Priceless!

Summer 2011

Summer was busy but we had a lot of fun! 

We swam a lot and the kids did very well advancing in their swimming skills.  We had the opportunity to swim for two months with friends and in July we had to say good-bye to them.  We will miss you all Amy, Kenta, Erika, Tsaya, and Anna!  We wish you luck in your new home!!

 Caitlyn, Quincy, & Rylie

Good-bye dear friends!

In August we escaped and took a day trip to the Ostrich Ranch.  There we were able to feed and pet donkeys, birds, goats, ostrich, and deer.  The kids were timid at first but quickly overcame that once they realized how kind the animals were; accept for the ostrich - they are mean!  Rylie wasn't okay with most of it but she warmed up to a baby donkey and gladly would pet that until the mom came over to protect.  We had a great time!



Also in August the long awaited day arrived; Josey went to Kindergarten!  School has been so good for her.  She loves it and is thriving.  Tiffany and Rylie are enjoying their time together at home.

 September - October is a birthday season at our home; four birthdays in one months time!  Tiffany enjoyed her break this year from making and decorating all the cakes.  The kids all decided they wanted Darin to bake them a dutch oven cake and frost it too.  So he did.  It was wonderful!  The only exception was Rylie.  She did not want Dad to make her cake.  She wanted a cat cake so Tiffany baked and decorated her one.

Also in October, Jaryn earned his Arrow of Light in Cub Scouting and he crossed over into scouts.  It was a little bittersweet for us to say good-bye to Cub Scouts.  He loved it but looks forward to all his adventures as a scout.

We have our first projects taking place at our house.  We broke ground for our first garden.  Tiffany has mixed feelings about this project as she has enjoyed the break from this responsibility.  Tiffany also went off strike to make curtains.  You might remember that she went on a sewing strike in 2010.  She decided the money she would save would be worth the time to make the curtains.  The curtains are not sewn yet and she hopes to get to that after the holidays are over.  However, we did take down the broken vertical blinds to allow some light into our front room.  We love the view and enjoy the light every day!  This was a major improvement!!

We could not resist taking this picture as we walked behind all of our kids on a small hike.  They are growing up and we couldn't be more proud of them!  We love our children so much!