Summer Travels

Oh...again thank you to the five people who read this blog!  I love reading yours and keeping up with your families, so hopefully I can catch you up on what we've been doing this summer.

We took a 1500 mile trip to South Dakota...in the car.  Yes, that is 3 days there and 3 days back.  As in and total of 6 days in the car with 3 small kids.  We survived and it was great until the last day in the car and things started to break down.  The trip was great though and we are thankful for the chance to see where Jared's parents are in there new house in the Black Hills.


Here are a couple pictures of our adventures.

Washington - swung by the Koethke's new pad, love it!

After passing by Washington, Idaho & Montana's signs we decided

 to stop, while Cora was sleeping and of course 

she promptly woke up the second we were out of the car.  

But...the trip must go on.

 Leyton getting in some good target practice at G&G Jensen in the Black Hills.

 A wonderfully restored one room school house in South Dakota -

 I love this kind thing!  Can you say Little House on the Prairie!?!

 Mt. Rushmore

Sitting Bull Crystal Caverns.  Jared and I went here 14 years ago, 

it was so fun to take the kids.  It's an amazing cave over 300 feet deep!  

 Leyton's souvenir from the trip, a wooden gun from Deadwood, SD.

Wowsers.  It's been awhile.  Can't say that I'll be back in full force, but I love all you friends who check this blog and want to keep posting pictures of our family to keep you in the loop since I am a partial Facebook boycotter.  Here are a handful of snippets from life.  Sadly, I'm giving you the Cliff Notes version, hopefully more details soon!  

Lego Star Wars has taken over our house...

T-Ball!  Rockin' the field!

Cora, ready and raring to get baptized!!!  Praise God for the gift of baptism!  

 Fresh from a bath and happy about it!

Cowboys on the run.

Leyton's temporary braces as he recovers from the bone above his front teeth being broken and his tooth being knocked out of the socket.  Yikes.  Praise God the tooth (left top front) is still alive.  Hoping that the tooth continues to live and we can fix it later with real braces.   

Chubby

Just thought I'd share the chubby lovin' we are getting with our little Cora.

Here and There

Thought it was about time to post a few pictures for the 5 faithful friends who check this blog! Cora Jane (nearly 5 months) is getting so round and cute and full of fun these days! We all just love her so dearly and can't keep our hands and kisses off of her. She brings so much sweetness and delight to our days.

Leyton is full on into Legos and Star Wars. There is just no stopping the power of those two things on a 6 year old. It's-just-too-strong...

Evie is turning 5 next week and so fun and cheerful. She is such a crafter and loves her baby sister so very much. She is often heard saying, "Cora is just so cute, I can't stand it!".

Cora and her cheeks.

Cora and I at Fort Clatsop

Jared took the kids to Mt Hood and went tubing at a resort.

Winterland grand slam.

Leyton + Legos = pure joy

Evie is so quick to laugh, I love that about her!

Cora, our little sweetie.