Getting Work Done

The boys were mad when they found out that we weren't going to have a pool at the new house. Ryker decided to take things into his own hands and dug a hole. 

 The framing is starting to make things look like a house. DeA is trying to envision where the roof will be in our kitchen. 

 Not a bad sunset. 

 Walkway into the kitchen from the living room. 

 We had our 8th anniversary party at the office. Rain forced us inside. It make things crowded, but in a lot of ways it worked out better. 

 You can't complain too much when ice cream is involved.  

 Everything was pretty festive. 

 Schnookums and I went to dinner at the Cellars to celebrate. She looked especially radiant. 

 Ryker contracted to help pull weeds for the Beltons across the street. He tried to void the contract once he realized that work was involved, but I wouldn't let him. I took him over and made him finish the job, and made his brother and sister help, too. The neighbors complained to DeA that I was being mean. Than the other neighbors complained to the Beltons that I was being mean. Even DeA complained that I was being mean. 

 I don't care about being mean, these kids need to learn how to follow through and how to work. The neighbors now don't like me. 

 There were supposed to be sliding doors here to the deck. They messed up and put in giant windows. I like the giant windows better. 

 Jens came with me to work, and then to the taco wagon. It was a great fun daddy/daughter date with Funzee. 

 The house has walls, just like a real house. 

 The kids thought that Leo's birthday was sometime about now. They also thought it was important that we throw him a birthday party. Yup, we are "birthday party for a dog" type of people now. 

 He was obviously deeply touched. 

 He thoroughly enjoyed his Spam cake. 

Lazy Days of Summer and Doc's Farewell

I don't know if I'm impressed or worried about this level of laziness.

 I guess you could call is efficiency, but it is pretty lazy. 

 The upstais is getting framed! There is a little ladder to get in, and Leo can't quite figure it out. 

 He wimpers and whines until someone lifts him in. 

It's usually DeA that helps him up, and then she smothers him with attention. 

This is the view out the front windows. Not bad. 

  Rock is earning money by mowing the neighbor's lawn. Jens is antagonizing him because that's what little sisters do. 

 The lake has reached the perfect balance between refreshing and not freezing. 

 The kids jump in pretty much every day. 

 Ryker became obsessed with this toothbrush that he saw at the store. He earned money to buy said toothbrush. What an odd thing for a nine-year-old to become obsessed with. 

 The kids hear that we aren't going to install a pool at the new house and have taken it upon themselves to dig their own. It's been a dusty process. 

 We've been practicing hanging out in our living room. 

  It's a nice place to hang out. 

 Dioci wasn't going to have a going away party before she left for her mission. That didn't seem right, so we invited the whole ward over to come wish her well. 

 It was a pretty raucous party. 

 Dioci flew from Wenatchee to Mexico City to attend the MTC. It was bittersweet sending her off.  

 Dioci was a little overwhelmed, but at least she had a smile on her face. 

 Leti and Francisco watched her all the way to the end. 

A Poutine Reunion

My old roommate, Joey, was passing through No. Idaho and wanted to meet up at Silverwood. It was a great idea, so I took some time off work to make it happen. The kids hit it off right away, and spent all morning playing street hockey. 

 Joey wasn't going to take it easy on any of the kiddos. 

 

We hit the waterpark portion of Silverwood first. The kids ran all over and had a ball. I had over 30,000 steps!

Water park hair? Still beautiful. 

 The kids were exhausted on the way home and barely stayed awake long enough to hit Golden Corral. 

 It was much harder to wake up the second day after all those steps the first day.  

 There was a lot of staring at breakfast. 

 Here are the junior Poutines along with our kids. Joey's sister and her family were there too, but not there for this picture.  

 Just think, in like seven or eight years they can be next generation roommates and keep the roomie chain connected. 

 My cute ladies. 

 Ryker was worn out and hungry when we decided to do the train ride. He perked up when they started shooting guns at each other.  

 Jens loved everything about the train. 

 We had to wait in line for the amusement park rides, a lot longer than we did for the water slides. The kids did love riding together. 

 We hit a magic show and pizza that the kids loved. 

 It took them a few days to recover from all the walking and walking.