Jon's 38th

For Jon's birthday this year, he took a trip down to Boise, ID to watch The Cougs vs. the Broncs!

He had a great weekend with his dad, brother and nephew!

When he got home Friday, we threw a little family party for him. He didn't want a big party this year, but we at least needed to sing to him! :)

The boys worked hard with me that day present shopping (golf shorts) and slaving away on their homemade cards...

 Boston cream pie is one of his fav's, so being the great wife that I am, I made these tasty nuggets! ;)

 Tyce's kiss face! Love you Daddy! 

Saturday, on his actual birthday, we went to lunch and on a family hike on English Point Trails.

That evening I FINALLY got him all to myself and we ate at his favorite steakhouse and caught a cute baseball movie. :)

We love having you as our head honcho! Happy birthday! :)

Cader Brains

Just a little post to brag about my little Cader brains. :)

First of all, this kid has always been so bright and on top of things. We have always made mention of his smarts, and his freaky-deaky memory and attention to detail. Needless to say, he is LOVING school. In fact, while helping him with homework one night this week, he sighed and said, "I love learning." He must get that from Jon. ;)

Cade had his Idaho Reading Indicator test this week (a state-mandated test to assess reading readiness).

They time him for one minute in two areas:
Letter naming fluency
Letter sound fluency

If he scores an 11, he is at grade level. 3-10 is near grade level, and 0-2 is below grade level.

He scored a 29 in letter naming (29 letters in 1 minute), and a 27 in letter sounds (27 sounds identified in one minute). Well over double what is considered "grade level."

'nuff said. :)

Wordless Wednesday

Goodbye Sweet Summer

I was sitting and reminiscing with my phone pictures about the fun, every day summer days.

laying out just isn't the way it used to be...

lots and lots of bike rides with my biking buddies.

Picnics at the park 

...or at home (with friends Aaron and Leah Frantz)

swimming in Nana and Papa's pool

(Cade with friend Ayden Pulsipher)

Many trips to Silverwood (gotta love when Daddy rides the kiddy rides with you!)

The classic North Idaho Fair

Tyce trying to grasp what that massive, oinking hunk of bacon is.

We will miss you.

That fall nip is already in the air.

Cranberry Jam Photography

Back to School

First Day of Preschool and Kindergarten!

Little Builders  &   Frederick Post

My handsome {crazy} boys.

Jay ran into school like it aint no thang. 

No problem, mom. I don't need ya. ;)

(Cade was in the same school last year, and Jay knows most the kids in his 6 student class.)

 I said goodbye to Cade at the fence to the playground (They wont let you in without a guest pass and it was a zoo). He left a little unsure of where to go and what to do in the sea of people... then he spotted his two best friends on the playground (Ayden Pulsipher and Aaron Frantz) and they all put their arms around each other with a sigh of relief! 

That's when the tears started rollin'.
Really? Am I THAT mom?

My baby is all grown up. He's no longer ALL mine. He's officially in the world.

5 1/2 years flew by. In another 5 1/2 he'll be in middle school. 5 1/2 after that he'll be dating and driving. Ugh.

I better soak 'em up every day!

Labor Day Weekend

This is the FIRST time Jon and I have taken our kids camping with JUST our little family.

It was the bomb.

We went to Round Lake near Sandpoint. It's a little fishing and canoeing lake. Very calm.

We went canoeing twice and we are happy to say only one man went overboard.

Tyce.

No big deal. Just breaking him in. ;)

We also enjoyed a nice hike on the back side of the lake (canoed to it), bike rides ("mountain biking"), a family baseball game, yummy food, cards, swimming and catching pollywogs. 

For Labor Day, we got cleaned up and went double dipping to TWO barbecues with both sets of grandparents. Yum!

Goodbye sweet summer!