The Mouser Family: June 2012

Monday, June 25, 2012

Sierra, Age 8

We've always kind of laughed at the extreme differences between Ally and Sierra. Ally is impulsive, fearless, exhuberant. Sierra is thoughtful, introverted and tenderhearted. Here's a snapshot of our sweet first-born at this stage in her life:

Sierra is our ladybug.

She loves animals.

She makes a beautiful princess!

She enjoys being on the tennis courts.

She's our berry girl. (Or cherries in this case.) The girl loves fruit!

Painting is a favorite passtime of hers.

She is very self-motivated and diligent with her school work.

She has discovered that she loves the Rollerdrome in Nampa.

She's my wonderful helper around the house.

She has learned to play the piano quite well during this first year of lessons.

She is becoming quite the bookworm.

And she is a very loving big sister.

Happy 8th Birthday, Sweet Sierra!

We are so proud of you.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

It's a Wild, Wild, Wild-Life!

The theme for Sierra and Ally's combined birthday party this year was "Wildlife" or "The Great Outdoors" or "Camping" or "Creation" - or anything except "A Nature Party" because we were afriad that people get the impression that they should arrive in their birthday suits. It was not THAT kind of party. Anyway - it was a HOOT! (Probably my favorite party yet.)

The river was cold, but perfect for hours and hours of water play. The kids soaked all the rafters as they went around the bend and built elaborate sand structures for the clams that they found.

Riley was in his own little world.

The big "game" of the party was a Scavenger Hunt all over the woods. Teams were split up and sent out to gather things like a wildflower bouquet, tree sap, a feather, a littered soda can, an insect, etc.

Grandma Phyllis won the bonus points for the most unique natural item found that morning. Check out the elk/deer carcass that she's proudly hauling in! EW. She found it in a special little place that she likes to call "the valley of the shadow of death."

The kids were impressed!

One of Riley's greatest pleasures in life is to make a campfire with Grandpa. But Grandpa likes to douse his wood in gasoline to make sure it starts quickly. Run, Riley, run!

S'MORES before bedtime. Enough said.

The kids all slept in tents on the lawn and listened to the sound of the forrest all night long. I say kids, because of course the adults DID NOT SLEEP. We were in the tents as well....but between the mosquito bites, wiggly children, full bladders and Valerie's coughing, there wasn't much sleep going on for us.

As Patrick McManus would say, It was a fine and pleasant misery!

Thanks to our good friends who joined in on this crazy adventure with us...and who still have the sunburns and mosquito bites to show for it. You are good sports!