We're having fun this week. Noel and the girls took Grandma up to the top of Bogus Basin so they could get some pics. We went to the park and fed the ducks and we've been to the archery range so the girls could show off their skills (and Mommy, too!) and we did Roaring Springs water park yesterday, which was a bunch of fun. Grandma got more pictures than I did put I'll put up some of what I have. Tomorrow we are going to the fair and will get more pictures!

Grandma Carlson is here! The kids are excited and have already worn grandma out, I think!

We went on a walk earlier and caught a few cute pics...  enjoy!

A little rain, a bowl of ice cream and some coffee. Yum... and the kids are in bed, too!

We had a good day today getting ready for Noel's mom's visit. We shampooed our carpets, which sorely needed it, and mowed lawn and did mountains of laundry. This coming week will be the fair, a water park, and our annual family portrait taken outside by a river. I'm looking forward to it and the girls are, too.

I also helped out my neighbor today. We drove out to Boise and picked up an electronic piano since her kids are taking lessons from me and are showing lots of interest. Her son, Simon, is especially motivated to play. We also picked up a trampoline for them as well. They had it set up and our girls were over there jumping on it this evening.

Coffee's finished! :)

This morning found me trying out my cold-brewed coffee. Less bitter, most definitely! I liked it. I had ground up the beans last night and let them sit in water all night, then drained them. It makes a concentrate. 1 part concentrate to 2 parts water (or so depending on strength). The concentrate lasts for 2 weeks in the fridge, but I'll go through it faster than that! The pic isn't mine, but gives you an idea. I just used a measuring cup, funnel and coffee filter!

Well, we're ramping up for the new school year! We're doing Saxon Math this year, which holds your hand a bit more and something that will be good for me. Gives more structure and such.

The girls are coming to the end of summer and it's been a fantastic time of swimming and gymnastics and vacations and visits from Grandma and Grandpa and now another Grandma is coming to visit so we've been one busy family.

The girls are doing really well with their new chore system. Earning tickets for doing their chores and those tickets earn them privileges (which used to be gotten whenever they wanted - within reason!)

They can earn 3 tickets a day and each ticket gets them 30 minutes of screen time. They don't do that segment of chores, they don't get a ticket. They can also earn bonus bucks and privilege passes and best behavior cards. I like handing those out! :) So far, chores are getting done and that makes me happy! The system is called Accountable Kids and I'm very happy my sister-in-law mentioned it to me!

Noel may be going in for some surgery in the next few weeks. (It's time to turn the baby-making machine off ;) Probably that will happen after his Mom leaves. We'll see. And my friend might need me to drive her kids to school for awhile because she just had a seizure. So there will be driving restrictions for awhile.

Just had the kids hair cut. They're looking good!