My favorites on Friday

Some of my favorite reads.

Having my kindle has really sparked my love of reading again. I have always loved it, but really having access to some many books is amazing. I know the library is the same, but I am just too lazy to go to one. And I don't like waiting for them once I decide that's what I want to read. Corey has never complained about me buying books, that might be the only thing he doesn't complain about me buying, but he did comment awhile back about how many I had purchased. He may complain about that soon so since then I have only tried to buy only 2 a month. I am just a little addicted.

 This was book was a surprise. It was a book club choice a few months ago. I was worried about liking it, but loved it. In fact, I couldn't read anything else for awhile because I couldn't stop thinking about it.There are more books to this series, but it is a story in of itself so you don't have to go on. I have heard this one was the best of all of them anyway.

 This was a book I had heard about here and there and decided to go ahead and give it a try. A story of a girl living in Nazi Germany. I loved it too, such and amazing story, but told in a very unique way.

 This was another book club choice. I enjoyed it, not one of my favorites, but I learned quite a few things from it, especially that I know nothing about Orthodox Jews. It's always good to learn something new, I guess that's why reading is good, right?!

 This is probably my all time favorite book. I know it will be one I read over and over. In fact, I still read it in between other books.  I have heard about it for years, but once again never read it. It popped up as a recommended read list and I gave in. It's a historical fiction, which I am finding seem to be my favorite anyway, about a young girl on the American frontier. This is just so good. I really can't even express how much I loved it.

 After These is my Words, I have been on a historical fiction kick. Another fun one. I enjoyed the characters and I always enjoy a little love story. I could read this one again.

I just finished this one last night. A story about two people during the Civil War. It took me a little longer to get going on it, but then I couldn't stop. A couple of nights I read until my kindle died. I actually could see myself reading this again also.

Weekend trip

We spend the 24th of July with Corey's family in Utah. We are able to enjoy all the small town festivities, visit with family, and have a break from the heat. This year however, not everything took place on the same day. The rodeo, which we all love, was on the weekend and all the other events took place today. In the past we have been able to attend the parade, races and the rodeo on the same day, but Corey had to be back to work so couldn't stay for all of it so we only caught the rodeo on Friday. We had fun, like we always do, but you'll just have to take my word for it. We switched cars to go into the rodeo grounds,  I forgot the camera in the switch. I was so upset with myself all night. Emery was loving it. Dancing, clapping, and just in total awe. The bull riding was a big hit with her.

On Saturday, we went out to my BIL and SIL's family ranch for a picnic. It is kid heaven out there. We love it out there! The kids ran themselves ragged hiking and playing on all the fun toys. And doing all of it with cousins just makes it better.  I think I just might need a ranch somewhere.

 And while my kids were in heaven, I was in my own little heaven holding my new 4 week old niece. 

I don't think it gets much better than that.

Scenes of Summer

It seems as though summer is just flying by this year. Usually my kids suffer from boredom and are driving me and each other crazy, but this we seem to be holding out alright. I really think it's the pool. It helps us all stay sane. 

 

I have tons of pictures of us swimming too. Most days, with the exception of this last week where we have actually had thunderstorms, we spend swimming.  The kids all have perfect suntans and are worn out every night. I seem to be worn out every night too, but the suntan isn't going as well for me.

 This is such a classic picture with Brendan and his dirty face. Taking a break just long enough to get a snack.

Sometimes they get out for Carter to run PE drills with them. 

 They can sometimes coax Kayden out to play 500 with them.

 But his height gives him quite the advantage.

 (that kid has shot up, he's now taller than I am and wears a size 11 shoe!!)

 Emery puts on her best pouty face in order to coax Carter to throw the ball her direction. He always gives in and then she throws in off into the dirt, she does the same thing in the pool. Every single time!

When they are not swimming the boys have spent a lot of time playing with their Halo megablocks sets, playing Mario cart and the girls spend a lot of time coloring. We broke out the summer workbooks and are trying to keep their minds from turning to mush. They are of course, in their pajamas because really there is no point in getting dressed to just put on a swimsuit, that's what Hailey thinks anyway.

 Emery spends a lot of time on her scooter too. And it's always funner to ride inside with your sandals on the wrong feet. 

We do occasionally make it out of the house too. Kayden already went on one scout camp and he and Carter will go again next month. At the last camp out they did a 20 mile hike, seriously, I would never make it, but he survived. And at the last court of honor he and several other scouts earned their hiking merit badge. That means they had hiked at least 70 miles to earn it. I was pretty proud of him for that.

So that's a bit of our summer happening around here. Not too exciting, but we are really enjoying it and spending a lot of fun time together.

My favorites on Friday

My house has been taken over by ponies. They are Hailey's favorite thing to play with around here and a display of them can usually be found somewhere in the house.

She has always loved them, not surprising for a girl with a thing for horses, but since finding the show on Netflix, it's just taken the love affair to a whole new level. 

 Having them join us for meals is a little much though, we usually dismiss them from the table.

Celebrating the 4th

 

We kept things pretty low key around here, we usually do, but we had a good time. The kids swam and we barbecued. We had bought a package of fireworks to do and started with just some snakes and sparklers in the backyard.

 Emery was a little unsure about the fireworks, she hated them last year and insisted in staying in the van the whole time we were out watching them, so I wasn't sure how she would react. She seemed to enjoy them this year, but pulled some pretty funny faces all night and kept her distance from the sparklers.

We moved out front and set up for the show. Our measly box of legal fireworks paled in comparison to what went on all around us. We witnessed quite a spectacular show, illegal, but spectacular nonetheless, that went on for about an hour. I think everyone around us was setting off fireworks and it was quite impressive. Fireworks were literally going off in every direction, it was a lot of fun. 

No need to fight the crowds when we can just sit out front!!

 By the end of the night, even Emery was all smiles.

My Favorites on Friday

With everything that has been going on around here, and well really since summer started, with swimming, birthdays, appointments, and everything else, poor Emery is just worn out. Sometimes she just can't take it anymore. 

Of course, my parents were here for a visit too, for all the events we had going on and I think we wore my mom out too.

And even though I posted this picture of her, we hope she will come back. We sure do love having the Grandparents visit. My kids said it was boring around here without them. Maybe next time we will try to not wear them out quite so much.

Brendan's celebrations

Brendan started his birthday with doughnuts and eggs for breakfast. We don't ever have doughnuts for breakfast so it has become a popular birthday breakfast request around here. Then we moved on to the opening of presents. 

Everything was wrapped in purple paper, which is his favorite color right now. He wanted some Halo mega blocks sets (we don't even have Halo, but he thought the toys were so cool on a recent trip to Target and has wanted them ever since) and a nerf pistol. Pretty fun requests and he was not disappointed.

checking out all his stuff, doughnut mustache and all!!

 For his birthday outing, he wanted to go to Broadway pizza for lunch. We were able to make that happen too. Then instead of cake he just wanted everybody to go to get frozen yogurt. Another request I was able to pull off, with so many birthdays, we get our fill of cake anyway. 

Then the next day was another big day, his baptism. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends came to celebrate with him. He was so excited about it all and just was beaming all weekend.

 We had a luncheon with everyone that came, but I didn't get too many pictures taken, I was having too much fun visiting with everyone. But we sure loved honoring Brendan for such a big day.

Carter's ordination was the next day and we celebrated a little for him too. My dad made bbq ribs just for him and we enjoyed another great meal with family. Such great occasions to celebrate and I am so proud of my boys!!

We have had a great time with all the birthdays and events around here, but I am glad to get it all done, I'm tired!!! I need to rest up for next year.