~Don't mess with my baby!

Last year there was a crane's nest right by our house and we loved hearing and see them during the summer.  This year we were excited to see the cranes had come back.  We hadn't seen them for quite a while though, but today standing in the middle of the road was Mama Crane and her Baby.  Yay!!  I was in the car with the boys headed home and stopped to take a picture with my phone.  I rolled down the window and Mama got upset!!  She stuck her head low, wings out and started stomping.  Next thing I know, she's honking and making all sorts of weird noises.  I swear she was threatening to attack the car.  Baby ran around to the other side and into the bush.  We sat there for a minute while she yelled at us.  Then she ran in front of the car to find her baby.  I know we stressed her out, but it was fun to see the baby and its mother's protective nature.  At the end of it, she and baby were reunited and on their way.  Hopefully they won't need therapy after experiencing the terrifying Connolly family!!

I love Alaska wildlife!

~Fun with friends

It was fun having the Mcgees over to play today!  In between hiding in tents and having a shoot-out, we found time to decorate shirts.  We'll use these fun shirts for the rest of the summer to do our crafts and messy activities.

 I told MY boys to put their arms down.  The Mcgee boys were very obedient which was funny because I wasn't talking to them.  My boys obviously didn't do what I was asking so I told them we'd just do a silly picture.  Funny though that Chance and Hunter found a creative way to hold their shirts up.  I tried to get them to just "hold" their shirts, but Hunter thought it was funny to hold it with his chin.  Chance followed :)  too cute!

~Simon and the dentist

On the way to the dentist, Monkey asked me if he would have to take off his shoes.  (As you can tell from the picture, he didn't have socks on.)  I told him it wasn't like going to the dr. for a well check.  We talked about how they were going to clean his teeth and check for cavities.  He did great and as we were leaving he looked at me and said, "I love the dentist!!"

 Having the kids wear shades was a great idea!
 Purpose: so the bright light won't hurt their eyes.

~Photos by Noah

I took the boys to girls camp with me Monday to set up tents.  Noah was very interested in the flowers and asked if he could take some pictures.  Here are a few that he took.  Not too shabby for a 7 year old and a 5 second crash course on how to use my camera.

I stuck Levi in a front-pack and carried him around the camp ground.  I don't think I was very much help to Katy (our camp director), but the kiddos sure had a fun day.

Jett, Simon, Shaily and Noah

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An update on my speaking assignment for camp.  I was nervous speaking to 150 people in a setting that was different from sacrament meeting.  It started off kind of rough.  Technical difficulties with the laptop and then everyone couldn't hear me so I had to hold a mic., which really threw me off.  I talk a lot with my hands and I thought I sounded weird over the speaker so I was really distracted, plus I was sweating my guts out.  Anyway, it wasn't going very well until Gabrielle sang (one of my old laurels).  She did an awesome job and really brought the Spirit into the room.  After that, I calmed down a little and was able to finish.  I did see more than a few teary-eyed girls so hopefully the Spirit touched some of them.  I'm just glad it's over.

~hmmmmm...

This is becoming a daily event.  They go outside to play and next thing I know...they are stripped down running through the mud puds.  Ha ha ha!!  Seriously though, where are their clothes?

At least they still have their undies on.

As a side note, our grass is having major issues this summer.

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After Adam got home from work he took the boys to Mcd's so I could have some quiet time to go over my camp assignment.  When they got home I could tell everyone was excited about something.  I came around the corner and saw this!  Adam said on the way home he saw a cat in the street chewing on what he thought was a slipper.  Turns out it was this adorable little bunny. (I know...Adam's face...right!?!lol)

Unfortunately the cat (or maybe something else) had already done too much damage to this sweet creature.  It's front legs weren't working, but Adam didn't tell the boys that.  They took it out to the trees and let it go.  During their personal prayers, both Noah and Simon, prayed that the little bunny would be safe and find its home.  Adam checked on it later, but we didn't have the heart to tell them that it had gone to rabbit heaven.

~Wednesday, Simon's Day

I loved that Simon was so happy with his dinner night this week.  He made everything look so pretty on the table and he had a helping of everything he prepared. 

Maybe I've got a future chef in the family!!

Simon's Menu

Pigs-in-a-blanket

broccoli

pineapple

french fries (we added tator tots because we only had half a bag of fries)

bananas

apples

I had to add this of Levi...kinda gross, kinda funny...While the rest of us are eating he practices blowing bubbles!

~Yesterday's Storm and Mud Puds

We had a fun little hail storm yesterday.  The hail balls were actually pretty big.  We put a few in the freezer to show Adam when he got home from work.  I just didn't get a picture of them.

This evening I was doing the dishes and I looked out the window just in time to see Jett face-plant into a "mud pud" (Jett's name for a mud puddle).  I immediately ran outside expecting him to be upset, but he was laughing. So of course, I had to take a picture.

Next thing I know...all the boys have joined in the "mud pud" fun.

(I'm still not sure where their shirts are!!!)