Summer catch up: Part 1!!

This summer truly felt like a gift to our family.  We just had a lot of fun together.  I fully admit I wasn't a super adventurous mama with little ones (this summer was their first camping experience if that says anything!) -- sometimes the work of adventures just didn't seem worth the loss of sleep when you're already tired at baseline.  But as they get older it gets so.much.easier and they love adventuring so much! Now that it's fall and we are settling into more of a routine I actually have time to get caught up on the pictures :)  Up next will be part two of the photo update with pictures of the kids week in Arizona with Grammy and Gramps!

Idaho pool time!  

Addy running for her life :)

Take down in the blueberry patch

Happy Father's Day to three amazing dads!

Cousins on the Oregon coast

Hanging with Eden at Oaks Park!

Lake picnic on the way to Sunriver

Water babies!

We love our Hanna Anderson clothes!

My babes

SunRiver!

Happy 10th anniversary to my love!  Couldn't have
imagined a more wonderful person to do life with.

Wallow Lake!

Amma and her tribe of grandkids!

Scott tackled by our kids and the Milne girls!

Porter survives his first Coyle/Milne annual beach weekend!

Narnia read aloud at Lost Lake

Salamanders: entertainment for the teenager and the twins!

Love this girl to pieces!

Lost Lake: a new family tradition.  Incredible!

This kid.  Love him so.

Kylee!!!!  Enough said.

Wenatchee college roomie reunion!

Boys catching frogs :)

End of summer water balloon fight!

These three.  Together from the beginning.

Post dinner pile up!

Happy birthday, Amma!

First of many many soaking-wet-soccer-filled Saturday!!

Kindergarten!

Well, we survived our first week of kindergarten!  By that I mean Scott and I survived! The kids THRIVED in their first week of school.  They loved it.  It's a huge transition and we had no idea what to expect so we've been pleasantly surprised every day at pick up by how enthusiastic and excited they've been about the whole thing.  "Mom!  I have to wear purple tomorrow, it's Friday!  Everyone wears purple on Fridays!  And we went to computer lab today!  And Spanish!  And can I have hot lunch tomorrow?  And someone in my class has allergies.  And I love Mrs. Morris!  And do you know what dodge ball is? ... And ...And ..." the stream of consciousness of a five year old who just started school!  On the night before school started as I was getting their clothes and lunches ready I couldn't help but to reflect on how many people have helped us get to this point with our kids.  From their NICU team to their counselors to their preschool community, grandparents, extended family, neighbors, friends ... truly the raising of children brings people together.  I couldn't have asked for better people to have journeyed these young years with.  Just look at these big kindergarteners!

Videos!

Some sweet and fun and classic childhood skills that have recently been learned around here  :) ...

End of an era ...

My babies graduated from preschool today!  Over the last three years what a gift it's been to have our family and our children learn in an environment that is rich in community and in love.  These kids have been nurtured and cared for.  School has been a place of curiosity and play and discovery for them.  There have been hard parts too -- living life closely with other people means that there are things to be worked through.  But what better chance to show our children grace and communication and what it authentically looks like to share life.  They've gotten to have Teacher Donna for the last two years.  What an incredible teacher -- you know the power of a solid teacher when you are a student.  But you REALLY GET what a role they play when you're observing your children learn.  We are thankful.

And since I've fallen of the blogging train! ... Now is my chance to catch up on the last few months!  This blog is a sweet way to capture moments of our lives in a season of life where there isn't much chance to pause and reflect.  So while my posts may be few and far between, I do want to keep it up so that the kids will someday be able to look back on it.  (I'm only just beginning to understand the implications of raising children in the digital age.  Oh man.  I'm in over my head!) But for now ... 

Meeting Emmy Grace Katherine.  Love her so.

The girls!  Amelia is blessed to have so many girl cousins so 

close in age.  I'm so happy for them all to get to grow up together.

Celebrating 10 years of marriage by making our knees sore!  Hiking

in the Grand Canyon while Grammy and Gramps had the kids!  It was

breathtaking, just like we remembered.

Family time in Arizona!

We love GG Edna!!

Miss Amelia Jane is down a tooth!  She is thrilled, Luke is jealous :)

Disneyland with Grammy and Gramps!  What 

a fun trip!

Luke negotiating with the Storm Troopers ...

...Amelia's NOT so sure!

We love Disney!

This girl absolutely loves animals.  

Random day spent playing at the coast with my loves.

Five cousins in a stroller!

These guys are becoming quite the swimmers! 

I'm impressed with how comfortable they are in the water and 

how much they love it!

Mother's Day 2016!

Life is just better together :)