~June Events~

Eagle Rodeo

Ella was absolutely enthralled in the rodeo this year.

 Mostly because there were horses involved.

She was so excited when the girls did the barrel racing.

It was such a fun night to hang out with family & friends.

 

Renaissance Fair, Eagle Island

We went to Eagle Island one day to go fishing and take a walk around the lake. Then we realized there was a free Renaissance Fair going on, so we sauntered in...

Cole met Cap'n Jack Sparrow!!

 I was put in the stocks

AND WAS NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT

mostly because the kids got to throw wet sponges at me!

Ella and Cole loved watching the jousting on horses

We also stopped by the stage area and listened to some Medieval bands, and watched some Irish dancers, so fun to watch!! 

 

 

Boise Circus

Ella got free kids tickets from her school,

so we decided to make it a family outing.

It wasn't as crazy busy as when we saw

 the Ringling Brothers in Indianapolis

a couple years ago, but the kids had a blast just the same. 

Ella got to ride the pony during intermission!

 What a fun month! We also had a couple camping trips in there...

Can't wait for our next vacation on the Oregon Coast!

 

Kenny Chesney

I love country music.

 I think it stuck with me since I went to Ricks and went country dancing every week (SO fun, miss it)

The week after our anniversary we went with our good friends to see Kenny Chesney at the Taco Bell Arena.

 

Pictures never turn out at a concert,

or any indoor large event.

He was amazing, and had so much energy. The Eli Young Band and Kacey Musgraves opened for him. We had pretty good seats bottom section right in front of the main stage.

I got to wear a cowboy hat and my belt buckle, so fun.

We always have a blast with our friends the Olsen's.
I think the guy taking the picture didn't know John was in our group.

Great night.

9th Anniversary: McCall Lake

For our 9th Anniversary we left our kids with family and rented a cabin at McCall, Idaho for two nights.  It's beautiful there and reminds me a ton of Lake Tahoe, where I vacationed every year growing up. 

Our little cabin was perfect with a cozy fireplace and private hot tub out back. Wish I took pictures of the place, it was nice.

Every morning we went to our favorite place, The Pancake House where we'd get cinnamon rolls the size of your dinner plate dripping in icing and melted butter. YUM. And that was just our appetizer!

Somehow Scott managed to schedule in some fishing time, since I got my shopping time.

We enjoyed one afternoon in town where we walked along the lake and the boats.  It was a little chillier and rainy than we'd liked it to be, but didn't ruin our weekend one bit.

We went to a couple boutiques and antique shops, got some dinner at a local diner, and went to the local theater's only showing of Iron Man 3 in 3D.

It's so nice to have a few days to just enjoy each other's company and be able to hear each other think without screaming chaos in the background. We love our kids but once a year a weekend without them makes you love them even more.

 

Field Day

I was able to volunteer at Ella's school for Field Day the last week of school.

It was so different than I remember it as a kid.

Maybe it was just because she's in lower grades, but they didn't have any races or blue ribbons handed out.

There was a ton of water relay games...

Potato Sack racing...

Jump House jumping...

And popsicle time

(I do remember this one)

She had a blast and got soaking wet.

Good thing it was a hot day.

Here she is sitting next to her friend Sage. They are two of a kind.

So glad I made arrangements with the boys so I could come!

 

End of School Programs

Both Ella and Cole had end-of-the-year school programs,

so it was fun to see what they had done the last few months of school here in Boise.

Cole had a Preschool Graduation

 (even though he'll go again next year)

He is the cutest and innocent thing when he smiles...

wish it was always that way :)

I don't know why his hat makes him look like an elf,

but we're real proud of all that learning he did.

They had this video of them and all the things they did that year,

and I was surprised by how much they added of Cole since

we were there only half of the time.

We were also given a huge binder full of his artwork and

pictures from the activities that year. LOVE IT!

(So glad Scott was able to come)

 

 

He has Miss Erica, and she's real nice. 

 I love the preschool he goes to.

 

Ella also had an end-of-the-year program on the stage at her school.

They did these amazing songs with pictures to go with them,

it was amazing and so well planned.

She had Mrs. Hammons as her teacher and loved her.

She mad a good friend that's also in our ward: Sage (bottom right)

 It's always fun to see your kids perform songs on a stage, and I'm glad Scott was able to be there for both.

 

 

 

Family Camping: Anderson Ranch

We finally sold our little red Toyota Corolla that we've had for 9 years and Scott got his truck he's been wanting. So, we crammed our whole family and all our stuff in it to go camping altogether!

We went up to Anderson Ranch, past Mountain Home.

The ONLY way I'd go is if we got a bigger tent, one with 3 rooms and an air mattress.

I know, I'm a spoiled brat.

 

 Cookin' on the grill.

hot dogs, tin foil dinners and s'mores... what else?

 

Brock's 1st campfire experience

 We think he liked it.

 

Morning time was great, everybody was kinda separated so we all slept well.

Brock was excited to see everyone.

We camped right by the river so you know there's fishing coming... 

 

After fishing we went on a huge straight uphill hike, led by Ella.

 

 

At the top of the hill

such a beautiful view

Going down was much easier :)

On the drive home the kids were OUT the entire ride.

It was a good experience, not sure I want to do it every weekend

the kids loved every second of it

 

 

 



{18 months}

Brock turned 18 months about 5 weeks ago (better late than never) and these are the best shots I could get of him at the common grounds area in our neighborhood. He is quick and never in one spot for very long, thus couldn't get one single shot of him facing forward!

 

Brock's Stats:

27 lbs.

33 inches tall

wears size 18m. clothes

size 5-6 shoes

 

Brock's Favorites:

loves his bottle of milk

still sucks his thumb when holding favorite blue blanket

loves to be outside

loves to play hide-n-seek & peek-a-boo

very ticklish

says: mama, daddy, car, ball, cracker

sleeps 12 hrs. at night and 3+ hr. daily nap

very good at communicating with grunts and pointing

loves his brother and sister

loves nursery

very patient and sweet

loves all food, whatever we're eating

 LOVES to play with broom and mop