Other Happenings

*EDITOR'S NOTE: THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS A RANDOM COLLECTION OF PICTURES TAKEN OVER THE LAST MONTH. THEY MAY OR MAY NOT BE IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER OR BE RELATED TO EACH OTHER.*

While we were driving back from our Idaho trip, we stopped at a rest stop in Montana. There were dozens of these little squirrels (chipmunks? I'm not to up on my larger rodents) running all over the lawn begging for food. They'd get pretty close. . .

. . .and try to look cute so you'd feed them. We had some crackers in the car that were pretty disgusting, so they were the lucky recipients. Definitely the most interesting stop of the day.

Connor played T-ball with some friends from our ward this summer, and his last game was at the beginning of August. He loved playing. . as long as he was hitting and not in the field. Paying attention to the other team's batters was a little challenging.

The best Jet-Fighter team picture we could get. Trying to get several 4/5 year olds to look at the camera is no easy task.

He got a trophy for completing the season. He thought it was so cool he had to sleep with it for several nights in a row. It's now in a place of honor in our hallway table.

My parents and younger brother Alan came up to pick up Amber. We took them over to West Seattle for some of the awesome beaches and views. I've learned that my kids do much better at the beach if they have rain boots. They're not fans of the cold water!

My Dad is a wonderful handyman, and likes to do a project for us every time he comes. This time, I had him add some shelves to our closet and build a shoe rack. Ellie, while being a total girly-girl, is also very obsessed with Home Depot at the moment (she wants to stop every time we pass it, and will frequently go into our office with her little shopping cart and say, "Mom, this is Home Depot.") She was very excited to get to help my dad with construction, and I don't think he could have been more proud to have his granddaughter excited about tools!!

Connor liked helping out with construction too. He thought the banging was too loud, though, necessitating the use of these ear covers.

The rough life of an ortho resident. Poor, poor, poor Jake. He was forced to go on "Resident Boating Day," which also happened to be the same week as "Golf-at-an expensive-course-on-the-ortho-supply-rep's-dime Day". It's soooooo hard to HAVE to go on a boat up to Orcas Island. Yes, you should be weeping for him here.

Our ward had an Olympic-themed family activity. One of the activities was a water balloon toss, which I must admit I was pretty happy Ellie was a little hesitant to get involved in!

My boys, however, went for it with gusto. Typical.

UW has boats you can rent for cheap and go paddle around Lake Washington for a couple of hours. Ellie's brimming with enthusiasm here. This remind anyone else of American Gothic?

She's a little more enthusiastic here. We had a great time paddling around, seeing lily pads, turtles and ducks

Our family. I think my pregnant belly under the life jacket looks ravishing!

One of those moments that makes and makes your heart melt. We were getting ready for church the other day and Ellie said, "Daddy, will you dance with me?" Who can say no to that, and what woman could possibly think she hasn't married the best guy in the world to see this!

And yes, I am now officially caught up. At least, I'm caught up until Grams and Papa leave in a few days. Right now, though, I 'll just enjoy having them here and relish in the fact that I AM CAUGHT UP!!!!