All dressed up for church with cousin Nolan; it took a few tries to get it (almost!) right-
And the two little boys, Mason and Parker. Again, take one, take two, still nothing...
Story time with Grandma, reading Antler Bear Canoe, a Northwoods Alphabet. The book could be set at my parents' house, for real.
One afternoon my sister Kristina and I took the 4 older kids to a fun bounce house called Up Up Jump!, for which I had scored 50% off coupons. Brian agreed to work from home for the afternoon while Mason and Parker napped. Kristina and I felt a little guilty as we started getting texts from Brian (alright, she started getting texts from Brian, as I don't text) as both little boys woke up way early from their naps, Parker presented Uncle Brian with a lovely dirty diaper and then proceeded to cry for my sister for the next hour and a half give or take. Meanwhile, the kids spent 2+ happy hours at the bounce house, checking in only for the occasional water break, while Kristina and I lounged on the sofas, reading Glamour and People and eating chocolate. It was heavenly. And Brian was a super sport about it.
I also took Kristina and her boys to one of our favorite finds of the summer, the Rocky Mountain Arsenal and National Wildlife Refuge. We happened to arrive just in time for a kids' class on birds' beaks and feet (which, like everything else at the refuge, was FREE!), so the kids go to do experiments to figure out what kind of beaks different birds have, make bird feet prints, make and wear bird beaks, and more. The kids loved it!
The kids also loved playing in the Discovery room, putting on puppet shows, and more-
All 6 of them, playing so beautifully-
More of the homesteader clothing (Nolan, Isabel, Connor)-
The day before she (bravely) drove alone with her 2 boys to Colorado from St. Louis, Kristina found out that baby #3 is a girl! My mom, sisters and I LOVE to shop, and always fit in at least one shopping trip when we're together. Kristina and I wanted to shop for baby girl clothes, but just didn't have as much time we would have liked. We did manage a very quick trip where she got her first baby girl clothes - such fun! I'm sure she has many more shopping outings in her future, but I'm glad I got to help her with her first one.
There were so many other events while my family was here: dinners with friends, shopping and a day at the temple with my mom, my parents were able to attend Connor and Isabel's state track meet (in the hot scorching sun), Cars 2 with grandma and grandpa, trips to the pool... there wasn't one day we didn't have something going on. Thanks for the memories! And for bringing us oh so close to the start of the school year. :)
