Summer's End

I finally uploaded the pics from our last few weeks of summer. Here you have our life through the eyes of a Canon.

Sweet Tucker, thoroughly enjoying Scout camp. Really. He was thrilled to be there. He's just feigning immense boredom in this picture to throw you off. Silly, silly Tucker.

For some unknown reason, my camera-happy tweener has gone loopy on me and now hides or grimaces during every photo op. She's still beautiful, even when giving me the stink eye. :)

And here is baby Brooklyn (Shelby and Garrett's little girl). So very cute and precocious.

There's a story here. Every time we go to Sunriver, Oregon, the kids and I (and usually Grandma, though she opted out this year) take a trail ride on horseback. Which is great fun for the kids, but without fail, I get a defunct horse. This year's beauty (ha ha) was named Roany, because he was a roan horse (that's the byproduct of a horse and a donkey love fest). This horse stunk, was ugly, had a persistent nasal drip and bad gas. He had also mastered the art of slipping the bit over his horrifically yellow teeth, leaving me with no control. I finally mastered a wrist-flick technique that resituated the bit and totally ticked off the horse. By the end of the ride, we were happy to part ways. Look how pleased I was to dismount!

Kal on a pony named Patches. She informed me that the horse lady told her that Patches had won seven times. When I asked what he'd won, she replied, "Who cares?"

Lots of pool fun...I love Kate's dimples.

Remember the tale of Tucker's too-small bike? Well, we splurged and bought him a too-big bike in Sunriver (apparently he's at that in-between stage :). He wiped out numerous times but was gleeful with the purchase. He said, "Thank you a million times."

Eden attacking Tanner. The girl is hilarious...like a midget beast! Tanner obviously loves it.

I do not know what inspired this expression, but I love it!

Nor do I know what inspired this one, but I'm sure it had to do with a bodily function or an evil plot.

First day of school! Okay, so it was almost a week ago...They were so excited.

And last but not least, Kate and her first day of middle school. I had to hold back a few tears dropping off my big girl. She's such a great kid. She must come from great stock. :)

Cheers! Mara