm in the middle of nowhere, I'm well aware of the fun that is to be had in such places, but this was over the top. Water slides, zip line, kids flying through the air and candy falling from the sky....mix that with a whole bunch of wonderful people and good times are what we had.

Melissa's family was there too, and what a fun bunch of people. Singing around the campfire was a highlight, and something I hope we do again. I'm pretty sure Melissa's family is a little more talented in the singing department, so just in case we are on our own next year, here is a little challenge for all my nieces and nephews....

Flea Fly (LaVista)

(This is a "repeat after me" song!!)

Flea.

Flea fly.

Flea fly flo.

LaVista.

Cumalada, cumalada, cumalada, vista.

Oh, no, no, no, not the vista.

Eeeenimeenie, dessimeenie, oowalawalameenie.

Essimeenie, solomeenie, oowalawa.

A be billy oten doten bobo ba deeten doten

Bobo ba deeten doten shhhhhhhhhhh!

....k, you all know what to do, right?  ...can't wait for next year!