I can't think of a title. There is too much in this post.

Our summer zip zoomed by.  We took more of a break from school than I had planned and it was okay.  We forgot sunscreen way more times than my dermatologist would approve.  We listened to Joel repeat a line from Despicable Me 2 over and over.  We had waterfights with 4 generations.  We welcomed two little pets into the house. We rode new rides at Roaring Springs, played in the river, and took weekend trips to mountains and to a demolition derby.  In other words, it was awesome.



First, lots of circus practice.  It wouldn't be home without it. * sigh *
 

 
The boys made up games like "Bounce the children"  which they ask us to play with them all of the time.  This is a workout folks.  The object is to bounce as hard as you can to launch a 30 and 40 pound giggling monkey-boy. I could enter myself right into the American Ninja contest if I could just play their bounce the children "game"  for an hour a day. 
 

Trevor bounced his knee into his eye socket and got a shiner to show the pain a trampoline can bring.  They have the whole MMA pose nailed, but not the concept of when it should be used.  I asked for Trevor to smile in front of the ride at the fair with Zeesa and I got a UFC pose. I asked them to pose in front of the pancakes they made themselves and I got the same thing.  

We took down a plant shelf in our kitchen.  It was super beefy.  It took a whole Saturday, my green toolbelt and several separate cuts to get it down.   We've got some updating going on and I'll have to post the 'after' pics when it's totally done.

 

Before we officially started school we had an impromptu Craftapalooza! It is finally an activity the boys can do for more than 30 seconds.  Here are some of their creations.  

I know.  Not every craft book has a mustache instructions in it, so when you want to make your own facial hair (which is very likely) just ask Trevor for some of his supplies.  He covertly snatched some of his hair off the floor of Great Clips so he could make his own mustache.  The one pictured here is made from a costume beard.  You were probably thinking I let him borrow my hair, right?

We spent a weekend in McCall.

We played Trouble until midnight.  When you're winning bedtime becomes less important ; )

Scott raced the Payette Lake 8 mile race.  My husband pushed hard and told me about how he was able to better endure mentally at the end.  I know he gave it all because there was some puking at the finish line : (
I'm so happy for him-- he nabbed a 2nd place medal for his age group and 6th overall.  YAAAYYY!! 

We spent the rest of that day at Ponderosa Park beach.

Larry and Wendy

Trevor paddled on his own!  He loved it.

We biked Ponderosa with the boys.  Joel pedaled roughly twice as much as the rest of us on his 16in tires, but he was a trooper!  I will not be able to keep up when he has a regular sized bike!

Fishing at Scout pond was successful. These fish were really jumping high out of the water.  An osprey came by early to show off his skills and then the boys reeled them in after bait was switched.

Trevor explained one fish which swallowed a hook but was able to swim away a bit, but after a while  "convinced itself to die."  I thought this was  funny AND profound, actually.
After that story I'm convinced to just keep swimming!  Do not give up!

Joel took this for us when we stopped by Idaho State.

Trevor said he didn't want to go to Idaho State because it's too far from home.  Scott and I didn't even explain or argue as we are barely adjusting emotionally to the fact that Trevor can turn on the sink without a stool.

Beautiful sky at the Eastern Idaho State Fair. 

We watched the Pari-Mutuel races and got to see Nakia race.  She is Wendi and Jason's niece. 

Indian Relay races are probably my favorite.  Running start, 1 rider, 4 horses, bareback and CRAZY.  This picture doesn't do this race justice.

Pretty.

Demo Derby night

They added a trucks division and a figure 8 race to the night. I love the demo derby.  Strong smoke, dirt, beer, mixed with hot scone smells make me feel at home : )  Seriously, though. It's really entertaining.