more summer stuff

I've been really busy, and am now catching up on blogging so sorry for all the super long posts. I'll try to let the pictures do most of the talking. This is what we've been up to this summer between trips.

"I want to catch a ball in my mitten"

We got a piano this summer and Jessica is in heaven. Here is Emma's buddy, Violet, giving it a try.

I didn't realized it until today how much Emma wears this outfit. It is her favorite.

yup, more mariners

monkeying around with friends

playing sports with dad

pretty good form for her age

always posing, what a character

Emma is such a character and loves to run and laugh, can you tell she is giggling in this picture?

Michael did intramural soccer and softball this summer. Their team always makes it to the championship game but hasn't won in softball, yet, but have been soo close. no pictures of that game - it rained the whole time.

but they won in soccer, woohoo!!!They finally got their champion intramural T-shirts. So proud of you baby!

Camping!

I can't believe we waited this long to go camping. We had a blast!We got together with our friends the Wilsons and they kindly did all the planning despite their very busy schedule. We were nervous about camping with kids and needed someone to hold our hand through the process, but as we found out, it is also a lot more fun camping with friends.

Riley had a blast with Ginny
Emma cried every time she saw a bug. Riley was fascinated by the bugs and just enjoyed the nature.

Ben took Mike on a hike. Sometimes the trail was nice like this

and other spots it was like this
but this was the view from the top! amazing!

Mike was soo dirty when he got back. Here he has just taken off his shoes and that is NOT a tan line.While the boys are away the girls played and we found a nice spot on the stream to play with the girls.
We had so much fun we had to bring dad again later.
There were smores, there was a campfire, there were games, friends and fun! Thanks for a great weekend, Wilsons!

first fruits

Our housing complex started a few P-patches and we are lucky enough to share one plot with some friends. We planted 4 tomato plants and here is our first fruit. Isn't it beautiful?
Riley likes to help me check the tomatoes and she always gets excited when they change colors.
I don't really know anything about vegetable gardening, but we are enjoying the fresh tomatoes a lot. Even Emma gets excited, but she doesn't quite get it.
here's the story: a few weeks ago we were preparing to go out of town and I had just picked a few tomatoes and was trying to think who I could give them to, so I set them on the kitchen table and went to finish packing. Riley runs upstairs and tattles to me that Emma is being very naughty. When I get down stairs, I find my tomatoes back on the table, but they are all smashed. Then I see my wall & carpet covered in tomato juice and seeds. I couldn't believe it!! They must have looked like the coolest ball Emma couldn't resist giving them a throw...so much for gifting fresh tomatoes...I was so thrown off I forgot half of the things I was packing and left town without toiletries and church clothes (we were going to a wedding--nice).
Moral: keep your pretty fresh tomatoes out of reach of toddlers, especially ones that have a knack for throwing.