Harry Potter Party

We are going to need a pause on the kid's blog.  The adults had a Harry Potter Party and this is how it went.

 Each couple received an invitation through owl post.

 

This was the menu for the night.

 

 

 This was a last minute idea and David took off with it.  I am SO glad he did!

 

 Kandace was in charge of the Three Broomsticks and served Pumpkin Juice and Butter Beer.

Krystal was in charge of Honey Dukes and even got real Bertie Botts every flavor jelly bean. 

 I was in charge of Ollivanders and made everyone a wand to take home.

I also put together a potions table.

 And this is how we decorated.  We had real house banners that hung from the lights. 

 

 

The picture is a bit blurry but this is our Whomping Willow with a car and skeletons in it.

 

Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon aka David and Heather

Hermione and Sirius Black aka Ryan and Krystin

Hagrid's wand, lent to him by a disgruntled Maci.

Professor McGonagall and Rubeus Hagrid aka Carrie and Troy

 Fred Weasley aka Dusty

 Dobby and the Sorting Hat aka Ryan and Adrea

 Rita Skeeter and Harry Potter aka Kandace and Matt

 a Hogwarts student and Professor Trelawney aka Eden and Jessica

 Nigel and Nymphadora Tonks aka Luke and Meghann 

 a Dementor and Luna Lovegood aka Eric and Paula

Moaning Myrtle and Mad-Eye Moody aka Krystal and John

Hogwarts students before Harry was there aka Matt and Sara

 

 

This was such a fantastic night.  Good food, great company and the best of memories.  Thanks to all who came!!

Fun times in the summer

 David was washing the car... so Maci wanted to wash her mode of transportation too.

Enjoying the summer rain. 

  

This summer we made a few things for the house.  This is a toy box that turned out to be much bigger than planned.  Good news: the toys are hidden!

 

 Every time we had sandwiches for lunch, Aleck would go to the door and look out while eating.

 

 

 

 A day in the sun with the cousins.

 

 

 

 I sold their crib sets this summer and wanted a picture. 

 

 Maci wanted to sleep in our room one night.  She made her bed and all of her friends' beds too.

 

 These were our other projects.  David's was an old dresser and mine was an end table. I think both turned out so well.   

 I even made the pillow.  My first ever pillow that I have made myself.

Summer Camping

At the end of June, we went camping at the Red Lodge KOA with my parents and my brother and SIL.

  Most of us had never been over the Bear Tooth Mountains.  It is SO worth the drive! At the top, there was a scenic point where a lot of fat chipmunks live.  They ate out of your hand and one even jumped on my knee as I was squatting down.  Then he went up my arm, looking for peanuts.  Maci was a bit scared at first but then thought it was very fun.

 I mean look at those fat cheeks!!!

 These are a couple pictures of our scenery.  Pretty awesome! 

 Even in late June, there was a ton of snow.  What Maci is standing in front of was plowed from the road; a snow wall.

 We also visited Yellowstone, one of our favorite places on earth. We saw a brown bear and a black bear! We rarely see bears at all and were very lucky to see two in one day. 

 Then a week later, we went up to the Paradise Valley to camp there with the folks. Our main goal was to catch something while trying to fish. 

 Well, at least we had fun...

  Then on the last day and at the last minute, mom caught a fish. 

 Saying goodbye and hello to a nap.