Amusing ourselves in the summer!

I think  Hunter is getting bored of summer break.  I find him doing weird things like this all the time.  He's sliding the door open and shut to see how it moves his face.... uh... ok!  Sometimes, I'll look over at him and he's staring off into space and making these weird sound effects with his mouth and hands.  I'll catch his attention and ask him what he's doing.  He'll say "Oh I'm just playing out a war scene in my head"... Should I worry??!!

 Well most of time he's not too crazy and he's actually growing up way too fast.  He had his baptism interview this last week.  He was very nervous he wasn't going to pass so he studied with Jon for an hour before!  We told him if he passed, we'd take him out for a treat afterwards!  Luckily we all went to Krumpes for donuts!!! ( soooo good, such a great find in the city of Hagerstown!)

One of the great benefits of moving here to Maryland is all the quality time we get to spend with our family!  Sometimes it's so hard to be away from family, we can't stand it.  And other times, we catch these lucky moments when all is great and we are truly becoming such a close family.  All things happen for a reason and we are choosing to soak up every minute of "family time" we can!

The Hagerstown Ward Slip-n-Slide Activity!

The ward sets up this HUGE tarp down a hill right next to the church and throws dish soap and a hose on it!!! The kids had a blast.  Oh and Jon!

 Ok I don't know if it's the age or what but I can't get a normal smile out of this kid... UGH!

National Aquarium in Baltimore

We just bought a family membership for the Baltimore Aquarium today!

It's a really cool place. A little less interactive than we were hoping but really cool exhibits.

The kids loved it.

Jon has so much work in Baltimore so we thought it would be worth it! He dropped us off around 9:30 and we chilled it there until around 2:30! Tons to do.

 I loved this picture.  The reflection of Bridger is so intent on that turtle. 

 Okay Hanna looks exhausted at this point, Bridger is just silly and Hunter is a great big brother!

The rain forest was pretty hot and smelly!

 Hunter was super excited to go into the Australian exhibit because my dad served his mission there.  He made me send a text to my dad and was so proud to be learning about it.  He says that's where he's going on his mission!  That or Paraguay!

Can you tell which on is an Alligator and which one is a Crocodile???

The one on the right is the Gator!!!

 Sitting at the dolphin show! The kids wanted to sit in the very front to get wet.  The first show we went to we barely got a drip and they were bummed... the next show we went to... scroll down...!

The Jellyfish are seriously so cool!

So Jon met up with us around 3 and the kids wanted to do the WHOLE aquarium AGAIN.. That was hard to do for mom!  

 ... And we all got SOAKED after this show!  They were super excited about that! The Dolphins are so stinkin cute and so playful.  Bridger said he wanted to take one home!  Yeah he can just stay in our bath!!!

Our first play date here in Maryland!

There are amazing families in this ward and we couldn't wait to have them over to play with the kids.

So Hunter and Hanna had Dean, Sami and Sydney over to play

Science experiment fun!

  The most colorful Volcano we've ever seen! Started with red lava then added blue to make a purple rainbow.

Bridger turns 3

Bridger's birthday was July 27th and had a countdown going on!

Okay so before we moved we had to sell Bridger's train table because it was sort of falling apart and too big to move.  I wasn't home when our neighbor came to pick up the train but Bridger saw.... From then on he kept saying; "Mommy, the daddy came and took my train set."  Wow tear my heart out.  So that pretty much told me what we needed to get him for his Birthday!

 Okay so I was going to make a really cute cake shaped like a train.  Then I thought "Really?" None of my family or friends is here in Maryland to come eat it with us. so if I did make something beautiful and yummy we would really eat like 5 pieces and the rest would be sitting in a glass cake platter staring me in the face every day as I try to stand up to the temptation of sugar.  So I made peanut butter worm cupcakes instead!! Still ate  like 5

 Bridger's crepe paper birthday door!

 Thomas the train is everything now a days!

Bridger's first game of Miniature Golf.  He is hilarious and definitely has his own way of getting the ball into the hole!

 "Ah mom, this is what heaven was like, I can think of it now!"

 The new train set! 

Bridger is the funniest most wonderful little person to be around and our lives would not be near as eventful or happy without him in it.  3 years ago when he was in the hospital for 2 weeks, I had some times when we really thought he wouldn't be coming home with us.  At that time I thought if Heavenly Father wanted to take him back home so quickly, he must be really special.  How thankful I am and how right I was.  He is very special and there's no way I can imagine life without that little guy! Happy birthday Bubba! We love you!