A little fire pit

Thanks to Nathan we have a nice section of ground that is cleared of grass and weeds so the girls and I gathered some rocks for a fire pit!  As soon as the ban lifts we plan to roast some s'mores.

Ham Porter: Hey, Smalls, you wanna s'more?

Smalls: Some more of what?

Ham Porter: No, do you wanna s'more?

Smalls: I haven't had anything yet, so how can I have some more of nothing?

Ham Porter: You're killing me Smalls! These are s'more's stuff! Ok, pay attention. First you take the graham, you stick the chocolate on the graham. Then you roast the 'mallow. When the 'mallows flaming... you stick it on the chocolate. Then cover with the other end. Then you scarf. Kind of messy, but good! Try some!

Poor Shelby - ouch!

Shelby touched the griddle this morning and it left its mark:

So we spent the morning watching "Anne of Green Gables" with Shelby's arm in cold water.  Of course Vivian wanted her hand/arm in the water, too.  :)  

Her arm is doing better and tonight she enjoyed ribs!  She ate more than I ate!  Vivian, on the other hand, only ate sweet potato.

Love our girls!

Water

We have played in the pool lots and enjoyed having friends over to play with us!  Now that we are in a season of needing to water the grass the girls have found it fun to run in the sprinklers.  They had fun getting all wet and running up and down our back yard.

Speaking of water, the river is so very low that we can walk around and play in it.  Josh mades steps down to the river so it is easier to get up and down.

Quite a difference from when we arrive here in WA just 3 months ago and it was flooding.  We have enjoyed canoeing on the river several times.  Sure is beautiful here!

And now it is raining!

Rack in the making

Something needed for the house means a new project for Josh which means a new tool is needed...

 a bandsaw!

We actually have several projects on the list, but yesterday he started working on a skillet rack for the kitchen.  Today we hung out with him in the shop.

The next project is for animals - can you believe we will be getting animals?  Guesses on what's to come?

Being a Momma

Shelby loves being a Momma!  She and Vivian have fun playing like Vivian is her baby.  Here Shelby was "holding" Vivian and Shhh-ing her as Vivian pretended to fuss.  Cracked me up!

Last week we went to Oroville to spend some time with a new friend.  We had a fun time at the lake and eating lunch with them.  Not sunburns to report, really at all this summer, so that has been nice! Lynsey snapped these pictures of the girls on their floatie.

They had fun floating around this swim area of the lake.  Vivian fell off twice - face-planted into the water, but wanted right back on.  Love that girl!

Shelby really liked Emily and Abby's (respective) 'E' and 'A' brushes, so we made a 'S' brush for her and she loves it!  It is fun to see her brushing her hair with it.  Pretty girl!

Vivian is doing great with picking up on words and trying to repeat what we say.  Shelby has a fun time with her, trying to get her to say words and say them correctly.  Fun stage!  ~ Lovin' these girls ~

Too much fun???

We finished off a 2 1/2 week visit from the Bonus family with swimming in Canada Tuesday night.  They left for home Wednesday morning.  Of course we didn't take enough pictures, but we sure made some great memories!

 Vivian finally started playing well with everyone toward the end of the second week.  She had a blast with Emily, Nathan and Abby.  Hopefully next time she will warm up more quickly.

Josh and Nathan did a boy-hike and made it to the top of the mountain!  

You can see them in the picture below, Josh standing and Nathan sitting on a rock.  The camera was almost all the way zoomed in for this picture.  :)  Nathan was tuckered out after that hike.  

 Emily is such a fun young lady!  She taught Shelby a lot about playing, making bracelets and anklets and reading. All five of the kids enjoyed using Shelby's room as a Museum, Doctor's Office and a Store.  Check out the prices for seeing the Doctor!  If only this were real life!!!

 But I will say, both Kim and I were seen by these doctors and we both had surgery...you get what you pay for!  Haha, just kidding.  They did a great job and we had fun being seen by them.

When I went in Shelby was the Doctor, Emily and Abby were the assistants/nurses.  Surgery was in the closet and Nathan was the surgeon.  

Near the end of their time here we could tell that attitudes were deteriorating and sharing was a thing of the past.  Luckily no big fights broke out and all were able to give hugs and kisses when they left.  :)  Honestly I wouldn't have traded a minute of their time here - it was very special!

Kim, of course, was a huge help to me and I was able to get a lot of things done with her here.  We had great times of conversation, book reading with the kids, pool time, movie time, and so much more!

Thank you for spending time with us Bonus family!!!  We love you dearly!!!!!

Cousin time

We have been enjoying the Bonus family visiting us here in Curlew.  We have done a lot of things and have plans for more!  Here are a few things we've done so far:

Hiking 

Canoeing - we took turns and everyone loved it!  Also, Josh, Adam and Nathan canoed the river, from the bridge to Curlew - they had a blast!

Lots of reading!  We are enjoying Kim reading the Beverly Cleary Ramona series to the kiddos.  

Someone is always using technology.  :) 

Made our first trip to Canada! 

Kim teaching Vivian to wait her turn in Backgammon.  

Vivian wanted to try Thelma on.  

These two baby fawns and their momma have been hanging around our house.  

We got out the train set and that has been fun. 

Adam and Nathan made a boat and put it in the river at the bridge, then we waited for it to float by our house.  Adam put his number on it so if someone ever finds the boat it will be fun to see how far it goes! 

Playing see-saw on the horse. 

 We painted rocks and made a Rock Garden.

LOTS of pool time!  The four bigger kids (Emily, Nathan, Abby and Shelby) have been playing in the pool and teaching Shelby how to go under water.  She does so well with them!  :)

Lots of fun!  Happy Independence Day!