Weekend Trip

Matt and I headed to Billings, Montana with the youth in our ward to do baptisms for the dead at the temple. The kids needed a place to go, so Grandma and Grandpa Washburn said they would watch them for the weekend. We met them in Jackson Hole, and only 3 of the 5 of us wanted our picture taken by the Antler Arch. 

Tree Planting

The kids have been begging for trees in our yard.  So we decided to plant Matador Maples. Some day they will be big, and tall, and beautiful!  We are so excited!  And to celebrate our excitement, Matt pulled the kids around in the sled on the cement. 

First Friday

We made it through the first week and they still have smiles!!

Post First Day of School

You know it was an awesome first day back when the kids come home with smiles!! 

Bennett

Bennett went ahead and turned 11!!! He of course wanted a big birthday bash (like always) so we invited the Sandall Family, the Whiting Family, and the Plaisted Family over for cake and ice cream. Bennett's most favorite gift was his new NIKE shoes!!  Happy Birthday Bennett!!! (Fingers crossed time slows down this next year. He's growing up so fast!!)

First Day of School

I can't help but sing the song in my head:

" Back to school. Back to school. To prove to Dad that I'm no fool! "

Bennett: 5th grade /Mrs. Wheatly's class

Jacksen: 4th grade / Mrs. Robertson's class

Jemma: 2nd grade / Mrs. Watson's class

I can already tell this is going to be a great year!

Jacksen

Jacksen got a new school outfit and learned how to ride the Rip Stick. He's feeling pretty darn cool right about now!

Boating

Bennett's dream came true on this boating excursion. The has the best Aunt in the world!  Heather took one for the team and got on the tube with Bennett. Jason pulled them around until the tube hit a wave just right and threw them upside down in the air and face planted them in the water. 

Rigby Lake

Rigby Lake was never this cool when I was growing up!

The kids played for hours and hours in the sand and water and then asked to go again. So we did!

Boating

My kids live for boating with Jason and Heather in the summer!  Lucky for us, Heather and Jason took us!

Bennett and Jacks were both able to get up on the skis this year! And they both had the time of their lives being pulled on the tube. Bennett desperately wanted to be flipped on the tube, the other kids didn't, so Bennett did a few solo rides, unfortunately, he didn't weigh enough for the tube to hit the waves just right. 

He was able to get his adrenaline rush by jumping off a cliff with Jason. 

Jemma stayed in the boat. She had the wind knocked out of her while on the tube in Arizona and didn't want a repeat performance. Lucky for her, Jason let her drive!

Kitty

Heather' s cat, Ruby, had kittens. For some unknown reason, even though I hate cats, I fell in love with this one. We had a connection. I was this close to bringing him home with me. We didn't though, Matt felt no connection to Sunny and said absolutely not!  Luckily for me, I don't think I will ever be able to find another soul kitty again. 

Swan Valley

One of the most exciting things my parents could have told us growing up was "We're going to get square ice cream!"

Jemma, Jacks, and I headed to Idaho to meet up with everyone. I had the brilliant idea to surprise the kids by introducing them to square ice cream cones in Swan Valley. They were unimpressed with the square ice cream cones! 

 It was no big deal to them!  

What? 

Kids these days! 

 So exasperating. 

They did say the ice cream was good and they always love being around cousins. So I guess it was a win after all. 

Horse Ride

Well, they were actually suppose to be hiking. Our friends Brian and Stephanie Oland decided to go scout for areas for the fall elk hunt. They invited Matt and the kids along. The Olands decided to take horses for when all the kids going got tired of hiking. Jacksen and Jemma were so excited to be on a horse again!

Bennett wasn't among them because on our way home from Arizona, we dropped him off in Utah where he met up with Grandma Julie and Felicity and headed to Idaho to spend time with them.