it's the most wonderful time of the year!

4 month shots

so her Texas cousins can get their Clara fix.

She misses you too.

We used to know a family who had several teenage boys. When the fighting got out of hand the punishment was that they had had to sit on a bench in front of the house holding hands. We
thought that was the best idea and mentally filed it away because we knew it would come in handy someday. Yesterday, Carson's pestering and followed by Baden's screaming brought to memory that punishment for fighting. Since we don't have a bench, I decided to kick it up a notch and have them walk down the street and back holding hands.


Haven't had to break up a fight since.

I love being a mom.

treasures

Water balloons, rocks and smarties wrappers. A sampling of the surprises that come with doing laundry around here.

Clara's first swim

she liked it.

Priest Lake 2009

(click to enlarge)

Next year's reunion can't come soon enough.
We had fun, fun, fun! Despite the cooler temps.

We've been back for awhile, but loads of laundry, yard work, tomatoes, catching stupid mice (AHHHHHH!), and everything else have kept us busy. Why is coming back to reality is so hard? My kids don't know what to do with themselves. Bored out of their minds. Maybe it's time for school to start.

before every family trip the car MUST be cleaned out

you know . . . to make room for the new crumbs as well as all the sand and pine needles we will bring home with us

It really stinks when the forecast for your yearly vacation to the lake looks like this:Stinks big time.