Though I feel like summer never even existed, it is already gone! You can still fry an egg on the side walk though, which is good because that is how I make my kids cook their own breakfast;) Temperatures still rise over 100 degrees, but don't let that fool you. Fall is knocking on our door and I am hoping that cooler weather is will soon come our way.
Before I tore my ACL in a rousing game of Ultimate Frisbee and needed surgery (and ruined my summer) I did get to do one fun thing . . .
I got to hike at Zion National Park for the first time!
This is our crew with Kai in it . . .
This is our crew with me in it . . .
It was an easy hike and we were able to take the stroller on most of it.
Peter Parker and Mary Jane . . .
My two "vanillas" Kiera and Raia (Kelsey in the background):
She is as wild as any wild animal:
Daddy/ Daughter:
A very small pool of water we were happy to find and cool off in.
Nature at it's finest:
A man meditating . . . I am sure I was trying to take a picture of a squirrel or something . . .
Kiera the "frog catcher" . . . All the kids were all about catching frogs!
This deer was on the side of the trail and didn't even make a move when we walked by. She must be mighty used to people.
After our hike we sat on this beautiful lawn and contemplated getting ice cream. We contemplated until Kai said no. It was pretty expensive and he wanted eto patronize McDonald's instead.
We celebrated my friend, Ashley birthday at our house with a few friends. I feel like we need a do over for her too because an hour before her party started Malachi shattered his two front teeth at my physical therapist's office when he fell head first into the parallel bars after jumping down the stairs. Yeah, he hit his face really hard and there was a LOT of blood. So Ashley's party started out with a house call from the dentist, bless his heart and bless this small town. Where else would we get a house call from a dentist?!
This is Ashley with a really yummy and seriously rich peanut butter and chocolate cake made by the Petty's!
This is Malachi after he got his teeth pulled. The dentist said he had never seen anything so bad in his whole life. Malachi's teeth were shattered and being held in place quite gingerly, by his nerves. The Tooth Fairy made her first visit to Malachi and even gave him an extra dollar even though he only had one tooth to put under his pillow, the other to incredible destroyed to salvage for her.
It is so weird to see him with teeth missing.
Raia turned 2 in July right after I had surgery so, the poor thing didn't really get a party. We will celebrate her party with Malachi's sometime in September. I did a mini photo shoot with her so I could put her picture in an album that the Ostler side of the family is making for my Grandma Joan. I will for sure have to have another shoot because Raia was so wiggly, hardly any of them turned out and I still can't move very well. I made her dress and headband.
This bottom one is a little over edited . . . but I wanted to add it anyway. Her cheeks were stained red from jello.
We also had a fun quick visit from my parents and my youngest brother. They were on their way to Utah to visit my brother Chris and his little family. Owen was blessed this past Saturday and we were really sad not to attend. We just couldn't make it work. I hate missing family events. We heard the blessing was sweet and that spending time in Utah with family was wonderful..
My kids had a blast with Uncle Ryan.
Finally, the largest indication that summer is over (because you can't tell from the weather) is that school officially started. *Sigh* I really like having my kids home.They are so fun to be with.
Cambria started 4TH grade this year and Kiera started 2ND. Time sure flies. I guess if they are getting older, than I must be getting older too.
They are so lucky to have their principal be their grandma. They get to see her everyday. She keeps a little glass candy jar stocked full of candy.
Both of the girls came home with favorable reports of their teachers. So far so good. Cambria was a little upset that she had homework and Kiera did not, but she got over it.
Malachi and Raia are running the house again. Malachi is easy going and happy. Raia is . . . wild as the sun is hot. It is a challenge to keep up with her while I am in such a gimpy state. Raia is smart and takes full advantage of me. It is a good thing that I love her and that she gives really good hugs and that she checks on my "ouchie" on my knee many times through out the days and gently kisses it. She also gets mad at my physical therapist when he hurts me. So all in all, she's a keeper.
In other news, Sacrament meetings have been much more lively with Kai sitting on the stand and me taking care of the 4 kiddos on my lonesome. We have had lots of offers to help, but when it comes down to it, every one just seems to settle in for the Raia show. My knee really can't get better fast enough.
