A few summer shots!

We've had such a whirlwind of a summer! Fireworks, water slides, picnics, a family reunion in Virginia, cousins from Utah came to visit, a family reunion in Utah, a trip to Yellowstone, Jackson, and more to share. Here's a few photos to get things started.

Surprise!

About a year ago we bought one of those blow up water slides that you can set up in your yard. ( I will post pictures of that later.)  We had a real heat wave and decided to surprise Reed with setting it up.  We kept telling him that when we moved back into our house we could set it up.  He has been waiting patiently for a LONG time!

We set it up while he was playing at a friend's house on our street.  

The first picture is when he thought I just wanted to take a picture of him.  The next photos are of him spotting the slide blown up in our backyard.

Spaghetti and Soccer

Here's a few pictures from Reed's first soccer game of the season.  He loves to play goalie and no one scored a goal while he was there. 

Lainey is the unofficial cheerleader.  Actually, she would much prefer kicking the ball around while on the sidelines.  If we let her, she would be on the field with Reed.

Marlie's LOVED her first spaghetti dinner!!

I'm lovin'it!

I just need to give a shout out to our local McDonald's management!  I was there the other day meeting friends to eat and play at the PlayPlace.  I ordered my food and there was a little confusion when ordering the Happy Meals with all the options and getting them straight.  The cashier had to get the manager to help her void things out and get them right.  After all that fixing, I reached for my wallet out of my bag, and realized that I had left my wallet on the counter at home.  I keep my checkbook separate and asked if they take checks.  They said no.  While I am scrambling in my purse with hopes of finding some loose cash, I said I could probably go ask one of my friends to lend me the money.  They were already eating in the play area.  I look up from fumbling in my purse to see the manager swiping a credit card on the little machine in front of me.  I could see that it was not a McDonalds card, but a check or debit card.  He put the card back into his wallet.  I explained, once it sunk in what he was doing, that he didn't need to do that.  He shook  his head and said no problem.  Shocked, I took my tray to the play room in disbelief.  He didn't comp my meal on McDonald's nickel.  He paid for my meal out of his own pocket.   What an act of kindness, and good business.  I will be going back there for sure.  Thanks, Mr. Blonde Manager at McDonalds.

Good Morning! We're home!

This picture was taken after we were back in our house for a couple of days.  The loft bed is new for Reed and Lainey had a great time joining him up there when they woke up.  It was good to be back, and still is.  When we moved back in, Reed asked "How long are we going to stay here?".  "We are here for good, " I told him.    That felt good to say.  It took us 9 months to move back in and they are still fixing a few things.  Hopefully by a year we will be finished with the whole fire thing.  

It's Fall!

Okay, not anymore, but these are such cute photos I had to post them.  

Yep, We Are Still Here!

Okay, I have some catching up to do!  These pictures were taken back in November in our back yard (thanks to our good friend Dan).  So here's a sampling of the good, the bad, and the ugly!