Photo Blitz

I'm a little behind on the blog lately, but the first day of kindergarten is looming in the very near future, so I'd better get a few things posted white I can!

We enjoyed a nice visit with Ryan's parents for a few days at the end of July.  It was the second time they have visited this year - a real treat! One of the things Grandpa taught Rachael while we were in Idaho in June was how to "tinker" in the barn, which really means do nothing.  She wasn't very good... she likes to be busy.  But when they came to visit, she insisted on setting up a couple of chairs in the garage so that she and Grandpa could "tinker" in the "barn."  (Tinkering lasts a lot longer if you have a snack and a drink, we have discovered.)

We took a tour at  WinStar Farms in Versailles.  Turns out it was mostly a breeding tour; but the price was right and the area was beautiful.  It was fun to see a real working horse farm.  Pictured is the very high spirited Tiznow.

We also went to see Ft Boonesborough, a living history museum featuring Daniel Boone.  As living history museums go, it was well done.  We especially enjoyed that some of the cabins are air conditioned.  Those frontiersmen really knew how to live.

Rachael and I also got to go to her friend Aiden's birthday party.  Aiden just turned 6 and is Rachael's best friend at church.  Here they are tie dying T-shirts with a friend, Sara.

Since Grandma would be celebrating her birthday while driving back to Idaho, we had a party for her before she left.  We fixed the dinner she chose (steak and twice baked potatoes, although I don't know if it's her very favorite or not), and then celebrated with ice cream and cake.

Not just any ice cream - this is homemade strawberry-raspberry ice cream.  YUM.

While she was here, Grandma went school shopping with us.  She also helped me make a dress for Rachael.  This makes the second dress I have made for her; the first was her blessing dress when she was five months old.

We bid a fond farewell to Grandma and Grandpa, then plunged back into our regular schedule.   Friday night we babysat for our friends the Tippets so they could go to the temple.  While Ryan, Rachael and I were there, Benson (age 2) looked at Ryan and said, "What's that big kid's name?"

Saturday we were invited to a party for another friend of Rachael's, one year old Aloysia.  (And Aloysia's mom was, until very recently, my second counselor in the Primary presidency).  It was a really fun party and Rachael was just delighted to help open presents and play with toys.  She's hoping to be invited back to play with the toys again sometime.

Now you are all caught up on our last couple of weeks! Back to our regularly scheduled family blogging.