Family pictures

Today was family picture day. My parents have been wanting a new picture of all us together for awhile. The last time we took a picture that included my siblings, parents, husbands, wives, and all the grandkids was back in 2011. It was just a few months before Loralee was born. So we've been missing Loralee and my newest nephew Mason, in our last pics. So today we got all 13 of us together (2 parents, 3 siblings, 2 spouses, and 6 grandchildren, 3 generations) and took our pics. It went surprisingly smooth! And the pics are awesome. Enjoy!

 The original gang

 The entire gang now

Grandparents and the grandkids

Just the grandkids

Siblings

Love our family!!!

Our summer in a nutshell...

So summer is over for us tomorrow. This is my first summer as a mother where I really and truly am not ready for it to end. Most summers by the last week or two I'm done with the kids. We are usually getting on each others nerves and all of us need some space. But this summer was very different for us. This was my first summer without a baby in diapers (or 2 or 3!). I hardly ever used our strollers and I didn't have to take a diaper bag along. We just packed a small backpack wherever we went with sunscreen, wipes, snacks and drinks and were on our way. This was also my first summer where I didn't have to say no to certain playdates because not all of my kids were old enough to go. With the kids being 7, 6, 4, and 3 we were pretty much up for anything. This was the first time I could take all 4 kids successfully to the movies all by myself! Park dates are super easy now. I only really needed an extra set of hands for swimming playdates. I have loved not having to be anywhere in the mornings. The kids and I have enjoyed lounging at home, enjoying our breakfast (or coffee or tea with no rush), and then heading out to our adventures later in the day. But all good things must come to an end and the kids are getting a little antsy to start soccer, see friends, enjoy the upcoming holidays, etc. Although we are all sad, all the first day of school outfits are laid out, backpacks and lunch boxes are labeled, and school supplies are in bags ready to go. Wish us luck tomorrow! The older three start school and Loralee heads back to preschool next week! 

Enjoy the pics from our random summer adventures.

We started the summer with two kids having tonsil and adenoid removal surgery. Worst feeling in the world as a mother is watching your two kids go in for surgery knowing there is nothing you can do for them, you have no control, and they are in someone elses hands. And the fact that no one can prepare you for this awful, helpless feeling. But thank God everything went smoothly and both kids are just fine.

The day before

Pre-Op

 Best feeling in the world is holding them after surgery

Recovering...

It was the summer of Lilly losing teeth right and left. A total of 6 teeth in 2 months, leaving her with 4 missing teeth on the top and 2 on the bottom.

 First there were 4 missing...

 Then 2 more on the top. I love this awkward goofy look. So adorable.

4th of July weekend. Michael's birthday.

 

 Headed to Wyoming for 2 weeks

When we got home it was swim lesson time!

Just hung out, played, had fun, enjoyed each others company.

Ice cream always tastes better when you eat it with no clothes. Or in her case, it just makes the clean up easier.

These two.

Sleeping Pig Pen

Sleeping with a pup

Elsa is 8 months old already! And bigger than all our kids.

Because everyone should buy witches hats in August.

Heidi started soccer this year along with Lilly playing for her 3rd year in a row.

We celebrated two years living in our house!

And ended the summer at Knott's.

One last one of these teeth. Can't get enough of that smile right now!

Best. Summer. Ever.

Wyoming pics Week 2

The 2nd week on our vacation has been great! It's been one adventure after another. We spent some time in Jackson and at the Teton's before taking my dad to the airport. The kids were sad to see him leave but we're still having a great time with my mom, my brother, and Auntie Min. 

Yesterday we decided to visit Earthquake Lake in Montana, along with a quick trip through a section of Yellowstone, and Old Faithful. It was super crazy because we drove through the worst hail storm I've ever seen. We had to actually pull over a few times because the hail was so bad and you couldn't see a thing out the windshield. Let me just say that 3 out of 4 of my kids are not a fan of hail or thunder storms lol. Luckily this type of weather is practically non-existent in the OC.

Tomorrow we have to head back to reality. We are all bummed to be leaving but definitely miss Michael and the pups a lot. Time to get back and see what the rest of summer has in store for us.

The Grand Tetons

Double rainbow after a storm

Stormy sunset

Above Earthquake Lake 

Earthquake Lake, Montana

This was a valley filled with houses and a campsite along the Madison River that disappeared completely under water during an earthquake in 1959 after the lake above it overflowed. You can still see the houses below in the water as well as the tree tops poking through the surface. The people that perished in the quake are still buried down below in the 190 feet deep water.

Oh yeah, and that's the giant freaky storm we drove right into.

Had to throw one in of this kid and her toothless smile

Part of the tree tops poking through the waters surface

The kids thought it had snowed once the hail stopped. It totally looked like it!

Moose! One of my all time favorite things to look for while visiting Wyoming. 

Some other wildlife we found...

And last but not least, Lilly and Bobby at Old Faithful. They found it fascinating. Heidi and Loralee were tired out at that point and were not interested.