The rest of July 2014

Obviously I'm trying to catch up my blog! July was jam packed. August was even more so. I don't know how we survived the summer with the insane schedule we had. I had started working part-time as an assistant to a Realtor the previous February which added a level of insanity that put a slight damper on things. Needless to say I won't be working for her this coming summer! 

Avery had been begging and begging to go to Austin to see Mackayla. It had always been the plan for me to take her but we could not figure out a time that worked. My parents were going out there for Mackayla's baptism so we decided to see if Avery wanted to go with them. Avery had always had a hard time being away from us. She had a hard time if even one of us wasn't going to be home when she went to bed, let alone when both of us were gone. I was worried that she wouldn't enjoy herself at all. After she took that course in Seattle we noticed a huge difference in her anxiety about being away from us. She thought about it for a little bit and then decided that she wanted to go. I was really proud of her maturity in all of it. This was a huge step for her. She made a packing list and we collected stuff for her to do on the airplane. 

 We FaceTimed every night and there was only one time when I could hear the sadness of missing us. I told her that every time she missed me she just needed to ask Bethany for a funny story about me to make her laugh. She has plenty of stories! Avery got to spend some time with her Westenhaver cousins as well. They spoiled her rotten and took her to Schlitterbahn and a slew of other Texas landmarks. She was very well taken care of and loved.

These girls are going to give us trouble when they're teenagers, for sure.

They even got to spend some time with my Uncle Todd.

Bethany texted me this from the airport and my heart broke. I miss my sister like crazy and these two are practically twins. Thank goodness for modern technology and 5 hour flights.

 While Avery was having the time of her life, we went to Cub Camp! With James turning 11 this was his last year. I've been in Cub Scouts with him since the beginning and have loved it, but I was so glad that this was my last year going to camp. 

We tried to do some fun stuff while Avery was gone, so the other kids wouldn't be completely jealous of everything Avery was getting to do. It was so weird having one of my children gone for a week though. The dynamic of the family was off. We were so excited to get her back. That reunion at the airport makes me tear up just thinking about it. 

With a bow hunter for a husband, it was inevitable for the kids to escape it. Ben had taken James a bunch but this time Avery wanted to be included as well. They're both really good! We belong to the Sherwood Archery Club so that's where they go. You can either shoot at targets or walk a course in the woods and shoot fake animals. 

For my mom's birthday she wanted to have a garden dinner party. We made some really good food and then just sat around the table, with the candlelight, and talked for hours. My mom has such a lovely backyard and we had never done this before!