End of the summer days...

Here is a recap of our final full week of summer break.  

County Fair time for Brinley's 4-H group.

 Haley and Brinley modeled their pajama pants in the 'Fashion Revue'.

Brinley also did a cooking demonstration for judges and entered biscuits and cookies in separate contests.  We were able to attend the cookie judging where she won prize money as runner-up in the chocolate chip cookie category.  

With lots of ribbons and prize-money, it was another great year for Brinley at the fair!

  

Meanwhile, Tanner had projects of his own going on.

Tanner has spent a lot of energy preparing for and executing the details for his Eagle Scout project.  (And a big thanks to Aaron - of course!)  He received great support from the other boys in the area and together they accomplished his objectives.  Playground enhancement at a local elementary school - just in time for school to start.

Tanner worked with the PTO President and the school principal on determining where to install this new piece of equipment.  He also outfitted a small shed with much needed shelving and hooks for balls, jump-ropes and other playground equipment.

I think painting was a favorite part of the project for many of the scouts.

Neighbor kids are the first to try it out. 

Anna's last day at gymnastics with Coach Connie.

Tanner's last day at one of his summer jobs.  

Yes, there is a BIG smile on his face.

Though taken from a distance, this shows where Tanner spent two hours most mornings mowing down weeds and thistle at a tree farm.

G-ma and G-pa P made a quick trip north for work.  Brinley surprised them by making a yummy German chocolate cake and we managed to squeeze in a little B-Day party for G-pa - celebrating 63 years young!  

While G-pa worked, G-ma took the oldest five to the county fair to check out some of Brinley's work.

Some rode horses.

Then they all cruised back home to get ready for Anna's recital.

Great G-ma and G-pa M were able to attend.  While waiting for the teacher to arrive, Great G-pa M  shows Tanner his latest gadget.  And yes, we occasionally get text messages from Aaron's G-pa!

Anna did a fabulous job performing her Suzuki Book 1 recital!

It is a lot of music to memorize and she has been working so hard to prepare.

Congratulations, Anna!

After spending the morning pulling weeds and working in two huge yards, Mom and I took the kids for a quick lunch at the "CASE Rodeo" where G-pa P was working.  We fit in a little back-to-school shopping before parting ways.  Back to SL for them.  And on to the pool for us.

Our community opened a new outdoor water park/pool and we promised the kids we would take them before school started.  It only took all summer to get here!

The oldest three visited earlier in the summer during the "Grand Camp-out" with M cousins.

Aaron and I liked floating tubes in the 'lazy river' with Quinn and Elsie.

Lots of summer afternoons were spent here in G-ma M's raspberry patch.

Volumes of juicy raspberries were consumed before they ever made it to freezer jam but I managed to put away a few batches.

And if they were not eating raspberries, they were playing in their pool.

Not pictured were all of the appointments!  There was a visit to the eye Dr. (new glasses/stronger prescription for Tanner), ortho apppointments for Brinley who had a Nance put in along with having three teeth pulled by the dentist.  There were cleanings for five children and the disappointing news of multiple cavities!  Yikes!  I've been a "toothbrushing-nazi" but not a "flossing-nazi" and that is about to change $$!  We had the piano tuned finally (it has been moved at least three times since it's last tuning), ran around registering children for four different schools (transportation is going to be a nightmare this year), Jantzen started football practices, Aaron had' bishopric stuff' and I had a primary presidency meeting (working on the program).

By the end of the week, we felt like this:

It's been a wonderful summer, maybe too wonderful? 

The children aren't all that excited about returning to school tomorrow.  

But....they did tell me they are tired of all the chores:)