Fifteen

Not sure how it is possible for me to be the mom to a gorgeous 15 year old, but she is here living in the house so it must be real.

She has always been intense and it has been a thrill ride for all of those 15 years. (Those of you who do not live in our house have no idea.)

Thankful in every way, that God bought me a ticket for this ride.

Our girl is growing up to be beautiful on the inside and out.  Love her so, so much.

Her birthday "picks" were...

Cheesecake

Vanilla ice cream

Cheddar Pirate's Booty

Orange Chicken and Rice

Any kind of soda except diet

And the big birthday gift.....she got her nose pierced.  She looks just as gorgeous as ever.

Love you so much Abriana!

Alice

We had to say goodbye to our sweet exchange student, Alice, last Friday.  She was here with us for 2 weeks.  She is a city girl, so I am not so sure she was completely impressed by our location.  Also, not so sure she was impressed with our chaotic family.  She was so sweet and polite, though.  We love Alice!

We took Alice to the lake, to the amusement park where she made herself sick on a circular ride, and to a couple of picnics and a baseball game.  She also went shopping with her travel group.

So thankful to have met Alice!

June 22, 23

June 22

Grandma
Elsie
McD's
Water balloons
Slip-n-slide
Mosquito bites all over despite using the spray

June 23

More water baloons
School lunch
Playground
Bikes
Movie
PBS kids
More mosquito bites all over
Itching
Benedryl

Summer

This is my first post in an attempt to write about our summer.

Thursday was boys night since Allee was with my mom and Abri was at work.  We got a movie, candy and pop.  It was fun.

Friday was girls night since Colton was with my mom and Bradyn went to the movie with dad.  We made birthday cake milkshakes and watched a movie.  It was fun as well.

Saturday....I can't remember.  It was a regular home, work sort of day.  Abri and I did go for a drive and buy her a new swimsuit for camp.

Father's Day we drove up to take a tour of a dam.  We had been before, but last time there wasn't much water at all.  This time, it was everywhere.  Tim went out on the "splash deck" and got soaked.  It was pretty fun, though, against my better judgement we left without eating.  There really wasn't much for food available in the rural area where we went.  By the time we had taken the tour and found a grocery store deli we had eaten all the emergency snacks I keep in the car and were all super hungry.  At least the deli food was edible.

Yesterday's events are posted in the last post.  Except we did visit a park for a while as well, and also played at BK and got some swim stuff at Shopko (goggles, tube, life jacket) and new shoes for the littles (4 pair for under $20).

Today's big events were washing the van, running through the sprinkler for the littles, taking a warm bath after in the "big" tub, and then walking the mile to the store for ice cream and back.

Big girl is at Bible camp this week with her youth group.  Big boy is sometimes participating with the littles.

Pop on Car

I am the absent minded frazzled mom quite a bit of the time.

Yes, yesterday I took the kids to Burger King and I left my pop on top of my car.  I was so disappointed when I went to take a drink and it wasn't in the car.

Yes, I am also the mom who feeds her kids fast food on occasion.

However, all was not lost as I went to the bread outlet and got 10 loaves of multigrain bread, 5 packages of bagels, two boxes of donuts (for our camping trip), and one box of cookies (the kids were hungry), for only $16.  Not bad at all.

Spring Break at the Idaho Capitol

The Boys

The Girls

I cannot get this first photo to rotate correctly.  Sorry, you'll have to turn your head.

Abri and our neighbor who is like a sister. 

 Allee posing while playing her first game of miniature golf.

Allee on her first fishing trip.  You can tell she loved the fishing so much she hated to stop.  :)

"Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows what we know, and holds us responsible to act." Prov. 24:12

13

Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday dear Bradyn,
Happy birthday to you!

Bradyn turned 13 today.  We now officially have 2 teenagers in the house.

We had a family "breakfast party" this morning since that was the time everyone could get together.  We had eggs, sausage, bacon, and hash browns.  We were also supposed to have fruit salad, but I completely forgot that I had gotten the stuff to make it!  Seriously.

Bradyn's cousin decided to liven things up with a game, and Colton had the idea of musical chairs.  Everyone had a blast through the first few rounds, but then things started getting competitive and slightly violent.  That was the end of musical chairs.

Bradyn chose at the store for his birthday picks...

cake:  Oreo ice cream pie
ice cream:  vanilla with chocolate swirls
chips:  loaded chili cheese ruffles
pop:  orange, grape, and cherry Crush
cereal:  did not get due to the above breakfast feast!

We then went to a local gym to swim and water slide, and after went out to dinner at a favorite Italian place where Bradyn was sung to and given chocolate cake (which he didn't even like, it was kind of weird cake).

For presents, Bradyn received a new Guitar Hero set that included drums (little brother broke the last set), a new watch, a magnetic toy thing, and money.  Lots and lots of money.

He used some of the money to buy new parts for the snowmobile he bought himself last month, and to get a new video game.  :)

Bradyn, we are so proud of you.  You are such a sweet and helpful young man.