Bills visit and other summer fun

We were so happy to have our friends, the Bills family, stay with us.  They were able to stay one night as they were passing through on their way back home.  I sure miss that family and those cute kids.  It was such fun getting everyone together to say hello for the night.

The kiddos cooperated for a few pictures.

Shaylee Bills, Joanna Van Shaar, Katlyn Carroll, Jayson, Joyal, Amy Joyal, (can't remember his name), Matthew Van Shaar

Isaac Brunson, Sydney Bills, Kelsey Bills, Dallin Joyal, Ethan Carroll

And then Ben joined in just in time for silly photos.

Just some random playing with the pirate ship.  I just thought they were so cute.

I know this is a terrible picture but it describes my life pretty well.  There always seems to be one kid or another grabbing onto me, needing something.  I was thinking today about how in not too many years I'll be eating lunch without kids around because they'll all be at school.  I got a little sad.  I'm sure I'll miss this stage of life and I'm grateful for little moments like today that help me remember to enjoy it while I can.  Though sometimes I'm just surviving it, not enjoying it.  And I think that's probably okay too.

More summer theme week fun.  We had water week and I let the kids sidewalk paint.

And while they painted I practiced some photography on flowers.  I'm not so good at this kind of thing.

And I realized one night that I didn't have a really good photo of messy, pasta-faced, Nora.  Every baby needs a photo like this, right?

Wrapping up July

We took or annual trip on the trolley.  Jacob loves it and so do the boys.  It's also always fun to see how babies react the first time to being in a moving vehical and no carseat.  Nora loved the freedom.  It was cute.

We took a trip down to Colorado Springs to visit Shannon for her birthday.  It was fun to see their new home and visit Garden of the Gods.

Love this photo of all the kids (except Jeremiah and Nora) holding hands.  Nora was in the stroller and Jeremiah was still in Utah.

Hannah pointing up to the "kissing camels" that you can see below.

Some nice guy offered to take a picture of all of us.  Love it!  I wish we had a little more time and a little more willing kids to really hike in Garden of the Gods.  As it was, we just took the little paved loop.  Next time we are going aon a more off beat trail.

Cute Isaac and Hannah.

And Nora and I.  She woke up at 5:30 that morning.  I was not a fan of that.

Isaac, Aubrey, Ben, Hannah, and Katie.

I took the kids to the Science museum here in town.  Nora loved exploring (and eating) the little kid play area.

I also took the kids to the "beach" at a lake in a neighboring city.  It was super fun.  And a good reminder that I really dislike the sand.  It was worth the mess for the good fun we had though.  At least until the car ride home where they boys were arguing and screaming and I lost my cool in a major way.  Oh boy, not a finiest moment for sure.

Oh.. and more of the museum.  I don't know why these get out of order.

Mid July Happenings

After getting home from Utah we went to the temple because the outside construction fence was taken down.  

So excited for the open house and dedication!

Nora is obsessed with pillows.  This kind of play is a daily occurrence.  It's so funny.

I tried to do some theme weeks in the month of July.  This was a part of bug week.  We ate dirt and worms.  When I told Ben we were going to eat mud, and dirt, and worms he was laughing but also said with some hesitation "Not real worms right?"  He had to verify that fact a few more times in the week before I showed him the actual ingredients.  It was super cute and funny.

These boys have lived in the backyard this summer.  I was trying to capture some of that play.  They have been digging, collecting grasshoppers, and the like.  Of course there has been plenty of turning on the water when they are not supposed to and appropriately exploring the swing set too.

Jacob let the kids help wash the car.  So much cuteness!

Nora was just thrilled to be a part of it when so often she is left inside.

She was also a little less stable on her feet with the incline of the driveway.  She never fell though.

I'm not sure how much soap Nora ate...but it was definitely some.  

More summer fun to come!