JULY

 We are seriously LOVING SUMMER!! Oh, if it could only be summer all the time.  We love having the kids home, the awesome weather, all our fun adventures, lazy nights and sleeping in, and the list goes on forever.  Here are some fun things we have done in July so far:

We went to a pick-your-own strawberry farm just outside Rochester.  I thought it was a great idea--the boys thought it was cool for about 5 minutes and then they were done picking.  I was annoyed they didn't help me pick as many as I imagined them picking so I made them carry the strawberries up the hill to our car!! I told them they needed to learn how to work! We then decided it was much easier to buy them from costco.  I ended up making 30 jars of jam!

We have literally spent the summer eating otter pops while riding our "two wheelers".  I sit on a chair and read whatever I can find while the boys go up and down our neighbors driveways.  It's the bomb!

 Spencer and the Boys make home made ice cream at least once a week.  It's delicious and a fun tradition.  They also were introduced to Daddy's T-shirts as pajamas.  They think that is pretty cool!

 FOURTH OF JULY

Spencer worked the night before and for the first time ever got 4 hours of sleep during his shift! We were thrilled because we had 2 big parties to attend and he got to join us for both of them.  We started the day at the "Frei for all".  They are an awesome family in the ward that invited the city to their house for food, slip-n-slide, zip-line, potato sack racing, and good company.  We had a great time.

Then we came home and crashed (well, the family did while I worked on my YW lesson).  Then we went to the Hull's house for another fun party.  We seriously have the greatest friends ever! It makes my stomach hurt thinking about leaving this place in a couple years.  The kids had a blast playing with all their friends and the adults enjoyed awesome conversations with great people.  Spencer was of course the Pyro with our friend who is a Neuro-Surgeon.  They put on a great show for everyone.  The kids were exhausted and had plenty of sun for the day so we went home, did a couple more fireworks, and went to bed! It was such a fun day--especially because Spencer was able to join us for all of our activities (including my messy fourth of july Rice Krispies I made for the parties--red, white, and blue and a whole big mess in the kitchen)!

CAMPING!!!

Spencer got home early Friday so after I made a ton of jam and then we decided to go camping! I was sooooo excited! My style of camping is pretty entertaining.  This is how I role: I packed sandwiches, chips, watermelon, and s'mores for dinner.  Then our Dentist gave us a camping stove so we made french toast and eggs for breakfast.  You ask, why did our Dentist give us a stove? Well, I told him we were going camping and he asked what camping supplies we had.  I told him we had a tent, camping chairs, and some sleeping bags--that's all you need right?  He thought it was hilarious and said we needed a stove.  He had an extra one in his garage and gave it to us! So now we are the real-deal campers! 

We went to Oxbow park to camp--it's only 10 minutes from our house.  We thought we should stay close in case we didn't make it during the night.  I grabbed everything we needed excited PILLOWS, CUPS, and a garbage bag.  Nothing to terribly important, right? :) The kids could care less and all three of them slept through the night! Spence and I slept terrible but enjoyed being in the tent with three excited little boys.

After we ate our dinner, we went on a little hike (tiny hike) where the kids found themselves some sticks to play in the fire with.  Then we played on the playground.  We attempted to put Tanner to bed early but ended up with the whole family in the tent rolling on top of each other while acting like crazy monkeys.  Then we went Firefly catching which was a total hit! We called it a night after that!

Camping was super fun, we were novice campers and looked way out of place--but hopefully the boys will remember the good times we had together.  

June--random pics and trip to Omaha

I am so bummed I didn't get a picture of just Benson in his soccer outfit.  He had a great season and had his buddies Chase and Carson on his team.  His last game he had an awesome goal which he was pretty excited about.

Birthday party for one of Reece's friends at Chuck E Cheese. 

 Skee ball ended up being their favorite game which made their mama proud.  

It's always been my favorite and still it.

 Playing in the rain.

 TRIP TO OMAHA to visit COUSINS!

Clarissa moved to Omaha this summer and so we HAD to visit!! Spencer had to work so I took the boys on a 7 hour car ride and played with the cousins for a week.  We had so much fun.  The kids did great in the car--we made our usual stop at Subway which is always a hit.  Then we partied it up with the cousins at the zoo, temple, slip n slide and splash pad park.  The boys thought it was super fun having a "cousin party" at night in Colby and Ethan's bunk beds.  And Clarissa and I had way to much fun at night chatting it up! 

Omaha zoo

 Slip n slide was a favorite.

 First time eating fruit snacks--I was super excited. 

 Winter Quarters Temple

 Get together with Cami Fen! Love this girl.  Roomie from college

 This kid loves the water. 

 First crop from our garden.  Boys were soooooo excited. They love broccoli--it's their favorite Veggie.

June continues,,,

 Tanner loves his swing.  He spends a lot of time in it watching the boys run crazy in the yard.

 Reece has been earning money--and insisted on buying his own churro and berry berry sundae from Costco.  We honestly go to the food court at least 1-2 times a week.  Cheap. Lots of calories. Perfect!

 Family bike ride.  The boys learned how to ride their bikes this month and we haven't been able to get them off.  They honestly spend most of their day riding up and down our neighbors driveways.  It's fun to watch them--childhood is the best.

 One of our favorite things to do on Friday nights is to have s'mores with our friends at Oxbow park.  Reece learned how to make a TeePee fire and made one on his own to help start our fire.  He's going to be a great scout!

 LAST DAY OF 1ST GRADE.

 Tanner is amazing with balls.  He kicks and throws like a champ.

 Benson is also super coordinated.  Doesn't this look like such a happy little boy picture.  

He's pretty awesome!

 Sweet Form buddy!

 Friday field trips--Lark Toy Store.

Worlds most amazing toy store, Caurasel ride, delicious ice cream, and wonderful friends.

 Another Friday night at Oxbow.  Love S'mores.  I think Benson had 4 of them!

Family paddle boating.  The best part of this was they had a motor so when we got tired we didn't have to peddle! We rode for an hour and it honestly was so fun.  We sang songs (down by the bay), had endless fun teasing, laughed a whole lot, and just had an awesome time talking and being with each other.  Pretty sure I said "Oh family rocks" about 10 times.

 And another Costco trip--we honestly live here.  The workers at Costco know us by name.

 Handsome little boy who loves to be outside.  Thank heavens for a deck!

 Mom and Reece date while Benson was at a birthday party and Tanner was napping.  He's such a fun kid.  We read together, talked about random things, and just enjoyed being buddies for the afternoon.

 Summer equals WORK!! I'm loving it!  Everyday I assign them a job I need done and it seriously makes me giddy watching them work together and watching them learn good work ethic.

 Happy Father's Day Card! Thank you Pinterest.