Cabo here we come!

Children's Museum

We were so excited to attend the grand opening preview for our new local Children's Museum. It is such a cool place and we will definitely be going back.

They loved painting on the wall:

Sugarland

Our Bible Study girls had the opportunity to go to Sugarland together thanks to Rebekah. It was such a fun concert!! Although I must say I love being down on the floor where everyone stands and dances the whole time. It was too intimidating to be the only one standing up in the middle of the stands!

First Grade is cooler

After her first day of first grade this week, Haylie declared: "First grade is cooler than kindergarten because I have my own desk." Haylie loves her new desk and tells me about how she keeps it organized with her pencil box, markers, books and notebook. We are so proud of our little first grader!!

Taking her on the first day of school:

Nanny and Cathy came for a pancake breakfast to celebrate Haylie, pray for her and then send her off on her big day:

Checking out her desk:

Now that the first week is down, Haylie's favorite things so far include: her new desk, playing games in class and chasing the boys with her friend Allie at recess! Her least favorite thing: writing. According to her: "It's hard work!"

The girls

I am blessed to have a couple groups of really great girlfriends. I think when I was younger I didn't fully realize the importance of great girlfriends but I am so thankful to still be friends with these amazing girls after almost 20 years! We try to get together as often as possible and this year we all crashed Sarah's house in Seattle for a girls weekend of laughing, reminiscing staying up late watching movies, and just hanging out together. We ventured out one of the evenings, took pictures by the lake, went to a nice restaurant and hung out by the fire in a downtown hotel. LOVE you girls!!

The next day we headed out for a little trail walk down to the beach. So blessed to have these lovely girlfriends!

Here we go again

And so soccer begins again! Not sure we're quite ready for the whole season, but with Haylie's two best friends playing on the team too I know she'll love it!!

Weekends Away

I would go away somewhere every weekend if I could. Every year for my birthday we try to go somewhere - usually Tahoe or the cabin. I was grateful we could spend some time at the cabin this year. Oh how I love the mountains!!!!

After a long morning hiking we decided to cool off by the river. The kids went about as far as they could go without getting carried downstream and then a little water fight broke out:

After the river we headed over to the local play area. The kids loved the teeter totter and of course the monkey bars:

Hiking

This summer we have really enjoyed our few opportunities to get out into nature and enjoy family time hiking, playing and just enjoying God's creation. Both kids are old enough now that they can walk on their own and they held up pretty well for our 3 hours of walking on the Lyon's Creek Trail near Tahoe. We hiked in to a little creek, had a picnic lunch and then headed back.

This was the scenery on the drive back to the cabin after our hike - so gorgeous!

James carried his walking stick the entire time. It was a really good one and he loved carrying it:

Haylie and I loved the beautiful meadows of flowers: