Red Lodge, Part 2

After we had stuffed ourselves with pizza (see post below), we decided to go to a little creek side park and digest for awhile.  We found The Smallest Beach in the World, where we all just barely managed to fit.  The kids skipped rocks and played in the sand.  Then we washed them up, packed them back in the car (after Matt used the outhouse -- not because he had to go very bad, he just wanted to see inside there), and headed back to the park.

It was much cooler by then, so we enjoyed our time there a little more.  We also helped some local grandparents figure out how to fly their grandson's remote control helicopter.  Andrew was very useful, and had it figured out in no time.  Before we left, he was instructing them on how to use it, how to charge it, and how to store it.

Red Lodge, Part 1

A few weeks ago, we decided to hop in the car and go up to Red Lodge for a few hours.  We had promised the kids that we'd go get pizza at our favorite pizza place up there.  First we stopped at the park, played a little (it was really hot), talked to some people from the East Coast that had just come through the Beartooth Pass (it was the most treacherous, terror-filled road they had ever experienced -- but they liked Yellowstone), and then went on to eat some pizza.  Sometimes I am amazed at how much food it takes to feed us.  It's truly astonishing.

Matt, trying to climb the rope. He was not successful.

 Joey going across the rope course.  They were playing American Ninja Warrior the whole time.

 Grace taking a break in the shade:

 Andrew, looking cool:

 I found Grace trying to help out Matt on the swings.  She was doing a great job!

 But it was really hot, so she took another break in the shade:

 The next American Ninja Warrior:

 I'm not exactly sure what was going on here, but she was just being weird -- shouting something in a British accent:

 Joey likes to climb things, and then pose for pictures:

 See?

 Matt could have been here all day, dumping rocks:

 At the pizza place, coloring the child menus kept them busy for quite awhile.  Luckily, we ordered appetizers. And soda.

Spookas

On my last trip to NYC, Eric and I stopped at IKEA.  It was my first trip to IKEA ever, and it is heaven there.  They have everything you need -- for cheap!  They even have a child care area that you can drop your children off at, then go shopping.  They have a restaurant and grocery store, too!  I found these little night lights and got one for each of the kids.  They change color, and are super cute.  The kids love them!  This is Matt holding his Spooka:

Football Camps

Most of the first month of summer was spent at sports camps.  It's good to just get them done!  The boys enjoyed having the MSU football team come and teach them some good stuff.  Joey and his friend Reece went for a couple of mornings, and then Andrew and his friends went for two afternoons and a full day.

It was hard to get pictures because they were way off in the field, but I managed to get one of Joey when he was done.  He really liked his coach -- he was funny, AND had long hair!

Andrew worked with a lot of coaches, and they ran lots of drills.  In the first picture, he's getting up to go run over to the drill area, and in the second one, he's running.

And for a special bonus for Matthew, they stored all the equipment in garbage cans!  And yes, we looked in every...single...one... (twice).

Soccer Camps

Joey, Grace, and Matthew all did the British Soccer camps this year.  Joey and Andrew had done them a few years ago, and they had a blast, so we thought we'd give it a try again!  This year, Andrew had archery camp -- which he thoroughly enjoyed, even though I have no pictures of them (because I was always at soccer camp -- but thankfully we had Grandpa Jerry to shuttle him back and forth).

I wasn't sure how Matt would do, but he seemed to love it, and there were other kids in the class that were older than him, and they were the ones who didn't behave.  Grace and Matt were like little angels.  Their coach, Jon, said he loved how Grace watched over Matt all the time.  He said his own sister was never like that.  I told him that she loves being his little mommy.

Grace was very attentive during practice, and was always following directions.  Matt just followed her, so he did, too - indirectly.

They learned quite a bit, and had a lot of fun playing the games.  Sometimes they had to tap the ball with their toes, and I swore Matt was going to fall down, because the ball was almost up to his knees.  Other times, they had them kick the ball from one foot to the other, but the ball just barely fit between his legs, so he really just hopped in one place.  It was really cute.

Joey practiced in the field right behind them.  Every once in awhile I got a glimpse of him, too.

Each day there was a different theme.  The last day was "Soak the Coach" day, and we brought the biggest water guns we had.  Grace and Matt had a great time soaking coach Jon (I think he had a great time, too).  Joey was able to soak his coach later on (he stayed for an hour and a half past Grace and Matt did).

The British guys were hilarious.  They gave out trophies the last day, and this is the tiniest trophy.  You can't even hardly see it.

Joey's team won their game, and they were given a trophy and certificate.

Group pictures:

 Coach Jay:

 Coach Jon:

Matt's favorite games from camp were soldiers and enemies ("Soldiers...are...you...ready?"  "Sir, yes sir!" -- "Enemies...are...you...ready?"  "I was born ready!"); shrimps and crabs ("I'm a shrimp, wiggle, wiggle!" "Whammy! Bammy! Let's get crabby!"); and toilet tag.  For weeks, we've been hearing "I WAS BORN READY!!!" from Matthew, which is totally cute (for awhile, anyway).

Girls Afternoon

We always have a party going on around here.  Somebody is ALWAYS setting one up.  Grace decided it was Girls' Party Time, and made this banner, which she cut out and then taped back together with painter's tape.  It says, "Wellcome to Girls Afternoon. have a happy time together. be good."  Awesome.