Saturday Afternoon Lights

Recently they started a tackle football league for 3rd graders. It was a big learning experience for Rock but he was super excited to show off his agility.

He wasn't sure that he liked playing and even tried to convince  his mom that he should quit. Thankfully he stuck with it and eventually got to show off his skills at the community potluck in front of the entire town. Jens was nervous for him.

Ryker wasn't nervous, but hydrated for the both of them.

Rock was pretty proud of himself. They also were the halftime show during a high school game. He decided that football was pretty awesome.

I've been translating at times during church on Sunday. Jens enjoys sitting by me and listening to me on the headphones. 

Sometimes the kids act like they love each other. Usually that's while they are asleep.

This is how Ryker washes his hair. Epic.

Jens finally had her first day of school. She didn't want us to drop her off and somehow DeA went for that. We walked her up to the bus with the other kids.

Ryker wasn't as excited as Jens, but that's because the joy of school has been beat out of him.

There she goes, off to school.

MAXIMILIANO visited me at work, he's always fun.

Jens is still giving herself bunny ears in pictures.

She wanted to ride in the back of the pickup on the way home from Janet's. That's only a 1/2 mile away from the house and she still crashed in the warm, cozy sunshine. 

County Fair

Ryker watched a lot of Carnival Eats over the summer and became enthralled with fair food. He begged and begged to attend the Chelan County Fair but didn't know that he was going to get to see a giant pumpkin.

 They pleaded and begged to ride ALL the rides. We limited them to whatever their expensive ride tickets allowed.

 The temperature was in the 90s and felt hotter than that. The kids found a neat water game and cooling off helped everyone feel better. 

 Rock loved the ferris wheel.

 After all the talk about fair food they only wanted sno-cones. DeA and I were find with that because it allowed us to stop by Country Boys and have delicious barbecue. 

 You can tell that it was a good trip because it wore the kids straight out. 

 Meanwhile the boys entertained MAXAMILIANO.

 MAXAMILIANO! has been hanging at our house while his parents are off playing. He's not pictured here because...

 he locked himself in here. Before you complain that we are cruel you have to realize that he loves it in there.

Start of School (FINALLY)

By the end of the school year all parents get sick of the routing, the early mornings, the homework and the stress of school. By the end of summer you are letting your Jensley come to the office like this because things are spinning out of control.

 You get to a point where the kids rule the house and you end up driving to the store with a helmet because Jensley says "safety first".

 The boys started about three weeks before Jens. She realized how great that was going to be.

 It took her a few pics but she finally realized it.

 The Judd genes are showing through more and more as time goes by. Everyone falls asleep on the couch together and then DeA stumbles into the bedroom about 3:30 am and finally gets ready for bed.

 DeA asked to borrow my phone without reason. Later I found about a dozen pictures like this:

 I don't know if her phone camera wasn't good enough or the mirror was dirty, but here they are.

Dog Days of Summer

We spent many an evening taking evening walks to wear out the kids and Winnie. 

 Some walks were more fun than others.

 Ruido made carnitas for Celeste's birthday. Jens approved.

 She also appeared to approved of the ice cream that she found in the freezer.

 We spent a Saturday afternoon rednecking it up.

 The kids took turn with the Red Ryder BB gun.

  DeA is quite the dead-eye.

 Nailed it!

She even handles the handgun with skillz.

We were out of staples so we had to resort to the only thing in the truck that could stick to the board: a pad. DeA found it fairly therapeutic to shoot that thing up.

OREGON! and a Fancy Anniversary Dinner

YIPEE!!

 Ryker is like a cat that can get comfortable anywhere.

 The kids love Buddy and Buddy loves the kids.

 I've been married to DeA for 11 years and she never ONCE mentioned that there was a top notch hole-in-the-wall Italian sub place. You think you trust someone...

 The trip always wears the kids out.

 There was lots of resting and Kindling.

 Lots of resting. 

 11 years and no mention of a great Italian restaurant, then do we go again before the trip was over? Of course not, this is Angelo's pizza.

 The kids liked it.

 The boys learned the joy of taking out and bringing back the garbage can.

 It was a team effort.

 Ryker was even less thrilled to help with the corn on the cob.

 Pics with Grandma and Grandpa! (and Dolphin)

  We drove halfway home and stopped outside of Portland. It was our 11 year anniversary and I'm surprised we made it that far what with DeA's family not wanting us to get married and all. We didn't have a quiet, romantic evening at a fancy restaurant. We went to Shari's with the kids. DeA didn't want her picture taken, but I wanted to commemorate our 11 years together and the dinner we enjoyed with the kids that make our family whole.

 Jens was there too, just on the wrong side of the camera.