Just because they are cute...

Front Lawn

Here are a few pics of the hard work Kevin did this summer- our retaining wall and front lawn. We still have a lot of trees & shrubs to plant, and the entire back yard to tackle, but it's a start!

The play room before a day with the cousins......

And after.

Pictures from the Fair

We had great weather for the fair this year. The kids had a lot of fun. Daisy was big enough to go on at least a few rides this year, so that saved us a few tears. Highlights of the fair included:

-My Mom/Dad & Granny/Grampy getting honored as Farm Family of the Year

-Rachel selling her steer in our family's very last livestock auction

-A really cool reptile exhibit that Daisy and Andy just loved

-The Lumberjack show

-Yummy food!

Lake Louise with the Palenskes

We decided to take a late fall trip to the cabin, and invited our friends/neighbors to go up with us. The weather was pretty cold, but we had fun huddled up in the cabin making yummy food and playing lots of games. The kids did get in the water for a bit, then we spent an afternoon at the beach skipping rocks and making smores. It was so much fun!

Melissa and James came to visit...

In August we were lucky enough to have Melissa, James, Louis, and Baby Elsie come visit! It was so much fun. The cousins were so excited to see Louis and Elsie. That baby got soooo much attention, especially from Daisy. She followed her around everywhere Melissa would take her. We tried to cram in as much fun as we could in a short visit, including another trip to Lake Louise, Bouncin Bears, 4-wheeling, and several family get-togethers. Heather and Tina came to visit too. One afternoon while Melissa and James were at his uncles, my grandma watched the kids and Heather, Lori, Amy, Tina and I got to spend the entire afternoon in Anchorage with no kids! What a treat! We went biking on the coastal trail, went shopping, and went out to dinner. I was an idiot and didn't take any pictures, but Tina posted some.

Louis is the cutest little kid. He loves balls and rocks, or "rockies" as he calls them. I was still finding little rockies all over my house a week after they had left. He and Daisy didn't really know what to think of each other. Elsie is the sweetest, cutest little baby. It gave everyone up here baby fever and we really wish they were still here. We miss them so much all the way in Boston.

Along with Melissa and James leaving, Rachel , Calvin and Keith all left to go back to Utah, so things are getting quieter here. Also, Lori and Richard are in Japan for a few months, so it's just us and Amy's fam left.