Weekend Warriors

Weekends always fill up fast!  They fill up with chores, visits from friends and family, outdoor wandering, time with neighbors, trips to see family and friends, all the good stuff that makes life special and fills our hearts!  (these photos jump around - blogger - a love/hate relationship). 

 L and I painted the shutters.  New on the left, old on the right.

 Very thankful for sweet neighbors with EXTRA tall ladders. 

 Basketball!  We LOVE watching Luke play!  He has really learned so much and has gotten so much better.  He was definitely a leader on his team this season and we were so proud of how he encouraged his teammates. 

 Weekends are for "late overs".  Always, ALWAYS a scavenger hunt included!  This particular late over had a camping theme. :-)

 This guy is extra exhausted on the weekends!  Ha!  Our revolving door of kids coming and going keeps him from napping. 

 I really am a good mother and child care provider.  "Sure, go ahead and play with the snake you found.  Just wear this oven mitt."

 A big family gathering for the PA crew to meet Evelyn!  Daney and James and Evelyn hosted us all at the lake and we loved every second of being together!  Fishing for hours on end.  :-)

 These two.  Talking shop. 

 Not a bad lunch location!

 Each kid caught a fish (except Evelyn, obviously)

 Sunrise view from the kitchen

 Surreal for Mit and I to see our baby sister with a baby of her own! 

 Next to Ima, Molly is for sure the baby whisperer!!  The older kids are decorating their own cupcakes to celebrate birthday boy, J!  He is 11 now!!! 

 We spent a weekend camping and we brought along two camping newbies...James and Jasper!

 Luke was thrilled to lead a fishing discussion and clinic.  Ha! 

 Off on their fishing adventure

 A 6+ mile hike with geocaching along the way! 

 Look at James' face...pure JOY!

 The gang's all here!!! (except Coby the cat)

 The new parents and sweet Evelyn (plus cutie Maddie)

 Team Tully

 The PA crew.  

Jasper and Charlie were so happy to see each other again. :-)

 A big one! 

 This is my new favorite - taken today (one day shy of her 2 month birthday!)

 We played "pin the head on the birthday boy"  

 The two biggest animal lovers in the family!!

 The kiddos!!

J = 11

L = 9 3/4

H = 8 1/4

E = 6 weeks

 Camping lunch and hike decision!

 Friendship! 

 James is an AMAZING chess player and there is nothing like having countless outdoor matches.

And this guy...he passed his camping test with flying colors!  Hooray!  We even heard lots of coyotes howling in the night and he didn't go nuts.  I have never seen a dog who wants nothing more than to be included like Jasper.  He is a lot but he is a good dog and we love him! 

Luke is now in charge of mowing the front lawn (the backyard still has some tricky spots).  This thrills L and I....Luke is not nearly as thrilled. 

 So, hooray for weekends and the structure and spontaneity of them!  Weekend balance is something we strive for...yes, weekends are for fun and play and travel but they are also for relaxing, staying put, and getting things accomplished.  Balance - always easier said than done!