Leavenworth, Day 1

We spent the weekend in Leavenworth, WA with the Muffolettos and had such a great time.  We got there Friday afternoon and got down to the first item of business - swimming in the hotel pool.

After wearing out the kids a little, we walked into town for some dinner.  Leavenworth is a great little town in the Cascade Mountains and everything there has a Bavarian theme.  It was fun to walk around and check it out.  On the way to town, we came across three mountain goats. 

When we got back to the hotel, the kids tried to talk us into letting them sleep like this:

(And it did look very cute and cozy!)

Random Summer Fun

With some potential changes happening soon, I am trying to get caught up on all my blogging, so here are some pictures of more summer happenings.

We went to the Old Settlers Picnic in the Ferndale Pioneer Park and got to spend some time in the pioneer cabins...

...and at the carnival.

Grace opened her own business for a day.

Declan got a little crazy with lotion.

And Sam got a temporary new 'do.

Liam's Birthday Party

I know, so it's a month after Liam's actual birthday, but July was a crazy month for us!  Tonight we had Liam's official friend party and he chose a football theme.  Garreth made an amazing obstacle course in the backyard for the kids to run through and played some fun football games with them, including one using a big cardboard hand-drawn football player with a hole where his hands should be to practice quarterback throwing skills.  I'm telling you, the man is a genius and his kids are very lucky to have such a cool dad.

Here's the whole gang:

We played games and ate dinner, then got right down to the good stuff - opening presents:

There were cupcakes...

...and a pinata...

...and I think that a good time was had by all.

Boise

On our way back home, we stopped near Boise to visit Garreth's sister Pam and her girls Kennedy and Kassidy, who are the same age as Grace.  We had fun swimming in their neighborhood pool and Pam made us a delicious dinner.  

(Can you guess by skin tone which Ratchford sibling lives in Washington?)

The kids always have so much fun with the twins and it was great to visit!

RODEO!

On our last day in Preston, I got to spend some time with my dad and my sister Cait floating down the Bear River.  It was so much fun and very beautiful.

My dad, me, Madi (who met us up there with some friends), and Cait.

We made it home in time for the rodeo parade.

We always love seeing my mom ride by with the rodeo committee.

After the parade, we got Declan settled in with a babysitter and rode with Papa in the jeep to the rodeo grounds, getting there a little early to brush shoulders with the cowboys and queens and bum rides off of important rodeo people.

Sam loves this next picture of him and Nana riding with the cowboys:

Before long it was time for Nana to ride in the serpentine ride.

I know these pictures are a little blurry - my camera just won't keep up with the speed of that cowgirl!

We totally scored with over-the-chute tickets this year (it's all about who you know!).  For those of you who aren't familiar with That Famous Preston Night Rodeo, over-the-chute tickets are the best seats in the house, right next to the announcer's stand and over where all the action is.  We got to see the cowboys getting on their bucking bulls and horses before the chutes opened.  (We also saw lots of cowboys changing clothes in the corrals behind the chutes, but this is a family blog...) 

You probably know enough about Sam to know that he was in HEAVEN!

My sisters Cait, Madi, and me.

I had so much fun being back in Preston and spending time with my family.  It was really a perfect vacation - we got to do so many fun things and see so many people we love.  Thanks for everything, Mom and Dad!  I love you so much!