Sam in all his cuteness

Jake's new car

Jake's Civic's transmission decided to crap out on us, so Jake got a new car. It is a 2011 Buick Regal. Yep, we liked our other one so much we got another one. It is pretty fun.

Lily Bean's 6th Birthday

 Lily had her first friend birthday party this year. She decided she wanted a Brave themed party.

 Jake made this cute Target for our archery version of Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Griffin especially loved this game.

 I think the kids all had a fun time at the party. I know Lily did. She loved being the center of attention.

 

 

 Lily with Grandma Harker at Build a Bear.

 

September Birthday Girls

She is such a sweet girl. Can't believe she's six!

Lagoon- September 2012

 So our first ride at Lagoon was the Terroride. Griffin really didn't want to go, but I convinced him. As you can see that wasn't the right choice. I originally thought Lily liked it okay, but Jake told me she was crying too.

So even though our kids were afraid of the haunted house, that was about all they were afraid of. We started out with some kiddie rides, but the kids bored quickly of them and ended up loving the roller coasters. They have always been pretty brave about that kind of stuff. Griff's favorite ride was Wicked and Lily's was The Wild Mouse. They went on all the scary rides. I was pretty proud.

School Days- First Day of Kindergarten September 2012

 Lily and Griff on the first day of school. They had the parents come with them the first day for a couple of hours. It worked out pretty well. It made the transition a little easier. (For me anyway, the kids were fine.)

Sam really needed a picture too.

 In front of the school

 At their desks



Homework binders, and the apple-shaped sugar cookies their teacher gave them. They LOVE school.



Island park- Harker Family Reunion August 2012

For Christmas last year, my parents paid for our whole family to stay in a cabin in Island park and go to Yellowstone. Our first stop was at Mesa Falls. (pictured above)

 Sam had so much fun playing out in the yard one afternoon.

Once again practicing their guitar moves.

 So here is our first day at Yellowstone. For some reason I have decided to include this very unflattering picture of myself. Sorry.

 Lily and Griffin had fun finding the animals throughout the park that were listed on a sheet they gave us as we entered, which Lily is displaying here.

 We spent plenty of time in the car.

 This buffalo was really close to us.

This is Lily after she got scared of the buffalo, and then recovered.

 Junior Park Ranger Griffin

 Waiting for Old Faithful

Sam looked like a little chipmunk with his cheeks full of trail mix.

 "Cool, Old Faithful!"

 My parents rented a couple of rafts to ride down this river in. It was a lot of fun. The kids also enjoyed using their little nets to catch about a billion little bugs.

 Any guesses what happened to Griffin seconds after Jake reminded me to put Griff's life jacket on? If you guessed header right into the river, you'd be right.

 Poor kid was so traumatized. He kept apologizing over and over. I swear we don't beat him, but if you would have seen how he was apologizing you wouldn't believe it. I kept telling him, that falling in and getting wet fully clothed was punishment enough.

We had a really fun trip. It was fun to be with the whole family. Thanks Mom and Dad!