Abundant Recompense Copy

Last year we visited some friends and saw that they had made a goal and a poster to bike 100 miles over the summer. So we stole their idea, modified it with our family in mind, and set a goal this past summer to walk, hike, and bike 75 miles as a family. If we weren't all together, we couldn't count it. From the first bike ride on the Rio Grande rail trail to the last one-mile walk to Asa's new elementary school the Sunday before school started, it was a blast, and it was a challenge, and the kids rocked it. And we did it! Michelle commented on how she could see the kids' legs getting stronger, and I could definitely see them get more confident in going long distances. That's not to say there was no whining, because there was, but we all got to where a four-mile hike up the mountain just wasn't a big deal. Emmie spent most of the 75 miles in a bike stroller or a baby backpack, and she was a trooper. The kids got to name all the activities. This one is  named by ...

The first day of school came and went a few weeks ago. Addison is in 6th grade this year, Bryn is in 5th, Leah is in 2nd, and Asa is in kindergarten! My child looks like a grown man in this picture! This is his last year of elementary school.   Bryn's being brave this year and decided to join the school choir. She saved a billion dollars to get these Warriors pins so her backpack would be absolutely perfect. And it is. She loves it. Leah has the same school teacher as last year and has added piano lessons with Teacher Tami to her schedule. This little guy absolutely loves school. He's in afternoon kindergarten. Addison, Bryn and Leah's school didn't have any openings for kindergartners to come in on boundary variances, so he's flying solo at the school in our neighborhood. Luckily we've got lots of church buddies there to watch out for him. He's making friends and loving his teacher. His backpack's as big as he is!   Here's to new beginnings! Go get ...

This summer was wild and crazy. We packed it so full. And we loved it! It went too fast. We've got a few more big posts coming before we're caught up, but as has become tradition, here's our whirlwind summer wrap-up. Explorations at Hobbs Leah rocked swimming lessons. As part of a conference, Nate took the girls and got to sit in the choir seats at the tabernacle for a presentation. Tea party. Game night. Lots of pictures of this one, because it was a fave. While Nate was in Detroit, I got brave and loaded up the kids and their bikes and we went to the bike park, which we'd never done before. This got an 11 out of 10! Emmie discovered ducks. Such a happy day. We spent lots of time at the pool. Grandma! Bryn is an artist. And also awesome. The eyes and the door match. Nate and his crew built us some new deck stairs. Emmie entered toddlerhood. I learned what a sego lily looks like. We planted a maple tree in our backyard. We tie-dyed shirts for the fourth of July.  Half t...