Summer-Bring it On!

June started with a bang--or maybe a crack. Makayla got a lovely light blue cast on her broken arm. You'd think this would be all okay, but the doctor at the walk-in clinic told her to ask for a rainbow cast. The orthopedist nixed that idea and Makayla cried for the next three days because her "favorite color is rainbow". 

The spring explosion of flowers has ended, but

the early summer garden has its own charms,

with clematis and

lilies

of all varieties,

and colors.

What would I do without Costco?

Best of all, berries are coming on: raspberries (my favorite),

strawberries (the good kind, not the bland, gigantic California berry),

and the fickle blueberry. I've only got one of five bushes producing this year.

Now that school is out and summer is here, the grandkids and I can get back to having serious fun. We took a scavenger hunt nature hike. Each girl had a list of things to find, ranging from bugs to leaves to things that are interesting to them, or a certain color. 

Makayla's "something yellow".
Makayla hates to go on walks. They make her legs tired. She was a good sport today. Thanks, Makayla!

Hailey tucking "a pretty rock" away.

They had a lot of fun looking for things on their lists. I think we're going to do this again.

We checked out Boothill, Billings' oldest cemetery,

complete with a monument to early settlers.

On Saturday, I tagged along with Amy and girls while they visited the strawberry festival.

The girls made dream catchers

and plastic cup baskets.

Sorry about the closed eyes, Hailey. It's the only picture I got of your basket.

We stopped for some face painting.

Pretty spiffy! Do you think mom will let you wear it to church?

One of the booths was handing out roses to all the cute girls.

Flag day is coming, and so is July 4th, 

so one day we dyed some rice.

We carefully layered it

into Mason jars

to make patriotic candle holders 

for the table.

Speaking of Flag Day, someone we know and love has a birthday every single year on that day.

Can you believe she's nine???

Getting ready for the big blow out.

Hailey's two loves: Minecraft and Legos, now combined into one great toy.

On another day, I took Makayla, Hailey, and Hailey's friend to the zoo.

Makayla pointed out the penny she tossed in the wishing pond last year when she was at the zoo.

The zoo is nice enough to provide over-priced, but cold soda along the path.

I so love the uncomplicated friendships of childhood.

We fed the fish. Once again, the zoo thoughtfully provided expensive fish food for us.

We spent time watching this show-off before heading home.

Summer is a great time to get wet. Here in not-rain-deprived Montana, we think nothing of running the hose to play.

My own kids played with the trampoline this way. Do you think it's genetic? By the way, covering your cast with a garbage bag tightly sealed with elastics and tape doesn't work.

Summer is a perfect time for napping. 

Nearly Narcoleptic Hailey is still in the midst of sleep studies. 

We tried to honor Stan on Father's Day, but his dad is in the hospital and Stan appropriately spent Father's Day there.

Amy, Makayla, Hailey, and I ate the mud pie I made in Stan's honor, complete with Hailey's no nut zone. It was good, Stan. 

Stan got a variety of lovely gifts, like this one from Hailey. Don't worry, Stan didn't secretly retired. Bishop is his OTHER full time job.  My favorite is the answer to what he is NOT good at.

He got an appropriate number of ties,

and treasures,

and hilarious notes (Thanks, Brinlee. We didn't know that what Grandpa wants to do most is play Barbies with you.) 

 Best of all, he managed to find time to talk to each of our kids today.

 It's hard to top that!