Take advantage of summer.

Take advantage of summer.

Schools starts next week. That's right, next week. Then comes fall, which I love, but then...then comes winter. I don't so much like winter.

At all.

As I checked off the days of winter, I told myself I was going to take advantage of summer this year--be outdoors and appreciate it before everything froze over again. We still have time and will still do more but already the days are getting shorter and I feel as though we should have tried harder.

But here are a couple of things we did get out and do...

Fourth of July fishing

Best Buds

Jake's friends and their boys went fishing the morning of the fourth and caught what I think are the cutest pictures ever.

Small town carnival

1st pony ride

I love that we live in a town small enough for hometown carnivals and rodeos. Yee haw!

And I have the best neighbors ever-seriously I couldn't have picked better neighbors--and we threw a rockin' fourth of July celebration with inflatable waterslides, bounce houses, egg races (I anchored the winning ladies team, thank you, thank you) other games, lots of food, and fireworks (until the cops busted us for being in a no-forework zone and we sat on our decks and watched ten different simultaneous fireworks shows in the valley!) Good times.

Bubbles

Water Slides

You can see she takes these things as seriously as I do.

Fireworks in the circle.

Throw Taylor's Birthday Party.

Throw Taylor's Birthday Party.

Taylor had her birthday party today.

Hello Kitty was the theme for the nine little girls we had over. Jake ducked out near the beginning and left me trying to juggle the craft projects, birthday cake and candles, presents, pinata fanfare, and multiple emotional breakdowns by the birthday girl (we had to have a second round with the pinata where I shook candy out of the headless kitty for only Taylor to grab) all by myself-- thus my explanation for lack of photos this year.

I am all partied out. No more summer babies.

The photos I did get after the party...

(Taylor made this mouse from one of her birthday presents and I just thought it was really cute)

Take Anniversary Trip.

Take Anniversary Trip.

Jake and I have been married 8 years today.

Yup, 8 years. Who'd a thought?

No trips this year but it's on my list for when we reach the big 10.

This was our last anniversary trip. It was our honeymoon in Puerto Vallarta. I can't help but think it looks like a "before" picture. And that it was so long ago digital cameras were a new phenomenon, thus the blurry picture.

Happy Anniversary, hun, I love you!

Throw Chase's Birthday Party.

Throw Chase's Birthday Party.

Chase had his 3-year old birthday party yesterday. After pouring through the party catalog that came in the mail last week, he chose Ninja Turtles as the theme.

Coincidentally, my younger brother, with three of his friends, dressed as the four ninja turtles one day in high school.

My mom thought it clever to overnight that costume to my older brother, who lives in town.



















He accepted the challenge. And it totally made the party.

(I also emailed this picture to his girlfriend, along with the information that it can be made poster-size at Costco for only $9)

To complete the 80's flashback, Chase's big present from us was a new big wheel.



Happy Birthday, Chase! (Don't make fun of my last-minute make-shift Michelangelo Ninja Turtle cake. There was a reserve store-bought cake for guest consumption.)