Summer Lovin'

We have had a busy but super fun summer. Here's a few pictures and an update of what we've been up to! (read: extremely long post!;)

Seeing the floats at the South Towne Center: where the kids got their faces painted and balloon animals.

A wonderful visit from our friends from Chicago. Jess & Jill.

Lots of swimming!!

Tanner & Ellie. Who got new life-jackets this year. Absolutely love 'em! (the kids and the life-jackets!)

Went to a Bees Game. Taylor enjoying the cotton candy!

The kids enjoying corn on the cob from our garden. We've been enjoying corn on the cob, peas, cilantro, green peppers, beets, and tomatoes. The pumpkins are well on their way to orange, and the carrots too!

A fun camp-over at Phil's parents cabin with his High School friends and their families!

A trip to the Zoo with ?? Oh yes, Jess, Kamryn, Kaden, and Taylor... Tanner & Kyler also in tow!

Jessica had Chinese Camp for two weeks. She is starting the dual immersion program for first grade and learning Chinese!

Took a wonderful week long vacation with all the Kimballs, to Island Park. What a fun tradition. We look forward to our week away with cousins every year! This is all the grandkids (minus Jayma) in the hot-tub at the cabin we stayed at. We were really roughin' it!

Uncle Andrew was so sweet and took the kids fishing. He is one amazing fisherman, and let Jessica and Taylor each reel in a catch!

Tanner enjoying an ice cream bar in West Yellowstone!

Our kids are early risers... Phil took them out one morning for a walk, so we didn't wake up the whole cabin. They love to throw rocks in the water!

We were so spoiled to be able to go to Phil's dad's friend's cabin for a day and took advantage of a water trampoline they share with their neighbor. It was a beautiful cabin situated right at the water's edge. They had a playground, tire swings, and a paddle boat! Here's Jessica getting shot off the end of the bouncer!

Marie got the best air, with a little help from Lisa & Ben.

We spent a wonderful day at Yellowstone with all the family. We went to Old Faithful, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Upper and Lower Falls, and swimming in the firehole river.

It was so much fun we went back the next day with our little family to see the paint pots, firehole lake, and white dome. We even spotted 5 Bison that day! We also spent a day rafting down the river @ Mack's Inn, and another one checking out Quake Lake and surrounding areas!

Just outside the Bear and Wolf Discovery Center, in West Yellowstone.

On the way home we stopped by Mesa Falls, which were beautiful! The kids loved the Visitor Center and were so "scary" acting like the bear. The Park Ranger got such a kick out of watching them, that she gave them some books and bracelets about Smokey the Bear!

It was such a fun vacation spent with our wonderful family! We're already looking forward to next year!!