Wednesday July 4 (add pictures)

Happy 4TH of July!!!!!

Or, as Elsie says, Happy birthday America!

I got up and went for a nice 5 mile run and got a cool pictures of  'Amber waves of grain'. :)

Dad and I decided to take the kids to Grimes Creek to play in the water and spend some time together as just our family.

It was a beautiful day.

On the drive up, we got to have a 'Down with Dad' where we talked all about what the 4th of July means.

How it was fought for.

What was sacrificed.

And what it means to be an American.

I love that he is such a great teacher that is passionate about History :)

We found a great spot up in the mountains.

It's not the spot that we usually love to go to, that was taken by some campers, but this was pretty great.

We spent a few hours there, soaking in the sun, the water, shooting some BBs and just savoring the time to be together.

Minimal fighting :)

Elsie was super brave and we got her to take a little ride down the river.

Pretty fun.

We headed home so I could make some dinner to the Morgan's party this evening.

That was a super fun party with swimming, yummy food, fun people, and of course the yearly shaving cream fight!

This year, Dad really wanted to take the kids to see the big fireworks.

So we left around 9ish and went to the fireworks down in Meridian.

We met up with the Halls and had a fun time playing with them before the fireworks started.

It was a lot of fun.

It has been a while since we have felt that big boom in the chest from the fireworks!

It was a rush :)

It really was such a great day.

Spent with people we love.

I am so grateful to live in this land.

This land where we are free to choose who we want to be.

Free to choose where we want to go to church.

Free to go to the schools we want, go to the places we want.

I am grateful for those who put their lives on the line for not just themselves, but for the future of America.

I am so grateful for so much, it almost feels unfair to be so blessed.

But I will continue to be grateful :)

Tuesday July 3

I got a little run in this morning.
The sky was so beautiful!
Like a firework shooting into the sky :)

Then we had a new Beehive birthday, so we went and decorated her room.

Then, Brent hitched the trailer up and we took it to Pat and Steve's.

He got the trailer set up for their family reunion, and I took some fun family pictures for their family.

It was a bit cold and windy today, but I think it turned out really nice for the pictures.

Madi was working, so that was a bummer.

But Cass hung out with Aubree and Avalon, and Elsie hung out with Hallie and the other girls.

Port spent time fishing and caught a big trout.

The trout swallowed a hook and he was bleeding out so we couldn't release him.

We were gonna make him for dinner tonight, but Port was at Cannon's house when we made dinner, so we will make it another time.

When we got back, I took Elsie to the 6th grade girls get together.

They have been doing that weekly for a few weeks, but this is the first time Elsie has gone.

Everyone was excited to see her :)

This evening after dinner, Dad and I went on a mini date and talked about our plan for tomorrow.

We are gonna do a fun little family outing in the morning before we head to the Morgan's house.

I feel like we are never ALL together as a family!

So some good focused family time is what I think we need :)

Monday July 2

Dad had to go to work today.

I got up and went for a run after he and Madi left for work.

Cannon and Port hung out all day.

They did a little lemonade stand and they made $7, $3.50 each :)

Cassi went to the mall with Avery.

I got the kitchen cleaned up and got some of the stuff put away form the trip.

Oh, Elsie and Kyra hung out all day too.

I went and picked Cassi and Avery up, then dropped them off at Avery's.

Picked the boys up and they went to the dollar store.

That is what they wanted to do with their earnings :)

Later on, after dinner, the kids went swimming at the Morgan's.

You know, it's just  Matthews/Morgan filled summer :)

Sunday July 1

We had a nice morning with Gramps.

Then we got all our stuff gathered up and got our mess cleaned up.

We headed out of town around lunch time.

We stopped to say goodbye to Grandma.

We also stopped to see the buffaloes, of course :)

The drive was a good one, only one spot with bad construction.

But thankful that now we are home sweet home, safe and sound ❤

Saturday June 30

It was quite a cloudy and cooler morning today in Evanston.

But it was helpful to have it cooler for my 32 mile run ;)

Just kidding, Gramps!

When I got back, Dad and Uncle Dave had almost all the deck and fence painted!

It looks pretty great!

Port had a little wreck on the motor bike, he's okay, but got some good cuddles from Gramps :)

We got to the church around 12 for the Matthews reunion.

Lots of great food, fun and games.

Lots of chatting, rocket competitions, baby holding and having fun.

We are so lucky to live in families where everyone get along!

We enjoy being together.

After the reunion, Dad got to work to fix Gramps leaky faucet.

It turned into a bigger job than originally thought.

But it got fixed, of course :)

Lauren and Heather came over and we all headed to the rodeo.

We had to stop and get some sweatshirts first, because we did not pack for cooler weather!

Elsie lucked out when we found an awesome Evanston Buffalo sweatshirt :)

The rodeo was fun, with all the fun rodeo foods...Hamburger, snow cones, pickles, and funnel cake!

Port even participated in the chicken catching portion :)

We got home and gave Els some cough medicine.

She had a rough night last night coughing a lot.

It is so dry here, and I am hoping that is all that is going on.

We gave her some cough medicine and she got so goofy :)

She told me to tell her in the morning if she laughs in her sleep!

Oh I hope, I would much prefer laughing than all night coughing like last night :(

Friday June 29

We left for Evanston about 9 this morning.

We made pretty good time, even though we passed an accident and some road work.

The kids traveled awesome!

We got here and unloaded.

Bubble sent a bunch of peas with us, and we sat and munched on them with Gramps while Dad pressure washed the deck.

(He also pressure washed a secret message on the sidewalk :)

We had Elsie's Pen pal, Kallie, come over and hang out for a little while.

She is such a cute girl and they are such cute friends!

They get along so well :)

Cass and Port worked hard helping Dad with yard work.

Cass and I also made some zucchini bread for Gramps to give a try.

Later one, we took Kallie home and then we went for a little ride down by the river.

Such a beautiful night.

I am so thankful for how blessed we are to live in this beautiful world with this beautiful life....

Thursday June 28 (add pictures)

-Took a class at the gym

-Worked in the garden

-Port had all the boys over

-Took them to library

-Brought Koy and Titan back with us

-Did laundry all day

-Cassi went to the student counsel party

-Got all packed for trip

-Port and I FINALLY got our pumpkins planted!

-Ready to go to bed!!!!!

Wednesday June 27

What a busy day!

Not really a lot of running around, just a lot of stuff.

Port and I ran a couple miles this morning, then I went 3 more.

Then he rode bikes with the boys.

He hung out with one or the other groups of boys throughout today :)

I went to the church to set up the background for the camp kickoff tonight.

Then I ran Elsie to her friend, Cortlyn's house.

She had so much fun there!

Cortlyn is a great friend!

Back at home, Cassi and I cleaned up at the house.

Then the Morgan's called and we went and swam for a bit.

Then I picked up Elsie.

I made dinner in the instant pot, then realized I forgot to put the inner seal in, so it never built pressure.
It did finish cooking though right when we had to leave for Young Woman's.

So all of us girls ate our dinner in the car!

For the camp kick off we introduced the theme, did first aid, CPR, made first aid kits and talked about survival skills.

It was a fun night.....but very full and long!

After that, Dad and I attended the meeting for all those adults attending camp.

And then we made it home!

Tuesday June 26

Took Elsie to PT this morning.

She worked so hard despite being SO TIRED!!!!

We didn't even get home until last night until after 12:30!!!!!

It was so much fun....but we are majorly sleep deprived!

Madi went to work and Cassi took care of Port and the boys for me while I was gone.

When I got home, Cassi went babysitting.

Elsie was going to go to a 6th grader get together, but she was just so tired.

So she rested and read instead.

I went and painted.....

I finally got it done!!!!!

Yay!

I painted a lot of the day.

The lettering took quite a while.

This evening, Cassi had a talent show try-out for her upcoming BYS.

I took her downtown, to the Boise institute.

While she was there, I actually went for a run in the foothills, and I loved it!!!!

Back at home, Madi got back from work and hung with the little kids.

When Cass and I got home, Madi and Cass went to Walmart to get Madi a bike.

That is what she said she wanted for her birthday, so check, that's done :)

The kids helped me clean up the disaster of a house a bit before I sent them to bed.