Easiest Refereshments EVER!!!

So we all know how fast FHE rolls around,

and if you're anything like me,

you're always caught off guard for a dessert!

I know we don't have to be extravagant,

but it's always a highlight of the evening

so I don't like to disappoint.

What to do then when your little birdies are waiting?

Sundaes, of course!

IN YOUR MOUTH!

I guarantee it to be the

tastiest,

simplest,

&

 silliest

treat ever!

Even mom's and dad's love it!

Happy Family Home Evening!

{Owen was mad I wouldn't give him another sundae! 
It's either that or I have him in a headlock. 
Both could be true so take your pick!}

High Adventure Trek & The County Fair

This is Samuel's first year in the Young Men's program at church,

and one of the biggest perks of working with the Varsity Scouts

is their annual High Adventure Trek. 

This year,

they went white-water rafting (I'm so jealous!),

and a big highlight for him was seeing a Bald Eagle for the first time!

While dad was away,

I wanted to do something really fun with the kids too.

Lucky for us,

the County Fair was in full swing...

so off we went!

I was so proud of Owen! 

He was determined to ride the cars,

even when no one else would ride with him!

The downside:

He hated the ride.

And was pretty traumatized from that point forth!

My girls were pretty awesome too!

They all wanted to ride the ferris wheel-SCARY!

To met at least,

I'm terrified of the things!

They loved it though,

and I'm thrilled no one fell out!

 While we waited for the girls,
me and the boys had a great time just relaxing
picnic-style on the lawn.



Later, I held my first scorpion...

...and the kids fell in love with the cows!

{They missed, dad!}

My daredevils tackled the swings next...

and don't ask me what I'm going to do

when they're old enought to want to ride the Zipper!



It was a really fun night out! 

Sometimes it's daunting taking them all out by myself,

but these are the best kids in the world

and they make me laugh and smile so much!

Sweet Cheeks & Thunderbolts

Baby's with some heft are rare in our family-

only Ava and Gabriel have graced us with rolls,

so forgive me for celebrating my little man.

He's not a chunky-monkey by any means-

but he is sturdy-

especially compared to Owen,

and recently,

to my dismay,

I realized he was growing. 

Which meant only one thing...

All that beautiful baby fat

was starting

to

disappear...

Sad!

So one last hurrah
(Sorry, I couldn't resist the lightening bolt)...

 

before he grows...



up...

for good.

I love you, sweet cheeks!

XOXOMom 



Caught in the Act

The Perp

Small

Slimy

And able to eat

all the strawberries in the garden

before anyone in the house can get

a single

one.

Finally,

caught in the act.

Park Days

This morning was a nice get-together at the park with several sisters from the ward.

In the summer, we don't usually make it out to the park until twilight. 

Trying to beat the heat means getting everyone

out the door a little too early! 

But when we do get out, it's nice getting a jump on the day.

The kids had a blast playing in the volleyball pit...

Gabriel loved feeling the grass...



And Owen pouted when it was time to go!

Which means it was a very successful park day!

Dollar Scoop Tuesdays

Don't let Gabriel's frown fool you...

we love ice cream!

And the kids are so happy to pick out their own scoop!

Don't believe me?

Just ask Owen!

From these photos you'd never know that we're also the parents of

three stunningly beautiful daughters. 

They're all grown up and sitting at their own table-er, tables. 
Ava chose to sit at a table by herself (see the first photo).

Funny girl.

The Bubble Lady & A Sizzling Day at the Park

All I can say is...

she's real.

And the fact that The Bubble Lady visits the library free

for their Summer Reading Program is a total steal! 

The bubbles did not disappoint...

...though, granted, some were less impressed than others.

But you have to admit...

...for the most part,

this is pretty impressive.

There's only one way to top the Bubble Lady, and that is...

...no, not pretzels...

...the PARK!



Judging from the red cheeks,

it was a very, very warm day!

But there are lots of smiles too so it was worth it!

Brunch...whether you like it or not!

It's a tradition in our household-no matter what:

Brunch for Mother & Father's Day! 

Luckily for me,

brunch can have some pretty loose interpretations,

and I've finangled chocolate dipped strawberries

and

roasted asparagus into mine.

Samuel, on the other hand, is the complete opposite.

The boy LIVES for breakfast food so naturally he takes full advantage of the opportunity. 

So, per tradition,

this Father Day,

he ate it up!

Everyone had an assignment:

Mom: Brunch

Ava: Confetti Eggs

Iris: Flowers

Bella: Decor & Card

Owen: All of the above plus playing with toys (very, very important).

Gabriel: To be obliviously happy-like he always is.

Dad: Sleep-in and stay-out-of-the-way!

I had a blast in the kitchen...

Ava rocked the eggs...

Confetti Eggs:

Drain them,

clean them,

fill them,

squeeze them!

Iris picked the most beautiful bouquet on the planet...

while Bella holed up in her room creating the decor & card!

Samuel was "surprised"...

...and properly "confettied"!

After church we came home,

ate dinner and ice-cream sundaes,

and just had some great daddy-time.

Samuel,

You are good man.

And a great dad.

Thank you for putting your family first, above all.

I love you.

Very much.

-Me

Summer Roast

I hate s'mores.

Always have.  Always will.

Now marshmallows and chocolate alone?

Completely separate from one another, and minus any graham action?

That's another story.

Yum.

But what are you going to do?

S'mores are a summer staple

-especially if you have a firepit-

and the kids go crazy for them. 

So here you go...

Oodles of kids with hot pokers:

Very dangerous!

But also extremely fun!



Bella & Hallie





Uncle Nathan getting some sweets on.

And Gabriel wearing the latest in baby summer attire.