Summer Wrap-Up

It is amazing to me that school starts around here on Thursday! 

How can the summer be just about over?

Looking back on what seems like the faster summer to date-we have had some good times:

Hanging out at grandma and grandpa's house. 

They've been pretty busy themselves this summer, so we haven't got to see them a whole lot. 

But, when the boys get over they have the best time building birdhouses with grandpa, helping grandma in the garden, playing on the tractor, and walking Ella.  They are pooped-out by the end of the day.  There's nothing more that I love then two exhausted and sleeping boys. 

I've got to work on my cookie decorating skills.

I hosted a baby shower with a friend from the ward in honor of three friends that all had babies within a week of each other.  It was a great excuse to get a new cookie cutter and try some new designs.  

Blake continues to rock the sunglasses look. 

Ryan is climbing to new heights and learning how to go down the hard way:(

Still loves to swing. 

Tate turned into a blue cat for the afternoon after going to a friend's birthday party.

Tate told me he just wanted to get a soccerball on his hand or maybe a spiderman on his arm. 

I think after he saw his friend Spencer become a green puppy, he decided to go all out.

The face painter truly had a way with the kids. 

He was fast and those kids sat so still-it was awesome! 

We hit the local community fair in Maple Valley with Auntie Karrie where the boys got to make fun crafts, get to go down the fireman slide, get free candy . . . 

and eat a lunch of chocolate milk, Cheetos and an icecream sandwich.

A lunch for champions. . . that Tate picked out. 

You wouldn't think from looking at this picture that the boys actually LOVE going to the little deli just down the road from our house.  It isn't really a deli.  Growing up we had a little grocery store at the bottom of our house that we'd walk to to buy humongous otter pops.  I don't know why we called it the little deli-because I'm sure it actually had a name-but that's what we called it and it has stuck to calling all establishments that you can buy 10 cent candy at!  The boys love it because they have a little shopping cart they push around and put their treats in and then they each get a little brown paper sack with their treats.

Tate works hard doing chores around the house to earn money so he can buy gum there.

He always wants gum.

Blake is happy to pick out a couple pieces of candy from the 10-cent container and Ryan just loves to come along for the ride.

This outting was a little tougher with all the boys and two boys who can walk that insisted on riding in the stroller.

That left one non-walking child to be carried by the mom who also had to push those boys with broken legs. 

It was a long walk home.