summer fun!!!

We had a beautiful summer here in Idaho.  The kids and I hung out at Rigby Lake as much as possible and enjoyed meeting up with friends and family too!  Mom, Dad, Chelsae and Grandma came up one weekend when Chris and I gave talks and we enjoyed the day before at the lake.

We went several times with our pals Ethan and Porter.

I made sure to lather up Zach's head extra good when he decided that he didn't want to wear his hat anymore!  This little boy was like a little fish!  He absolutely loved the water, and although he had a special floatie he preferred to be held and swim with mommy instead.  He also loved playing in the sand and "bear crawling" all over the place!

                                                                     

               

We met up with our friend Melody and her kids, Emma, Maddie and Briggs at Jensen Grove and then she came up a few weeks later to Rigby Lake.  It was so fun seeing our friends!

Zach and Briggs are about a month apart.  

At the end of August, our friend Charlotte met up with us, Melody and another friend, Mandy at Rigby Lake.  Brady and Olivia had a ball with Sam and Alivia of course!  I'm sad that I didn't get a picture of us "girls"

So much fun with friends! I love seeing how much they change every time we see them!

We also had some great times with our "besties" the Thibodeaus.  A few summer BBQ's, a Saturday afternoon at Heise Hot Springs, and sushi/Chinese night at our place just to name a few!

We enjoyed a few sunny afternoons at the splash park in Rexburg as well.  The kids loved playing in the water, but what they loved even more?  Laying on the warm sidewalk to dry off!

And what would a summer be without finding a good hill to roll down?  

Bye-Bye summer!  We've had so much fun!  We're looking forward to pumpkin pancakes, apple sauce, cider, pumpkin patches, Halloween, crafts, crisp fall air, the changing of leaves, cozy sweaters, snuggling in blankets, chocolate chip pumpkin muffins, hot chocolate and lots of steamy hot soup!

family walk at the fairgrounds park.

There's a pretty little park a few miles down the road from where we live that we enjoyed one Sunday evening in August.  We walked along the path that follows the river, the kids played at the playground and we read scriptures in the gardens.  Perfect Sunday.

There is a really cool man-made rock formation with a built-in slide and a cave/tunnel.  The kids loved it!

My handsome hubby

family night at riot zone.

We had a night out mini-golfing at the Riot Zone back in August with Chris' area manager and employees.  The kids had a ton of fun and it was a beautiful evening!  Poor Zach had hand, foot and mouth disease so he and I walked laps the whole evening with his stroller!

prefect brown rice. perfect.

I've tried several ways of making brown rice over the years.  I've tried mixing white rice and brown rice half and half.  I've tried baking brown rice.  It was okay, but my family still didn't really like it.

Now, they all STILL prefer white rice to brown rice.  I LOVE brown rice.  I think it tastes so much better and just knowing how much healthier for me makes me love it even more.

THIS way of cooking it has BY FAR produced the BEST results.  Fluffy and soft.  No hard or chewy kernels.


*Perfect Brown Rice*
1 C. brown rice
8 C. cold water
1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt

Rinse rice in a strainer for 30 seconds.  Bring water and salt to a boil.  Add rice, stir and partially cover.  Cook on med-high for 30 minutes.  Drain.  Return to pot and cover tightly for 20 minutes.  Uncover and fluff.

I do a double or triple batch and then have leftovers in the fridge to use throughout the week or freeze some to go with another recipe.  Rice freezes really well!

pioneer day.

Our stake had a Pioneer Day celebration out in the country at one of the buildings.  They had live music, a trout pond for kids to jump in and CATCH (yep, that's right, catch) trout with their BARE HANDS, a dunk tank, pony rides, hamburgers, hot dogs, popcorn, chips, soda, petting "zoo" and more.

Chris was able to get off work just in time for us to go as a family.  The kids had a blast running around like crazy.  They were wearing their swim suits so they could catch trout, but "unfortunately" all of the trout had been caught by the time we got there!  Shucks!  (That pond REEKED) and I wasn't too disappointed that I wouldn't have to haul smelly kids home!

We hung out with the Hansens and enjoyed our BBQ.  Olivia took this picture of me, Tiff and Max!!!

Just some local scenery...

Brazilian BBQ Montana-style. Happy birthday Chris & Olivia!

              

We went up to Montana for the weekend of Chris and Olivia's birthday.  My cousin, Alden and his wife had invited us to Redneck Brazilian BBQ they were throwing and that's what Chris wanted to do for his birthday.  We stayed at my Aunt Donna's and she and Megan had a great time spoiling Olivia with a birthday cake cupcake and princess gifts!!!  Donna and I didn't forget Chris either, we went all out on a french toast and bacon breakfast!

(There is a picture of Chris, Olivia and Alden blowing out candles on the cake at the BBQ floating around somewhere...I'll try to post it if we can track it down!!!)

              

The Redneck Family!  

Alden, Ana, Sammy, Victoria and Elizabeth!!!

Beautiful Montana rainbow on the drive home through Ennis

Family Birthday Party.

Once again, with July upon us we did a major birthday bash for Dad, Chels, Olivia and Chris!

If you can't see it, mom was clever and had the birthday cake say:

"Happy Birthday Everyone!"

Olivia loved her sticky earrings from Auntie Nickie and fam

Chris loved his Red Sox phone cover from Chels

Love this sister!

Liv's 4th birthday. Princess Tea Party-style.

Olivia & her friends had a lot of fun at her party!  She's been lucky where we live now to have lots of little girls her age close-by!  

While we waited for everyone to arrive the girls played with princesses and ponies.

The decorations and activities were simple- I already had everything from baby showers I've thrown in the past and crafts supplies I've collected over the years!  

I wrapped the chairs in some tulle and then stuck in pink silk peonies.  I made some quick pictures for each station out of scrapbook paper or stickers.  

We started out by making crowns for each of our little princesses!  They got Princess stickers, gems and foam stickers.


Cookie decorating station- we made princess crowns, high heels and castle sugar cookies.  Thanks to mom Graf for whipping up some delicious cookie dough and frosting!  She makes the best!  All I had to do was cut out the shapes and pre-cook them so the girls cook decorate!  We had pink, purple, yellow and pearl sprinkles and pink decorators frosting pen.

                                            

"Get Pretty" Station- my friend Tiffany "manned" this station, curling, painting nails, glittering and glossing!  All the girls loved being pampered and we took glamour shots after!  Each of the girls also got to pick out a pair of earrings and a ring.

Tiffany and our friend Lilly.

GLAMOUR SHOTS!!!

  

Samantha & Olivia

 

Lilly & Nadia

The two Olivia's!!!

We ended by having a tea party and presents!!  I served little fruits, finger sandwiches, cookies and lemonade.