Photos by Zeke

Zeke has lately taken up photography. Some of his pictures leave a lot to be desired, but some of them are really good! 

  

And, when I'm using the real camera, he's practicing with the toy one :)

Loertscher Reunion

We had so much fun at the extended-family Loertscher reunion at the end of July. On the first day, I went through a pile of old extra family reunion shirts someone had brought and found one child-size shirt so now Nora has one too!

We played games, visited with cousins, and I worked on my quilt a while when it was too hot in the afternoon to move much. The kids had a great time playing outside.

Splashing in the puddles during a summer rainstorm,

Swinging on the big swing (Zeke spent most of his time here),

Playing in the water,

And of course, riding the train.

Fiery Fourth of July

The 4th was a little different this year with all of the wildfires burning.... I thought it was still fun but maybe a little more serious than usual. This was the view from the park on the 3rd, with a huge brown smoke cloud rising out of the west mountains where the Alpine fire was burning.

Fortunately for the 4th, the big brown cloud was gone and we weren't seeing brown all day. Nora was festive in her star-spangled bow, and I was so pleased she left it in for a couple of hours before pulling it out.

We spent the day hanging out with the Loertscher crowd. Aaron and I worked on a couple of relaxing crafty projects and visited and the kids played and played and helped Grandma and Grandpa garden a bit.

All that playing wore Nora out and she crashed in Aaron's arms mid-day, so we laid her on a blanket in the grass.

We had dinner outside and more visiting and playing until it got dark. 

The fireworks were awesome as always. Zeke looks forward to this all year and was totally loving it. Nora didn't know what was going to happen until it started and was mesmerized. She sat on Aaron's lap oohing and aahing and saying 'flower'.

I decided after last 4th of July that I should take the 5th of July off work and I am so glad I did. It was great to let the kids sleep in after a late night of fun and to be able to catch up on the laundry and other chores that weren't done while we were relaxing. Aaron went to work on the 5th but I think he'll be home with us next year!

Summer Means....

Ponytails! We recently discovered that Nora will keep elastics in her hair even though barrettes and headbands get pulled out immediately. I am super excited to be able to keep her hair out of her eyes :)

Ice cream! Zeke's current favorite is 'orange ice cream.' Don't suggest that it's sherbet because you will be corrected. 

Playing outside! Of course.

Playing at the park! In the evenings, when it's kind of cool. 

Throwing rocks into the river! It's Zeke's new coming-home-from-Utah-County tradition to stop for a bathroom break at the pit toilets by the river and then go throw some rocks in the water.

And playing in the sprinklers, and popsicles, and staying up late...