Lyrics

This morning, Lincoln decided that he wants to be a lyricist when he grows up.  He said, "I want to write songs... but just the words, not the notes."  He promptly began singing some made-up songs and Anndra joined in a moment later.  Naturally, I grabbed a paper and tried to get it all down while their creative juices were flowing.  (It probably would have been better to take a video, but I was afraid if I whipped out the camera it would cause them to feel shy and break the magic of the moment).  Here's what I got:


Lincoln song #1
I can make it feel better
if you just let me put medicine on it
and it will feel better
in a snap
and you won't be hurt
once people come to help

Anndra song #1
God is the number one
is the one that's in my heart
and I sent pictures
in the light
and I want to begin

Lincoln song #2
I want to begin with this:
God is the one
one who made me be on earth
I followed His plan
and this is how you end your prayers
in the name of Jesus Christ, amen

Anndra song #2
I had to do my best
in the child's heart
and my Mommy and Daddy
I have to do what they ask of me
to live with them someday
and I have to do my very best

Lincoln song #3
I like nature
It's part of Earth
Earth
And I really like Earth
The Earth is the best place to be

Anndra song #3
Oh I want to live in Jesus/God's temple
in the church
and the church that we go to is Jesus' house
He had began our child in his heart
and I will live with Him someday

Lincoln song #4
The childhood is the most important part
of getting married
and I want to be like my Dad someday
I really want to be like my Dad
and my brother
and Jesus

Anndra song #4
Child is my favorite guest
in the parties
and the cupcakes

drawing rainbows - about an hour after the song-writing

Summer adventures

Two-headed monster

Super tall Anndra

This girl loves her big brother

Nap time!

afternoon at the lake

working together

pulling rocks from the water

they've been begging me to take them back there every day since

A kayak trip on Flathead River

Everything went beautifully, except L got soaked when we went through rapids & could NOT get warm again... we really wished he'd worn his wetsuit

So glad these friends invited us along

MUCH bigger river than the one behind our house

Becoming quite the experienced kayaker - and loving every minute of it!

Goofing around with a new toy

One of the best things about kids: the joy they find in little things

Lincoln wanted me to only take pics of him, but Anndra was not having that!

Part of our campsite on the Fisher River

Couldn't get enough of the beauty all around us

P & his friends found some cool clay & used the sled to bring it back to camp

Graham trying to get the other two to have a clay-ball fight

Fair

I guess when you live in Montana (many hours from the nearest amusement park), the yearly summer FAIR is a pretty big deal!

L and A couldn't ride ferris wheel without a grown up, so P had to ride alone.

I think Lincoln enjoyed the fair the most - so fun to be 5!

Anndra was a bit of a cranky-pants... wouldn't smile.

Gorgeous weather and not too crowded - win, win!

Lincoln was so happy he was tall enough to ride The Pharoah's Fury!

Showing off the prizes they won in the carnival games

You know it's been a good day when you come home w/ tongues like these!

More reunion pics

Small Sample of Reunion Pics

We've been preparing for months to host my family's week-long reunion that is held every three years.  This past week was the big event... and I can't help being both happy AND disappointed that it is over.  Relieved to be done with such a big project, but sad to think it will be three years before we're all in the same place at the same time again.  I'm already missing everyone!

I didn't take a lot of pictures because I was often too busy coordinating other details and because I knew lots of other people were documenting our adventures.  I don't have the pics from the rest of the group yet, so today I'm just posting a few pics from my phone.  My main thought as I look over these: I'm thankful that my kids enjoy their cousins so much!