Annalee's Blessing

Ryan gave the most beautiful blessing to Annalee. When I told him what a great blessing it was he said "There are two reasons I think it was so good. 1. It was from my heart 2. I've had a lot of practice." Regardless, it was such a good day. We had a bunch of friends over for dessert afterwards, but I didn't get any pictures of that.

Two wheels! {Mara}

The training wheels came off tonight! Ryan helped Mara learn how to ride a two-wheeler....yes those are Harry Potter glasses. She found them while we were fixing up a cut on her knee (not gotten when trying to ride the bike) Because Harry Potter glasses are what every girl needs to ride her bike.
...Ready...Steady...


...off you go...

...and she is off...

wow! where did time fly off to?

Island Park 2011

Arkoudas Family reunion was in Island Park again this year. The kids had such a great time!Watching movies and sleeping together...
Riding in and playing on the ranger...



Drinking lots of soda pop!

Made Indian headbands...

and bow and arrows...

some bows were used as poking sticks, or ninja swords...

feathers were a necessary item...

These girls played so well together. Mara always latches onto the girls everywhere we go. Do you think she is female deprived? Good thing she has sisters getting older.

yiayia helped turn each hooligan into and indian brave...

or princess...

then the wars began...

there were sparrows for targets....some were even hit

right out of their nests...

One of the cute indian princesses...

We went to Mesa Falls! It was so beautiful!

and fun!

These two were inseperable!

First family photo with Annalee!

Since we were so close to Warm River, the older boys wanted to float it.

It ended up just being Caleb, Kyle and Sam...

It was freezing water and only 70 degrees, with a breeze. They loved it though and went a second time!

Then they all fished. Sam.

Noah

Caleb

and when that proved to be boring with no bites, they made it interesting by jumping in in their underwear! All of them. Sam, Kyle, Max, Caleb, Noah, Lij, Gage. What goofs! I was back at the cabin with Annalee and missed all the fun.

Then we went to Big springs.

besides the mosquitos, everything else was really pretty.

It was a great trip. Glad for all those who made it so fun for the kids. Thanks Yiaya and Papou!

Annalee is So Big!

Can't believe how much she is changing!

Smiling and everything.
Holding her head up!



hair staying curly. Let's hope she gets her dad's curly hair...I always hope, but it never stays!

We'll love it while it is here though.


Love that grin. It's payday for me when they look right at you and smile. It is so worth all those nights of getting up multiple times to feed them.


I love Love LOVE being a mom!

The Coolest Fort!

This summer began with so much fighting! Everyone was on everyone else's case about something or another and I was sure that I would loose my mind. It rained the entire first week that school was out and we were truly sick of each other, being couped up inside all week. Then the sun peeked her beautiful head out and the fields dried up. Sam started building a fort in our back pasture, and eventually got all the kids involved. Everyone but Annalee spent the entire day, stoping only to eat a sandwich real quick. Their fort is amazing, but it is so amazing to me because I never heard one bit of fighting the entire day.This is the front of the fort. The square panel slides to cover the door when they are inside.

The messenger hole to drop a message to those below.

They thought of everything! The grass thatching to keep the wind out.

Inside

A trap door that leads down to the "burrow".

Four funny kids fit in the top.

The backside

Truly impressed with their imagination!