A year of summers

 I keep joking that we have had a full year of beautiful summer weather, but it's not really a joke.  We moved from Phoenix just as the really hot summer began and came to Idaho where the beautiful summer is like the lovely Phoenix winter.  I hate to say it, but I think the pleasant weather ended yesterday when rain and thunderstorms blew in and seem to be here to stay for a while.  (I hope we don't have a year of winter to follow our year of summer :)  I guess since summer is officially over, I better wrap up the events of the last month or so.

We never had a chance for a true camping trip this summer, but we did squeeze in a quick overnighter to Island Park.  We enjoyed the cool weather, pine trees, s'mores and wading in the river.

Berry keeping me warm

Wading in the river

A cool treat on the way home

 We received good news from T-man and Shar that they decided to move to Utah (It's not 3 minutes away, but we will take 3 hours over 15 hours)!  To try to help them with the move, their kids came to play with Grandma and us for a week.  We had plenty of cousin play time the last week before school began.

Berry and Lyssie

 Curly and Lou were excited and nervous to begin a new school year at a new school.  Their worries were gone after a few days as they realized this school is just as great as their old and there are plenty of friends to be made.

 T-man and Shar came for a few days to pick up their kids before moving into their new house. We actually ended up closing on our new home the same day they did - we like to do things just like them (we got married the same day also :) We followed them back to Utah and spent Labor day weekend visiting family. 

In Utah, Fisher and the girls had a fun daddy-daughter outing with cousins and Uncles while I went to Swiss Days with Lynette, Ba and Jenny.  We also enjoyed a beautiful canyon hike with Oma and Grandpa, then visits to the new Utah Museum of Natural History, Grandpa and Grandma Woodbury, Pehrsons, and K-Rae.

Cousins and cones at Oma's

 Once school was under way, we began slowly moving into our new house.  It took a few weeks, but with lots of help from lots of family we are now settled and enjoying our new neighborhood and home.  I have been able to walk the girls to school in the morning (something I have never been able to do because school has always been too far away) and then watch them get off the bus in the afternoon.  We have loved seeing the change in season and beautiful fall colors.

An Autumn evening walk

Who needs to hire a piano mover?

 Our biggest project has been trying to get our yard done before winter.  This is a huge undertaking and I can't even begin to describe how many rocks we have "harvested" from our backyard.  My dad and Fisher (with some help from me and my mom) have spent many, many hours preparing the ground for a sprinkler system, grass, and trees.  If the rain ever stops, we might get it done!

Hard at work on the back yard

Two cute, little thieves sneaking snacks in the pantry