AUGUSTaaaa

Our green machine was a hit at the ward campout. We also brought the golf cart for the kids to cruise around the hills on. They can't get in too much trouble when the max speed downhill is10 MPH.  They did a treasure hunt, had tons of games, made pressed flower bookmarks, kids made up plays for us to watch at the amphitheater and good conversation. It was gorgeous scenery, cool forest air, perfect weather. We had a mother moose and two calves that stayed near our camp all week. It was a little disconcerting at times as she walked right past the shower rooms or could be seen from the clearing the kids were running around in.  On the way home I stopped at my swap meet. I've had my early bird ticket since Feb.   AMAZING as always. I came home with a trunk load.  Emily's birthday party was that night. We forgot Zara's floaties.  They had a big vest she used plus dounut tubes and we watched her. However everyone was out eating and playing and she got back in without the jacket.  With the little practice she's had underwater swimming she was able to get to the side and find the latter legs. No one noticed her until she was crying, coughing and shaking climbing over the rail.  We left shortly after. Me slightly freaking out and holding her tight.  "Mom I saw a bubble around my eyes so I reached out."  I have no doubt angels attended my baby today. 

The kids and I took a river trip when Katana was at girls camp.  We found blackberries but they weren't quite ready.  This week we went back to Blackberry Bay as we called it.  Its under the bridge just up from Ritter Island and then about 1/2 mile in. They were huge.  A little hard to get to.  A few scratches were worth it. We ate our fill and even managed to save some for Dad. Kids found pretty snail shells too. For Grandpa Marc's birthday he called and told Preston to take us to dinner.   "I want all my family to celebrate with me even if we are far apart."  We went to the new Mexican place and toasted him from afar.  We sent pics of everyone acting badly (or normally) with the caption. "You can't take them anywhere! #nothousebroke"    It might be the last time we go boating this summer as Mom has her knee surgery and then they are going to AZ for the winter.  Arco had a water balloon fight for the end of the fair.  Dad won the Blue ribbon for his hair-on chaps. He was trying not to be proud. I'm proud for him. Proudful is different than Prideful.  We celebrated Axels birthday the weekend before.  Finally put up the basketball hoop I got a year ago.  It got dark was the only way I got them to come in.  Syringa made a snuggle pillow out of grandma Afton's PJs.  That was very specials for him.  Double Digits.  wow.  Finally got the driveway gravel humps smoothed out.  It looks so nice. Every little bit helps. 

We have a new baby. Acacia Lynette Hatfield. The middle name was a sweet surprise. Aug. 14th. 7lbs 4 oz 20 in. 12:36 P.M. St. Alphonsus Hospital Boise ID. Brinley Nef gave her homecoming speech on the 20th. A lovely luncheon followed. Brody was happier than I've seen him in a while. That's nice to see. BreAnn is only a few weeks off but I'm bigger than she is. Prayers her way. Mom and Dad brought Baler and Zaleah down. We took them home with us. We stopped at Trujillo's on the way home. Apparently they moved to Southern Utah. We picked up a few things that were grandpas, too big to move or to see if I could sell for them cuz they left so fast. I'm glad we got to say goodbye to Trujillo at least. The rest of his family had already gone. My kids started school on the 21st. A truck hit a pole just up the road so we didn't have power all day. Baler was entertained watching the emergency vehicles. The pile of weeds we burned last week heated up the ground. A slight wind had it smoking and smoldering the wood chips and weeds around it. Baler played at being a firefighter with a soaker hose for a good hour. What was in that dirt that three days later it was still boiling water? After school Wednesday kids and I took the Hatfield's home. We got to spend two days holding the new baby. She's so cute. Zara wants one. "Talk to your Dad" We made it home in time to go to IGNITE the Valley. A Multi Denominational / Church Revival event. Different pastors and bands celebrating the good word of JESUS. I wish the LDS community supported events like this. Maybe in the future we will. It's a little louder form of worship but still being happy about GOD. Sometimes I feel we are too stuffy in our testimonies of him. Good food. Wholesome entertainment. I hope they do it again I had a great time.