the brower hour: July 2018

grandma and grandpa

some kids get the best grandparents.

and our kids are lucky enough to have 4 incredible grandparents!

they are so lucky to have a close relationship with all four. I know that they recognize how special their grandparents are. they love them all so, so much! but I also know that the older they get, the more they will realize how amazing Dave, Linda, Bart and Janie are as people and not just as their grandparents.

so glad they will have these pictures to treasure for ever!

I think I only have one or two pictures of me with my grandparent. I had 4 grandparents of course, but I can only find one picture of me with one of my grandmas. obviously technology has made picture taking so much easier, so I always think that I want to take some pictures of my kids with grandparents whenever they are visiting us or we are visiting them, but never seem to remember when the time comes.

my parents were good sports about it even though they don't necessarily enjoy having pictures.

even the silly mess up pictures will be treasured!

4th of July : 2018 edition

HAPPY BURTHDAY, 'MERICA!

our Independence Day celebrations started off with an awesome ward party. bo had quite a bit to do with the planning and crying out of the party and I have to say, it was a huge success.

we started with a bbq, thanks to Jacob for grilling all of the hot dogs and burgers to perfection. followed by the annual bike parade (so happy to see this tradition that my primary presidency started years ago is still going strong!), along with water games, a slip slide, and kickball!

the afternoon was filled with swimming and bike riding.

that evening we all met at lari and bo's house for the most delicious dinner of chicken tikka masala, grilled veggies and naan. after dinner, bo set up the slip n slide in their front yard.

oh, and Sammy discovered root beer!!!

bo made sure these kids were ready to fly with some non-nutritive cereal varnish (aka soap).

lari earns some serious "awesome-est aunt" points with her slip n slide abilities!

after a water balloon fight with the neighbors and some sparklers for the kiddos, bo Jacob and Andrew worked put on an amazing fireworks display that I'm sure would make Uncle Sam proud :)

after fireworks (and right before bed) we made a giant sheet of smores to end our festivities! all that was missing was Chris, who had to work in Arkansas :(

random fun in Florida

one morning we met up at lake's regional park in fort Myers. Alli and Jacob wanted to take the older cousins on a Pokemon go excursion and this park is a total jackpot. so they took the phones along with Everett, jack, Ashton and Charlie. Larissa and I hung out with the other kids at the splash pads and then we did something crazy!

we rented a giant bike!

yes, that's 2 adults and 7 kids on 1 bicycle!!!

it was a WORKOUT!

besides all of our laughing, we got a serious leg workout too.

there are 4 seats with pedals, but only Lari, Ellie and I could reach the pedals. the one hour rental was definitely enough time, lol.

Owen, olive, and sam loved sitting in the front, especially when we went down a hill or when we were passing someone else and needed to ring our bell!

a trip to bonita is not complete for jack without a stop at bass pro shop.

this was the first time that Owen has been since being old enough to realize where he was and it did not disappoint!

jack had saved up for long sleeved fishing shirt and some polarized sunglasses. and Owen's heart was set on a red trucker Bass Pro hat. for $4, I couldn't pass it up :)

we made a quick run to trackside donuts bright and early one morning while grandma and grandpa were sleeping. we took our donuts to Depot Park in downtown Bonita to enjoy before it was too hot outside.