Lair o the Bear

Another one of our Saturday family hikes.  This one is called "Lair o the bear" - I don't know why.  The kids were disappointed to not see a bear or even a bear cave.  But it was beautiful, shaded, and interesting enough to keep us all happily hiking for a mile and a half.

The best part about this hike was the hiking sticks.  They were all able to find really good ones.  I love a kid with a hiking stick!

Noah wanted a picture with his stick on the rock looking like he "claimed" it

Of course the girls then wanted one too.

We found a good "beach" to throw rocks into the river.

Madison and Megan like to pick flowers for me to put in my hair.

A family joke is, "if you ever want to know where Noah is... look 20 feet behind you."  This is true for hiking.  That is Noah in the black shirt.... about 20 feet behind the girls.

Sorry for the overload of pictures.  It was just a great hike and I was taking a lot of pictures, and I find them all adorable and bring to my mind an emotion of joy, happiness, and freedom.

These two are usually hiking in front - just talking away.

Hiking Castle Rock

I think I have a post previously that talked about how the kids and I went to hike Castle Rock down in.... Castle Rock.   We hiked the mountain up to the rock - but there is no trail up to the top of the rock - you just find a good place to climb and... climb.  I was not 100% confident I could get all four kids up and down with out someone dying - so despite their complaints - we left with out getting to the top.

So we went back the next week with Jason.  Although he was not quite as confident as  I was and was SHOCKED that I even considered/kind-of-tired to climb it by myself with the kids.  He wasn't even sure we cloud do it with him.  I, however, was sure we could to it.

And we did!

The kids felt like we were on top of the world!

Swimming with the Girls

Almost every Wednesday during last years school year the girls and I went swimming.  It was wonderful.  We would drop the boys off and get there by 9:00 am.  We were always the only ones  there... well... the only ones there under 60.  There is a lazy river and all the old people come and walk the river and do water aerobics.  The girls don't really need supervision in the pool anymore - so I would join them.  It was so great - I haven't gotten weekly supersize since I had Megan.  

I would also put the girls in the raft and walk them against the current.

Then we would shower, get dressed, and do our hair in the locker room and then go to Sprouts.  It was awesome!  The girls really bonded (their friendship is not quite what the boys is - and I am trying to change that), and played together perfectly.  I will miss this time with the girls now that Megan is in Kindergarten.

Cub Scouts

Along with turning 8 comes cub scouts!  The week Brock started cub scouts I got released from cub scouts (I had been in it for 4 years).  His grandma Hanna got him all of his cub scout things (book, uniform) for his birthday.  Doesn't he look so cute?!

Shortly after he started cub scouts he had his day camps.  I got to go with him on one of his days.  I twas a lot of fun - although it is not quite the same as day camps in Utah (its just at a neighborhood park) - I think I want to have him and Noah go to one in Utah one summer in a few years.

He was ELATED to be shooting guns and bow and arrow!

He even hit the target... a few time!

We have a great ward and an adorable troop.  I kind of miss it.  But only kind of - it was SO hard to leave every week at 5:45 for an hour.

 

Last day of school

I better hurry and get this post done since tomorrow is the first day of school!  Oh my goodness - where did my summer go.  I guess its means it was a good summer if I didn't have time for blogging :)

Summer couldn't have come at a better time.  I was DONE with school.  I love summer.  I love having my kids home all day.  I love the sound of the door opening and shutting from kids going in and out, and the sound of kids running through the house.  I had a lot of goals for the summer - both academic and domestic (learning to cook and clean) but mostly I wanted my kids to have a freeing summer.  We struck a nice balance and I think it was a great summer.  We did everything we wanted to do - pretty much when ever we wanted.

On the last day of school we had a big water balloon fight with the neighborhood kids.

Boys on the last day of school.

Noah at his first grade program with his teacher Mr. Graff.

Brock's baptims

I can't believe I have an 8 year old!  What is even more weird is that I will have an 8 year old almost every year for a while.  Our family is definitely in a new phase of big kids.  

When he turned 8 he decided he wanted to wear "real" ties.  We got him a few for his baptism and he has been working hard and learning to tie them.

Grandma and Grandpa Herbert.  (Grandma Herbert gave the talk on baptism)

My Family. (Ashley gave the talk on the Holy Ghost, Daniel gave a prayer)

Brock got a good story out of his baptism - he got baptized twice!  When Jason baptized him he forgot to say "Herbert", he just said, "Brock Alexander..." and he forgot to say "Amen".  Neither of the witnesses notices the mistakes, so Brock started walking up the stairs when the member of the bishopric and the few members in the audience said, "umm.... that wasn't right".  So Brock got back in and they did it again.

Brock is such a sweet 8 year old.  It has been so fun to have an 8 year old in our house.  When the kids have given talks in Primary they mention Brock's baptism or how he has the Holy Ghost.  It is often talked about when the kids are in charge of family home evening.  And Brock is such a natural leader and example in our family - he is perfect to have as our first - he sets such a wonderful example for everyone.  He tries hard to read his scriptures everyday and has decided that he wants to only wear white shirts with ties to church - like dad.