One of the nice things about summertime....

...eating our messy treats outside!

Yum!!

Berry Pickin'

Last weekend we finally made it out to one of the local farms to pick some strawberries. We're so lucky to have this great farm just a few minutes from our house. Here we are riding behind the tractor out to the fields.

I think Tessa ate her weight in strawberries that morning...luckily they didn't weigh her when it was time to pay! :-)

So many strawberries!!

And relaxing in the rocking chairs back at the barn after a hard morning of picking!

Last one!

What trip to the mountains would be complete without throwing some rocks in a river? The kids had a blast and amazingly no one fell in the water. Here are all 4 kids posing on a big rock. I can't believe we actually got a shot where everyone has their eyes open and no one is crying! From left to right - Tessa, Isaac, Parker & Finley:

Everone showing off their rock skipping skillz!

Tessa and Finley hunting the perfect rock (the perfect one for Tessa was the muddiest one she could find!).

...and into the water!

Not really sure this one needs a caption :-). (Isaac is thinking..."Mom, hurry up and take this picture so I can hurl this rock in the water!")

Fun at the park

One of the highlights of last weekend for the kids was getting to play at some parks in the mountains that they don't normally get to go to. Here are Tessa & Finley "driving" the ladybug. :-)

These little saucers spin around and were a big hit with the boys. Here's Isaac - I love this expression!

Parker taking a turn. He was so dizzy he couldn't walk straight for a few minutes!

And the girls again...

All the kids taking a spin...this was shortly before one of them fell off!

More cousins!

Last weekend my brother Grant, sister-in-law Amber, and their kids Finley and Parker came out to Colorado for a visit. I'm going to have to spread these photos out over a couple of posts, because there were so many good ones! Here is everyone headed out for a little hike:

Tessa loved being outdoors. She wanted to walk on her own, but liked to sit down every 10 steps or so and play in the dirt.

The kids found a log teepee to play in....

Tessa and Parker stopped to strike a pose.

Although she likes to walk, Tessa also enjoys being in the backpack. It's a great view for her!

Camp Colorado

Last week Isaac got to join Grandma, Popo, and 5 of his cousins for Camp Colorado. They spent 3 days in the mountains exploring a gold mine, riding paddle boats, playing in the river, swimming and just having fun together. I know that these memories will be some of his most treasured as he grows up - thank you Grandma and Popo for giving these to him! Here are all the kids with Grandma & Popo (including Tessa) before they left our house to head back to Kansas. (And before Isaac's tears started...he really misses them!)

I love a parade!

Well, actually, the kids love a parade! Last weekend I got to enjoy my birthday present, a massage and facial at our local spa, while John and Alice (Oma) took the kids to enjoy the county fair parade on main street. Our good friend Kay saved them some seats in the shade, so they didn't have to spend the entire morning out in the hot sun - thanks Kay!! When they got home, Tessa told me her favorite part was the horses - and even showed me how they gallop! (looked like something close to a skip!)

Waving flags!

Isaac's favorite part was the Shriners driving crazy in their little yellow cars.

Can you tell we live in a farming community? Check out all the tractors!

Tessa waving to the parade! We are so blessed to have Oma close to join us for fun times like this!