End of Summer

 Back to school!  So fun ..... for about a week.....

Two pains in the butt, why are cute things so irresistible?   Scott tried to talk me into this puppy.  I keep reminding him we still have Justin that we need to make room for.  Can you imagine, this puppy would grow to be the size of a small cow!

 Avery's bday the neighbor girls came over.  She was excited when Dad brought home a trampoline that night!

 

She is VERY excited to be 8 and getting baptized!

 We had such a great time this year at the fair.  We got free tickets from a friend and it made it all the more fun!!!!

 My time off was the best week ever!  All my kids took turns getting sick, fevers, flu, strep throat, ear aches, colds, you name it, they all had it.  I got to spend one on one time with each one as the rest played and enjoyed the carefree life of Mom being home.  I am positive I made the right choice, in 7 months of school I didn't take a single sick day for any of the six of us.  I told them to get it all out now,  because we have another 7 months to go! 

 Eric is awesome!

 My kids are super cute.  While taking pics of Avery I caught them telling secrets.

 Our backyard.  One day when I have grass I will miss this...... maybe

Austin is a senior this year, they told us he could do something silly for his pic if he wanted.

Road Trips & Giggly Girls

One of the things I miss since Ive been in school is taking road trips.  I used to be able to load the kids up and go anywhere I wanted any time I wanted.  All of our fun road trips are most of our favorite memories.  It's been 7 months, Im officially half way done.  We made it to the end of summer..... almost.  I have decided to take a leave of absence for a week, because Jocelyn and Avery are having a hard time.  Avery mostly.  She ends up in our bed a lot of nights and she keeps leaving me notes that say ... I wish you were home, I miss you so so so so so much (add about 50 so's).  I have been gone everyday all summer, I can say "but it's only until 2:30 and I get Sundays and Mondays home", but it really has been a hard summer for the kids.  Rin and Eric sleep until 11 so they don't mind but Rin is burnt out on bbsitting.  It's been the most hard on Joc and Avery.  Anyways so I took an LOA I will be home 7 school days, I will go back when they start school and it will be perfect.  I would love to take a fun road trip but it's not just my school that keeps us from going, its growing grass, Austin's work, gas prices, organizing for school.... the list goes on. 


  How to be the perfect Mother of Teenagers......Where is the book for that?

Marinda runs downstairs to show me a text, a boy called her beautiful..... she is all giggly and smiling ear to ear.  ...... Am I supposed to be happy for her?  Glad she shared that with me?  Mad at the boy?  Mad at her?   Mad at Scott?  I just stood there, I didn't know what my reaction was supposed to be...... my natural reaction is to throw up a little in my mouth but I don't think that's good either.  Austin was so different and would tell me things but in a boy two words grunt type way so it's odd to have a romantic excited girl....  Im not liking it. 

Reunion and Adventures

 

We had everyone up for 1 day for the picture, besides Feliz who had to stay at school in Florida.  Then some had to leave at different times, but for the most part we got to spend the week at Priest Lake.  29 Grandkids.  As always, the best week when they all get to play together morning noon and night in the cabin of happiness.  It really is, there is a lot of chocolate up there.  

 Austin surprised me and came home at midnight the day before we left.  He got to go to church with us and then head up to the cabin and then sadly had to go home the next day and back to Oregon.  But we were so excited to get him for a day and a half! 

 Eric had some face issues.  He had been on a high adventure, they went up Mt. Adams where he got too much sun, wind, and a touch of frost bite, then made it worse by boating and river rafting for the next two days getting more sun burnt (I promise I put sunblock on Mom....) 

 Scott and I had one day vacation together, he came up with us spent the day and then took Austin back, I stayed for 2 days (skipping school) and then he came back up as I headed home since I couldn't miss that many days and the kids were DYING to stay longer.  We met in Ritzville and had a hamburger together.  As the kids get older we sure have to try hard to spend time together.

 It was the best weather, when its hot its so easy to get into the cold lake so we all had a great time. 

 

End of July it had been a year since Scott's Grandpa had passed.  Scott hated this picture when I showed it to him (that I took on my phone sneaky like) because he didn't like to see his Grandpa look sick and weak.  But now looking back at it he loves it, he was so glad to get to spend some one on one time with him when he was down here in the hospital. 

 Eric has been my handy man, putting together the list of things I need done while Scott is too busy rolling around in the dirt in the backyard. 

 Oh look, Rin is as helpful as I am.  :)

 We did make it to the aquatic center in Moses, always so hard, it feels SO far away.  The kids had a lot of fun.

 Eric on top of Mt. Adams

The boys had a good time, he likes his new troop and leaders.  Scott got put into young mens over Eric's group so they are both very happy about that.