After a long day of getting ready for the first day of school including lots of housework and an open house at sunnyside we indulged at cougar country with the Anderson's and the Rogers!!
One last hoorah! Several of our school friends got together one evening for a back to school bash at the Hamilton Lowe aquatic center. It was so great to have the place all to ourselves!
Another summer bucket list of ours was picking huckleberries. So we searched and searched for some to pick. There weren't a lot and we ate a bit faster than we picked. :) this is all that made it to the car. :)
Biking the route of the Hiawatha was on our summer bucket list and we are so glad we got to check it off!!! 16 miles down an old railway, through 11 tunnels and over 9 trestles was a great way to end our summer vacation!!!
Thursday night was full of haircuts! Mikael brought over her boy for a cut and then Jacob Swenson stopped in for his back to school haircut. When it was all done Jude and jake played a little subway surfers on the ipad. :)
Since Madeline was going to miss quite a bit of gymnastics we found a gym in albany that allowed her to join their team practice a couple of days. She had a great time but definitely missed her coaches back home. :)
The moms need some cousin time too!!! Lindsey and Nicole spent the day shopping and ended the day meeting up with cousins Tia and Shannon for dinner at Oswego Grill. Our apologies to everyone else in the restaurant. It's never quiet when the four of us are together.
Oh boy!!! These silly cousins had a great time at uncle Jerry and aunt alma jeans house playing in the dirt. Some of the King aunts (Jo, Jewell and Lynne) were in town for a visit.
It is always fun to spend some time down at the King's Coffee House. Madeline and Jude love hanging out up in the loft while mom helps Grandma Rose with the customers.
Summer dinners outside are the best!!! Brooklyn and Olivia had spent the afternoon fishing and brought home a bunch of kokanee fish. After dinner the we picked a few blackberries and the kids had fun playing in the orchard and on the barrel swing.
We sure have missed being able to pick berries all summer since we moved to Pullman. This Monday evening we ate dinner with Papa Delvin, Grandma Rose, and cousins Chloe and Micah and then headed out to pick blueberries. YUMMMM!!!
Lindsey and Nicole spent the morning in Papa Dennis' woodshop working on making some fun picture frames. Meanwhile, Uncle A and Jude went exploring in the timber, they found a frog and four minnows. Madeline and her cousins had fun playing in the tree house.
The evening before Nicole and the kids left for Oregon Matt and Jude had some good laughs while watching America's Got Talent. It is definitely our favorite summer show.
Madeline and Jude have been attending vacation bible school at living faith fellowship church this week. VBS is every evening from 6-8. Here is Jude with his buddy/classmate Toby. Jude and Toby are in the tan tiger sharks group and Madeline is in the turquoise turtles. :)
One of the neighbors up the hill very generously put in this awesome basketball court and has allowed us all to use it. This Monday evening We hung out with the Russell's and had an impromptu dads versus boys game if basketball. Madeline and Hadleigh had gymnastics lessons in the grass next to the court.
The kids are pretty great at keeping themselves entertained. This Saturday afternoon Madeline and her friend Olivia made a treasure hunt for Jude. Jude was slightly disappointed to find the treasure was his own candy.