We have had a very busy week, just when I think "oh next week," we'll have some time to relax something comes up, most of the time they are fun things and we just can't resist doing the "summertime" activities. This week we enjoyed Chas' parents visit and also Chas' brother and his kids, we had a great time, went fishing and swimming, lots of fun. We've been to the river a few times, the kids love wading in the water and trying to catch "lobsters." As soon as the "waterspiders" come out though, there is no convincing Brady to go back in. We have started to get some produce from our garden which is always so much fun. It's a family activity to go and see if anything is ready to be picked yet. So far we have got 3 cucumbers, 3 zuchinni and everything else is growing like crazy. I am sure most of it will all be ready at the same time and I will have to work like mad to try and get it all taken care of. This week we have been able to pick raspberries for a couple in our ward as they were out of town, and so we have loved having fresh raspberries to eat. In just a week's worth of picking I picked 4 1/2 gallons of raspberries. I want a patch just like that!!! So I have been busy picking, freezing, and making jam. They also have an apricot tree so I have been busy making jam with those as well. I really enjoy it, although the kitchen does get a little hot, good thing our A.C. unit is in the kitchen window!! Yesterday we spent the day doing some projects around the house. Chas is making some "custom" shelves for Emree's room and spent all day installing those. It's so nice to be married to a handy-man! He can do about anything! And I spent my time painting, so yes as for now her room is finally all painted. (I was going to send some pictures, but we have no batteries, the ones in it won't even open the shutter, but I will soon) Anyway we have been busy and doing well. Brooklyn just finished swimming lessons and loved them and she is doing soccer which she is starting to get into. So there are lots of things to do with our time, we just have to decide which is most important. We feel so blessed and are so grateful for all the blessings we have in our life! It's a wonderful life!!!

Well today we found the culprit of Emree's almost incessant crying for the past week. Yup, you guessed it her very first tooth has decided to finally poke through. It's about time!! If all of them are this bad, the rest can wait for a few months, or years! Although its good for her, now I know she is not just being grouchy and has had a very good reason for being so fussy! On the good side, she actually has taken a nap two days in a row now, that is a record. She hasn't napped for about 2-3 weeks now. She would just take cat naps and sleep for 10-15 minutes at a time. Yesterday I checked on her like 20 times, she slept for like 3 hours. Man I got a lot of things done! And she is down for the count right now, so I am crossing my fingers and working like mad!
Brooklyn has started swimming lessons and is loving it, she is learning to do the backstroke and is pretty good. Her favorite thing are the bobs. She also had her first soccer game on Tues and has another one tonight. She is doing much better than I thought. Practices were a little hard to watch as she would much rather be twirling in circles or dancing around. But she seems pretty in to it during the games, so that is very nice! The other day I said to Brooklyn " It's hot out here eh?" (My Canadian slipped out.) And she said "Mom don't speak canadian to me, speak english!" I about died laughing!!! Chas has definitely got her brainwashed!! Although everytime she calls my sisters the conversation starts out with "Whats up hoser?!" or "Hows it going eh?" so she can't really get on my case! anyway it was pretty funny, she is racking in the funny story points lately
Brady just watches Brooklyn do everything fun and can't wait until he can play too. At swimming lessons he constantly asks if he can put his feet in, thats as far as he'll go. He is really good to stay by me and content to watch everyone else swim. He is learning to ride his bike without training wheels. He broke one of them off and so had to ride off balance for awhile, its been kind of hard to get him to sit straight on his seat now. But Chas practices with him every night so I am sure he will get it soon. He is full of energy and always keeps us laughing. The other day he came in the house and said "Mom look what I can do on the trampoline," he jumped straight up as high as he could and landed flat on his bum, good thing it was on the carpet and not the wood floor. But he started crying and I was laughing, "What were you thinking?" I asked, his answer to everything, "I don't know!" So I explained he can only fall on his bum on the trampoline and not in the house, "but I can do it on your bed too." he said. Needless to say the next day when he tried to ride his bike, he came in the house and said, "my bum hurts, can't ride today." Kids are hilarious!!!!!

Well we have had a busy and fun couple of weeks. Last weekend for the 4th we went over to Cottage Grove and spent a few days with Jared and Gina. We had a blast. Went to a parade, fireworks, Wildlife Safari, the Lake and of course Chas did some fishing with the kids. I really didn't know he liked it so much. We went camping the weekend before that and got a load of wood. We got back from Jared and Gina's and were very surprised at our garden! It is growing like crazy!! 5 days of hot sunshine and it is a jungle out there, good thing that 90% of it is plants and only 10% are weeds. So we are looking at a wonderful harvest in the fall, I am so excited! We had such a good time at Jared and Gina's, thanks to them for always making sure we have a relaxing and fun time! Although Emree pretty much cried the entire time we were there, not too sure what her deal is, we really could have done without that, but oh well. I have decided I need a vacation by myself! and Chas could come too. The kids had lots of fun and all the way home Brady kept asking if they were following us. Thanks again Jared and Gina!!! We had a blast!