First day of 2nd grade and preK

My boys.  Oh how I love these boys.

What would a family picture be without a Silly Pose shot.  I like that Josh's silly face is a LOT like his regular "Please don't take a picture" face.

He has such a nice smile, too.

Momma and her boys

The prerequisite first day of school in front of our tree picture.

Little extra swag with the backpack over his shoulder.

I think the backpack deserved a close up. Josh loves this backpack. 

We did this pose when he walked to the bus for Kindergarten, and I like it now to measure how tall he's getting.  He clearly thinks I'm a dork.

Last but not least, our sweet Lukey is a Little Falcon now. The daycare he goes to has a preK room and he's all about it.  I love this crazy smiling, hulk shirt with twisty shorts wearing dude.   

Finally

Last year I saw a pin on Pinterest about making a tinfoil river and sending plastic boats down it.  How fun is that?  I thought I'd for sure do this with the boys and we'd be just the happiest family ever.  Well, one summer passed us by without me even looking up.  Now 2013 is closing, today was our last day of summer, and by God we built the tinfoil river.  First, it was super windy.  Second, we have a relatively flat back yard.  Third, we don't have any plastic boats.  But dammit we had a tinfoil path and we filled it with water, and we sent some leaves down it.  And it was fun.  You hear me, it was fun!

Camping -- Again

Our camping this weekend was a ton of fun.  We stayed at a boat ramp (not really a campground, but it's got plenty of freedom) and we had lots of space in our trailer city for fun. 

Daddy was teaching Luke how to throw a mean spiral.

Luke was a quick study.

I'm not sure who was teaching whom.  I wonder if Mike would make that face if he didn't have a drink in his hand...

And last but not least, my dear friend Keely hugging her sweet Adyson.  Kinda random, but I didn't take that many pictures...

Yankee Jim is Calling...

We did our annual camp trip to the Yellowstone River this weekend.  It was a blast, as usual.  Here are pictures from our two floats down Yankee Jim back to the campground. 

We have a family shot like this from two years ago...not much has changed but the kids are bigger!

We floated in the Tisdels raft for one of our trips and Derek let Josh row for a while.  Derek was a great teacher - see how his hands are on top of Josh's?  How sweet is that? 

Not surprisingly, Josh took the task very seriously.

The three boys got to ride in the front of the red raft on one trip -- aren't they lucky?  And silly? 

They were so cute sitting there eating their chips together, but when we asked for a smile, this is what we got.  Anyone know when this stage ends????

And then there was the bridge jumping.  Thanks, Lisa, for the pictures.  The proof that we did it! 

Mike got brave for this year's jump...

Desert Cafe

Cactus Juice Making 101. The kids were set on making cactus juice this trip -- they have a new mission each year that we camp here -- and Friday night they started experimenting with their recipes. 

Desert Cafe -- where one would come to taste cactus juice, flavored water (shown on a tree branch in this picture).  They made us all wear cockleburs (sp) on our shirts so we could have "entry" into their cafe.  It was a three day production. 

Anniversary Bash

A rare family photo of the 8 of us. I hope that Josh and Luke look back at this rare opportunity and feel bad for making bratty faces. 

Luke and Grampa Wright are tight buddies. 

Mom's best friend made this sign.  Sentimental things are really important to mom and dad after their house exploded. 

A bunch of old people. My aunt Rosie, uncle Mike and aunt Andi, and mom and dad. 

My mom and her best friends, Barb and Lynn

And a pictuer of old pictures.  My cousin (or something) Kevin brought these photos and they mean teh world to my parents.  

Whitefish Lake

The boys loved being able to walk out forever in this lake.  Luke LOVED walking to where his neck was wet.  I wonder what he was thinking when he was making this face. 

Doesn't he look proud? 

Josh quickly put Luke to work...building mud reservoirs and filling buckets and working working working. Can you see how delighted Luke is?

This is the NO PICTURES face. 

Not sure what he's looking at...but a cute picture nonetheless.

Add caLUke was rocking his size 3T shirt...we had to put sunscreen on his flanks. 

Fishing with Grampa

Two fishermen, just standing on a rock...

This was the only fish of the day or the evening fishing excursions.  Grampa has the touch.

Josh just loves to fish.

Indiana Jones Moment

Josh found a snake while we were wading in the river after Crystal Cave.  Boys boys boys

Gabe loved the snakes.  I swear he wanted  to snuggle with this guy.

We found a lot of snakes, and they kept running back to this den.  I think Gabe was searching for more...

Even Ty liked the snakes.  Brave young boy

Luke did not like the snakes so he hung out with me. 

Cave Dwellers

We camped at Red Cliffs Campground (south of Big Sky) with the Ryles and the Tisdels this weekend.  We heard about a great cave that had crystals in it and so we set off exploring.  The hike was an adventure in and of itself!

Once we got there, we realized it was worth the walk!

They searched for crystals everywhere.

There were two ways to get to the cave, and the kids could only do one.  This is Josh on his way out.  Happy kiddo.

They found this little honey hole with several crystals in it. 

Look at that smile -- he has no idea he's in a dirty, semi-dangerous cave. 

This is one of the specimens that we took home.

I was so impressed that Mike made it up there. He does not like heights, but he likes fun.