1. Jarom Loves to comb his hair in all sorts of different styles.  Most days it looks worse then before he brushed it, but since he was always pleased with his hair style and himself; I sum up all my self control and resisted the urge to brush his hair back into place or at the very least ruffle his do up with my fingers.

Lately I've noticed that the front of his hair was looking particularly strange - big gap in the front with long hairs falling on the side of his forehead.  At first I thought it was just the way he was styling it, then I realized in an effort to get his hair to go the way he wanted it, he had cut the front of his cowlick off. 

There was no other solution but to shave his head.  He loves the new style!

2.  Recently I checked a book out of the library where someone had gone through and edited all the grammar.  Totally weird.

3.  I've just finished reading The Postmistress - I would recommend it, although not to everyone, some shady parts.

4. My cousins from far, far away came to visit last week and it was delightful to see them. 

5. My mom and I, with the assistance of Nolan, did up 7 batches of strawberry jam.  It looks like tons, but since it is the family favorite we will see how much is leftover come next spring.  I love canning as I think nothing looks prettier than row after row of jars of preserves.

6.  Spencer and my dad tried to climb MT Cleveland this week-end.  Dad wanted to do it for his birthday.  It didn't go so well.  After 4 hours of bushwhacking they turned back and headed in another direction.  We've decided Mt. Cleveland is my dad's nemesis; this was his 3rd attempt.  Nolan was secretly ecstatic as we wants to be there when they finally reach the summit.  We told him he couldn't climb Mt. Cleveland until the summer he graduates high school.

Our Life

1.  Yesterday I felt was the perfect day. It was hot hot, so we invited some of the kids buddies and headed out to my parents to enjoy the coolness of the pool.  As I sat there watching my youngins play in the sand and listening to their shrieks of laughter escape the sides of the pool, I was so thankful for this time I get to spend with them making memories and watching them grow right before my very eyes.

2. Spencer has been gone to scout camp the last few days and we are all excited for him to come home.

3. I just baked a batch of bran muffins and forgot to add the baking soda and salt.  I shouldn't bake when I'm tired.

3.  Today Nolan participated in 3x3 basketball at the Southern Alberta Summer Games.  They played 6 games in all and remained undefeated.  The championship game was closer then I would have liked and poor Nolan was forced to endure his overly competitive mother sweetly yelling suggestions from the side lines.  Not to worry folks, he just started to ignore me after awhile. 

Just the way we like him!  Sweaty and worn out from a great day of basketball!

July Long

With school being done, it's our favorite time of the time year.  It's Freedom!  We stay up late, we sleep in, we eat when we're hungry and we escape to the mountains! 

We all needed a bit of a get away and even though my get away was more geared to shopping in the U.S. of A, the men in the family had a bit of a different plan and directed our mini vacation to the mountains.  Spencer loves the mountains and so do our kids. 

The men of the family headed down a day before me and my mom and did a hike to Iceberg Lake.  I was very nervous about Jarom and the distance, but I was assured he would be feed and watered properly and he hiked the trails like a champ.

The guys also hiked up to Apikuni Falls; very big and beautiful.  I was very sorry to miss out on this little hike. Waterfalls are amongst my favorite things.

The boys also did some fishing.  Nolan is big into fishing, although he won't touch the fish or take them off the hook.  He caught the most fish and the biggest fish.  Jarom caught his first fish ever on this trip.

This kid is so cute, I had to share this one. 

If you're wondering where me and my mom are, we are relaxing in the trailer.  My tummy is big, huge in fact and since the border crossing guard scared me into believing if I had my baby in the States they would keep my baby there and send me home to Canada, I was worried and tried to be very low key. 

Schools Out For Summer...

and we couldn't be happier!

 

Although the last day of school was a bit more emotional than I had anticipated.  Nolan was somber to be leaving this amazing teacher and school behind. He's moving on to Jr. High next year.  Yikes!

 

Both boys had incredible teachers this year, they learned lots! So lucky.

 

 

We have big plans for this summer, a little low key compared to previous summers, but still we hope to have lots of fun... will share more of our plans later.