Buckeyes Invade 2017

We had some very, very special friends come visit us all the way from Ohio.  The Pollock's are our bestest friends from our Air Force days.  This family holds such a special place in our hearts.  We love them dearly, can't say enough good things about them and are so thankful to God for the life long friendship he has given us in them. 

We had such a great time and it was fun getting to meet their youngest and for them to meet all of our kids.  Obviously this was a much over due trip. 

Here is a look at our week.

We spent two nights camping at Estes. 

We barely got all our stuff to fit. 

Ice cream at our favorite spot in Estes, Hailey's. 

My little mountain man.  Joshua loves everything outdoors.  He loves to hike, explore and camp.  Whenever we would go into town or driving around through the mountains he was always itching to get back to the camp site. 

We had such a fun campsite.  There was a little valley where the kids loved playing and exploring.  They mostly played pine cone wars and surprisingly we didn't have too many pine cone injuries. 

Collecting pine cones to battle with.

Camping wore them out! 

So fun to watch Luke play around with our kids.  When they had their first, Thad, him and Daniel were the best of buds so it is fun to see our kids form a bond with Luke.  And boy did they. 

Hiking the Red Rocks

Cracker Barrel...it's a Herr/Pollock tradition. 

Touring the Air Force Academy.

Kayla's new buddy! 

Blast from the past...our babies went from this crew to...

...this one. 

Dart Warz!!!

And just for fun...more blasts from the past...

Our clan then (with the McGees)....

...and our clan now (minus the McGees).  So fun to see how we have expanded since then.

Thad and Daniel.  Best buds! 

Find your tribe and love them hard!

July Fun

Every summer Daniel takes the kids on a camping trip.  This year Levi was old enough to join them.  Uncle Andrew, Jeremiah and Papa joined them as well.  So this really was a camping with Dad trip. 

They camped pretty much in the middle of the woods, not even on a campsite.  Mom was a little nervous but I knew they were in good hands. 

All the kids absolutely love camping!

We have been spending a lot of time at the pool.  The kids are little fishies!  Joshua passed our neighborhood swim test on his first try at the beginning of summer and has now been able to swim in the big pool without an adult.

Levi keeping Addyson company at the pool.

We took the kids fishing and we all had a blast catching and releasing bait fish. 

Joshua just loves fishing.  He can bait and cast (mostly) all by himself now.

Whatcha fishing for there Levi?!

He is so proud of his little fishie.  Love that smile!

Kayla's little fishie!

Aunt Sydney, who is a life guard, teaching Kayla how to swim. 

Levi just loving life.  I get a lot of comments about how brave he is in the water and he sure is. Just like his bro and sis, he loves the water and has now fear.  He has been swimming in the baby pool without his floaties and I can tell he is going to be a self taught swimmer just like Joshua in no time.

A little rain won't stop them.

As I said before, Joshua is such a fishermen.  Before his big fishing trip with Daddy and Uncle Andrew he got his own tackle box.  Here he is organizing his box with Daddy.  The trip he took with Daddy and Uncle Andrew he had to get up at 5am and then spent almost all day in the canoe.  Joshua didn't catch anything but still had a blast.  One day I heard him ask Daniel, "Daddy, when we get home do you want to organize our tackle boxes?"  He loves going to the store and looking at lures.

Joshua's homemade fishing pole. 

Neighborhood hot tub party.

We took a family trip to Breckenridge. 

Playing at the restaurant.

Watching Joshua climb the snow hill.

Joshua on top of the snow hill that never melts.

I just love this picture of Kayla picking flowers.  It captures her perfectly. 

Setting up camp behind our house.

These two goofs are such good buddies!

You never know when it will snow in CO.

Swimming with Mimi.

Joshua stood in line for about 20 minutes to get a turn in the dunk tank.  My brave boy.

Both have babies in their bellies  He is a good little brother!

We got out our Super Nintendo for the kids and Joshua just has so much fun playing it.  Here he is showing his friends.

Celebrating Aunt Brooke's 19th b-day.

Joshua went frog hunting and caught like 10 frogs.

Levi got tangled in tape and then told me to take his picture. 

Tea party with our new neighbor friend.