July Fun

July has been a great month! Our landscaping was done, we celebrated the 4th of July, and this past week we went up into the mountains for our annual Haymond Family Fun Day!

Amelie and Calder have started taking swimming lessons. They are having so much fun!

Amelie and Calder have started taking swimming lessons. They are having so much fun! This is the pool at our local rec center just across the road from our house.

Amelie is so dedicated to her ice skating. She's started going during public skate times to practice--she goes around and around the rink--and her skating is really improving! I'm really proud of her for her desire to practice and improve. This night there was hardly anyone at the rink. The rink, by the way, is adjacent to that cool pool from my first picture.

Amelie is so dedicated to her ice skating. She’s started going during public skate times to practice–she goes around and around the rink–and her skating is really improving! I’m really proud of her for her desire to practice and improve. This night there was hardly anyone at the rink. The rink, by the way, is adjacent to that cool pool from my first picture.

Grandpa Haymond getting things set up at our campsite.

Grandpa Haymond getting things set up at our campsite up at Moosehorn Lake.

Keian taking Calder for a raft ride.

Keian taking Calder for a raft ride.

Bryce and Easton out for a ride.

Bryce and Easton out for a ride.

Isn't it gorgeous?

Isn’t it gorgeous?

Easton caught his very first fish! It was the only fish that anyone in our group caught that day. He was excited, but also a bit nervous about the flopping fish when he reeled it in.

Easton caught his very first fish! It was the only fish that anyone in our group caught that day. He was excited, but also a bit nervous about the flopping fish when he reeled it in.

This is what a day of fishing, hot dog and marshmallow roasting, and rafting will do to ya!

This is what a day of fishing, hot dog and marshmallow roasting, and rafting will do to ya!

Hurray for summer! It’s been a great one. Oh, and Liam is walking now! New walkers are just the cutest thing.

Landscaping: Before & After

Our landscaping is finally finished! We bit the bullet and hired a professional landscaping company to install everything and manage the whole build. Bryce designed the landscape, however, and even made a 3D mock-up of the plan! Here are some before and after pictures.

Before. All these lovely weeds sprouted this Spring.

Before. All these lovely weeds sprouted this Spring.

After!

After!

Before.

Before.

After!

After!

Before.

Before.

After!

After!

Before.

Before.

After!

After!

Before.

Before.

After!

After!

Before.

Before.

 

After. The woodchip area is where we will put some more play equipment for the kids.

After. The woodchip area is where we will put some more play equipment for the kids.

Our bubbling rock water feature. The kids love playing with this!

Our bubbling rock water feature. The kids love playing with this!

It will be fun to watch the plants and flowers grow bigger and fill out more. In a couple weeks, we’re having a fence installed along this side of our property, too. Pretty fun!

Amazing Summer Adventures!

Somehow I’ve let a whole month go by without posting and now you’re all going to pay for it with one long post because it’s been a fun month around here! I’ll try to keep it short and sweet.

Amelie's been taking ice skating lessons! She really loves it.

Amelie’s been taking ice skating lessons! She really loves it.

Zoo trip! We just renewed our annual pass since we now live a lot closer to the zoo. Should be a fun activity this summer!

Zoo trip! We just renewed our annual pass since we now live a lot closer to the zoo. Should be a fun activity this summer!

The rest of the crew.

The rest of the crew.

"Hey, boys! Look over here so I can take your picture!"

“Hey, boys! Look over here so I can take your picture!”

"Hellloooo!"

“Hellloooo!”

The boys really wanted a photo with this otter statue. Cute little otters.

The boys really wanted a photo with this otter statue. Cute little otters.

Calder finished t-ball. He was such a great sport and a really good team player.

Calder finished t-ball. He was such a great sport and a really good team player.

I had surgery to remove a tumor (that turned out to be benign!) from under my arm. I got all dressed and put on my surgical cap and the nurse said, "Now all you need are the boots!" I totally thought she was joking. Ha ha...

I had surgery to remove a tumor (that turned out to be benign!) from under my arm. I got all dressed and put on my surgical cap and the nurse said, “Now all you need are the boots!” I totally thought she was joking. Ha ha…

Bryce took Amelie and Calder to West Fest (our city's summer celebration) and they went to a cool animal show.

Bryce took Amelie and Calder to West Fest (our city’s summer celebration) and they went to a cool animal show.

The kids have been playing with LEGOS a lot. Amelie made up her own instructions for building a space ship. Anyone who has ever built something from LEGO instructions will recognize how true to form this is.

The kids have been playing with LEGOS a lot. Amelie made up her own instructions for building a space ship. Anyone who has ever built something from LEGO instructions will recognize how true to form this is.

And this boy is just so much fun. He's almost walking and is such a snuggle muffin.

And this boy is just so much fun. He’s almost walking and is such a snuggle muffin.

June was a pretty fun month! July’s highlight will be the installation of our landscaping. Stay tuned for some fun before and after pictures of that project after it’s done.