Bring on the Fall!

This summer has been so good to us.

Chad and Kaisa were in Pittsburgh for a few weeks so we took advantage of that and tried to do as much as possible with them. One day we did a little hike at Cooper's Rock. Tanner thought we were nerds for taking a picture right at the beginning but we were all happy at this point so it had to be documented.

We found a Millipede on the trail. Mariah, Chet and I had just watched a video on Centipedes and Millipede's a few days before so it was so fun to get to see a live one. And we weren't even nervous because we had learned that Millipedes are just poisonous, not venomous like Centipedes and since we weren't planning on eating it we were A-OK. :)

The rock formations were so cool. There were even some fun tunnels through the rocks that the kids had fun walking through. 

After our little hike we walked up to see the view. Tanner is holding onto Seth because the other side of that fence was a cliff, and Seth wasn't nervous enough for our liking. 

The view was breathtaking! And it was fun to actually be up high enough to see far and wide. I've missed that. 

We had a little Birthday celebration for Chet the next week. That morning Mariah and Chet helped me make the cake. Chet asked for birthday hats and Mariah wanted party blowers because she had seen them at another party a couple weeks before. And that was all the prep that was made for this party. So yeah...I'm not a party planner. 

But we had chocolate cake and ice cream...the essentials. 

Chet made it clear that he wanted his "Sinds" (friends) to be there. And I couldn't think of better friends to have around than family. All of his cousins brought him a gift. It was the sweetest thing to see how they all wanted Chet to feel special. Tanner was at the hospital waiting for some babies to be born but he was able to show up in time for cake and ice cream. He has good timing. 

After Chet's little party we headed out for a church activity. Some members of the Ward own a farm and the activity was out there. We got to do a service project, eat dinner and go on a hayride. 

Sorry for the booty shot...Tanner had to leave early so he missed the hayride. Luckily our friend Serge was there to help hold onto the kids. The tractor driver liked to put the clutch in on the downhill parts. It was like a mini little roller coaster. Mariah and Chet had a blast, Serge, not so much. He has never been on a roller coaster before so he was slightly terrified. But his screams made us all laugh and he was a good sport and laughed along too. 

The local library here throws a Cinderella Ball. You have to RSVP ahead of time to get an official invitation and I was late on doing that so I didn't think she would get to go. But two days before I got a phone call saying there was an opening. Tanner said he would take her and Mariah was so excited. The day of the ball Tanner was at the hospital most of the day after a long night of delivering a baby but he was able to come home and take a twenty minute nap before he took his Princess to the ball.

 This picture just melts my heart! She loves her dad. 

She got to do some crafts, try on a glass slipper, get glitter and a crown in her hair, and even danced with a prince. After Tanner brought her home he headed back to the hospital. I'm so glad it worked out so perfectly and that Tanner made the time for his little girl. 

On Chet's actual birthday we gave him our gifts. Mariah was so sweet and wanted to give him something that was special to her. So she gave him her new princess crown and glass slipper. Chet was a gracious recipient of the gifts and I loved seeing the joy that giving brought to Mariah. 

Chet especially loved his "tippy" bike and helmet. I thought a balance bike might be a good idea, hence the title "tippy". Needless to say we put the pedals and training wheels on there the next day. 

Summer, we have loved you but we are ready to stop sweating and for the mosquitos to die. Bring on the Fall!