Fast and Furious...

has been the unwelcomed pace of the last few weeks of summer! Goodness! We have squeezed in lots of fun and exhausting days. We have had parties, cook-outs, canning and freezing food and a bear that ate all the corn in our garden. Judah ran another 5k. This time to help raise money for a woman fighting cancer in a local community. He really enjoys running (he does not get that from me) and I wouldn't be surprised if he pursued running as a competitive sport.

We (mostly the kids) have consumed their fair share of popsicles this summer. They are always better when shared with a friend!

We made a trip to Lake Tobias where we got up close and personal with lots of animals.

Judah was in his element getting so close to an elk. Although I think I heard a collective gasp when he loudly said, "Dad! Can you imagine shooting an elk this big?"

Running on to the next exhibit! In typical fashion it was a near sprint from one exhibit to the next.

A tired little girl looking at the bison.

We fed some ducks at a park which my young ones thought was hilarious! Clearly, we do not get out much!

We have endured many cheesy grins....

celebrated a sweet cousins birthday....

woke up to a humongous spiderweb......

taken some moments to relax and ponder life...

and tried out the new skill of holding a baby!!! Heidi was a bit unsure about holding her new little friend but has been playing with her babies nonstop since little Charlie left this afternoon.

And now we jump into school tomorrow!! Hopefully we can make it through this first week of new schedules unscathed and with everyone still happy. Judah will jump on the bus in the morning, Shane will be going into school a few times a week for his art and music classes and will do his other main classes at home and Tristan will become a full time student! And I will probably be drinking lots of coffee this first week or two and sending up lots of pleas for help from my gracious Father!