Boating

We took the young women boating.... but who's the real winner here? I'm pretty sure it's my little Xiana!

Food, glorious food!!!

Some of my favorites this summer included: lemon zucchini bread... divine! Venison summer sausage, and the traditional caprese made with the best fresh basil ever... after the first freeze I used all that basil to make pesto which was also divine!!!

Ali Party

Ali's annual niece/nephew bash... the pictures speak for themselves!

Ears pierced

A few days before the start of first grade, Xiana decided she was brave enough to get her ears pierced.  She also lost her first tooth!  When I was a kid, my parents had a rule that I had to wait until my 12th birthday to get pierced.  I hated that rule and always knew I'd have nothing of the sort. Still, I didn't want to pierce her baby ears because I wanted it to be her choice and something she'd remember.  I never imagined that she would be afraid of getting her ears pierced!!  It took a little persuasion for a lot of years, but she finally did it! I love how they look!  I promise, it wasn't as dramatic as the pictures indicate.  We went to dinner together afterwards, just the girls, and it was an exciting right of passage! (Now if only I could get her to let me change her earrings... it's been a while!)

Rock Climbing

The kids got to go to this amazing rock climbing place.  It was spectacular!!  And they were really good at it.  Xiana surprised me with her mountain goat ability making it to the very top of the outside wall.

Hot Springs

My kids new favorite place!!

Splash!!