Another Kepsel Family Night

Sometimes, on Monday nights when we're having Family Night, things get a little carried away. A little off-subject, you might say. The big bouncy balls had something to do with the lesson... I'm pretty sure. 

I'm also pretty sure that Emmy started this.
We were due for new family pictures any way, right? Minus Caleb? I so wish he was in these photos too.

But he was happily behind the lens, and soon started saying things like "Ok, now work it!"

Which, apparently, my kids know how to do. Yes, Claire is wearing Jonah's Spider Man pajamas. Don't be alarmed.
I think Emmy's is twins. At least.

And then, the inevitable belly bouncing began.
No one was injured in the making of these photos.

The bellies bouncing and rolling around on the grass I chose to opt out of, partly because I would have pulled something and squished something, and partly because one second after this I was running for the potty.

It's a pregnancy thing.

Grow little greens, grow!

As with every year that we have gardened here on our sunny hill, some things are growing great and others are not. The mystery of this phenomenon is one that I don't plan on ever solving. 

Come, let us show you what we're growing.
Those are little melon plants next to Jonah there. They got a late start.

But joy of joys, the peaches are growing this year!
The tragedy of no peaches last year is something that I'm still trying to get over. I need therapy.

I often go and gaze at these little green fuzz balls just to calm my peach deprived soul. That's therapy, man!

Now, honestly, the tomato mystery is one that I hope to solve one day. I'm a tomato growing failure. But every year, without fail, Pete's tomatoes grow and grow and produce and produce. I don't get it. 

Those plants on the left are tomatillo's, and we're going to attempt Salsa Verde this fall! 

Super stoked about that. 

This little Pole Bean Tepee is working awesome! I've never grown beans before, and they are very rewarding. Jonah was convinced that I was sneaking out at night and winding the little vines around the bamboo myself.
We left a wide opening on one side so they can play in there, and they do! It's the cutest.
Please disregard Emmy's grouchy face - she's mad at me for asking her to smile into the sun. Sacrifice for the photo, kid!!
Just kidding.

I think.

And then there's this little pea lover. If Claire is MIA, there's a very good chance that she has snuck into Pete's garden again and is busily working away on his pea plants.
She keeps ours cleared and has to mooch off of his.

No one's complaining.

My little comedian

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

This photo

We had a little 3-day family shin-dig at the Crystal Hot Springs Campground after the Fourth last weekend, and while some of us were playing in the pools and sitting around the campfire and eating ourselves silly, this group of relatives/biking nuts were... well, biking! 

I snapped this photo just before they took off on their first ride, and when I saw it now on my computer I couldn't stop laughing. LOOK at it! It's like a magazine! They're all smiling and happy and cute and fit and dressed all snazzy and it's just funny to me. Is this even real life?

Yes, yes it is. And Caleb's loving it.

His bike is possibly the best birthday gift I've ever given him. Score for me. I like to take credit for his happiness every chance I get.

Beating the Heat

A few Saturday afternoons ago the five of us were baking in the living room in our home, feeling less and less every minute like being civil to one another. 

Caleb took matters into his own hands by walking out the front door into the furnace, getting in his 4Runner, and driving away. 

He returned a few minutes later with a bag from the hardware store containing one plastic painters drop cloth, having spent a whopping $3.00. 

Much refreshment and happiness and family friendliness was the result. This man has skills.

A few tent stakes (and rocks), a sprinkler, a bouncy pool to serve as crash pad, and we were ready to go.

 It was possibly the best $3 he's ever spent. Not only did it cool us down, but it saved our sanity!

 Well, as long as you consider this "sane." I promise the younger kids enjoyed the slip and slide too. Caleb chose to gracefully enter the pool at the end of his slides, rather than just run into it.

 Marriage is never boring when you're married to a kid.

 I should have taken some video of the event - this girl has some major sliding skills.

Claire and I spent most of our time splashing each other in the pool and eating cherries on the porch. She is my fellow food consumist (not a word).

See? Cherries.
Best afternoon ever.