july 4th continued

after the family bbq we headed home and did our own firework show. we watched a little bit of the melaleuca firework show from our backyard and then called it a night.



sparklers 

 

these kids don't know how to have fun with sparklers. they would just stick them in the ground and watch them burn. silly kids. 

happy independence day! god certainly does bless america! 

july 4th fun

it was fun to be able to spend some time with staci and kyle on the 4th. we grabbed some sandwiches and had a picnic at a local park. the weather was great and we had fun relaxing together.

the boys played some frisbee.

 

 

 

the kids also did a LOT of swinging.

we had some fun with the camera. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

then it was off to get some reed's dairy ice cream. kevin grabbed some fireworks on the way home and we made a quick stop at home and then went over to my parents for a bbq with my family. i didn't take any pictures but we were surrounded with good food and good company.

ZOO

we received an exciting call sunday night from staci (kevin's sister) saying that they were making a last minute trip to idaho falls (from boise) the next night to see kyle's grandma and would like to spend a few nights at our house. we were thrilled! we have really missed having them live close by.

they came monday night and it didn't take long for those boys to hit the golf course. they were up and at the course at 7am the next morning. kevin was in heaven.

staci and i took the kids to the zoo tuesday afternoon. the only pictures i got were on the tigers. so, enjoy! ;)

 

 

 

we had a fun time.

then tuesday night we got a babysitter and had some yummy dinner at texas roadhouse and went to see the  new spiderman. it was a perfect day!

day trip to island park

my good friend/neighbor and i decided to take a day trip to island park with the kids last saturday. we needed to go and scope out the cabin we will be using for girls camp next month and thought the kids might like to pack a lunch and make an adventure out of it.

they were pretty good for us and the weather was perfect. after checking out the cabin we went to big springs and had a picnic and feed the fish/seagulls.


some of the picnickers: wesley, owen, carson, and maddy

it was so beautiful

we really did want to feed the fish, but those darn seagulls were VERY aggressive!

"mine! mine! mine!"

sitting on the dock 

coop confined

we had a great time! thanks lowry's for spending the day with us. 

it's always fun when the grandparents come

kevin's parents made the drive from utah last week to watch the boys play tball. the boys were excited to have them in the crowd.

we enjoyed having them stay for "two sleepovers". fred was even kind enough to do a couple of my "honey do's". it was exciting! :)

fred checking out kevin's john deere. fred worked for john deere for his entire professional career and retired a few years ago.

grandma ward gave madalyn and owen their birthday money while she was here. and since wesley still had his birthday money from her we decided to go to the toy store and pick out something special for each of them. madalyn fell in LOVE with these cinderella shoes.

thanks for coming fred and carolyn!

june 26th

as much as i'd like to, i just can't let this day pass without recognizing what this day could have represented. today was the due date for our fourth baby. the baby that we discovered was lost during my 16 week check-up.

i'd be lying if i didn't say that these last five months have been etched with a lingering ache. and usually at the most inconvenient times. BUT, they have also been filled with a lot of compassion, hope, encouragement, and kindness.

many times i have had to step back in awe as i experienced the little tender mercies people have been a part of. people willing to ask how i'm doing at a moment when i really needed to talk, others sending a random gesture my way that was very MUCH needed at that moment. or, those able to just recognize situations that might be difficult for me and offer a shoulder. 

i hope i can remember to be this kind, thoughtful, and concerned when i know someone is hurting. more times than not, i believe these people were receiving inspiration from our heavenly father. so thankful they were listening and willing to act on that little whisper.

thank you for the examples and opportunties for growth. our heavenly father is so very mindful of each of us. it's amazing!

cruising

the joys of a slanted driveway.

 

 

gone fishin'

 saturday night our friends invited us to their stocked pond to do some fishing with the kids and have a bbq. our kids were SO excited!

and it didn't disappoint. they each caught a few and the weather was great.
thanks for the fun simmon's family!

owen reeling one in

i told him to hold the fish and this is what i got. he's got a little TOO much of his mom in him.

wesley was great at casting his line.

carson

wesley reeling one in. he caught FOUR that night.

this is as close as he got to holding the fish as well.

madalyn even reeled one in.

then she was SUPER ticked off when we let her fish go. 

carefree and barefoot

 

summertime

the ice cream truck came through our cul-de-sac the other day and all the kids went running for their piggy banks. i thought these sponge bob Popsicles were hysterical.

it's summertime!