Wait!!! Not yet! I still have so much to catch up on! Here is a quick run-down of the last month or so:
Lauryn turned 8. She, of course, was excited beyond anything - I am still trying to figure out how she got that old so fast. She said that 'all her birthday wishes came true' - thanks to the Zhu Zhu pet, and getting her ears pierced.
She had her birthday party at the pool and had a great time even though the majority of her friends were out of town. From there, it was off to the mall for the much anticipated ear piercing...
I think Brinn was more nervous than she was. She really, really, didn't want to be in the store while it was happening because she didn't want to hear it. This look stayed on her face the entire time!
There they are. Pierced ears. I swear those little earrings made her instantly older. What happened to my little girl - I know she was with me when I brought her into the store... sigh. On the way home, she was just beaming and said, "I sure hope this isn't all a dream!" I think she was pleased with how her birthday turned out.
I had to throw this picture in because it shows all Tay's little chubby rolls. Oh, how I love them! If only fat rolls were just as adorable on me... :-( 
We headed to California for a little mountain air and a whole bunch of fun with Cameron's family. We spent a couple of days at the lake where the kids rode in the boat and did a little swimming.
They had these paddle boards and once the kids saw them, they just HAD to have one. We rented one for an hour. They lost interest in about 10 min. It sat on the shore the rest of the time.
Tay enjoyed a little water and a lot of snacks while sitting on the blanket in the shade. Just like his mom. :D
Lauryn and Brinn had a fun time building things in the sand with this little, super friendly little 4 year old. Tay LOVED this little girl - if I didn't know better, I would say he was flirting with her! Unfortunately, the camera didn't get brought out for the rest of the trip, but we loved being able to celebrate Gavin's second birthday with him. It was nice to finally get to see most of Cameron's siblings - we all live too far away!
Cameron and I celebrated our 12th anniversary. Cameron surprised me with a beautiful diamond heart necklace and a delicious dinner at the Tree Room up at Sundance. It was a wonderful evening!
I loved this picture, not just because it will serve as a reminder that the girls did not fight the entire summer, but because it represents what summer mornings are all about - taking your time, enjoying the morning with no rush to be anywhere - and doing it outside! I am SO going to miss those summer mornings.
We managed to squeak in a few hours of boating. Cameron gets better every time he gets on the board.
Lauryn got right up on the skis - we realized that we never told her what to do when she wanted to stop - she just kept on going and going. We finally had to kill the engine and let her sink! She could have skied all day. Thanks to the Wrides for a fun day at the lake!
This past Saturday, Lauryn was baptized and confirmed. She was so excited for this day, and a little nervous as well. We had some very special moments preparing for this day. I hope it was as a memorable day for her as it was for us.
We were fortunate enough to share it with family - thanks to those who drove hours to support Lauryn and our family. It means so much to us!And now, despite my loud protests, the backpacks have been hung back up and the alarm clocks are set. Summer is..... Gone.
(sniff sniff)
