Survivor

When our friends the Tolboe's stayed with us in June they introduced the kids to a great game called Survivor.  Basically the kids pretend they are on their own and survive in the wilderness (AKA our backyard).  Max and Lyv will play this game at least two or three times a week.  They pack up their backpacks with essentials and then head off into the unknown.  I just love how this gets them outside, using their imaganation, and playing together!  Love these two munchkins and am so glad they love to play with each other.

Jack's Baptism photos

I took some pictures for Jack's baptism announcements and book, and these were some of our favorites!  Love this handsome boy - even though he is still too small to fit into his suit!  Hopefully he will be hitting a growth spurt before Max catches up to him.  I only have one set of clothes:)

 Jack Rick Summers September 2016

West Valley Scouts 2016

 Sam is playing his second year of football, and has moved up to the older squad.  He has had a real growing year.  The team has struggled offensively, but that has given Sam a lot of experience playing in many positions.  Currently he has been playing wide receiver.  His game on Saturday he made an awesome catch for 15 yards, and made a great run on a kick return.  It has been really fun to watch him grow, and continue to play hard even though they haven't won a game.  He continues to go to practice each day with an attitude to improve.  I love that about this kid.  I am excited to see how he continues to improve year after year!

Jack's Baptism

 On Saturday, October 8th, Jack was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  It was a great weekend, and the service was very heartfelt.  He was baptized with his friends, Coy DeMill and Anna Tew.  Shawn baptized and confirmed Jack, along with Grandpa Hill who was a witness.  Grandma Julianne gave the talk on Baptism, and Jack was showered with love and gifts (especially candy) by family and friends.  We are so proud of Jack and the sweet, loving, intelligent boy that he is.  He has a talent for having people fall in love with him, and I hope that he uses that to help share his testimony as he continues to grow in his knowledge and love for the Savior and His gospel.

We had friends and family over for dinner after the baptism.  Per Jack's request...soup, bread bowls, fruit, donuts and ice cream sundae's!  It was Yummy!!  I felt the spirit so strongly during his baptism I couldn't hold back the tears.  I just love this boy, and his faith, and his commitment to follow his Savior.  In his confirmation, Shawn blessed Jack that he would be a strong member of the church, that he would strive to keep the commandments, repent and be a good friend to those around him.  He blessed him that through his love for reading and learning that he would gain a strong testimony of the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon.  He also blessed him to listen to the counsel he gets from the prophet, so he can withstand temptations and follow the promptings of the spirit.   We are so excited to see what the future has in store for Jack...he is going to soar!

Grandma and Grandpa were right in the middle of Spud Harvest, so they weren't able to come to the actual baptism.  They came two weeks earlier to celebrate Jack's birthday and baptism.  We had a great time watching Sam play football, eating, laughing, and shopping!  Jack got a personal shopping spree with Grandma and found a killer deal on a bluetooth speaker, and a water flosser that he was so proud to have!  We love having family!

The BIG News

We've waited patiently to let the cat out of the bag, and finally we were able to make an exciting announcement....We are having baby #5....and its a GIRL!  Hooray!  We debated back and forth about whether our family was complete.  I kept having this nagging feeling that I couldn't quite settle within myself.  I made Shawn a proposal, and gave him a window for trying to see if we would get pregnant.  He agreed that we should just see, and it happened!  We decided to wait to tell our families until we found out the baby's gender, so it wouldn't drag on like pregnancies seem to do!

Keeping baby girl a secret proved to be a challenge due to several family events we had this summer...Grants memorial, Jake's wedding, Uncle DeLoy's funeral, the Cedergreen sealing...we had a lot of family time!  We normally love that, but since we were trying to keep this a little more hush hush, it was hard to suck in all the time!

We found out on Sept 20th, and I honestly felt like it was going to be a girl, but didn't want to get my hopes up so I kept telling myself...boy, boy, boy!  Lyv was convinced if she prayed hard enough that Jesus would answer her pleas to have a sister.  I wasn't going to go that far.  I would have been happy either way, but I really am delighted that Lyv will get the chance to have a sister.  Baby Girl Summers is due February 12, 2017!

Starting School and other September Happenings

 After weeks of activity - we had our first/last week before school started.  On one of these wonderful nights, I found the kids and Shawn playing football in the back yard.  The night was amazing, the sunset was breathtaking, and I had to snap a few shots of these small fleeting moments.  This is what I want to remember when I look back on the kids' childhood and our time together…being at home, enjoying the beauty that surrounds us, and having fun together.

*In other news - Shawn is helping coach Sam's football team this year.  We went to sign Sam up, and were a few days late due to our vacation in Idaho.  When we arrived they told us they had too many kids to sign up any additional players….unless they could find other willing coaches!  What a great father to volunteer his time, and its a lot of time, to allow 20 more kids to play football this year.  Sam is having a good experience and learning a lot.  The team this year isn't winning, and so that has made it difficult for Sam coming off of last seasons winning record.  But he is learning new positions and I think improving in his athleticism overall.

These two…lately have been such good friends, and I find myself being awe struck at how much they look alike.  I had never thought that until a few months ago going through some of Lyv's old school stuff there was a picture of her with her hair pulled back and just her face…and my first thought was Max!  They have been playing Survivor and Owner a lot lately. I love the imagination that these games allow to come out and the time they spend outside playing in the playset.

With school's return I found myself in the capable hands of a very dear friend who taught me how to can peaches!  This is a first for me…canning always seemed like way too much work for the cost/time - but this wasn't bad and the results are delicious.  My kids LOVE them!

First day of school:  I have 4 kids in 3 schools this year, which makes for a busy day.  But two weeks in and all of the kids are doing well, enjoying their classes and their teachers and end the day happy!  So that is a win in my book.  Jack and Lyv are at Cottonwood - 2nd (Mrs. Cone) and 1st (Mrs. Petre)

Sam has moved on up to the middle school (5th grade) - and started a rotating schedule, which he really loves.  This made me a bit sad thinking of him not having recess anymore, or being involved in school programs, etc. but he is loving being "older".

 The boys went to the 1st BYU game in Arizona over Labor Day weekend and that left me with these two cuties!  It really was a fun, relaxing, peaceful weekend without the boys and we hit up the park, had a picnic at school, and went to the movies!  Life couldn't get much better than that!

 Jack turned 8!!!  Yikes…I'm getting old!  I can't believe he is 8 years old.  He is so excited to get baptized next month, and I think feels a little more mature with the new age.  His actual birthday was on a school day - so we celebrated the best we could - breakfast of his choice, lunch at the school together, and dinner at Wendy's!  He was happy about each one of those ideas.  Jack continues to be such a happy, fun loving, sweet boy.  He is still a lover of books and reads any words that pop before his eyes.  He loves science and non-fiction, and loves to research things like weather, natural disasters, the solar system, and his new favorite show - Hacking the System, gives him tips for everyday survival and life! He brings so much laughter in our house and continues to roll with whatever life hands him….falling a bit still but always up cracking a joke about it!  I love that this past year he has been so much more willing to try new things - he tried water skiing this summer, and mastered snow skiing this past winter.  He also has learned to love sushi!  He still loves soda and candy of all kinds… I'm sure our dentist will love that about him.  We love this kid~

 Jack's birthday, was also Max's 1st day of preschool!  Wesley preschool for this boy on Tuesday and Thursday.  He was SOOOO excited to start.  I think having older siblings at school has rubbed off on him, and he thinks he should be attending school daily as well.  We pulled up and he said, "mom, I'm a big boy - I go myself!"  WHAT!  When did he get so big!

 Lyv also started her first day of gymnastics on Jack's birthday - and she is determined to be the next Simone Billes!  I love watching her and am excited to see her improve in this.

The next weekend I had the great privilege of going on a trip with my BYU Freshman year roommates.  The six of us continue to get together every two years - and it is the best group of ladies in the world as far as I am concerned.  We also pick up right where we left off.  We are each very different, each very unique, but we love each other dearly, and continue to support and cheer each other on as our life brings changes and challenges.  I always come away from these trips feeling determined to be a better mom, wife, and friend.  Those are good peeps in my opinion!

 Our trip was Carolina Beach, North Carolina - and it was a perfect, relaxing weekend!

 Shawn and his lawn…he worked SO SO hard on getting this grass in, and it is the best looking grass on our road!  He just loves it!  It must be the Idaho farm boy in him:)

 Finally we celebrated Jack's birthday with a real party…to the trampoline park with a few of his buddies! Jack has some really wonderful friends.  I'm so grateful for their positive influence on him, since he tends to be more of a introvert at times.  These boys had a great time!

 Oh Max…this has become a very familiar scene at our house…the iPad and Max are becoming a little too close in my opinion.

 Last but not least…introducing Stone!  The newest member of our family.  He will be joining us in October and we couldn't be more excited!

Summer Catch Up

The summer has FLOWN by!  Literally it was here one minute and then gone the next.  From the beginning of July until the end of August our weeks have been full and memories have been made.  To keep up to date with life as we know it, here is a brief update and highlights of our past two months.  Hopefully September and the return of school will bring back some normalcy to the Summers' Family blog and I can get back on recording the everyday details of the kids' life.  I do have to formally apologize to Lyv and Max…who's childhood sometimes gets the short end of the stick when it comes to details.  Life continues to march on at an alarming pace, and I'm doing my very best to keep up.  

4th of July was spent in Yakima, minus Sam who went to Idaho a week early to stay with the Robinsons.  We wen thinking at Boulder Cave with the Reeds.  What an adventure - taking the creek instead of the trail back down.  Jack and Lyv slid down the natural water slide and swam in the ice cold glacier water.  It was a fun day, and ended with a private firework show provided by our neighbors up the road!

Girls Camp - the next weekend took us back to Boise to take the younger three to my mom and dad, where they would stay while I was at Girls Camp with the young women of our ward.  I'm so so grateful wonderful, helpful family that allows opens up their homes and arms to my family.  The kids were excited to spend time with the cousins… and boy did they have a great time.  Sand Dunes, hiking, swimming, bridge jumping, endless hours of fun, and an endless supply of popsicles made for a great week!

I on the other hand was living it up in the woods with my cohorts - and what a great group of cohorts they were.  We had such fun leaders, that I think we had more fun than the girls.  Early mornings and long nights made for tired girls, but the 13 young women we had were amazing.  No fighting, no problems - it was a great week and I'm always amazed at the power of women!

Sam's Birthday - the worst mom of the year award goes to me this year.  I was called to be the Girls Camp director and our week of camp fell on Sam's birthday.  So instead of celebrating 11 years of his sweet life - he was shipped off to Idaho to stay with cousins and grandparents.  I don't think he thought that was a bad deal, but boy did I miss not being there with him on his special day.  Thankfully his grandparents and cousins spoiled him rotten.  He celebrated with a crepe breakfast, a trip to the red-neck water slide (a favorite of my kids), a homemade chicken noodle soup dinner, and brownies…and an I-pod.  He decided to go halfsies with Grandma Julie to purchase the new iPod.  I am not a fan of technology, I admit it!  I think it just gives me one more thing to yell at the kids about so I hate introducing new gadgets and gizmos…but Sam has shown that he is mature and responsible and we have had very few problems.  For that I'm grateful. Boy do I love this boy!  He has been my right hand man for 11 years, and at times my second spouse.  He is reliable - he works hard - we can ask him to babysit, mow the lawn, do chores and be confident that things will get done safely and completely.  I am so grateful for his kindness and love, especially that he shows to me daily.  What a special treasure he is as the oldest!
I got home on Saturday and woke up early Sunday morning to make the 10 hour drive to Idaho.  I couldn't wait to see my kids!  As Shawn and I had a day just us at the house…it was so strange to not have the sounds, the giggles, the yelling, the pitter patter of little feet.  I hope I get better at being alone as they get older, because it was so discomforting to be in such a quiet house!  After many many hugs I had to take a picture and send it to Shawn, who was left at home for one more work to bring home the bacon!

I got right into the swing of Idaho summer hitting up our favorite spots - the Sand Bar, Twin Bridges, the red-neck water slide, sno-cones, and Big J's.  I did cry a little not to have some Chiz…but all things must come to an end.  The three older kids all braved jumping off of Twin Bridges, which was so fun for me to see.  Jack didn't even consider jumping off the bottom - he went straight to the top on his first jump!  Lyv wasn't quite as daring, but she was determined and after shedding a few tears - and me finally leaving her to her own devices, she made the leap to the cheer of the watching crowd below!  I love seeing the kids enjoy the things I enjoyed as a kid - and the older the cousins get the more fun it is to cart them around and watch them experience all this together.

What would a trip home be without a roll in the potato field??  Jack took full advantage of the Summers' Farm fresh and ready mud!

 Pioneer Day!!  Woot! Woot!  It had been 3 years since we had been to one.  Sam ran in the 5K that morning, we sisters were assigned a float to decorate (per usual - Mom engineering another great idea that allows involves help from her kids!), we paraded, picnicked, rodeoed, and enjoyed being with family!  There is something so special about pioneer day - its just one of my favorites!

Jake and Mailee's Wedding - What a fun, beautiful day!  We had the privilege of witnessing the sealing of Jake to his eternal companion Mailee!  These two have had a whirlwind year, and I'm so happy to see them so happy!

 We took advantage of the wedding clothes to take some adorable pictures of the kids - the colors and wedding were beautiful!  We had a great time visiting with family and friends, and enjoying being with the happy couple.

 Finally on our departure day, we were able to be apart of Grant's graveside service.  Such a humbling and patriotic experience to see the servicemen pay tribute to a fellow seaman.  It really was such a beautiful experience.

After making it back to Yakima and jumping right into football for Sam - Shawn, awesome Shawn, helped me check a bucket list item off my list.  John Fogerty Concert Baby!  That's right the vocalist of CCR is one of my favorites and I've been dying to see him in concert.  He did not disappoint and we had an awesome night and AMAZING seats.  I even got a guitar pick at the end of the night!  It was so much fun.

 After our weekend concert - I got a call that my dad's brother DeLoy had unexpectedly passed away.  I boarded a plane that Friday and flew to be there to support my dad and say goodbye to my sweet, funny Uncle DeLoy.  He was such a quiet, kind, patient man - and I'm grateful I got to see him weeks before at Pioneer Day.  I also got a unique opportunity to be there with all of my siblings. As the years go by this is becoming a few and far between occurrence.

 DeLoy is buried in the same cemetery that my brother Ryan was laid to rest, and I found that as DeLoy's service ended, my entire family had congregated around Ry's headstone.  We felt drawn together and the spirit there was so strong.  It was great reminder of those things that matter most - FAMILY.  I am eternally grateful for these 8 souls that have impacted my life for the better.

Back to Yakima we didn't miss a beat!  My parents came three days later with Grandma Jeanne to attend the sealing of the Cedergreen Family in Seattle.  It was great to have Grandma Great here at our home - and I'm forever grateful again for the power of the priesthood and to witness the sealing of a family!  Again another beautiful reminder of where my priorities should always be - and what I need to be putting my energy towards are those relationship that last beyond this life.

The next week - realizing that summer was officially winding down, we met up with our besties the Lancasters and headed out for an adventure and found Bumping Lake.  It ended up being a great place for the kids to swim and play.  The rest of the week was spent playing with friends, swimming, and slip-n-sliding, and preparing for one last adventure!

 Hayden Lake!!  Woohoo!  My favorite spot on earth - we were lucky to manage to squeeze in a short weekend with Aunt Kate.  The kids love this place as much as I do, and this year a special treat….Sam water skied for his first time!  It was so great to see him conquer this feat.  And as always watching Shawn ski, makes me fall in love with him all over again…not really, but kind of!  He is just amazing to watch.  Jack even tried skiing, but decided to give himself one more year:)

 The next day we headed to Silverwood to hit up some awesome rides!  The kids had each read 600 minutes to earn passes to the park, so we thought this would be a great way to end the summer.  However - the biggest mom fail in history was about to occur.  I forgot the tickets!! Thats right.  We had 4 free passes, and I was so excited to save some $$, then sitting on Hayden Lake, soaking up the sun it dawned on me that the tickets were sitting safely in an envelope in my laundry room!!! AHHH!! seriously I wanted to drive home right then and there and get them…but the park was still visited and the rides were still conquered, and the kids had an amazing time!  Even though a cost a little more than we had hoped.

School starts in 5 days, and ready or not, here it comes.  We have had a really fun, full summer and I'm again grateful for the beautiful, healthy, happy family that I have.  I am grateful to live in such a beautiful area - and have a hard working husband that works to provide us these opportunities.  I'm excited for the kids to start a new adventure at school (even Max will be at preschool this year), but I will dearly miss the unstructured days, the swimming holes, the hikes, and the impromptu fun that summer allows.  I will also miss seeing family for another long period of time, but again am grateful for technology that allows us to stay connected.  My goal for the 2016-2017 school year is to be more patient - to let more little things go - to be my kids GREATEST supporter, rather than critiquer - and to put my time and my energy into building the relationships that are eternal.  Thank you summer 2016 - you were awesome!