Canoeing and Biking

Last week I decided to take the kids out on the canoe to Riverfront Park.  I don't know how I did it but I was able to get that 17 foot canoe on top of the car and get the kids ready in half an hour.  We had some major balance issues so I had to put Sydney and Tara next to each other with Evie way in the back.  I was super nervous about that but I was more worried about tipping and having to rescue three kids.  They had fun but it will be a while before we are ready to hit a river.

It was so hot out on the lake that we went out an got ice cream at McDonalds afterwards.  The ice cream was so melted by the time we got home that I wouldn't let them in the house.  We turned on the sprinkler and let them run around for awhile before cleaning up to go inside.

This evening Sarah wanted to go for a run so I suggested that she run to Two Moon Park and that we'd meet her out there with all of our bikes.  The kids had a blast mountain biking the trails.  Evie got bounced around a bit in the trailer and was done after one loop so Sarah took her for a walk while I took Syd and Tara for another run through the park.  I'm excited that they can handle these trails now!

Summer Camp

Last weekend Sarah and I drove to Bozeman with the kids to meet up with my parents and drop off Sydney and Tara for a science summer camp with run by my Mom.  The girls were super excited about it and were bouncing off the walls in anticipation.  I'm not sure of everything that they did this week but they had fun.  They keep talking about the hiking that they did and the animals that they learned about.  I think the highlight of the week was after camp ended, their Grandma took them out horseback riding near Swan Valley. 

Miaden Voyage

We finally had a good, sunny day where it wasn't blowing 50 miles an hour.  With the few hours of daylight after work, Sarah and I decided to take Evie out on Lake Josephine for our maiden voyage on the new canoe.  It floats!  And its pretty stable.  Evie had a blast and even got to paddle with Tara's paddle.  I think I might have to buy one more to avoid conflict when Sydney and Tara get back from Idaho. 

We were able to load the canoe and gear onto the roof rack of the truck at home, drive to the lake and get the canoe in the water in about 20 minutes, paddle around for an hour or so, and still make it home before dark.  Not bad.  Can't wait to take the whole family out next time!

Tara's Birthday Party

After a hectic morning of cleaning and preparation, Tara had her birthday party yesterday afternoon.  She invited some friends from school and a few from church.  It was a rather low key party where we just let the kids play on the trampoline and swing set and run like crazy.  They would come to the table occasionally for nachos, soda and candy.  So it was pretty much just controlled chaos.  They all had fun and Tara made a haul if stuffed monkeys and angry birds toys so she was in seventh heaven.  So this weekend was our wild chaotic weekend celebrating Tara's eighth birthday.  Next weekend we will focus on her baptism with Grandpa, Grandma, and Great Grandma all here.

Happy Birthday Tara!

Tomorrow is Tara's 8th birthday and she is super excited about it.  So today when I got home, I sat down with her and put together these ridiculous pictures but we both had a blast doing it.

Happy Birthday Tara!

Fish are friends, not food!

Tara swallows the Millennium Falcon

Un-edited Original Photo (still bizarre though)