{Family Visits, 12th Anniversary, 1st Day of School, Owies: August 2014}

We began the month of August continuing our trip up to Washington and went to see my sister Angela and her daughter {our niece} A in the play "The Sound of Music".  They both did a fabulous job on their parts.  We loved watching them perform.  It was an amazing show.  Angela played one of the lead Nuns {Sister Sophia} and A was Gretel. 

 Our son E received his Bear Badge at his Scout Pack Meeting.  My brother Danny, his wife Jolie and their two kids came to visit us and we had a lovely time with them.  We went blueberry picking with them while we were still up in Washington.  We had two visits to the Emergency Room, to get our daughter K's head super glued and also because our son C had swallowed a penny.  I think we need to put some of our kids in a bubble!  It's so hard to not be able to protect them from everything.  But that's a difficult part about being a parent, I guess.

 Mark and I celebrated our 12th Anniversary in August.  Mark's parents {in Oregon} watched our 5 kids {I was 3 months pregnant with our #6 at the time}.  We went to the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center and saw and learned some amazing things about the history of the Oregon Trail.  It was a lot of fun!

 We tried new restaurants, viewed sites around the area, and had some much needed alone time together.  It is always nice and very important to spend some time alone, away from the kids.  And your relationship and the kids are all the better because of it.

 We also rode the train in Sumpter, Oregon.  It was really fun.  We enjoyed looking at the beautiful views from the historical train's windows.  We had a wonderful time on our anniversary together.  I'm so grateful to have had this incredible man in my life for the last 12 years.  I'm Lucky, I'm in Love with my Best Friend.  Here's to Eternity. 

   Here are our Kiddos playing at Grandpa and Grandma's {in Oregon} and the Park together.  

 Here are our Kids getting the mail with Grandma {Mark's mom} and having fun playing with their cousins in Oregon.

 We had a wonderful time visiting with our Friends and Family, in Oregon together.

 We sure do Love these Kids!

We love going to the Library for Story time.  Before we moved into our house, we lived in an apartment across the street from a library {pictured above} in a smaller town {outside of the bigger town that we now live in}.  My parents came to visit us and helped us pack our apartment up to move into our new house, that we were moving into at the beginning of September.  It was especially helpful with being pregnant with our #6, to have their help.  We loved having them in Idaho to visit us!  It was a joy visiting and spending time with them.

 One of the special things of being married to a teacher, is having them home during the same vacations that the kids get.  School started for the kids and Mark at the end of August this year.  Our son E, started 4th grade, our daughter R began 3rd grade, and our little K, started Kindergarten this year.  Mark also started teaching his 2nd grade class again.  They are all at the same school.  Which is so much fun for us!

{July 2014: Hospital, 4th of July, Reception, Cousins, Friends}

Our Poor Baby Girls!  {In Idaho} Our Daughter R, was admitted to the Hospital with a severe case of Pink Eye {I didn't even know that was possible!}, and then while we were there, Baby H, fell and hit her sweet little head on a chair and cracked it open, requiring 4 stitches!  It was convenient that we were at the hospital when that happened though, so her Daddy just took her right down to the Emergency Room to get it done.  They gave her a cute little doll, for doing a good job.   

We went to Oregon for the Week of Fourth of July, and enjoyed spending time with Family and Friends.  The Kids had fun Spending time with Cousins and Friends.

 We went to a Fourth of July Parade, with Family and Friends, and went to a Delicious Barbeque at Mark's Parent's House.

We lit Fireworks as a Family {the Kids Loved the Sparklers!}, watched the University's Firework Display, and Rode on Mark's family's over a Hundred Year old Steam Engine.

Then we went up to Washington to Visit more Family and Friends. 

The Kids had fun spending time with their Cousins and Friends.

 I had fun going to the Wedding Reception of my Childhood Best Friend Adrienne, with my sister Celestia.  To view pictures {on my blog} of her Adorable Reception, click here.

We had a Wonderful time up in Washington {and Oregon}, visiting Family.  The Kids had Sleepovers with their Cousins, and we had a Barbeque and Roasted Hotdogs and Marshmallows over the fire.

{Last Day of School, Awards, Carnival, Fathers Day, Outings: June 2014}

In June, it was the Last Day of School for E & R and Mark's last day for his first year of teaching.  Our son E received the Reading Award and the Most Growth Award.  Our daughter R received the Reading Award and the Straight A's Award.

E & R received many certificates for academic achievements.  We went with E, as a family to Cafe Rio {Yum!} so he could use his Principal's Pride {Student of the Month} certificate {from May}.  I took R to Sizzler, to use her Principal's Pride certificate {from June}.  We are so proud of our awesome Kids!  We took R & E to many restaurants in the city, to redeem their certificates and prizes.  E had fun earning merit badges and playing games; at Cub Scout Day Camp.

 We went to the Kid's School Carnival, as a family.  They enjoyed the many fun games {face painting, fishing, cupcake walk...}, rides {mini- train, bounce house...} and Delicious treats {snow cones, popcorn, cotton candy, cupcakes...}, and snacks there.  It was a very fun night!
 

Our 3 Pretty Girls, in their matching dresses.

Our 2 Handsome Boys, with their Sisters.

We spoiled Mark on Father's Day with Breakfast in Bed {the Kiddos made}, handmade presents and cards, and a Special Lunch and Dinner.  We also called our Fathers and sent them cards.  Mark's parents came to visit us, in June.

Our Baby Boy C, and Baby Girl H, with Daddy.

We enjoy exploring the Outdoors, as a family, and hiking around Beautiful places; having picnics, and admiring God's Amazing Creations.

We had so much fun together, exploring the area around and near Red Fish Lake.

The Kids loved meeting their cousin's kitty "Timmy", while visiting family in Oregon. 

{Fabulous Fun at the Park and Planetarium! March 2014}

We went to the Park together, for a Beautiful day, as a Family.

 We packed a lunch, {Mark and the Kids made Homemade: Potato Salad, Fruit Salad, Sandwiches, Juice, and Apple Pie}.  So Delicious! :) 

 We enjoyed eating our Delicious Picnic Lunch together.  :)  Little Miss K, enjoyed climbing up on a nearby tree.  She is our little monkey. :)

It was such a Beautiful, Lovely, Peaceful, Day.  

 We had an Amazing time Together, at the Park!  Little Miss R, posing for her Mama. :)

We love spending time together, outdoors!  Little Baby H, smiling at her Mama.

The Kids enjoyed playing by the creek and climbing up into trees.  We had fun. :)

We enjoyed watching the Ducks, swimming around in the Creek.

We had a lot of fun, spending time together.  {chalk artwork by: Little Misses R and K}

"BEST. DAY. EVER!" Said our 5 year old Daughter K. We went to our Local Planetarium and Museum; and had Amazing Experiences: Watching Movies on the Dome Screen {Sea Monsters and Solar System}, Seeing HUGE Fossils of A Mammath, and Dinosaurs, Fascinating Rocks, Historical and Geological Treasures, a Live Iguanadon and Boa Constrictor, and more! It was and incredible place to visit! We had a BLAST! Afterwards, we played outside together. BEST. DAY. EVER. :)