Where does time go???

I have fallen behind in the blogging world just because summer has been super busy. We have done a lot of fun things this summer so I am posting one HUGE post.

Avery finally got to start preschool called Pumpkin Patch. She has been patiently waiting to start since May. It was our way of getting her potty trained. We told her only big girls go to school and you have to wear big girl underwear. That's really all it took to get her potty trained. She was a little unsure the first day but with time she has really come to enjoy it and loves coming home with her school projects. Although when you ask her, "Do you want to quit going to school?" She'll say, "Yeah mom, I want to stay home all day with you." It is so sweet but I really love the two hour break!

She has really been into the 'puter', she is always wanting to play Diego or Dora. So grown up!

(Click on pic to enlarge)

I have been super busy cutting vinyl this summer with a few projects but the biggest one I did was for my mother in law. She had a shed built this year and wanted to put sayings that Randy would always say when he was gardening. It is a great tribute to the master gardner and it was so fun doing it. The project turned out so cute, although the men of family think we're creating a shrine. It was fun creating it and I have to thank Shauna for letting me do this as it brought back great memories of Randy and his passion and love for gardening. We miss him and it is projects like this that will never let us forget him. We love and miss him so much.

Jason went mountain biking with my brothers, Ben and Kent in Sun Valley. They are always doing some type of guy trip and this year they thought it was time for some mountain biking. They said it was a lot of fun. I think Jason said they went about 8 miles. Lots of fun until Kent went tipsy-do over the handle bars!

We also spent a week in Island Park with my family and it's always an adventure. But this year my parents rented a big trailor for us to stay in since all of us can't stay in the cabin. So it was really nice. Of course, the boys did some mountain biking while the girls stayed home and did nothing but watch kids. Right! While the cats are away, the mice will play. We filled water balloons and prepared to attack the boys when they got home. Everyone ended up getting wet and it was fun to surprise them. I will post pics when I get them.

We also went into the park and saw Presiden't Obama's helicopter fleet land in the park, preparing for his Yellowstone visit. It was really neat to see. There are only a five cars, and two of them were ours! Avery had to have a raccoon hat, which was pretty dang cute on her!

We went to the Palymill and saw a theatrical play, went four-wheeling, played lots of games, hike, and just hung out! It was fun to get away.

This year was Jason's first year at scout camp and I think he had fun. This was the first scout camp for all of the boys so they all had a lot to learn (zipping their tent closed will keep mice out)He said it was a lot of work and was sure gald to be home. But overall, I think it was a success. Then a couple of weeks after scout camp, he took the boys backpacking to Independence Lakes, which is a 7 mile hike that can be pretty tough. Jason and I explored that hike when I was six months pregnant and it was hard then but such beautiful country! So I can imagine the boys thinking it was tough but every one of them made it! And it is always fun to hear all of the crazy stories Jason has to tell when they get home. This backpacking trip each boy had to sleep under the stars (meaning no tent!)