Happy Birthday DADDY!

We celebrated Shea turning 32 with a classic dinner and a movie.

And I really wanted to surprise Shea with his Mom's Mousse Cake. 

So I attempted it and it didn't turn out half bad. 

He loved it! 

And we also got him a bunch of camping presents; including a GIANT family tent!

He was so excited we put it together that weekend just to make sure it was as awesome as it seemed and then we did backyard camping at the Martins with it a few weeks later.  

Shea loves watching the little ones blow out the candles!

We feel so lucky to have such a great guy leading our Stanger crew. 

He sure knows how to make each of us happy and we are really enjoying having him home so much lately! (While he is in between projects at work.)

Lakeside

Last year we only went to Greenbriar lake once and it was my first time and I was determined to go more this summer. Well I didn't do much better, I think we went twice...
(We would have gone again but the third time we attempted it the Lake was full and they were not allowing more people to enter. That was a real bummer of a day.)
So next summer I guess I have to go at least thrice!

We made sure to bring Amberlee and Ryan and Joseph with us the second time we went because it was just SO fun!
And we really did enjoy showing off our swimming skills, building sand castles, burying each other, playing chase, and eating "sandy" snacks for lunch.
And kudos to me for actually remembering lots of sunscreen for everyone so no one burned!

And then Piper decided to let everyone know it was time to go, because she was done!

So she lead the way back to the cars and was due for a nice long nap!

Wedding Bells

That is right my little brother is MARRIED.
Daniel Martin has a MRS!
It is still too hard to believe.
I can remember when I was had just gotten engaged and was home for the rest of the summer and I was chillin in Daniel's room and he was playing a game or writing a story and he just turned and looked at me and was like "It is so weird. You are going to be married..."
And let me tell you Daniel it feels EXACTLY THE SAME WAY!
It is weird.
This sibling of mine that I have none literally FOREVER!
Is going to be a married man... I mean WHAT?!?!
And now it has happened and honestly it still doesn't feel real.
But I guess seeing you actually married will change it all and soon time will take force and I you will be a whole new married man.
Good luck, Nicole.
He is handsome and kind and creative and smart and quite the little fiery annoying little brother.
I know he loves you and I know he is going to make a great husband and father some day.
It is amazing the change that happens and the love that deepens as the years pass through marriage.
I know their will be ups and downs like any true path there will be stumbles but as long as you both are fiercely loyal and honest and stay close to the Lord always, nothing can stand in your way.
I wish them the happiest life can bring them!

And watching them start perfectly was a great and honored blessing I am so grateful for.

MR AND MRS MARTIN
AUGUST 4, 2017
IDAHO FALLS TEMPLE 

While Nicole's family prepped the reception we prepped their apartment at Daniel's request. 

Which Daniel had just barely gotten keys for and which to everyone's dismay had evidence of a chicken living in it. 

So with a lot of cleaning and buying (kudos to Mom and Dad for the time and energy and worry and money they put into it), we tried to turn it into a home with a few little things on the walls and a few things arranged so that they could have a beautiful home to welcome them that night. 

Everything was beautiful that night at the reception and we wish we could have been closer to help more. But time and location obviously wouldn't allow that, which I, having married in Rexburg myself know all too well. 

"Men may write love songs and sing them. They may yearn and hope and dream. But all of this will be only a romantic longing unless there is an exercise of authority that transcends the powers of time and death."

~

Gordon B. Hinckley

SWIM

Well I must say I love this swim thing we got going on. And I truly hope you guys actually learn to swim... some day. For now I am relishing in the fact that daily swim for a month in the summer gives you all the pool time you need without much effort from me, and you are learning, I think.
I love that you play games and have at least two days where it is just a free for all play day. I love that you are doing it with each other and that you guys look for each other as you pass another class or get to team up and play games with classes each of you are in. I love that you can talk about what you learned after class and what you are scared of or are trying to do better. I love that I am not right there for you to want me but that you know I am there if you NEED me. I love that on calm and quiet days I can hold piper and we can snack and watch. I love that you wave as you pass me or look at me and never quite spot me, which makes me laugh every time. I even love that on totally heat exhaustingly rotten days I can sit in the car and blow the AC and you all are none the wiser... don't tell!  I love that you are brave even when it is hard. I love that you all love to see the pictures and videos I take of you afterwards. I love that there is a park right next to the pool so I can take the too littles to play and that I even get to reward you guys with a few minutes of park time after swim when you are interested and it is a nice day. I love that you make friends and sometimes the teachers even remember you from past years. I love that on days Dad takes off or works from home he can come with and do a little jog and then we can all go for ice cream afterwards. I love that you guys shower independently and with no complaint after you get home because your freezing (maybe I blast the AC on purpose...) and love the hot water. And above all I love that you LOVE it!!!

I do wish the teachers were a bit better, some are better than others. I wish there was a bit more tangible progress but all in all, I sure love this swim thing we got going on. And no lie it will be one of the HUGE things I miss about leaving Maryland one day.

This year for the record we started the right after the fourth of July, just like last year.

We did it for 4 weeks, just like the last couple years. (I've thought about having them go for longer but money wise and time wise this seems to fit both.)

Connor did 2, 2 week sessions. Level 2 both times.

Bella did 2, 2 week sessions. She was enrolled for Level 1 both times but after doing so good in Level 1 we asked if she could go to Level 2 which they were fine with. So for the second session she was in Connor's Level 2 class. 

Sydney did the PreK session the second week of each of the big kids sessions. 

(Next year I'm hoping Con can go to Level 3 but he is pretty worried about it. But the nice thing is I can sign him up and then they can move him down if he is just not ready yet.)

 

Can you spot them?

Sydney, pink tutu suit.

Bella, arms out prancing around.
Not entirely listening but LOVING it!

Syd and Bella

Connor

Connor's backstroke...

Connor Diving.

He was SO BRAVE this year
and did it multiple times and was very
proud to have us watch and record!

Syd on the coveted dead dino.

Piper watching.

RITAS ICE, they begged for it the last day!

I didn't get a whole lot of great pictures this year because I was honestly busy, watching on the playground, swinging someone in the swings, handing out snacks, chasing babies, trying to not be late for pick up and trying to avoid the radical weather changes. And on the days I wasn't doing that, I hung back with Piper while Shea wrangled the crew and got a work out in. 

It was a great time though and we are so proud of our swimmers!

Can't wait for next year.