We had a really full summer this year with lots of family visits, swimming, reading rewards, and even a mission trip. When we weren't busy going, I was busy being lazy. Or resting, as I prefer to call it. I didn't manage a single blog post after June. So here's a recap of all we've done this summer (with lots of pictures).
Silas grew enough that he could reach my clothesline! I put him to work.
Our friends' kids stayed with us for a week. I put them to work, too.
We picked blackberries.
We picked so many I made blackberry jam.
Eli 'rested' while we picked.
Some of us were more excited about it than others.
They were well-rewarded with watermelon and lemonade. You couldn't get much more of an American summer than this. Unless you started shooting air rifles, which we did later.
We found a turtle. It escaped later, rascally thing.
Colin joined us.
Silas spent a lot of the summer building Lego armies.
We took advantage of the cooler July that we had by practicing soccer.
And we took some silly photos while we were at it.
Silas tried to beat me. I'm not one of those nice moms who just lets him win. He has to earn it.
Goal!!!!!!
The afternoon sun shined through.
Eli practiced dribbling.
And might have gotten upset when Silas tried to take the ball from him.
Then the goal might have turned into a playground for a few minutes...
...but they were back at scoring goals again soon.
Eli took some silly photos.
And some good ones.
I went on a mission trip to the Navajo Indian Reservation in New Mexico.
I got to spend time with some cute kids that weren't my own!
And we fed over 700 people that week.
I love elderly Indian ladies. There's just so much written on their faces and in their eyes.
MaddiGrube ate erasers.
And we stuffed 200 backpacks with school supplies.
Then we handed all of them out.
I met an amazing couple from Pennsylvania. She sang to us the whole week. It was wonderful.
She painted my face for me.
I saw the grave of a Windtalker!
I made some new friendships.
And strengthened some old ones.
I saw the sun rise over Angel's Peak.
It was beautiful. Gorgeous. Amazing.
We took one of the worst drives ever to get to Chaco Canyon National Park and saw the Fajada Butte.
We also saw petraglyphs. Something like that. Cave drawings!
And climbed way up high to see them.
God's creation amazes me.
I cut Eli's hair. He's so cute.
Eli took a picture of his chubby little baby foot.
And a picture of his big brother.
Then Silas took this one of Eli.
And this one of Eli, too?!?!
We celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary (Silas took this picture, too!).
Eli and Silas got to have a bubble bath with Abi and Zac to celebrate for us.
Next up, Silas starts Second Grade and Eli starts Preschool!
