I got to start July with this gorgeous selfie on my phone! Love her!
Isaac and Grace (especially Isaac) have been obsessed with the Newsies soundtrack since Emma and I went to see it in the spring. They FINALLY got to see the movie. They were so excited. They even made each of us our own newspaper and they delivered them like good newsies.
Each paper was different and the ads and articles were personalized. Like Lee’s newspaper had an ad for peanut M&M’s. It was pretty great! They loved the movie.
Emma hadn’t stopped talking about a dinner that we had at YW Camp. I got the recipe and she was so excited for me to make it. She ended up being gone doing something fun on the night I made it! I sent her a picture and we saved her some leftovers.
Lee and I went on a date to Camenah Park. It was a gorgeous evening!
We also walked along river in Oregon City. We ended our night with cream filled churros in Canby. Yum!! I love him.
I’ve said it a million times, but this is my favorite thing to see!
The twins and I went blueberry picking one morning.
It was a little cool that day which was perfect for blueberry picking.
The next morning we had blueberry muffins for breakfast. Yum!
I went to a surprise party for Sheri at La La’s house. The twins got to watch a movie upstairs during the party, and afterwards they got the balloons. Lucky kids. Lucky me too…
Isaac and Grace became mastadons at the library one day.
Look at those big tusks!
Daddy dog pile!
Isaac was in charge of refreshments for FHE one week and Grace named him the Treat King. She outfitted him with a crown and sceptor.
After that same FHE we played a game of HORSE.
Of course we got free Slurpees on 7-11. Actually, Isaac and Grace got two that day. Brenna picked them up from Summer Fun Camp and took them, and then I took them later in the day.
I don’t like McDonalds. But the Canby McDonalds was closed for several months while they built a new one. The twins begged to go when it reopened. Emma was at yearbook camp and Lee was at stake meetings one night, so I finally consented. They were pretty darn happy about that!
The next night Isaac made dinner for us. I was determined to get them cooking in the kitchen more this summer. I wasn’t very good at it, I think they each did it once.
One of the items on Isaac and Grace’s list of things to do over the summer was make a toothpick and marshmallow structure.
It turned out pretty cool! It also sat at the back of our table for the rest of the summer.
MyLiege, Joo Lin and I took our kids to Canemah Park one beautiful day.
It’s so fun to be with friends!
Grace recreated in Legos their day at the lake when they were in Arizona. If you look closely you can see Uncle Darcy (driving), Aunt Kristin, Aunt Tenley (the goth one) and Uncle David (on the wakeboard). She made me text this picture to Kristin.
Emma spent several days at University of Puget Sound for a yearbook camp. Her teacher chose three students to go and the school paid for it. Letting Emma go was one of those scary parenting moments. One of the other students drove them up which scared me just a little. She made it there and back safely and had a good time. She sent me this picture when they were on the way home. They stopped somewhere and the Seattle Seahawks happened to be there in a big bus! They got pictures with these guys but I have no idea who they are… I was just glad she got home safe!
Isaac and Grace LOVE to go to the library summer reading program storytimes. They weren’t all that great this year, and I was bored and/or weirded out at most of them. They didn’t seem to care!
When Emma got home from yearbook camp we whisked her away to a movie. We saw The Secret Life of Pets. We missed her a lot in July!
Games on a Sunday sure make it a delight! Especially when Lee is home to play them with us.
We had gourmet s’mores after FHE one week.
Reese’s s’mores are my favorite!
That same night we marked another summer fun item from Isaac and Grace’s list by making Mentos and Diet Coke explosions. These pictures crack me up because all they show is me and Lee trying to get out of the way. Our execution wasn’t all that great!
We didn’t get enough blueberries the first time so I took all three kids to pick at Miriam’s. I had to fill the freezer!
An even better sight than one kid reading? All three reading at the same time and in the same place. Be still my heart!
I got to spend a day at our stake Faith in God camp dressed as a pioneer and teaching how to dip candles. I shared a spiritual thought about making our own lights bigger and stronger to a lot of cute Activity Day girls. Future YW campers! I wish Grace could have been there, she was just a few months shy.
Summer morning snuggles are the best.
Lee went with Emma and the YW from our ward on a sunrise hike at Angel’s Rest. The YW had a sleepover the night before and didn’t get any sleep before their 3 am wake-up call. Emma said it was hard but so worth it. The sunrise was beautiful over the gorge. I really wanted to go on that hike but I got to help decorate for the wedding reception of one of my dear Laurels from my YW President days early the next morning. I was happy to help, but sad to miss the hike.
The backyard pool is always more fun when dad joins in the fun!
We didn’t get much use out of the pool this year. Something died under it or something because it stunk so bad!! The grass was completely black when we moved it after only a few days. I threw it away.
This is what summer is all about!
Isaac made “The Epic War Car” out of Legos.
My friend Tasha was in town from Utah and we planned a day at Sauvie Island with our kids. Unfortunately her kids came down with strep throat! So instead she and I went to lunch at La Provence. That wasn’t a bad compromise for us! I loved catching up with her. I miss all my roomies.
Emma, Kaitlin and Tenley went to the Piano Guys concert at the zoo. I had encouraged them to go together, but when that night came I was REALLY sad that I hadn’t bought tickets for myself and Lee! They loved the concert.
And Emma got to see her beloved elephants.
I was frustrated one evening with the mess left by the twins. I took a picture to remind myself that one day I will miss it! This really is a snapshot of their interests right now. Then I had to control myself not to clean it all up myself!
Our friend Guy Newgren passed away in July. The Jensen’s came down for the funeral and spent some time at our house that evening. Peter texted Lee while they were here and asked if we were on a hot date. Lee texted him back this picture of our dates. We love the Jensen’s and miss them so much!
Bro. Newgren had insisted that we have the ward Pioneer Day party at his house like we have done for several years even though he wasn’t doing well. He passed away the week before the party. His family wanted to honor his wishes so the party was still held at his house the day after the funeral. It was a nice way to remember him and a great party.
The boys almost got Emma to fall with this trick!
It’s always dangerous to go to the Doman’s house because my kids come home wanting animals.
I had to remind them that they raise these bunnies to eat…
On the last day of July we celebrated Harry Potter’s birthday by starting to read The Sorcerer’s Stone together. Isaac and Grace were beyond thrilled. Emma wasn’t as happy. She has been adamant that they wait until they are older since she didn’t start reading them until she was in 3rd grade. She is afraid they won’t understand enough of it. I have had to assure her that they will be able to reread those books a million times like she has and get more out of them with each reading. I don’t think she was too upset since she liked to listen in on our reading times. Happy Birthday HP!
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