Fresh Apple Pie

This was my first attempt at making a full on apple pie - crust and all.

I got the delicious apples from my mother-in-law, Brenda.  I got the recipe from a Taste of Home magazine. I love this magazine.  It is full of great recipes.

It looked great, but would it taste good?

The answer was "yes."  I was told by each family member that it was great.  

My next attempt is going to be a peach pie.

Another Homeschooler

Our final homeschooler - He was just being so squirrelly the day I took the girls' pictures I had to get him the next day.  And just so you know, he does do some schoolwork.  He lasts about an hour.  He does things like matching, putting things in the proper category (Yesterday was fruit and flowers.), and he is working on his ABCs.  He loves being a part of he group.

First Day of School

This year I planned a little surprise for the first day of school.  The first day can be a struggle around here especially when summer seems to go by too fast.  We also started before the public school which really bothered the teen.

I made a few little decorations for the schoolroom and gave each of the kids a little treat - some gum and suckers.

As you can see, the younger kids were ready and Bailee is still asleep.

For lunch we had a special drink.  

Here in the LC valley we have a fast food place called Sharp's.  At Sharp's, you can get one of my favorite beverages - Scotch n' Soda.  No, this is not alcoholic.  It is made from Sprite, vanilla syrup, and a slice of lemon.  Sadly, these can be a spendy drink for six, so sometime this summer I decided to try and make them myself.  They turned out great and the kids have asked for them several times.

Is anyone else in shock over the fact that Bailee is a junior?  Where did the time go?

We spent last weekend in McCall, ID with Jeremy's mom, stepdad, and grandparents.  They take about a week every month of the summer and go camping around our relative "area."  It just worked out that this year we could join them on this trip.

We roasted marshmallows every night for s'mores.  Even though the fire threat was high, we were allowed to build a fire in the designated pit.

Reason being that they have these great sand spots where the fire pit, picnic table, and a place for a tent are. Luken thought he had his own personal, huge sandbox.  He was covered in dirt by the end of the day.

This is Jeremy's grandpa.  He is one of the most active 82 year olds I know.  I want to be just like him when I mature.

We played several games of Rummikub over the weekend.

And spent a lot of time just floating on the lake.

The kids caught a few frogs.

Just for posterity.

And Saturday, Jeremy's aunt and uncle arrived with two of their grandkids.  Our kids were very excited because they usually only get to see them once a year.

Jeremy and Bryke had to strike a poise also.

Ponderosa has several hiking and biking trails.

The crew - Can you tell Luken has older sisters?

Making a palace (aka prison) for another frog.

Group shots before we left on Sunday.

Kelly's and Grimms, we had a great weekend.  Thank you so much for including us in your fun.

Sam's Beach Party

As family knows, Sammy's birthday is the 30th of December.  I have to admit it is very challenging for me to have what it takes to give her a party after the holidays.  I am just tuckered out.  So last December, I promised her a summer beach party for her birthday.

Here are the Betts, Goodman, and our girls in the Snake River.  Our kids love to go "up river" to be on the beach and swim.

Bailee and Tessa - Tessa has basically no body fat, so she got cold quickly.  I am sure we ended up picking the coldest day of August to go up.  Which really wasn't that cold, it was around 80 degrees, but the temperature on the other days had been in the high 90s.

Sam opening her gifts with the whole crew around to watch.  Another bummer was it was windy.  Every once in a while a big gust of wind would come along and pick up a layer of sand.

The girls had a sand castle building contest.  Everyone won a prize.

Mya and her castle

Bailee's castle

Makayla's castle

Sam and Ashley teamed up

Rosey's castle

Family Camp

This year was the first time Jeremy or I had been to the annual family camp our church attends.  We went as the "teachers" for the 6 to 8 year old age group of kid's ministry.  We had a great time.  It was very tiring and went by very quickly, but definitely worth it.

This is Jeremy as he mans the bouncing castle.

We had surfboards as part of our decor.  Luken and Anjahli were taking a ride upon one.

We had our RCC kids help us with the motions to the worship songs.  Ysa, our niece, and Makayla were up there.

Here is the rest of our crew.  We had 35 to 40 kids at each meeting.

We went for a little drive on the Going to the Sun Road.  That is the actual name of the road.  It is a beautiful drive.  Makayla did not enjoy it.  The road spends too much time on the edge of the mountain side.  Makayla does not like heights.

I took pictures of all the kids to take home with them.  They also took a goofy picture.  Here are the ones Makayla was in.

There was a little beach on the campgrounds where we took the kids a couple of times to get in the water.  The water here is cold.  The camp is located in Hungry Horse, MT and the river is fed from a glacier.  Hungry Horse is right outside of Glacier National Park.