Summer Afternoon on the Trampoline

Kiley really enjoyed the camera she got for her birthday.

Kerrie really enjoys posing for pictures.

Eight is Great

Lizzie's birthday was August 30. It was also the first day of school.

The Saturday before her birthday we went to see Ramona and Beezus and ate lunch at Red Robin. There is nothing wrong with Lizzie's arm in this picture. She is wearing the ace bandage that is the most popular toy in our house.

Sassy birthday girl heading off to the first day of school.

Yummy McDonald's lunch brought to school by mom and ...

cute little sisters.

We took Jr. Fat Boys into Lizzie's classroom for her to share with all her new classmates. Her teacher puts the birthday kid's treat on this cute singing cake plate.

Opening gifts after school. This mermaid Barbie was what she most wanted for her birthday.

Happy Birthday Lizzie. We love you sweet girl.

First Day of School

Kiley (and her friend Courtney) started high school this year.

Hannah (and her friend Kate) started middle school this year.

These three hooligans are in second, kindergarten and fourth grade this year.

Susanna in her kindergarten class.

Lizzie in line to go into school.

School Lunch

The night before the first day of school we had school lunch for dinner.

So much nicer than the cafeteria.

Lizzie's birthday was the first day of school so we sang to her and had her blow out a candle on her school lunch dessert. These yummy things are homemade twinkies. I will post how to make them another time.

Roaring Springs

For the last couple of years my elementary age girls have been able to earn passes to Roaring Springs Water Park by reading 600 minutes in the Spring. We save the passes until the week before school starts because some districts start earlier than our district and a lot of people are at The Fair that week. Lines are short and pools are uncrowded.

The three older girls spent most of the day on the big rides. I didn't get pictures of them because I spent the day watching the three youngers in the kiddie area.

They went on this tube slide over and over and over again.

It was a lovely way to spend one our last days of summer vacation.

Day 3

On the last day of our vacation we drove to a campsite on the north side of Payette Lake and cooked a yummy dutch oven dinner.

The scenery was beautiful and we got a few good pictures of the girls.

It was very relaxing. The ladies all sat around in camp chairs and watched Dad cook dinner.

He did not disappoint. Hot buttered rolls and a delicious chicken and potato dish.

Hanging by the campfire.

It was cloudy that day. Not sure why some of us needed sunglasses.

Yummy s'mores for dessert.

We walked down to the water pump to wash up before heading back to the condo.

Day 2

On Saturday morning we all went out to breakfast at The Pancake House. We were so surprised when we walked in and saw our friend Angie. She was one of our favorite babysitters for many years until we able to start having Kiley babysit. She is also one of the people we have counted on to stay with the girls when Brad and I go out of town together.

After a yummy breakfast at our favorite corner table Brad headed back home for the day to attend a very important fantasy football draft.

The girls and I walked down to Shore Lodge and played on the beach all afternoon.

These three were hard at work on some project for most of the time.

There is a fun water trampoline that the three older girls swam out to and played on for awhile.

That night we made individual homemade pizzas.

After dinner and showers the girls played a little Uno.

Tucked in after another fun day in the mountains.