We had some fun visitors this summer...

My cousin, Justin and his wife, Tiffany stopped in for coffee! I haven't seen Justin since August 1996! So we tried to catch up a little. It was fun reminiscing about the growing up years, showing them pics of the last time we were together in WA/OR, embarrassing Justin by showing Tiffany those pics (!), and reviewing "familyism" words like "zeiblich" (crazy). I honestly don't know if that's a word or if it's some made up family word made to sound German. But we all use it!!

Then Julia and Sandy were staying with us the day I got a call from my other cousin's wife, Mari, married to Kent. They were in the state, but coming from a different town than I expected and would be here in about 45 min! I was expecting them later in the afternoon, thinking they had to come over the mountain. So! I was grateful to Sandy for playing playdoh with the kids while Julia and I whipped up some lunch.

Kent and Mari have 3 sweet boys, Caleb, Josiah and Malachi. They recently adopted Anna from Ethiopia. She's a sweetie too! She and Annisia had some fun playing on the Pooh trucks.

The boys enjoyed Jonathan's Iron Man toy.

And the happy family gathered for a great pic...with Annisia!

Jonathan's birthday...#5!

It's hard to believe it's already been 5 years since I lay in that hospital bed wishing I could stand and walk more and wanting my baby out of me and not being able to make it happen...then the suggestion of "I recommend a C-section as it seems the baby is not progressing..." u.g.h.

But! Now my healthy young man is 5! And he lives life to the fullest, and, despite the occasional days that I get frustrated with him, he is a joy! He is witty, musical, strong, loving, adventurous, and imaginative. my birthday tradition is a special cake for the kids. Here's a review...click on the links to see his first birthday, second birthday, third birthday, fourth birthday. When I asked him what he wanted for his fifth birthday cake, he said, "An excavator!" So I showed him a picture of a cake that didn't look too hard to make...and he nixed it. So we got out his favorite "Machines That Work" (which you can't get anymore) book and found the one he wanted. Then I told Michael he'd be helping me with this one! It looks pretty good here...

...and a little rough here! But he loved it! Notice the rocks in the dirt...must have been digging for our foundation! (I should have used Brazil nuts!)

But, the cake was a hit. And it was a chocolate peanut butter swirl...Yummy!

Then gift time! A John Deere tractor,

a baseball and glove from Uncle Bret...

Gramma and Papa got Jonathan a work bench...

And Uncle Jon and Aunt Marti got him a nerf gun...great...(!) I know this isn't all the gifts he got...Oh yes! Then there's the one Daddy and I got...

a new bike!! WooHoo!

And here's his trial run!

I don't know why I put this pic with Jonathan's birthday, but it's a sweet photo of Daddy and Jonathan reading, a favorite pastime.

Hiking...August 21st...

Off hiking and camping again. We really like this place. It has good climbing and hiking for the kids. The kids love the rocks. Anytime, anywhere, any way...they love to climb on rocks.
It's obvious their daddy is Michael!!

Then they down climb, a very important thing to know when climbing rocks. I shudder when I see them starting to just scamper down some rocks, then call out to them to "turn around and down climb" so they learn how and can use the skill when the really need to. So! Here's Jonathan down climbing a fairly benign rock, but proving he knows how! What a good boy!

So, here's another video of Jonathan climbing. But, this time it's up a more vertical rock. For you faint of heart, he did GREAT! So, swallow your heart and watch the vid anyways!!

Kids Birthday Party

Since the kids birthday parties are so close to each other and we wanted to have a kids party separate from all the family, we combined them and had some friends over for mud cake. This was in August.
But first, I let them paint the windows with homemade finger paint. Here's the recipe:
2 cups flour
2tsp salt
3 cups cold water
2 cups hot water
food coloring
few drops of dish soap (makes it easier to wash up)

Mix salt and flour in a saucepan. Gradually pour in cold water and beat the mixture with a small hand mixer until it is smooth. Next mix in the hot water and boil until it is glossy. Beat it until it's smooth. Mix in the food coloring of your choice along with a few drops of dish soap.

Then Rosa played with all the kids on the swing set...

Check out all the expressions here!

Climbing Kenna...

Another underdog, Rosa!

Then it was time for dinner.

And mud cake!!

and presents! I told everyone to just bring a gift the kids could share. They got sidewalk chalk, a ball that pops water balloons, a Thomas the Train tent, sandbox toys, and Ironman and Belle dolls...(forgive me if I have forgotten anything...)

Pool Time...

Jonathan and Annisia really like the pool. But it's got some leaks we are having trouble patching. So the go-go car is over there holding up the side of the pool so the water doesn't leak out!! Also, we, make that Michael, figured out how to make it so the kids would actually like the pool. He drug the hose into the house and hooked it to the laundry room faucet and filled the pool with warmish water. Voila! Now they can handle it without turning blue!

Glee speaking!

The kids are playing with soaker balls. The goal is to throw them at each other and get each other wet. But, Jonathan is a bit of a poor sport...he likes to throw but not be thrown at...;-)

The little stinker in action!

visiting the Fair...

The kids and I rode into town to see our friends Fair entries. This young lady had some beautiful rabbits and big chickens. I forget what else she had, but my kiddos were enamored...

...especially when they got to hold the bunny!

Then we went back to where their trailer was and they got to play in the mucky, muddy creek! That was all good and fun until Annisia fell in the mud.
Luckily, my friend had some spare clothes...the kids had a 15-20 min ride in the bike trailer to get home. We also went into the building with all the projects (sorry, I am not a Fair mommy (yet) so I don't know all the terminology) to see some photography and drawings. And we saw this...yes, a baby skunk. And Annisia wanted to hold it...eek! The stink sac is removed, of course, but still the thought of it bugged me!

We saw some wildlife...

This cow moose was about the only moose we saw this summer. We were up at Circle Park at just the wrong times, I guess. But! This cow was obliging; she posed for us.

This guy was bragging up his fairly small rack...

Then one Sunday, we got home from meeting and saw this buck hanging out under one of our trees. But, check out the froth...we weren't sure what that might mean, so Michael clicked a few pics and herded it out of the yard...

This post is a bit of a majestic photo...he's not so sure of Michael.

Then these little twin fawns hung out at the office most of the summer. Aren't they cute?