Hay

Despite a really wet summer and a small tractor fire we managed to get a good crop of hay in yet again this year thanks to family, neighbors and almost the volunteer fire department!  The hay crew seemed to continually change with the exception of Caden, Alexa and Chad so here are all the versions, and I can't forget about the very important babysitting crew as well! 

 This included some of the babysitters too

 The first load headed to the barn.  Caden helped Chad stack this year and the two of them did a great job.  Caden worked his tail off, stacking every load and helping to unload in the barn too...THANKS!

 Cassidy was right there to help drive with Auntie Lisa or Auntie Lori and then was ready to  help salt in the barn.  Alexa and the girls all did a great job, no worries about moisture and I'll probably be able to not have to buy salt blocks this winter as a bonus

 So where were the babies??  Entertaining the grandmas of course, and neighbor Debbie.  They did make a few appearances for pictures though.  Rylee is in purple, Sawyer in yellow

 Giving their best "this is serious" farmer/supervisor pose, complete with chewing on stems

Until their true personalities came out!

Of course they got into a little mischief...

 But also got rewarded with their first popsicle...as you can see, Sawyer is a little more interested than Rylee

Thanks every one for another full barn...YAY!!



Camping??

Yep, camping and yes in a tent.  A rather large tent that proved to be a great investment...even Chad admitted it "worked out well" and complete with an air mattress for us it sure did! We had a a great time on 2 different adventures, granted a ridiculous amount of gear, but a great time.  The first was an hour and half up the road towards Mount Baker, a trial run that if things weren't going well we could easily get back home.  But things worked out well in a great camp right on the lake, Cassidy's first camping s'mores, some successful Sockeye fishing that Sam and MacKenzie came up to join in on, a good swimming area and a beautiful view.  Even though we fought off a little rain the first night the rest of the 3 days were very nice, the bugs were minimal, the twins did great, Cassidy had a blast and we couldn't wait to do it again.

Yes, that's a trout in MacKenzie's hand, but the next day she caught a real one!

Rylee's first beer...

Home for 2 days and then off to Eastern Washington and 5 days at Alta Lake with Matt, Lori, Lindsey and Brady.  We left home in thunder and lightening storms.  All the way over we kept saying "oh, this will break on the east side of the pass" but it didn't.  We pulled into the campsite with a forecast of damaging hail and strong wind gusts through 11pm....YAY!  We decided to brave it, with Bryce's offer of a nice dry house 45 min away tucked into our heads, and scrambled to get our tent up.  By the time we were done (a new record by the way) it had stopped raining and there wasn't another drop.  Woo hoo!  Every morning we spent time exploring the camp ground and thankfully Lori was always game to take a baby, in this case Rylee, swimming and having fun together, while the guys searched for Sockeye. 

After fishing in the morning, the guys came back and we all hit the beach for some swim time



Sawyer loved being in the water

Rylee loved playing in the sand

I don't know for sure, but I think Sawyer  Rylee

Camp life was tough...but we made do.  Brady and Sawyer seemed to have a special bond and he was always happy to help with bottles, mostly because Sawyer always finished first!  Linds and Cass were never far from eachother, either reading stories/playing in the tent, coloring or exploring. 

Best friends

 Fishing success....Brady caught his first salmon and as a right of passage of course had to clean it himself, with a rapt audience.  Chad and Matt also got one in the boat and boy were they tasty!

Brady and I took a hike to the top of the ridge for a great view of the lake

More beach time and joined on Monday by Uncle Bryce and Jessica

Cassidy is feeling quite expert in putting up tents so of course was right there to help Uncle Bryce and try out the finished product

We stopped on the way home in Winthrop for ice-cream and then one last stop at the top of the pass for a beautiful view and one last teary goodbye

Sorry about so many pictures, I went through them a few times and believe it or not I did exclude a lot!  We just had such great times and can't wait to do it again! 

10 months

Our girls are now 10 months old and one word sums them up....TROUBLE!  They are on the move and ready to explore.  Whoever said 2 heads are better than 1 never had twins I'm sure.  It seems that together they are willing to go farther and are more creative and I found proof in the multiples books I have that say the same thing.  In fact, they say that whatever baby proofing you did for a single baby, plan on at least doubling your efforts....oh so true!

They do love being outside and here is Rylee's first backpack nap

They have moved to baths in the bathtub and wow is that entertaining...two, usually 3 monkeys in the tub keeps me busy and laughing!  They both like to do the kaboom move and splash and Rylee loves sliding around, often on her tummy.  Cassidy enjoys taking her bath with them and sometimes is just trying to stay out of the way!

Sawyer with the duck

They are still in the bumbos. Here gnawing on some cold carrots working on their two bottom teeth, how cute are those hats!  We had just gotten back from the barn in the morning and they were waiting for their scrambled eggs. They have figured out how to move the seats around if they want something or want out.  I'm always pretty close by!

So part of the reason this post is a little late is that I have been trying to get a good picture of both of them together.  Here is what I usually get....a little blurry and on the move!  The next pictures are of some of their antics and ways they keep themselves, and me, busy!  Rylee is in the pink polo and rainbow baby legs

Who me??

They have found the tupperware drawer with a little help from Cassidy.  I now have the most organized drawer since I put it all back in every night but also happy kiddos while I manage to make some kind of dinner

Sawyer exploring

We got a new cooler for our camping adventures this next week and the girls had a lot of fun while I was trying to get some pictures...always lots of laughs!

I tried recruiting Cassidy to help get a good picture...

almost....

GOT IT!! 



Rylee                      Sawyer