Summer Swim Lessons, Sports, and S'mores

We've enjoyed some park play dates with friends. 

Above: historical canon that the kids could climb on.

Below: Before heading to morning swimming lessons, the kids played on the new geo-dome that Daddy assembled the night before. 

Soccer skills camp.

The joys surrounding bonfires. ;-)

Life skills...learning to build and tend the fire. 

Birthday Party for a Horse

We have some new homeschool friends that are part of a pony club. Their pony "Mel" was turning 21 and so they threw a playdate/party for him. Brent wasn't interested in riding, but the girls sure were - especially Amber. 

Amber was learning the terminology of the horse gear, and she got to clean out his hooves. 

She rode the donkey Jack too. 

Clara did a good job sitting nice and still up on Mel. 

After several times around the pen with guidance, they then let Amber ride Mel all by herself!

This was the cake the kids made for Mel to eat. 

Then there was a yummy cake for the kids to eat too. A pretty fun and unique playdate for us. :)

Feed My Starving Children

Our friends invited to join in a service project...packing nutritional rice bags that will be shipped around the world to areas of need. Our 2 hour shift, of 145 people, packed over 150 boxes of food. Even Clara was helping fill, measure, and seal the bags. 

Shutter Makeover

Nothing a little spray paint can't fix!

I consider our house "mint and mocha" colors, (the siding is light green in case you can't tell from the pic).Oh and disregard the potted bowling ball...a project in process. ;-)

Bay Beach Again

The kids surprised us with wanting to go on many "bigger" rides this year. It was a fun day together.

(Below, Brent was just recovering from the Tilt-a-Whirl ride which he didn't care for). 

More Time with Gpa and Gma

May is a big yard work month, and Gpa & Gma kindly helped us with weeding flower beds, transplanting things, and setting up the veggie garden. 

The kids enjoy being helpers too. 

The last night Gma and Gpa were here, some Larsen family joined us for dinner. 

Really special to have everyone together!

Children's Museum with Gpa and Gma

GPA and Gma Smith came to visit us for a few days. One day we went downtown and checked out the fun children's museum, and then met Lucas after work.

Brent's "Rocket Sheep"