We've been trying to enjoy our fire-pit this summer.  It's so fun on cool (well somewhat cool) nights to gather around and roast some marshmallows.   We've been waiting to use it until we lay grass over the dirt, but who knows when we'll actually get around to that.   It's just fine for now even though the kids get really dirty.

Here's some pictures from our Saturday family time together...

We actually have a decent little view from where our pit is... If you angle yourself just right :)  

Mike and I were talking about how we love that we have a variety of eye colors in our family - green, blue & brown.  Meg's eyes haven't changed yet so we're curious to see what happens over the next year.  Morgan had blue eyes, but I think they'd changed to green by this age.  We'll see.  For now, we are enjoying her bright blue little peepers.  

The boys...

My hunky fire-starting man.  

Party time

Morgan decided for her birthday party this year that she wanted to go to the movies.  She picked 2 of her besties and off we went to see Monsters University in 3D.  

I learned I don't really like seeing movies in 3D.  Those glasses get kind of annoying....  But the kids had fun and really that's all that matters.  

Will was my date and I hope he wasn't too embarrassed by me.  There were times I was the only person in the theater laughing, but I thought the movie was quite funny.  Definitely one I wouldn't mind owning (and I have to be picky on which ones we own because I have to hear them over and over again in the car).  I give it 2 thumbs up.

Highlights from Miles' first year of flag football

The team...

Miles was a little stud-muffin and loved learning to play.  He was a natural :)

So close....  

Miles favored defense over offense.  Tackling (well flag pulling) was his thing.

Meg was his biggest cheerleader!  

Unless she was talking on the phone....

Or sucking on field markers...

Or being a smartie pants...  

Are those holes in your ears?

Morgan has been wanting to get her ears pierced for a few years now, but she hasn't been able to muster up the courage... Until yesterday.  

When she heard that her friend Sadie got her ears pierced this week, it was all the incentive she needed.   Oh, she was still scared to death, but she did it anyway.  She even used her own money to pay for the earrings.  She's been saving up for something special for a while now and this was just the thing she wanted to spend it on.  

Before....

After...  Beautiful!  

Miles is such a good brother.  When he saw how emotional and scared Morgan was, he stepped right up to help.  He walked over to her and held her hand and said it was going to be okay.  It was one of those touching moments to see as a mom. (Then the girls kicked him out of the way so they could both pierce her ears at the same time... It was cute while it lasted...) They genuinely care about each other.

Two buddies with their new earrings.  How exciting!

Morgan's 9

Our little lady turned 9 this week.  Her last year as a single digit...  Kind of sad, but she's growing up nicely if you ask me.

Birthday breakfast... She picked ebelskiver pancakes with mini chocolate chips mixed in.  YUMMY!  

Opening her package from Grandma & Grandpa Dehner.  She was so excited!  It's always fun to get mail! 

Birthday lunch and shopping with Grandma & Grandpa Beckstead.  Morgan picked In-N-Out, good girl!  She couldn't believe Grandma and Grandpa hadn't ever tried it before.  

Grandma and Grandpa helped Morgan pick out an Our Generation doll.  She was thrilled.

A couple hours at Lagoon...  

Then Morgan decided she wanted to go to Training Table for dinner.  Oh look, a salon chair for her new doll.  And nail polish too!  What a spoiled birthday girl :)  

She requested a birthday cookie instead of cake.  Easy enough!  

Happy Birthday Morgan!  I sure am glad you entered our lives 9 years ago.  You add so much joy to our home and we love you soooooooooo much!