Busy July!

This July has been a busy one! These pictures are a little backward, but last weekend, we went cherry picking. It was great to be able to go as a family. I was sad that we didn't get to pick strawberries this year, because we were so busy, but the cherries were great!! As you can see, they're as big as Hayden's forehead!!!! :)

Caleb enjoyed snacking on cherries while in his jogger. July has been a busy month for him too!! Teeth, learning how to crawl, pulling to stand, and starting to climb the stairs!!
Lilly was our best picker and EATER!!

I think she enjoyed the cherries! (I think Hayden had fun too)

Full bucket of pie cherries! Enough for 4 pies...we've already enjoyed 1

Helping dad carry the bucket

The rest of July has been spent planning for VBS. I "directed" our church VBS again this year. It was a great week, with lots of fun kids. It was even better because my niece Anna came up from Walla Walla to help out. It was a great week! The kids loved having her here, and she made it so easy for me! Getting in/out of the car was a breeze with her help!

On the last night, we had families come to the church for dinner/games and closing activities. Anna helped me come up with fun "minute to win it" games for the night. Here is Hayden practicing chopstick stacker

Lilly even got the hang of stacking the nuts.

The "theme" at VBS was PandaMania, so there were Pandas all over the church, including this cute one!!

Here is Anna's ride into Spokane!! Tyler, Ryan and Anna were flown into Spokane on their friend's private plane!!

Showing off his new 2 bottom teeth (you might have to zoom in)

The kids loved having Anna to play with!!

Excited to open the fun presents from Anna (and family)

Thanks Anna! Think think Anna got more kisses last week than she may have wanted!!!

Do you think Caleb was excited about the huckleberry jam (or "pure gold" as Anna calls it)??

Enjoying the new foam blower

Anna helped us make brownie fudge HOMEMADE ice cream one night. It was GLORIOUS!!

Lilly enjoyed it as much as the cherries!

Every night, the kids picked a book for Anna to read to them....a much more exciting reader than mom and dad!

Our church stage complete with "bamboo forest" and giant panda that had arms that moved. Also a cool dragon that flew over the crowd. This week, our mission project was to have kids bring in canned foods for a local food bank. We raised 362 pounds of food during the week (Over $500 value). I thought that was pretty amazing!

Crawling

This weekend, Caleb learned how to crawl at the cabin (as long as he had banana bread to go for). He went from rocking on his knees one day, to moving the next!

Crawling 2

He's getting better!

1st Haircut for a bald baby!

Yes, I am a little bit of a crazy anal mom, but Caleb got his 1st hair cut last week. He may look bald, but he had quite a few hairs growing 2" or longer, so I thought I would trim it up so all the hair is the same length. He didn't seem to mind it at all. You may not be able to see a change, but I sure can :)

4th Of July At the Cabin 2011

We had fun last weekend at the cabin for the 4th. The kids love doing all the things there are to do at the cabin! They get better at climbing the ladder going to the loft or "raft" as Hayden calls it each year.

even Lilly got the hang of going down the ladder by the end of the weekend!
Lilly enjoyed picking lilies by the dock

We have a video of "little bear" jumping in a pond and putting a lily on his head, so Lilly wanted to do the same thing :)

Lilly loved jumping into the lake (as long as dad caught her)

She liked kicking her legs

Maybe it was a little cold!!

Hayden was a little terrified at first, but eventually got the hang of getting in the water

Jumping with no fear

Who's that cute life jacket bum??

Enjoying strawberries after a swim

Caleb had a hard time taking longer naps, so by the end of the day he was wiped out and even fell asleep in Mark's shoulders which doesn't happen often.

cuddle time with Grandpa

One morning we went on a walk around the lake. Caleb didn't mind the backpack for most of the walk and was asleep by the end

The walking crew

In deep conversation with Grandma

Lilly did pretty well walking most of the 3 miles around the lake, but didn't mind taking turns on every one's shoulders!

Caleb liked playing with the poker chips

After a couple of days, Hayden worked up the courage to jump into the lake too!

Having fun with Auntie Colleen and Grandpa Great

Dinner on the deck

Caleb is finally getting 2 teeth poking through his gums. Here is his toothy grin!

On the 4th of July, Judy and I took the kids to Northwest Trek to see all the animals. The kids had a fun time and took turns sitting next to grandma

Looking out the window to spot some animals

We saw buffalo (bison)

And Caribou

We saw lots of deer, a moose, billy goats, cougars, bear, .....and lots more I can't remember! Here is as close as Hayden wants to get to a grizzly bear!

Lilly checking on the size of her feet

Having fun with the Wagenblast cousins up in the loft

Virginia liked Caleb

Caden and Hayden taking a ride on the boat

My brother, Brian and Jamie and little aspen stopped by for the afternoon of the 4th. Aspen was decked out in her red, white and blue

Giving Aspen some loves

I don't think she minded her auntie holding her

kicking out some energy

Good think Auntie and Uncle were there for some electronics fun! Hayden and Lilly loved playing on the iphones!

Mark kept aspen calm for a little while using his famous belly hold

Winding up to throw a snap. This is serious business!

Stomping on snaps was fun too. It just took a few tries!

Lilly made a new best friend over the weekend! Good thing Uncle Ryan was a good sport and let her tag along with him everywhere he went!They even shared dessert together :)

Ready for fireworks! Lilly liked her glow in the dark star wand and flower glasses

And Hayden had a glow in the dark "fireman" ax and lady bug glasses that glowed in the dark

Having fun with sparklers

Aspen peeking out to watch the fireworks