Deep Summer Is When Laziness Finds Respectability. ~Sam Keen

This is a quick overview of our summer thus far........Tonya went to leader day at girls camp this year. I had a blast! Here are some of us leaders trying to make a pyramid. I'm in the back trying to take my position. We actually finished it, but all of us were screaming and glad to see it come to an end. Aren't we cool?

Rylie was enjoying a Now And Later when all of a sudden she chomped down on one of her molars. Sorry if you have a queasy stomach, but I thought this was so funny! She had a hard time getting her tooth out of the candy, but finally managed. Now we know how to get those loose teeth out without fail.

We have had fun hanging out at the fountains at Beaverton City Park. Rylie thinks they are a bit lame now in her old age, but I love the atmosphere there, so deal with it Rylie:0)

We love having our cousins living so close now! Matt's brother Steve and his family just moved here from Washington. Here's cousin Bethany taking Eli for a walk around the house. They had so much fun doing this.

Swimming lessons are under way. Rylie, Sophia and Eli are all swimming for a month this summer. They love it! Ivy wanted to go swimming so bad on the first day of classes, so I signed her up for the next session.

The kids thought it would be funny to dress Macy up in their build a bear clothes. I can't believe Macy let them do it.

We had our friends the Oberg's over for a campfire in the backyard. We had a blast relaxing, talking, eating s'mores(with peanut butter cups! ) and watching the kids play.

Hanging out at the zoo. We were excited to see the dinosaurs, but were disappointed to find out that we had to pay extra to see the stinkin' fake dino's, so we bypassed and got a sno-cone instead.

Working in the garden at Grammy and Papa Gold's house. This thing is so huge! We helped plant, and now we have to keep up on the weeds and the picking. I am so glad that we are doing this as a family. The lessons we learn about the pay offs of hard work are priceless. I know the kids get annoyed over the whole thing, but I know that one day they will appreciate it all.

Eli helping Aunt Jen pick the sweet peas.

While we were weeding one day we came accross these little eggs. Matt had just roto-tilled past them. Thank goodness that they were spared. The kids were fascinated by them.

This picture of Ivy's piggies was actually taken right before summer, but Matt snagged the camera and took it to Holland with him before I had a chance to post it. This picture just cracked me up! That night before I put Ivy to bed I cut the feet off of her jammies. She was so mad at me, but the circulation on her toes was being cut off. I decided that it was probably more important to save her sweet little piggies:0)