Indiana Dunes

I had a girlfriend call last minute to see if we could go to the dunes the next morning. 

I hesitated at first because we were booked all night (I had mama book club and that normally last till the wee hours of the morning...which I love so much) and well sometimes it feels overwhelming to load everyone up for the day and travel a couple hours by myself for fun. 

I also know myself and I rarely say no to an adventure/chaos with friends. 

BUT we did it and had a great time.  

The weather was perfect, and it was a great last celebration of summer. 

Someone doesn't fit in her bathing suit anymore. 

 Clairana with Sydney 

 As the afternoon rolled around it did start to get busy but the morning was wonderful. 

 So fun to have an "ocean" so close to home! We stopped at the actually park entrance to take a break and walk around before meeting up at the beach. 

 

Temple Trip

Some of the youth from church woke up before the sun and headed to Carmel for a trip to the temple. 

It was a busy morning - Clairana and I went to the temple while Levi and Nephi headed out to drop our dairy cow off at an Amish farm a couple hours away.  

 

Piercing Times

Clairana had made a plan with a girlfriend to get another piercing and I brought Bella along as well because hers had to come out last year due to them being so uneven. This time we skipped the mall and went to the real deal to make sure they were correct. 

 

Summer Days

C took this one. It’s Lotte and I on the trampoline with the sprinkler on - it’s so hot right now. 

 Cecily sitting with Grace at church who is home from college.

 Gathering books for our nursery curriculum for co-op. 5 in a row. 

 Cousin birthday! 

 We got this birthday boy a BB gun. Trying it out with his dad. 

Kittens 

 C Art

 Summer naps 

 Service at 4H making sandwiches this year with the Mitchell family. 

 

FSY - For the Strength of Youth

 

One of C’s girlfriends sent me this picture of her and Russell swing dancing. They tried to get me all fired up saying they were kissing but it backfired when I embarrassed them by saying wonderful! 

Camp on Purdue's Campus. 

Clairana's 2nd year and Nephi's 1st. 

They stayed in the McCutcheon dorm and ate all week long at the dining courts. 

Days full of sports, activities, devotionals, dances.... Clairana even signed up for the talent show! She is so brave. When we were leaving two tour buses pulled up and dropped kids off from Illinois. 

Experiencing this every year is making college seem less intimidating for all of us. 

Although I will say Levi and I were both pretty nervous for Nephi this year. 

 

Circus with buddies!

For Bella's birthday surprise we took the girls to the Peru Circus. We invited Brooke and Blaike to come along too! It was crazy how this little town has so many people involved in an amazing amateur circus. We didn't stay the whole time because it was an hour drive with a three hour show but it was worth the experience to go. Clairana and Nephi missed the fun as they are still on campus enjoying a million other teens. 

Book Club - The Tanglewood’s Secret

For book club we read Tanglewood's Secret by Patricia St John. We try and read one of her books every year. 

This one was so good, it is about two children that live with their harsh aunt. A dreadful accident happens and it leads to a great lesson including learning about the Shepherd. 

In the book they spend lots of time in the woods so a hiking trip at Clegg Memorial Garden was perfect - we even got in a hike before the weather got too hot.