Looking back on some of the fun things we did in June as we kicked off the summer, has me thinking about just how much I really do LOVE the month of June! It signals the beginning of a fun and magical summer, more time spent with my children and as a family, many late nights together and an occasional moment to sleep in an recover, a break from homework and other demands of school/schedules, and some much needed freedom.
After getting back from the youth temple trip we went to pick up Taylor, Brielle, and Gavin at Swensen's who helped to take care of them for the day. While we were there we ended up having a random fire and chatting for a bit.
Oh the beautiful weather and late nights together is something to cherish.
The perfect way to kick off our summer!
We made a quick trip to Helena for the day so Mckay could go mountain biking with Issac and Lars for a bit while Lindsey and I entertained 9 kiddos. One of our stops was the cute carousel in Helena. The kids loved it here!
Gavin is all smiles.
Kenzie and Brielle ready for a ride.
The girls and Emry.
Even Payton wasn't too cool to ride.
Taylor and his cute little smile.
Fun times for sure!
That is a pile of cute kids enjoying a cold treat from the Dollar Store.
We are beyond excited Summer has arrived! Can't wait to soak it all in.
Sticking with a tradition of picking out a new book for the summer. The kids really like doing this when school is out, we hit the bookstore and buy them a new book to kick off their summer reading with a book they are excited about.
I've had this chalkboard sitting in the garage for a while. The girls were looking for a new project for their room so I let them take it over and make it all cute.
Painting it a mint color.
Cutest sisters and even Gavin wanted in on the painting.
Another fun thing we love to do in the summer is to hit up the pool. I am amazed at how much time Gavin spends under the water. He is becoming such a good little swimmer and is excited to take swimming lessons for the first time this summer!
Goggles and all!
Payton was enjoying the new face mask snorkel he purchased. This guy loves all things to do with gear.
Handsome Taylor getting ready for a swim.
Nolan, Taylor, and Gavin in the kiddie pool.
Little miss Brielle never seems to get enough of the water. She loves fun in the sun and the outdoors.
Payton is in the top middle and Kenzie is across from him (I think that is Taylor under the water in the middle of the pool). They were enjoying some time in the pool with friends.
Yep, there is Taylor in the white goggles.
Kenzie playing with the toypedo.
Kamree and Kenzie- sweet friends!
Riding bikes and eating popsicles are a must for us in the summer months.
The girls were pretty pleased with their finished product...so cute!
Payton enjoying a few summer basketball games when his schedule allowed. He loves this sport.
Often times I have to tote kids along to young women's with me since Mckay also has meetings those evenings. The Young Women are so sweet to my kids and always want them to join in on the fun. Bostyn is being Gavin's buddy during a friendly game of kickball. He loved it!
Kamree is having Brielle run along with her and Brielle was feeling pretty special.
My beautiful Beehive (Kenzie).
This chalkboard has been a ton of fun for the girls to write on.
This picture was captured while we were sitting on the front porch enjoying a good thunderstorm together. I love when a good storm rolls in and you can hear/feel it's POWER, all while being safe and sheltered of coarse!
Early this summer the youth had a youth conference in Cascade. For service they put on these Helping Hands shirts and painted/helped to fix up the track and football fields at the Cascade Schools. It was sure a bit of a mess but fun nonetheless.
Payton ready to get painting too.
This summer we had a Young Women Getaway at the Swensen cabin. It was a blast with a neat group of girls.
These group of girls had a great time together and grew even close as they shared this time together.
Kissing a frog at the candy store.
The candy store was a huge hit!
Enjoying a nice evening hike with leaders and girls.
Wonderful group of ladies!
Campfire time is always such a hit for everyone. It was filled with yummy treats/snacks, great company, and conversations. (Mckay came up as a priesthood holder and brought our kids along, we took over the opposite cabin that the Young Women were not using.)
Playing a sock exchange game with the girls.
Oh summers are just magical! I love Montana and spending so much time outside in the summer months. Gavin had a butterfly on his finger during one of our hikes. Cute boy loves all things outdoors too!
A hiking we will go! (Brielle, Kenzie, and Gavin)
Isaac and Mckay took the oldest boys on a bike ride on this trail while Lindsey and I hiked a bit of it with the kids. After finding a tick on a rock that did us in and we began heading back. I despise ticks!
Cute trail buddies.
Lindsey, Myer, and Gavin: these short legged boys did pretty good on our hike!
On the way back to the trail head, the dads and the big boys came back down the trail. Mckay told me that Payton narrowly escaped getting severely hurt. I guess at one point they were coming back down pretty fast with big rocks and boulders all around them. Then Mckay saw Payton falling head first as the front tire on his mountain bike just flew off. I am so happy Payton was only scratched up a little because it could have been much worse. Payton told me at one point he had a feeling to say a prayer and asked for safety. It was a neat answer to pray and testimony builder for him.
To top off our family adventure, Lindsey, Kason, and I hopped back on the bikes and headed down the road towards where we had left the van. While the rest of the kids and the dad's loaded up bikes and drove behind in Isaac's truck. We got ahead of the truck a good distance and were heading down the road pretty quickly when all of a sudden Lindsey and Kason hit the brakes in front of me. I followed suit thinking they had yelled, "Deer"! To my surprise, they had not yelled deer, they had yelled "BEAR"! It was an adrenaline boost for sure as we saw a mama bear and two cubs run across the road right in front of us. We decided to give her some space and started biking back towards the truck. The rest of the family was bummed to have not seen the bear too and we were feeling much safer in the truck. I am loving this new biking kick we've been on and will definitely be on alert from now on for wild life! It was scary and thrilling all at the same time.
Grandpa Swensen recently got a Bobcat. Gavin was helping him drive Kenzie and Brielle in the bucket.
Loving the free time with family.
Silly girls!
Oh Brielle has a future driving equipment.
Gavin loves having the kids home from school and all of the added attention/family time.
Kenzie has been enjoying a break from homework.
Making doughnuts as a family and they gave it a TWO THUMBS UP!
Snapping a picture of a fun movie party, we love watching movies as a family. Funny story: I was taking a picture and there were a couple giggles so I looked closer at the picture and understood why!!! MCKAY!!
It called for another retake!
The kids have been helping to do some weeding. Brielle working hard!
Gavin and Payton weeding! It is fun motivating kids to work...sigh!
Good JOB!
Then we took a few opportunities to get together with friends. The Pearsons' are building a new house and they had a big pit in their yard that filled with water from the rain. So what do country kids do best? They take advantage of a free swimming pool and make the most of it. Payton and Gavin on the raft and Taylor in the tube.
Kenzie and Brielle on the tube. It wasn't long before we were kicked out due to a thunderstorm that came in. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted!
Scouts is about to wrap up but we had a fun day trip planned with families. We started at the Louis and Clark Interpretive Center for a few activities and a fun hike looking for different birds in the area.
Rodents in the rocks.
Gavin adores binoculars.
Taylor helping Gavin get a better look.
Brielle was in her element, Kenzie, and Payton.
Fun times!
So cute.
Then we took over the Pizza Hut buffet and boy were these kids hungry and in heaven.
It was delicious!
Next we headed to Ryan's Dam for a tour and played around.
The Day Camp ended at Baskin Robbins and that was the perfect treat for all.
The kids loved it!
Here are a few more pictures I got off Facebook from others of the activity:
We helped to build a Tepee.
And a few I also got from the YW Getaway:
And more from the Youth Conference:
And the annual youth temple trip to kick off the summer. This was Kenzie's first time to go to the temple...it was wonderful.
June also means Happy Father's Day to this wonderful husband/father. He is adored by all of us!
Mckay and I headed to Copper City to meet up with Isaac and Lindsey to do some biking! We got new bikes are were eager to try them out and get a good ride in while the weather allows.
Beautiful Montana!
We have so much fun doing this hobby together. It makes for some awesome dates with my best friend!
A cute message for their dad!
If our summer schedule allows, the kids enjoy participating in the Choteau basketball camp.
Brielle and Max were in the younger group.
They had so much fun!
Cute cousins!
Taylor, Asher, Kason, and Payton ready to play ball.
The boy cousins play basketball at every opportunity they can get, they love this sport.
Ballers!
They won Gatorade!
McKenzie has been babysitting a bit this summer. She is getting Easton down for a nap. It is tender watching her and I know she will make a wonderful mama one day!
June is one of my favorite months of the year! I love the break in our schedule and time we get to treasure as a family! It is always sad to see the month of June end.
