OUR LAST WEEK OF FREEDOM!

SPLASH PAD

We hit the splash pad one last time before summer vacation was over! The kids had a lot of fun playing with cousins and new friends!

 PRIMARY ACTIVITY
The girls had a fun primary activity this week. They learned about being every day missionaries, but they loved that they got to pretend to go on a plane and fly to Ohio (Lily) and Brazil (Crystal) to go on a mission. It was fun to listen to them talk excitedly about all the fun they had when they got home.

 PAPA GORDON
Papa tried out a new do. lol. Lily was putting a Rapunzel Outfit on and Papa stole her hair!!! lol.

CANNING, CANNING, CANNING... AND DEHYDRATING

I've been busy this week. I canned pickles and green beans earlier in the week. Maddie came over and we canned 14 quarts of peaches and a few pears (we still have a whole box of pears to can this week... they weren't quite ripe enough yet).
Wednesday our new dehydrator came! WE LOVE IT! We dehydrated a box of apples from our neighbors tree and some peaches. I also made fruit leather out of a box and a half of peaches. My kids LOVE the fruit leather. It's going to be a huge hit!
This week I have more peach fruit leather to make, a bag of plums to dehydrate or make fruit leather with, and a TON of apples to dehydrate and make fruit leather out of!!!! Oh and pears to can.
I tried canned (jarred) hamburger, pork, and chicken the other day and was shocked to find it didn't taste any different than regular meat! I'm SOOO going to start canning my meat! Less space taken up in the freezer and SO much faster when making dinner than thawing and cooking meat!!!!

SUNDAY SHENANIGANS

Chukar's Game and Yard Work

BYUI CHUKAR'S NIGHT

We had free baseball tickets from BYU-I Alumni so we went to another Chukar's game this week! We had a great time... even though we still only made it until the 4th inning. Oy! Haha. They weren't playing as well as the last game we went to, so it was easier to leave at least. lol.

YARD WORK
Well we finally got all the dirt dug out of the front strip and planted a new tree! Friday my dad had one of his guys at work drop off a large load of rocks. I spent most the day spreading rocks out in the front. When I was finished there was still a ton of rock leftover! lol! We have other places to put it but none of them are dug out yet so until then the extras are just mounded up on the front strip. We also built a little front patio. We put some rock in our back flowerbed as well! It was a day full of yard work! It feels good to finally be finishing some projects!! Next sanding, repairing, and staining the deck!!

CRYSTAL

I was sitting on the couch watching Crystal color the other day, and it hit me yet again how fast she's growing up! Look at this beautiful long-legged girl! Time could slow down a bit and I wouldn't mind too much. Haha.

Uncle Todd and Aunt Brooke!

UNCLE TODD AND AUNT BROOKE

Uncle Todd and Aunt Brooke came to town this week! The girls were so excited when they got here! On the way to the airport, Crystal and Lily were in the back talking and then Crystal got my attention:

Crystal: Mom! Do you know that I love Aunt Brooke? And Lily loves Uncle Todd?

Lily: Yeah! I like Uncle Todd because he's a boy! And I just LOVE him!!!! (we are in trouble with her. lol) 

She then stared at him deeply for several minutes while we waited for their checked bag at the airport. Haha.

THE ZOO

After the airport we went to Gigi's for cinnamon bread and then headed to the zoo with everyone! The girls had fun showing everyone all the animals! Unfortunately the 'high five' monkey wasn't performing today. haha. Maybe next time!

The monkey on top is balancing on the top of the pole. Didn't seem like a fun place to sit! Haha.

These two were NOT getting along! lol! They were fighting when we got there and then just squawked at each other!

HORSING AROUND WITH UNCLE TODD

Jay hurt his lip and Grandma gave him ice for it. He was walking around like this for a while. lol

THE PLAYMILL
We went to see 'The Foreigner" in West Yellowstone without the kids on Thursday! We had a really good time! I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard! The play was so well done! And the kids enjoyed the evening with Grandma and Grandpa Gordon.

FRIEND FRIDAY
We had a lot of friend fun this Friday! First our friends who live in Washington stopped by for a short visit! Crystal and McCall have been friends for a long time so we love it when they can play while they are in town for a visit! 

Then Crystal's best friend from school came by for a playdate! Grandma Gordon also stopped by around the same time with lunch! Yummy Chinese! The weather held up for us so the kids were able to play in the water and bouncy house for a good portion of the afternoon! Around 4, Grandma Cook came by with Uncle Todd and Aunt Brooke! The kids put on a show for us! Crystal was sad when it was time for her friend to go, but school will be starting soon, and they'll get to see each other every day again!

SUNSETS
There are quite a few fires burning in Idaho right now. No where near us, but the bad air is making its way our direction. It might not be fun to breathe, but it sure does make for a beautiful sunset. My pictures don't do it justice. The sun has been massive and orange. It was so orange tonight we could stare right at it without squinting. The pictures aren't nearly as impressive as the real thing!