July

July seemed to go by quickly.  Here are some pictures.

 4th of July

Scott went to the movies with his parents and most of the kids - Emma and I stayed home.  We had a BBQ in the evening and then did some fireworks.

We went through a summer phase of playing Bananagrams a lot.

John had a lot of swimming practice

So did Emma - they are both in the level 6 pre-comp level now as of summer's end

Fun in the tiny pool at home

I finally got some purple coneflowers.  I love those flowers and have tried to get some to take root, although had trouble finding purple ones.  We found some this year and hopefully they come back next year.  We shall see.

Anna made this t-shirt quilt for Matthew.  She is much more talented and industrious than I am in the making things department.  We carefully picked out some plaid flannel backing and she completed the quilt.

She also crocheted these granny squares

And made a cute bag out of them

John and Emma worked on crafts all summer - one was this draw your own puzzle.  John's was Legend of Zelda themed.

I walked outside a lot.  John came with me on this day, but was sorry after the first two miles.  We made it 4 miles total on this day.

Here is Anna heading off to FSY.  She didn't want to go (she did want to when we signed up and she chose a roommate) but later wished she wasn't going.  She survived the week and then decided never to go again.

Heading to FSY with some friends

While she was gone at FSY, Scott went with John and Grant to the deacon's campout.  Their campsite was nearby - close enough that I went to switch cars with them part way through.  The Accord had some trouble going up the gravel hill to get to their camp.  So I drove the pilot out to them and we swapped.

Some deacon's camp fun

Hiking

It sounds like they had a good time

While our middle kids were all gone on summer adventures, Matthew, Emma and I had dinner one night at Olive Garden.

Party of 3!

Anna got home on Saturday afternoon and had to teach a Young Women's lesson the next day.  I tried to get her out of it - but she said she wanted to.  Then on Monday she taught us her lesson for Family Night.  We made origami swords for part of it.

We weren't all back together that long until Scott and Matthew left on the young men's high adventure trip.  Grant will be old enough to go on this next summer (no longer a deacon then).  They went to Goat Rocks (a little north of Mt. Adams and south of Rainier) and did a lot of hiking.

They had some adventures, including carrying gear for some of the other hikers, searching out lost hikers and getting a flat tire.  But everyone made it home safe and sound.  Matthew is one of the older young men now so he carried things for people and helped some of the slower hikers.  So did Scott.

We went to Olive Garden again with the kids still at home.  Emma got to go twice.  :)

Matthew and Scott made it home after their harrowing adventures, dusty and tired.  We had to take the car in to get our flat fixed, but it all worked out in the end.

Having fun at a pool party (sponsored by the orthodontist).  The older two kids didn't want to come, but they three youngers had a fun time.  Matthew got his braces off this year, but John sees the orthodontist regularly because of his special teeth situation (missing several adult teeth) and will eventually have braces.  So we can pool party with the orthodontist for many years to come.

Summer fun times!!

Scott has been doing some practice runs with John and Grant in anticipation of Cross Country season.  Matthew has accompanied them on several runs.  they are working up to 1.5 miles (the length of the XC run for middle schoolers.  John can run it in 22.5 about (running / walking) and Grant does a pretty good 8 minute mile.  Not sure how cross country season will go, but getting out and exercising is always good.  This is the Bigfoot near the running path they use.