June Recap

 I was looking at the schedule today and we have less than a month already of summer break. Womp, womp, womp. It has gone too fast for us and we are 100% not ready to go back. So, I am not going to even think about it. Long live summer!

June was so good to us and so full of all the summer fun stuff we love. We actually have so much on our to do list this summer and I am hoping we can get all the bucket list items squeezed in. So, without further ado, our June:

The splash pad (above) and park (below). The kids didn't really want to do the splash pad this year and were convinced they outgrew it. But, I had a random idea to go anyways and told them to do it for Avery. She will want the splash pad, especially in the next few years. And guess what? My kids had a blast! And towards the end, they had friends from school show up which made it even more exciting. 100% worth doing. 

Above they are reading at the park which was a library challenge they were completing. After they read, we got a good walk in. We are also really into fishing this year at the park so now I will load you with tons of fish pictures. I lost track of how many times we went fishing (the kids were in a weekly y group and they convinced dad to take them any chance they could), so we got lots of opportunities this month for fish pictures:

                                                         

                                                            

                                                           

                                                     

                                                             

                                                             

                                                             

                                                             

                                                             

And the biggest fish caught in June goes to...

                                                           

JAYDEN! And I didn't even get a picture of him with the fish but I have this pic. It was huge! He struggled to reel it in. And we were all so proud of him and his catch.

Oh, and the other 2 people not pictured in any fishing escapade. Well, we were walking at the park. Some of those napping (in the stroller) pictures coming below are from those walks. And we snapped pictures and celebrated the kids as they caught fish. But we did capture this one rare shot together between all the fish catching:

                                                           

Back at home, Jayden wowed me with his ability to hold and love on our rooster, who my husband gingerly named Dinner. No one else has fully agreed to this name yet:

Avery continues to bring us lots of joy as we snap any picture of her we can:

I mean, is there anything sweeter than a sleeping baby? Maybe a sleeping baby on you. But really there isn't much else sweeter. I know the long nights won't last forever. 

Still a baby fan! She doesn't seem to realize she is a baby! She is the sweetest little mama. 

She is also super into playing in sand right now.

She's growing so fast and totally runs the show here. But, we got so lucky with her. She is very tolerant of all the activities the kids want to do. Including making it to swim at local pools with friends 3 days in a row in the week I am typing this. She is a total trooper and we are so lucky she is mostly go with the flow for us and our crazy ideas. 

One of the times we made it to the pool! The kids had a few friends and has so much fun. 

We also made it to climb the large look out tower one day. We never do this as often as we would like but are thankful for the times we go. No kids struggle with this climb but we reminisced on how Riley was so afraid of heights he struggled to convince himself to walk each set of stairs and then would be glued to the middle concrete wall once he got to the top. How quickly seasons change. It's really so true in so many ways that nothing lasts forever. 

We have enjoyed smores and a fire pit many times this month and it is truly a delight for our family. 

Our town held their local, annual festivities and this was the only picture I got. I guess I was having too much fun. We went to the parade and then the middle of town has lots of kids rides and activities. Then there was a car show and shopping. We look forward to this celebration every year. 

Coffee shop dates for the win! We made it a few times and generally use this time as a treat after we clean the whole house together. It's a win/win for me as I get to come back home to a well cleaned home.

There was one unusually rainy and gloomy day that we couldn't really get outside. So, we made lemonade out of lemons and literally had a tea party. This is the first tea party for Avery! She had a blast and especially loved working on her pouring skills. 

This summer we are also working on the kids watching Avery while I do a quick workout at the gym. They are in the play room and I am just up the stairs if they need me. I snapped this picture as I returned from one morning. I would say, this arrangement has been working out well for all of us. 

Avery and Payton together. Avery is really into lounging. She will happily lay on the couch and a blanket any time she sees them. This may be brief but I do think this is my only child to do this at such a young age. This makes it extra sweet, we all get a kick out of her resting. 

Our community also hosted a family fun day. This day entails bounce houses, laser tag games for the family, hot dogs and popcorn, and kayaks to borrow. I just got pictures at the bounce houses:

One random Sunday, I snuck out for an afternoon matinee to see Inside Out 2 with the big kids. 

I loved all of it. It was a cute movie but I was just so honored to spend some time with my kids doing something that is a very rare treat for us. 

Back at home, we are processing raspberries:

I think all the kids eat their weight in raspberries as they pick. But I did get a little into the freezer this year, a first for us. 

We also picked sour cherries and I made pie! One is sour cherry and one is strawberry rhubarb. They were gone within hours. We also made bread:

                                                   

We made it to several library summer reading programs. The picture above was a wildlife encounter program and the kids got to help with a huge rabbit (I can't recall the actual breed). 

One last picture to round this recap up. A picture of a nest we found:

A beautiful nest spotted but not just any nest. I believe this was a cardinal nest. A true blessing. I was so thankful for this find and getting to watch these babies for the short time we got to see them.

It was a great June! Now, off to July, where we are soaking up the dog days of summer while we can and avoiding any real talk of returning to school. 

Happy Birthday Riley!

 Happy Birthday to our sweet second born child! We took today to celebrate just our family, exactly as Riley requested. Our day was complete with a big breakfast, church, fishing, chinese food, and a nerf gun family war. A day completely catered to Riley, the one who rarely takes the lead in making decisions for the group. We served homemade chocolate cake and were treated to special calls from both grandparents along with texts from aunts, uncles, and friends. 

Payton was able to find some Harry Potter movies and a dvd on learning how to play the guitar. Jayden gave Riley a homemade card. We got him a pedometer watch he has been begging for. He is hoping to track his steps and see how far he goes in a day. I am fairly curious about the results as well.

I am so honored to call this child mine and spending today with him:

This past year has been so much fun as we watched him really find his footing at school. I can't wait to see what it in store for him in this next year. 

On the eve of his birthday, just as the sun went down we headed outside and snapped a few pictures. 

Time goes so fast. I so wish I could slow it down. Always a bittersweet moment in time for me. 

Riley,

Thank you for being you. My cautious, easy going, mild tempered child. You are always willing to go along for the ride and will try anything new as long as it isn't risky. You have always been quick to forgive and to seek out trying to calm someone down with a hug. Math comes really easy to you and you have had to really work at learning to read, but my goodness, your skills have shot up so high this year. You are my sweet reminder that when we decide we are ready, we can totally do it. Sometimes, the patience comes in the waiting for someone to decide they are ready. You always seem to know what it's right for you. Don't ever forget to trust your intuition. You've got this, all of what life has in store for you. And, I'll be right here to help you up if you fall.

As I reflect on this year, you have worked so hard at basketball, football, and learning how to run with good form. You raced me the other day and have surpassed my level of school. As in, you kicked my butt. You love to read and have paced yourself to read as many books as you can over summer break. You currently sit at 20 books, when I was hoping for at least 3. You completed swim lessons forever and I love watching you learn more and more skills as you swim confidently. A few days before your birthday, you successfully completed a front flip off the diving board.

I love you more than words could ever say. God really knew what he was doing when he put you into our family and gave you a mid summer birthday. Your day truly matches the timing of your birth, you are so carefree and go with the flow. Oh, and you also love summer (and no school). 

You are one of the sweetest kids I could have ever imagined. 

Love, 

Mom