Lazy, Hazy, Crazy days of summer part 3!!!

We took advantage of 7-Eleven day and all got free small slurpees!

Then we played in the yard before the afternoon rain storm!

Our bushes are a breeding ground in the summer for lady bugs. The kids had fun looking and holding them.

 7-Eleven day was also Chick Fil-A day! 

 Riley did not want to be a cow. We also learned that next year you don't go at dinner time!

 We went with our friends to the Zoo!

My two favorite picture's of the animals this time. First was the Gorilla reading tabloids and the second was this Monkeys reaction to the drones of day care kids ascending into the park. 

Another epic afternoon storm. It's crazy how we go from 90 degree clear skies in the morning to a 60 degree afternoon rainstorm. You would think it was the first time my kids have seen rain.

Riley and Lorelei are talking summer dance lessons. Riley got to do a 4 day hip hop camp. He has learned the tripod (pictured below), the Turtle (which he is still working on), and still trying to master a head stand! The theme was superheroes and they learned a quick dance. The boy doing it with Riley was a couple of years younger than him, but it was still so cute! Lorelei is taking ballet technique. She is so close to mastering the splits and was so excited to nail a Jete for her age!

Natalies B-day!

Natalie Turned 3! We got home a day after her Birthday and decided to share it with the 4th!

All day she had excitement and melt downs. The trip really burned her out.

Peppa Pig and her friend Suzy splashing in a big mud puddle!

 She was excited to open every present she got!

 I think her siblings liked her gifts more than her. I think toddlers love the thought of ripping off paper more than what's inside them. 

 Picture taken right before next melt down where she put herself to bed at 7:00pm

 We can't see the neighborhood fireworks from our house, so we gently woke Natalie up and found a place nearby to watch. The show lasted 15 minutes which was more than enough for Natalie. When we got home she perked up at the sight of sparklers. The kids enjoyed them and freaked our new next door neighbor with them. Word to the wise, don't walk through kids on the sidewalk with sparklers. Go around them. Brandon and I got a great laugh from their reaction.

Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer part 2!

Go to the beach a second time for Brandon? Yes Please!!!!!!!! We went to the Tillamook Factory which is under construction. Luckily they had a place set up for fans and visitors to still enjoy their ice cream! 

I asked Riley why he put his shells inside a circle and wrote RIP on it. He told me that someday he wants to be buried right there on the beach... I wasn't sure how to approach that so I said "ok." Since he has turned 8, everything is boring, stupid, and doomsday. My friend warned me about this, but I am still surprised.

The one picture I ended up in. Brandon likes my new camera a whole lot better than my last one.

 We got to have a BBQ at my sister in-law's in-law's house. They have a huge house and property that is gorgeous. I was seriously afraid of my children possibly breaking something. Thanks Nicole and Matthew for trusting us!

I am so bummed. I didn't get any good shots of Riley and Jason. I was staying so close to the Chanchie and wasn't able to run after them. Those two were all over the place.

Finn jumped on top of Ella with joy!

 These cuties loved being around my camera this year. They kept posing for me and asking to see the results. I must say they turned out adorable.

We always try for a picture. Sadly, Amanda's cuties weren't there, but it's okay. No one ever takes it seriously. Real life is better than being superimposed.

 Both Will and Riley got to go over to Jason's house for a sleepover leaving Ella and Lollie in the dust. They were pretty bummed by the circumstance. Luckily, grammy came to the "rescue" offering both a sleepover at Nicole's. In the end, Lollie said she had fun and I think the two of them liked being away from the boys. 

 My photo fun dump from our trip! In the future I plan to own a full frame camera, but for now, I love the one I have and plan to get more lenses! 

 Calla Lillies are one of my favorite flowers! A close second is a peony!

 The Fletcher's forest

 Found this little deer while looking at houses!

 This Butterfly was in my parent's yard!

On our way home, we stopped in Salt Lake. I had the lofty idea of getting amazing photo's while at temple square. Sadly, the kids got to bed late the night before and the trip caught up to Natalie making her very cantankerous. So my camera took the backseat and we ended up leaving quickly.

The acoustics in the Tabernacle are incredible! I have never heard it in real life and got a chance to hear a recording of the Motabs by crashing one of the tours. It was amazing! 

Lollie was the only one to let me take a picture of her with the Christus. Natalie was screaming and Riley was too cool to pose.