Surprise!

• After everyone left from the 4th of July, we packed ourselves up and headed to Seattle.  Jason's mom was celebrated a big birthday and we had decided, with the other siblings, we would surprise her for her birthday.  So instead of going to Jason's parents house, we all headed out to the lake house.  We arrived there Wednesday night & Jason's dad brought his mom out Thursday for her big surprise!  She had no idea & she was super surprised.  It was so fun.  Our girls love having their little secret & being part of such a fun surprise.  We stayed and play for several days at the lake and it was perfect.  The weather was perfect!  And when I say perfect, I mean I even loved the random rain & lightening & thunder storms!!  We spent the week playing in the water and spending time with cousins.  We could hardly get our girls out of the water.  They are now in love with the jet ski & think they are so big since they got to drive it.  Since the it was the middle of the week we basically had the lake to ourselves which was amazing! 
• Thanks Grandma for having a birthday!

 

 



Visitors!

This has been our summer of visitors & we have loved it!  We have had more people stay at our house this summer than we've had our entire married career.  I have to say, it's nice to be in Boise and be on the path of so many friends & family.  We have loved our visitors (you know who you are) and hope we continue to have more!! If you're ever on the road and passing through Boise...stop and see us, we have a room for you!

4th of July!

I don't think it's any secret that I LOVE the 4th of July!!  I think I post about it every year!  I love that we celebrate our amazing country & freedoms & I love that we spend it with family every year!!  It's been a major family tradition for us since I was a kid and I hope I'm able to always continue that same tradition with my kids.  This year we stayed home and celebrated the 4th Boise style! My sister and some of married kids and their kids joined us and we had a blast.  Sadly I didn't take nearly enough pictures but it was so fun. 

We started the 4th off with the Boise 4th of July parade.  It was so fun. We literally sat on the stairs of the state capitol, it felt very patriotic.  The parade was cute, with lots of candy...just what the kids go for. 

After the parade, in the afternoon, we had a barbeque with family and just hung out all day.  The kids played in the kiddie pool & did the slipe n slide, played basketball and enjoyed cousin time!  We ended the day with fireworks in the cul-de-sac.  Between our men & the neightbors, we had a great little show!

 

I love, LOVE the 4th of July!!!

First Day!

I have so much to post to get caught up on summer, but I couldn't pass up posting abouth the first day of school.  To say that my girls have been excited about today would be a severe understatement.  Emily has been waiting for this day since school got out in June & I think Lauren's been longing to be in kindergarten since the day she was born!!  Needless to say, there were no nerves in our house this morning! 

 

The girls were up bright & early, we made a fun breakfast of crepes together & got dressed in their new first day of school outfit!! First day of school outfits are a bit like Easter dresses for me, I love them and I love that I have girls to buy them for!! Someday I'm sure I'll lose control over getting to choose their clothes but for now I'm loving it!

 

Our big 2nd grader!

 

 Kindergarten and can hardly contain herself!

Abby not going to know what's hit her when she realizes she doesn't have her buddies around to play with all day.  She had to be big and have her backpack just like her sisters!!

I know I should be sad that Lauren is a kindergartener but she is so stinkin' excited, I can hardly be sad. 

 

Since we're lucky enough to have cousins at the school, we like to go over on the first day of school and walk with them.  Both Lauren & Emily are so excited to have a cousin in each of their classes this year.  Since Lauren is in kindergarten, I thought I should walk to school with her, in case she might need me.  Well, I couldn't have been more wrong...she didn't need me, in fact right after we took this picture, she & her cousin (also a kindergartner) took off & led the group to the school.  She never looked back!  When she got to the school, I barely snapped a picture of her dropping off her backpack before she took off to the playground.  I caught another glimpse of her just as she went into class... I think she'll be just fine.  

Hope all our friends & family had great 1st days too!!!