Estes Park

We took a vacation to Estes Park this summer and here are some highlights:
Galina and Madina...their names got mixed up all week.

Never thought I'd see the day...Brother Brent holding my two girls and smiling?  This man is not a kid person so this is rare!

 Treyton and cousin Marat playing with Playmobil guys.  Treyton thinks his big cousin is the coolest person alive.

 Me and my parents....sooooo good to get hugs from them!

 My parents loved to sit outside and just watch them play.

 I'm impressed I got this picture as these two boys don't stay still very long.

 Daddy and Brielle at the pool.

 Hours of fun at the pool for all the kids.

 I also got some puzzles from the clubhouse which were so fun.  I love puzzles and haven't gotten a chance to do one that had more than 24 pieces since I've had kids. 

 Celebrating Treyton and Galina's birthdays.

 Galina turned 4 at the end of July.

 Treyton turned 6.

 Unbeknownst to my mom, she gave Treyton a trick candle that kept coming back to life every time he tried to blow it out. 

 Oh, he thought that was so fun.  We all got a kick out of it!

 Some presents to celebrate.

 Prego and her honey.

 Cuddling up with Grandma Kay on a cold morning and watching cartoons.

 Brielle out hiking with Daddy.

 But riding became more fun.

 Galina and no fear of cliffs.  Or anything for that matter.

 Studly boy.

 The fam at the falls.

 Treyton and Marat searching for snow.

 Grandpa Don and Treyton at Grandpa's yearly snack site.

 Mommy and Brielle trekking along.

 Father and daughter.

 The fam again.

 There are several hikes in the Rockies that kids can earn badges for completing.  The one we went on that day was one of them.  We had a little ceremony and presented them with the badges.

 Galina hiked the whole way and earned a badge too.

 This dog kept showing up in strange places all week, including Brent's head.

 My parents watched our kids so Bryce and I could go for a hike.  This is our favorite thing to do together.  It's how we started out our dating relationship...in person.  But that's another story for another time.

Happy trails!

How to Wash a Dog in the Summer

My husband is a genius sometimes.  He can solve difficult problems.  Like the dreaded chore of washing a dog.  He found a way to make it easier. 

 First find a kiddie pool and then some kids to make the process manageable.

 Next add shampoo and a toddler.  The toddler helps the shampoo bubble.

 Remove toddler and clothes for less absorption and increased cuteness.

 Pour buckets over dog.  And self if you're a naked toddler.

 Give the dog a hearty behind-the-ear scratch for being such a good dog.

Allow dog and kid helpers to run around in the sun to get dry.  Task complete! 

VBS

This past summer I enrolled the kids in a couple Vacation Bible Schools.  Both had a show at the end but I only remembered my camera for one.  This one was a beach blast theme.  There's Galina making a fashion statement.  All the other kids wore theirs as they were made.  But creative, theatrical Galina marches to a different drummer.

 There's my sunshiny boy with a huge smile.

 This VBS had a party afterwards.  They served cookies and watermelon. Brielle just loves watermelon.  All my kids do, actually.

 But there's something so fun about watching a 20 month old eat it.  Maybe it's that smile they have the whole time.

I can't get enough of it. 

Treyton's 6

This summer Treyton turned 6

I'm a little behind as his b-day is in June but thought I'd share his day anyway.

Everyone loves birthdays at our house.

Treyton is really into dragons and lizards right now.

Thanks to the movie How To Train Your Dragon. 

We've watched it at least 50 times.

What boy doesn't love a Nerf gun?

Treyton really wants to learn how to play the guitar.  But I was told to start him off on piano at his age rather than guitar.  Well, we tried that but he wasn't much interested.  So perhaps we'll wait and start him on guitar when he's older

He also wants to play the drums but I wasn't ready for that yet.

Galina is ready for the big stage in so many ways.

Since we were at the zoo in the morning and pretty tired out, we decided to make homemade pizzas for dinner.

So after naps, showers, and baths we got to work.

I'm currently searching for the best pizza crust recipe.  I haven't found it yet but promise to share when I do.

We all had fun piling on the toppings.

Even sweet little Brielle.

She's got the cooking gene, I just know it!

A strawberry cake was requested and what mommy could refuse to make one for her firstborn?

Six years before this day was probably the greatest day of my life.  When God made me a mom.

 I get to look at that excited face everyday.

 Excuse me while I go kiss him to pieces.

Love you, Mister-Mister!

B-day Zoo Trip

Instead of having birthday parties this year, our family decided to get a zoo membership.

So we headed off on Treyton's b-day since he's the first summer birthday in our family.  Bryce's is a week later, and a month after that is Galina's.

Brielle had never been before and absolutely loved it. 

 I knew she would since she loves seeing the cows and horses that live by us.

 It was a gorgeous Saturday in June; a perfect way to spend the morning.

 It's so fun for me to see how excited the kids get over the animals.  I love seeing the world through their eyes.  I never tire of it.  People keep asking me why we're having a fourth child.  This is part of the reason.  Childlike perspective on the world is something I want to continue to re-learn and never lose again.  My munchkins are helping me with this goal.

 Oh man, can you see how close that tiger is?  Galina found it first.

 I think she made it roll over.  If anyone could do it, it'd be Galina.

 Gotta love those big and baby giraffes.

 Our boy's a little over 3.5 feet tall.

 Galina, just over 3 ft.

 And Brielle did NOT want to get measured, but I reckon she was 2.25 ft. tall.

 They had this cute carved canoe which we tried to get all three kids looking at us and smiling.  Didn't work.  We made a scene trying.  Brought Brielle to tears.  Oh well.

 Brielle loved the bird's eye view from her daddy's shoulders.

 We concluded the morning with an elephant show.  These are my favorite animals.  A great way to close out the morning.