Summer Is Over?!!

Wow, where has the time gone? I can't believe that today is our last day of summer break and last I wrote it was the last day of school!

We have kept so busy, but it was so much fun!

A little recap of our summer before school starts tomorrow:

The day after school ended we headed out for vacation-First to Denver, CO

Colorado National Monument

We were so excited to see the Stengels again! One year home with Isaac and Addy was so long to be apart. Isaac ran to give Addy hugs and kisses as soon as we got to their home, he just loves his friend so much. We understand, we were all thrilled for some time together (though we sorely missed Caleb who was feeling ill that week-next time will be sooner!).

As it was for our first dinner with Isaac & Addy, we had pizza together

Sorry for the blur, but these 2 were having too much fun to sit still

Jacob wanted a stop at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science

With the Denver cousins at White Fence Farm

A trip to the Denver Zoo

Swimming

Next, we drove to New Mexico and stopped at the Capulin Volcano

It was very cool, we "hiked" down into the center

Then into Texas to the Lyndon B Johnson "Texas White House"

Finally we arrived in Wimberley TX at my dad and stepmom's house. We spent the week with them and the Indiana cousins, my brother Scott and family made the trip as well.

6 out of the 7 cousins slept here (and they did so great!)

While in TX we attended my cousin's wedding and enjoyed a Trotter family reunion. The kids loved dancing at the reception and spending time with all the 3rd cousins. Here is the chicken dance:

More dancing

The beautiful couple

A fun day at Sea World, for our girls especially

After all the fun with family it was time to start heading home. We had a stop at Carlsbad Caverns

Then spent the night in crazy Roswell, NM

Back home we celebrated Jacob's 11 birthday

And the 4th of July

Then Jeff & Jacob headed out with the Boy Scout Troop for camp on the Oregon Coast, what a great time they had. Jacob worked on 4 merit badges, they visited a falls and museum on the road, they slept on the beach one night and so much more.

The rest of the kids and I went to South Dakota while they were gone and visited my grandparents, uncle & aunt and other family. We visited Flintstones Park, Story Book Island, shopped in Keystone and of course had ice cream at Mt Rushmore.

At home again the girls attended VBS which gave us time for doing things with just the boys, however that meant we weren't there to get any pictures.

Then we celebrated Bailey's 5th birthday at Chuck-E-Cheese's then cheesecake at home

For our last trip of the summer we headed to Lander, WY to visit Jeff's parents. We had a very relaxing time and so much fun on the lake.

There were so many fun things we did this summer; Jeff took Jacob and Camyn to Roaring Springs for the day, they earned a free entrance for reading at school.

Camryn & Bailey had a friend over for their first sleepover, it was so fun and they all had a great time, where was my camera?

Bailey got glasses last week

And we went to the Discovery Center in Boise for our last summer activity.

So, now the backpacks and lunchboxes are ready for tomorrow. School supplies purchased. All the kids are registered for school. We've been to the open houses and met the teachers they will have. One last afternoon and evening relaxing. Tomorrow we begin the new fall schedule, new teachers, homework and earlier start time for school. Soon all the activities will be starting up, but... We sure had a great summer!

Sheri