6 Years Old!

James is now 6. We had a wonderful birthday day. It started off with James and Campbell waking up at 6:45 am asking if James can open her presents. The answer was no and that she had to wait until after we had cake after dinner. She commented "why do mom's and dad's always get to choose when you get to open your presents?" Life is rough!
She had a soccer game in the morning. She is at a point in soccer where she will play at practice but will just stand there during the games. We're working on it. After the game we headed to the Children's Museum. We had a blast! Campbell dragged this donkey around and would not let any other kid touch it.Children's Museum's are great. We spent the afternoon there.
One of James requests for her birthday was that her, Campbell and Taite would wear bat costumes. I was able to make that happen. And they were pretty cute running around the playground in them.



One last picture. Taite has lost her baby hair and has some new hair growing in. This was my favorite dress, that she has now outgrown.

Soda Springs

Why is it when you are having the most fun that you always forget to take pictures?

We stayed with Bill's sister Kathlynn's family in Idaho. They live in a beautiful breathtaking unexploited area. And generously let us borrow their camper and truck for Yellowstone. Thank you soo much Kathlynn and Doug!

Side story: On our way to Kathlynn and Doug's house we were telling the girls about them. When we said Uncle Doug they both started laughing (sorry Doug). They said it was a funny name. The laughing continued anytime it was spoken (I think they were getting car drunk-being in the car for too long). Then Campbell said that it sounds like Grub. So she refers to Uncle Doug as Uncle Grub. Again, sorry Doug! We love you!

The cousins had so much fun together. When it came time for us to leave to go to my roommates wedding the girls begged to stay and play with their cousins. Who could blame them, it was a blast having 4 more kids to play with. And isn't it just such a wonderful thing that cousins are instant friends. There is no warming up time.

When we were leaving town we were told by Uncle Gary (aka THE greatest uncle in the world!) to stop and try the Soda Spring water. It won awards for best water at the World's Fair in Chicago and Paris. Bill and I tried it. There was a little coaxing to get Campbell. But James was the one who really didn't want anything to do with it.It was bubbly. And actually kind of gross.

I love this series of pictures.

And here we are in front of the Soda Springs Geyser. We sure got our fill of geysers on this trip.

Don't worry, we are okay.

It's been a long time. Let me tell you. A long time. We have been very busy with a family reunion, driving 2,400 miles round trip to Idaho, visiting with more wonderful family, borrowing said family's camper and experiencing Yellowstone, taking the kids to Rick's where Bill and I met, visiting with the greatest Uncle and Aunt in the world (namely Gary and Colleen) and making it to my college roommate's wedding. Busy, let me tell you. Oh, and once we got back, school started!

My excuse for not blogging, other then all the busy traveling and visiting loved ones, is that our wonderful dear cherished computer crashed. Bill is still working on getting everything together but, so far, knock on wood, it is working and we have internet and we didn't lose anything!

So, soon I will post many pictures and let you in on all the wonderful stories and things we did for our summer vacation!

Until then enjoy the weather, because in these parts it is going to get cold real soon!