Eagle Scout

Our amazing Campbell is officially an Eagle Scout, as of this morning. He passed his board of review
and we are very excited for his Court of Honor next month. This young man is something else.

 On our way to his board of review. I asked him if he was nervous and

this was the face he gave me to assure me he definitely was not.

 Kindly obliging his mom for one last photo request before everything started.

 And...it's over. One quick picture with the kind men that were a part of his board of review. 

These men, and so many others, made his Eagle possible. We are so very thankful.

 This is how he feels about officially being an Eagle Scout.
Or maybe how he feels about his mom wanting to take more photos.

 This is one handsome Eagle scout.

And one last photo of the two Eagle Scouts in our home. 

I'm so very proud, and grateful, for both of them.

A really good morning

This somewhat blurry and unusual photo brought to you by an incredibly grateful
and exhausted old lady. After some pretty horrific joint inflammation this past
spring, I had to stop running per my sports doctor's orders. Then my surgery five
weeks ago kept me from running for far longer than I anticipated. But after the go
ahead from my surgeon on Thursday, I ran for the first time this morning in many,
many weeks. When the treadmill passed a mile, I started to get emotional. And even
though I definitely walked a long warmup and cool down, I still feel so insanely
grateful to see those two miles completed. And cannot wait for my next run.

I love my life. And am so ridiculously out of shape. But oh so happy.

Never forget

"People across the United States rediscovered the need for God and turned to Him for solace

and understanding. Comfortable times were shattered. We felt the great unsteadiness of life

and reached for the great steadiness of our Father in Heaven. And, as ever, we found it."

~Thomas S. Monson

Two

Our sweet Gracie girl celebrated her birthday today. And it could not have
been more perfect. It was just such a happy, happy day for her and for us.

Sometimes the blurry ones are the cutest ones. So you keep them.

Looking at a book all of her siblings gave her for her special day.

Annie wanted to buy one additional gift for her little sister.
Unfortunately, Grace didn't like it one bit. So, so sweet.

And apparently she also liked her boots and hat from her parents.

But her favorite might have been the rocking horse we gave her.

 Speaking of favorites--the horse, the balloon, the crossed feet, Grace's face--it all about did me in.

My baby girl. She makes us so happy.

This. Picture. Grace all of a sudden turned around and started dancing and
this is what came of me clicking the shutter. I almost can't stand the cuteness.

 A whole lot of sweetness in one little two-year old body.

And little G and her "buggy cake."

Oh, we love our Grace. And are so very, very thankful she is ours.

Sure love this sweet boy

First day of preschool. He loved it. I love him. 

Rounds things out quite nicely I'd say.

Wild fire = Pool time

Does the title of this post make little sense? Well, that is probably

because you didn't head up to the lake to take the boat out for one
last ride earlier today. And as you neared the lake, saw this fun view:

A wild fire, just over the mountain from the lake. We decided boating 

in that smoke and ash wasn't necessarily what we were looking for.

Hence the part of the title that mentions pool time.

And since I took a ridiculous number of photos (what is new?) at the pool,

I was only able to narrow them down to these few. But thought I would

 at least title them for your viewing convenience. You are welcome. 

The Chicklets

 This boy is looking a little too serious. And a lot too grown up.

 This darling girl didn't have time to pose for a photo for more than 

about 6 seconds. She was having too much fun for such nonsense.

 If you don't recognize this face on Matt, it is his teasing face. Or his 24/7 face. Either way.

 This young man is teaching himself to swim and was on a small break from the hard work.

 This boy swam himself exhausted.

And this baby girl does the same thing with her tongue, when she is

 concentrating, as the rest of her siblings. And my dad. I love it.

The Action

 Proof of this boy and his hard work.

 Stand on the side, arms out to daddy, jump. Repeat 482 times.

 Jump #346. See, I wasn't exaggerating.

 Only Matt sets a goal to belly flop at every pool he visits. 

 Um. Ouch.

 Jumping Ben.

Three kids giving in to their mom's request for a group jumping photo.

The Cuteness

 Enjoying the lounge pool with a little side of cheese.

 The face this girl makes after jumping off the side and going completely

 under. This was the extent of her shock. Then back up again for #451.

Oh I love these kids. Even the one crying about the fact

 that her daddy dared move five feet away from her.

The Handsome

 What a good looking guy. And a darling dad. I'm so grateful for him.

The End

We'll finish off with this shivering sweetheart just out of the pool and ready to head home.

One sweet, one funny (photo not child)

This baby girl and her sweetness. I loved this windy photo so much.

This darling boy was having a soccer practice with Cam and was working 

so hard to follow his directions that when I got this photo without the ball

 in the picture and realized how into it he was, I laughed and  laughed. 

It looks like some Russian jig he has perfected. Oh it made my day.

Our girls

Do you know reason 4,763,221 that I know there is a God and that we lived
before we came to earth? Because, without question and without doubt,
this relationship right here is a reunion, not an introduction.

The girls ~ Annie & Grace edition