{ Trip to the Farm }

We enjoyed a family outing to the local U-Pick apple orchard and pumpkin patch this past weekend. It really was a wonderful time together and the weather was beautiful!

{ Camping }

Last weekend we went camping. We really needed to get away and take a break after working long and hard on cleaning up since the trees came down at the beginning of July. Our plans changed several times, but we made it and over all we had a good time. It is always a challenge to camp with little kids, but they loved it and once they went to sleep, they slept well :) The first night my parents joined us and we enjoyed the lake.

The second day they went home and we headed into the Idaho mountains for some exploration. Tim had found couple of mountain lakes that we intended to hike in about 1/2 mile to find. After driving for a couple of hours and only making it about half as far as we needed to go, with a vehicle not really meant for the kind of road we were on, we decided to head back toward home. We found a nice creek that was very clean and shallow and we all had a great time getting wet and relaxing before heading home. We had thought we'd maybe spend another night, but by then we were just wanting showers! Not sure how much camping we will continue to do while our kids are this little, but I'm glad we did it, all things considered. In fact, this coming Monday we're planning to camp again, only this time on someone's property. We are going up there to pick up a load of firewood they are giving us. Looking forward to camping, but also having access to a house with amenities!

{ Summer Begins }

It is a beautiful warm and sunny morning as I sit here by myself with a cup of coffee overlooking a lake, nestled in the forest.  The two youngest are napping and Tim and Oliver are off visiting. 

Vacation!

Yesterday we trekked seven hours across the state, our entire little tribe of three under three to join Tim's family for a niece's wedding and family reunion.  We are very glad to be here and so thankful that his mom is finally able to meet our two youngest.  We saw them last night and it was so sweet to hear Oliver calling them Grandpa and Grammie right away, even though we've spent very little time with them in his life, being significantly separated geographically.

The kids have done very well on our trip so far, but let me assure you it has not been completely blissful.  As traveling with little children always is, it has been a lesson in adjusted expectations, making decisions on the fly and trying not to sit down in a heap and cry!  There are always those moments when Tim and I look at each other and ask, "Is it worth it?" But the answer is always yes.
 

We both love to travel and spending time with family is worth sacrificing for.  I really think it is good for the kids to adjust to new surroundings.  We have actually done a surprising amount of traveling since we've had kids.   Thankfully they all do well in the car.  We definitely have those hours of crying to be let out of the carseat, but for the most part we are very blessed in their cooperation.

We are staying at Tim's sister's neighbor's house.  We are very thankful for this gracious accommodation.  It is a challenge to keep track of our kids in an un-childproofed home, which has made it difficult to relax, but I am so thankful that our kids are doing as well as they are.  Whenever we come to a completely new environment I am much more able to see how obedient they are and the areas of training we're doing well in and the ones that still needs improvement.

The weather is supposed to be gorgeous all weekend and into next week, which is just perfect for the vacationing still ahead of us.  This is our "big" trip of the summer so we're planning to make the most of it.  We have friends to visit, a trip to the zoo, a ferry ride and perhaps a stop in Leavenworth planned before we head home. 

It is the beginning of summer!  When we get home Tim's job will transition to summer hours.  We are hopeful that this summer will be lazy, with not much more excitement than a little painting on our house and yard work.  This is the first summer since we've known each other, which is almost five years, that we are not tackling a HUGE home-improvement project.

So here's to summer!  May it be lazy!

{ A Shower for Baby Wret }

 When Wret was just over a month old, we had a very special visit from my sister Bethany, whom we affectionately call Auntie B.  It was her first time to meet Wret.  She traveled over for the weekend with my aunt and uncle.  The evening she arrived also happened to be Wret's baby shower!  It was an added blessing to have her here for that.  Here we are getting ready to go.

 I hadn't expected to have a shower, but one of the ladies in our church graciously offered to host one.  It was such a blessing and a much needed time out with friends after being fairly housebound after Wret's arrival.  They combined the shower with another lady from church as well.  It was a lot of fun to have a joint shower!  Because she was having a girl and Wret is obviously a boy, they settled on Dr. Seuss as the theme, a neutral subject.  Such fun!

 I have actually had very little exposure to the Dr. Seuss books, but this shower has definitely peaked my interest.  I can't wait to read them all to my kids.  They made food to represent several books, and they did an amazing job!

 Of course there were many wonderful gifts to open!  Several darling summer outfits and LOTS of childrens books, which I'm thrilled about!

{ My sweet boy }

 { Tessa, the hostess and Laurie the mom-to-be }

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The rest of the weekend we spent with Bethany, playing and just hanging out.  She got lots of snuggles in, too!

 That weekend was also my mom's birthday, so we had everyone up for dinner one day.  It was very special to get to celebrate her special day and the arrival of Wret all at the same time.