I love this kid.

I love everything about him.

Sweetest, hardest working eight year old I know.

(the two in the back are keepers too)

Good-bye Summer!

Sunday was a beautiful day for the lake!

Jack giving Ed a break from driving.

Ava was the first one in.

Here's what Jemma thinks of the water: 

She changed her mind.  

But Jack isn't one to let his sister show him up: 

And finally: 

Henry and I stayed dry and warm and happy in the boat.

What an awesome day.

Lewiston meet!

We're having a lot of fun!

Cooper's getting bigger!

And it's a good thing: 

if he wants to keep up with Henry.

a Saturday sports aftermath...

my people are really the best.

day off.

We found ourselves with a free Sunday while Ed's parents had the kids at the fair so we headed to the Palouse falls. 

I can't even tell you how much this freaks me out.

We slept in, had a super relaxing drive, and a pizza lunch at Costco.

My kind of day off!!

More!!

The second Saturday sports extravaganza found me in Spokane for Ava's morning meet:

(beatin' the boys)

Then down to Lewiston for Jack's afternoon football game.

(where it was 95 degrees!!) 

Staying cool before the game.

And then to Pullman for the evening Coug game:

And still home by midnight!

Happy Birthday Henry!

My baby is 4.

Wow.

And in true Henry fashion, we celebrated BIG.  50 of his closest friends and family came for the end of the summer bbq.

My little man.

All my pictures are a giant blur.  These kids do not sit still!

Jack made it home in time from football for a piece of cake and the last of the presents.

whew.

So the second Ava's 1st meet was over, we hopped in the car and headed to Jack's football game.  Then we stayed to watch one more game, had a quick lunch and went back for Will's game.  Then we went straight to the Cougar game.

It was a long day.

Nothing better than football with my favorite Coug fan.

Ava's 1st Cross Country Meet!

Yes, I realize that if I post this many pictures for every sporting event from now till graduation, I will probably overload the internet.  But I'm doing it anyway.

This kid is awesome.

Cousins make the best teammates!

Warming up.

Checking out the (giant) competition.

The gun.

And an awesome sprint to the finish!

I LOVE this.  I am so proud of all the kids out there--cross country is a tough sport.  It's endurance and speed and hot weather and cold weather and rough terrain and shin splints.

It's fast days and rough days and super early practices.

It's also a lot of fun to watch.

County Fair.

Ava almost got suckered in to bringing home a bunny.

These two voted for the miniature pony instead.

And we ended up with popcorn and elephant ears and friends, which was even better!

my buddy.

He might be tough enough to play real football but this is where I caught him later that afternoon.

It's hard work growing up!

Triathlon!

We busted out of Jack's game and arrived just in time for Ava's triathlon.

I LOVE this event.  I'm just so proud of all the kids out there.

ready to roll

waiting for the swim to start

woohoo!

There's a few good reasons why I've yet to do a triathlon and they are the exact reasons why I am so proud of her for doing it!!

(helps to have a cousin along)

Football!

Jack has waited his whole life to play real football:

So here we we are.  My little man is in full pads and gear and tackling.  

Yet another this is happening moment this year.

That's my Jack in the middle, red gloves, going out for a catch.

His first game was this weekend and he started out a bit slow but after he got his first tackle, he went nuts.  Some awesome tackles, 2 good runs, and an awesome catch for the last play of the game.

So.much.fun.

His favorite fans.

So crazy handsome.

My boys.

Bless their hearts.

these are my people.

Ed's been traveling a bunch lately and since we were all alone on a Friday night we took ourselves out to dinner:

Let's take a closer look:

6th grade

3rd grade

kindergarten

preschool

And back together again: 

Then we took a long walk and played at the park and on the way back, I caught my littlest man here, watching a moth in the sun: 

Ava.

 Ava is in 6th grade this year (!).  And in this brave new world, 6th graders qualify for junior high athletics (!!).  So Ava has joined Kayte on the cross country team...doubling it from 1 girl to 2.  She started late so she didn't get to compete in the first meet so she is gearing up for her first.ever.jr high event this weekend!! Can you tell we're excited??  I am SO proud of her.  Not only is this WAY outside her comfort zone but she gets up at 5:30 (in the morning!) to make it to practice by 6:15.

Bright and sunny at 6 in the morning.

(I will also pat myself on the back here for taking her to practice this early.  If you know me, you know this may be the biggest parenting sacrifice I've made).

And way later that night, heading to a jr high bible study:

Yes.  She has grown up.