Family photos and big purchases

        Carter did a thing last Saturday. He bought a 2016 BMW 340i or, as I like to call it, my "Wednesday" car! Ha ha He actually did let me drive it Wednesday but not before giving me strict driving instructions, like, "Don't tailgate. Don't hit the brakes too hard. If the check-engine light comes on you have to fix it." etc. He's funny! 

Carter's back to owning 4 vehicles, but rumor has it, he may be trying to sale the Harley.

     Sunday we gathered everyone for an updated family photo. We didn't do any kind of coordinating and we just used a tripod, but it's updated!

Not too bad considering we didn't have anyone to help us.

Our cute couples/families.

The current home-dwellers.

And some fun 'bloopers'.

    There was a little birthday celebration, Sunday, for our friend, Gina, hence the birthday hat Brock is wearing while he made a new friend.

These photos are courtesy of my friend, Stephanie, who was getting a real kick from Brock's commentary on the grasshopper.

    And this photo of Smalls if just to document his aversion to the mega lightening and thunderstorm we were having just this morning. He wouldn't let me out of his sight all morning.

What a 'scaredy-dog'.

    

        Summer is ending with some great rainstorms and lots of amazing lightening and thunder, my favorite. I'll be enjoying the last few days of summer for sure!

More adventures

       A full 11 days into September. I enjoyed Hudson snuggles on Labor Day as well as a new set of gel nails earlier that same day. Canyon adventures on Tuesday. The rest of the week was a lot of errands and spending money on good and silly things. 

Look at those cheeks!

A bright orange to say farewell to summer and hello to fall. (In 11 days)

A fun moose sighting on our way up the canyon.

Beautiful views from the top of Indian corral road on the face of Timp.

Some of the best bunch to be in the canyon with.

    Now just a little evidence of my silly purchases and my good purchases.

Don't knock 'em until you try them. And if you want to know why I bought 10 bags, well there nearly impossible to find! (I'm all set for a week or so.)

 Just a small sample of our new dishes, something we've been in need of for a while now. I was definitely feeling colorful while browsing Amazon. And we're feeling very brave going with ceramic instead of plastic or melamine. Wish us luck!

  
    There have been other purchases but I'll spare you more unnecessary photos. There were also surprise packages and deliveries. (THANKS MARIE!) 

    A GO-FUNDME will be coming soon for all my good and silly purchases! Ha ha

And then it was September

       I probably should have posted this calendar photo last week to usher in September, but it fits on this post just as well.

Who's ready for some harvest time!?

And sometimes you get a quick snuggle on a Sunday evening.

    And it's officially September. Just under three weeks of summer to go, don't rush it!

Jeep adventures

     This week we had a double adventure in Carter's Jeep. But first, a cute photo of Charlie and baby Hudson.

 

        Our first Jeep adventure was up to the old 'sheep camp' with several of the neighbors. We grilled burgers & hotdogs and, although the grilling options weren't as planned, everyone came together and made it work and that's how memories get solidified. It was the perfect adventure, with amazing weather, great food, and some of the best people.

 

 

Amazing views in every direction.

        Then on to adventure #2. This was an impromptu trip, out west, to the Tintik railroad tunnel. This time it was just myself and Greg in Carter's Jeep and it was hot and there was some over-heating issues with the Jeep, but we still had a great time and stopped for a yummy lunch at "Raising Canes" and a great way to spend a Thursday when things are slow at work.

        A fun week and Greg is really getting his 'batteries recharged' with these Jeep and mountain adventures. Hopefully we'll get in a few more in the next few months.

A lot of fun things!

     From fun family & friend gatherings, Alpine day activities, including an absolutely fantastic fireworks show, to a few other fun events, (like school starting), let the photo dump proceed.

Can't go a year without this photo duo.

A great visit from Uncle Mark and family.

What a fun way to spend a warm August night. And thanks to 'mother nature' for cleaning off all my chairs with a much needed rain shower before the party.

Alpine parades are special.

The bottom photo is of our ward primary's float. 

Leaving the parade with Papa in the lead. (Guns out, of course!)

Now time for a day at the park.

Yummy food, great friends, and maybe a little 'too loud' live entertainment.

A little variety of photos from the day.

One of the many performers throughout the day, the girls were big fans.

Just a glimpse of the finale that was out of this world!

    Then it was Sunday and Greg got to hang out with cute baby, Mack.

We also finished celebrating Charlie's 13th birthday. Jello cheesecake is her favorite.

We had Asher and his friends, Gage and Thomas stay over the weekend and the Wendel girls were big fans.

    And some how, another school year has begun!

8th and 10th grade. 

And we must share this little guys smiling skills. He's really getting the hang of it!

    Now on to the weekend, which I believe will be much quieter than last weekend.

What a fun week!

     I was just sitting on my porch, minding my own ice cream gathering, when Kayli shouts, "MOM, is that Jackie and Ben?!" What!? I believe it is. What a fun surprise and Hudson was just as shocked as the rest of us.

What a great surprised expression from Hudson.

       (Not photoed was a great visit and lunch with Jackie and Ben. And just for full transparency, they were mostly here to pay respects to a sweet sister, Ben's former mission presidents wife, who recently passed away.)

    And then I was off to get my nails done and I love my new set!

I’m a big fan of stripes!

    And then it was time for the Alpine Car Show. Here are a few of my favorites.

 That little Tiger Sunbeam, bottom right, is the same car I sat in last year at the A.F. car show.

    Then we had another adventure through the more obscure parts of American Fork Canyon. We made a loop around the back. We went from Mineral Basin to Cascade Springs. We had a great time and thanks to Gina, we had some great snacks for everyone's vehicles.

    And then it was Charlie's 13th birthday! She's officially a teenager. (At least digit-wise. She's been a teenager most her life.)

First round of gifts/clothes, that she picked out and wrapped herself.

This is the second batch of clothes that she picked out but didn't wrap.

    And last, but not least, Greg and I attempted attending the Alpine Rodeo last night. It started out fine but before they could even finish the "Mutton-Busting" the rain, lightening and thunder rolled in with a vengeance. It was a little disappointing but at least we didn't pay for our tickets. And just to be clear, the rodeo did carry on about an hour later, when the weather cleared, but we made the executive decision to call it a night and just went home. Here's the few photos we got before we left. 

Charlie didn’t come to the rodeo with us so I just had to get a selfie with the clown myself. Hopefully she gets one with him tonight.

Greg snapped this photo before he went to buy himself a burger. 

What a backdrop!

Taking shelter from the downpour.

So there we have it. We still have a busy weekend ahead and I'm sure I'll have a photo or two to share next week. Not only is it Alpine Days but we're also having a more official birthday celebration for Charlie on Sunday and we're just 5 days away from the first day of school, so stay tuned for all those moments.