August

Summer is in full force in Idaho!

Parker's 17!!

But can he blow out his candles?

(more about his birthday here)

And believe it or not, 

there are places to go swimming!

Our friends invited us over

to play in their pool and WATER SLIDE!

We also booked a few days camping at our local

Rigby Lake

with a few friends.

We all live by each other anyway,

we might as well camp next to each other too!

We played in the sand,

swam all day

and...

paddled around the lake!

Some of us prefer the view from dry land!

The kids also spent some time painting rocks.

Here's Colette's talent in full display!

And we also spent time celebrating Colette and Richard's

birthday while we were here!

(more about that here)

See you later Rigby Lake,

it was a great get-a-way

without having to go far-a-way.

Parker reported back to band camp

for marching band rehearsals!

(Is this rehearsing?)

We, the parents, get a sneak peek

at their (award winning) show!

fingers crossed at least.

They played songs from the

Kevin Costner Robin Hood movie!

We spent fun time at Michelle's with cousins,

and Sterling realized he can move faster

with his own set of wheels!

He sure keeps us busy,

you can't even give him a donut 

to keep him quiet.

You'll regret it.

He loves just being in the house

dancing around

and playing with anyone

that will pay attention to him

(which is everyone!)

But then just like that 

he crashes on Colette's bed 

and all is quiet and 

we miss him so much 

we almost wake him up again!

(almost)

August also brings about my favorite holiday!

The start of the Skifton family!

We celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary!

Instead of going out for a gourmet dinner,

Richard brought the dinner home!

He made me steak and lobster!

(And when I say me,

I mean he made a plate for 

ALL THE KIDS TOO!)

He is so amazingly special to us!

Who does that?

He spent HIS anniversary 

making steak and lobster for his family.

I knew 18 years ago 

this marriage would be something special,

but each year he surpasses my expectations!

Of course we also spent 

as much of our August

as possible at the zoo!

Sterling needs to be around

animals that understand him!

(just kidding my little monkey)

Britta likes to check in on the tiger.

They are kindred spirits. 

But after a long summer of

swimming,

shopping,

traveling,

RVing,

paddling,

painting,

wake boarding,

reunioning,

familying,

and zooing...

you know what's coming don't you?

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT!
Mitchell's new locker for 8th grade!

He's going to make all the girls faint!

He was elected activity leader for the school,

so he MCs all the pep rallies.

Great job for him!

My pretty girls are off to elementary school.

They got the teachers they wanted!

They got the shoes they wanted!

And they have the friends they've always wanted!

Life is good in elementary school!

And this shnazzy guy is off to JUNIOR YEAR!

when did that happen?

Colette is right behind him also in JUNIOR YEAR!

(lets see who gets better grades)

*cough* colette *cough*

Well, after a long summer of fun, 

and a lot of work too,

I think Sterling and I have earned a much needed

back to school nap.

Nighty-Night!