After the Primary Program Party

The kids always work so hard practicing their songs, memorizing their parts, and getting ready for the Sacrament Meeting Primary Program.  Each year they seem to show up and do their best (cute mistakes and all) on the day of the program.  This year we learned a few new songs and the kids sure sang fabulously...it was a real treat!

I have been blessed with an amazing Primary Presidency and after the program we wanted to have some fun with the kids.  We invited the new Bishopric in to have a little fun playing Pie Face and answering questions while we had Root Beer Floats.  The kids and adults really seemed to be enjoying themselves!

Bishop Giles's turn to be creamed.

The kids were so into this game!!

Our Bishop seemed to get hit most of the time.

Mckay's turn...ha ha!

Silly kids wanted to get hit...

so fun!

Brother Holmquist takes a turn.

Mckay got creamed after all.

Taylor got it too!

It was great to have a little fun together after working so hard!

I have loved and felt the power of this year's theme in Primary..."I am a Child of God", what a special statement we all should know and remember.

Taylor's Date

We are having to continue our individual date nights with the kids since we didn't get them all completed throughout the summer.  I don't think the kids really mind and they are each pretty happy once their turn rolls around.  This time it was Taylor's turn and he has had his heart set on   Buffalo Wild Wings!  This kid adores spicy chicken and thinks it is finger licking good.

Taylor was so sweet to let Gavin join him on his date!

I have really enjoyed the tradition of the kids going on dates with the parents.  It has been a nice opportunity to visit with the kids and catch up on how things are going with them, encourage them, and bond as we discuss different things with each child.  As their turns come around I think they love this time as well and feel special when they get some time with Dad and Mom in addition to picking out the place we go out to eat.  I cherish moments together with each of them!

Pollyanna: Summer Book Party

We have been so busy toward the end of the summer.  We finished the book Pollyanna earlier but just had to find the time to sit down and watch the movie as a family.  We popped a ton of popcorn and sat down to enjoy our movie together.  This is such a fun summer tradition (reading a book and then watching the movie after completing the book).  It is fun to have discussions and talk about what was similar or different in the book vs. the movie.

This is a favorite past time as a family!

Labor Day at the Cabin (A Birthday Wish for Mckay)!

Mckay's Birthday usually tends to fall on a long weekend of Labor Day and that is a perk because we usually use it as another chance to finish out our summer and get away another time before school really gets underway.  It is also a perfect way for Mckay to spend his birthday in a place he loves to go.

We went on a drive to go on a hike and the boys painted their faces with ash from a recent fire in that part of the forest (glad the stuff came off or that would have been a mess).

We actually didn't make it on the hike only the drive to the hike (Kenzie and Brielle stayed with the hiking group and worked hard).  The boys couldn't stand the thought of missing BSU's opening season game and I headed back to the cabin to finish making birthday dinner and cake for the group.  The above picture cracks me up as the boys were doing their touchdown chest bumps.  Gavin was even getting thrown into the mix!

Mckay loves getting all decked out and watching his football games at the cabin when he gets a chance.

The cousins like to play football all the time on the little patch of lawn, they spend hours doing this together and sometimes the dads get involved too.

Like Father, Like Son.

Go Taylor!

Sporting his new gloves he worked hard for.

A "Better Than Anything" birthday cake was the request for my dream man!

Blowing out the candles.

Gavin was enjoying the birthday treats.

Brielle and Emry having fun.

Mckay enjoying his treat with Payton, Kenzie, Kason, Taylor, and Sarah.

Time to open a few presents!

Later on Sunday afternoon our family took off to go see a nearby waterfall as a Sunday drive enjoying the beautiful view!

It was fun for the kids to get out and explore.

It was a beautiful day.

Gavin enjoyed climbing with Mckay!

Fun picture of my hiking princess, Brielle.

Mckay and the girls.

Making memories.

I think the kids had fun checking out the waterfall (they were not happy to be leaving their cousins to go on a family drive but in the end I think they liked it).

Kenzie was enjoying nature!

Gavin and I posing for a picture and Taylor looking sharp in the background.

A smile that can melt your heart.

I was eager to snap a nice picture of the whole family (thankfully a bystander was there to help).

I sure love them!

My people!!

I love going on Sunday drives as a family.  Montana is so beautiful and I feel beyond blessed to live here and enjoy weekends at the cabin as a family!  Happy Birthday to my Sweetheart, I treasure this life we live!