Independence Day

 We had a fun long weekend with Michael! He was home Monday and Tuesday this week. We caught up on life Monday and then had a really fun Fourth of July on Tuesday. We had a ward pancake breakfast where the boys were fully entertained by balloon swords and bounce houses. We spontaneously went straight from there to the parade downtown for our first time and it turned out to be a really smooth and fun experience. I loved going to Cedar City's (many) parades so much, so it was fun to take the boys.

Then we went home and had some down time while I made some red, white, and blue food. Watermelon stars are my favorite Fourth of July food. We had the Schmidt's over for dinner and all the boys always have so much fun together. We got some heavy rain that night and ended up not braving the fireworks, but honestly blame the baby and not the rain. I'm just not there yet with this little crew! But we probably need to go watch them next year.

Bennett did a 3-day sports camp during the last half of the week where he had a taste of basketball, soccer, and baseball. He said basketball was his favorite and he had a good time going each day. Camden and Westin had a good time having more arguments together those days too... darn kids. The argumentative part of summer is a real drag but we're having lots of fun times too. 

On Thursday we brought Luna home! This training camp isn't a magic fix but we do have direction and guidance now. Honestly she was a major stinker at pick up and the trainer said she should probably go back and stay with her for a few days after she watched Luna interact with us. It was like she was thinking, "Oh good, the family I can do anything around is back." :) I feel like I'm strict with her but there's a lot of us and she needs to listen to each of us. So we'll be going back for follow up classes as a whole family over the next few weeks. And group classes for basically the rest of her life. She seemed comfortable there and we've got some homework. Bennett was counting down the days to picking her up.

We're loving the basement, even without furniture. The boys love to go downstairs and lounge around on blankets and watch a show. They're going to really love it when we get a couch someday! :) 

Summer is flying by!

Jeru Ties & Summer Nights

Summer is flying.

We spent the first part of the week just catching up on life, then Tuesday my Jerusalem roommate and her family came for a quick visit before they went to a family reunion in Estes Park. We just love Allison so much! I'm so grateful she was my roommate that summer. I just love talking to her and I admire her so much, and she's so fun to be around. Plus now she comes with Adam & three sweet kids so it was just a happy couple days. Our kids are pretty close in ages and they had a blast together. I wish we had more time with them and I wish North Carolina wasn't so far away!

We made some solid basement progress this week because the cabinets we've been waiting on came in, which meant that they moved forward with installing those, tying loose ends up, and carpet! The boys are loving running around down there now. We have a follow-up inspection coming up this week and then we are DONE! We had our first meeting about the basement in January, and first work day in March, so it's happy to see this come together and finish up. 

Westin did a swim meet Saturday and we are so proud of him for pushing himself to do something new. It honestly takes a lot of emotional energy and management on my end and this has been a totally unanticipated hurdle this summer. I didn't expect it to be as hard as it was at first but I also didn't expect it to turn around this much. To see him making such progress with his attitude and managing his nerves and pushing himself is just really great. Westin is great.

We went out to dinner Saturday and ate by the water in Windsor and the boys were really fun. I get glimpses all the time of life getting a little easier and it makes me happy while pulling at my heart strings, because Asher needs to stay this age for a while longer, please. Sunday was a chaotic morning but teaching about the Resurrection was really joyful. I loved studying the gospels harmoniously the last few months and slowing down Holy Week to weeks of study. 

I can't believe it's July. School starts next month. That sentence! Slow down summer.

My laundry and workout buddies.

Asher is so into sugar. And eats nothing good for him. Fourth kid probs.

We had so much fun taking the Ottleys downtown to the splash pad. 

Michael loves taking his basketball out for strolls.
But really it's just Asher loving pushing his stroller more than riding it lately.
It's more fun to picture Michael taking his basketball for a ride though.

I just love this girl! I'm so grateful she was my roommate in Jerusalem. We live much too far away from each other now, but I'm glad we could cross paths this week.

Adam! He fits in just fine with our Jeru trio. Full approval.

And our kids had so much fun together. Still just wild to me that I feel like the same person that lived these fun college times with my fun college friends but now when we get together there's like dozens of children around.

Basement cabinets came! We had to wait about 6 weeks for these while everything else has been paused, so it's happy to see these here and get things moving again. This is the day before carpet install!

Basement bathroom coming together!

The backyard bunnies are at peak cuteness right now.
We're particularly attached to a tiny baby bunny living in the trees by the side of our house,
and we've been giving her some of the squirrel treats we bought long ago for our baby squirrel friend.
I want to be Snow White. But no critters have helped me clean yet.

Carpet! This was a game changer, the boys are having so much fun playing down here even with no furniture yet. I've got too much decision fatigue, nothing has been ordered.

Westin did so great at his swim meet this week -- trying a new stroke (butterfly), handling his nerves again, cheering for his friends, doing his best. Swim has been a total journey this summer and I'm proud of him for pushing himself.

We went out to dinner Saturday night and ate outside and it was just one of those really happy, pleasant restaurant experiences. Heaven knows they aren't all like that ;) but this was a fun summer night.

This cute face! He's hiding his bee-bo, which is what he calls his belly button, and then showing it to Michael and laughing, laughing, laughing. I want to bottle him up forever.

Baby bunny!

Our Sunday stroll

 

Slowing Down Summer

 We packed up on Monday morning and left sweet baby Annie. Such a special thing to be there to welcome a new baby home. We were sad to say goodbye, and eager to get home to Michael.

This week:
Camden started summer soccer, Westin did his first swim meet, Camden and Bennett now do weekly swim lessons together on Thursday nights (used to be Westin and Bennett), Bennett and Westin went to the new Little Mermaid movie with me during nap time on Wednesday when Michael was home with the little ones, we went to a new splash pad for playgroup, we had the missionaries over for dinner Saturday, the Shivers over for dinner Sunday, and on Friday night Michael and I ate Cava next to the City Park pond for our date night, plus walked around with gelato afterwards.

This felt like our first week of summer summer, since we've had visitors and trips planned all through June from the second school got out. And it was a good week! The boys are playing together more and fighting together more, #summer, and I feel like I'm feeding them so much food, all the time. But it was a good week and I'm grateful for Fort Collins. It's such a good place to be a family.

Cousin hugs goodbye

Road trip pit stop

Lunch picnic at Little America

Playgroup

Mini Sundae Cones have found their way into our freezer this summer.

Loved this movie date with these two.

Camden at soccer is just one of my favorite things.

He was pretty nervous for his first swim lesson, but did great!

Westin was ultra nervous for his first swim meet. But he did 3 events and I'm so proud of him for doing something new in spite of feeling so nervous about it.

Everyone's obsessed with daddy around here.