From the mouth of babes...or Benson

So today I was informed that Benson made an announcement at school that I was expecting. WHAT!?!?! We've talked about having another baby at some point but as of today, No! Benson and his friends had been discussing the newest addition of another family in his class when Benson began to tell everyone that we were having another baby and that it's in my tummy. Oh, what to do now.....

Bishop's Pumpkin Farm

This weekend was loaded with fun goodies! Tiffany drove down from Oregon after class on Friday to spend the weekend with us. The boys were so ecstatic to see her. She arrived at the exact time they were going to sleep....thanks Tif!

Saturday morning came very early and Tiffany and I were off to scourer the Uptown, Downtown, All Around Town annual yard sale. We ended up just driving around...it was a flop this year but fun to drive around and talk for an hour. At 9 we met the boys at the soccer field for Benson's game. He's doing so well! He headed toward the goal 4 times with the ball, but the goalie was pretty good and stopped each shot. He's getting more aggressive on the field which is nice to see. Still lots of smiles and jumping around but now trying to actually get the ball from the opponents.

After the game we headed for Bishop's Pumpkin Farm. The boys always look forward to the train ride and hay jump. As we got to our first activity at the farm I brought out my camera and started shooting....no MEMORY CARD! Ugh! I used my sister's phone and Alisha grabbed a couple shots for us too (I'll post those when they come).

Summer in Review

I've fallen behind and haven't gotten a chance to catch up on all the great fun we had this summer. So much has happened and changed that life has seemed to slip by. Here is our summer in review plus a little bit of fall that is just beginning...

May/June: Father and Sons and Girls Camp

Father and Son's

Justin took both boys up this year to celebrate the commemoration of the Aaronic Priesthood. Our ward combined with the 1st ward which John and Ann attend. Justin was in charge of the program which went well other than for the boys going nuts, according to Justin. During the night Justin had some challenges with Benson and his ears to they ended up coming home in the middle of the night. The next morning we headed back up to Zion's Camp to collect the tent and everything else that was abandoned during the night. Unexpectedly, we got to enjoy a day with the family up at Zion's.

A couple weeks later we found ourselves back up at Zions to set up my tent for girls camp. Friday night was our first in a tent as a family. It went better than Father and Son's camp out!

They loved sitting by the fire and watching the embers float into the air. Being our first time camping, we had to purchase the boys some camping chairs. They thought it was great to have their very own chair!

Enjoying one S'more after another.

This was their favorite - watching the popcorn expand into a ball of yummy treats!
The next morning they got to try out fishing for the first time. They loved that too!

Yay! We caught a fish!! I was perched against a tree with Max on my chest napping when the official catch took place. Justin seemed more excited than Benson! :)


July began as always, Happy 4th of July !!

Most of the nieces and nephews enjoying the Annual Biggs Downtown Parade!

{Tanner, Tyler, Brady, Jaxson, Brenden, Addison, Benson, Max}

-Missing the McLeans-

Justin showing off the mouth piece that the boys just had to have at the parade.

4th of July Party at the Carr's House.

Benson learned to swim this year. He was so excited to show he could jump off the diving board and swim all the way to the side without any assistance! Great job Benson! We're proud of you! Next year we're thinking of swim team...we'll see.

Annual 4th of July Photo.

The day before heading off to Oregon for some family reunions, I was hired to take pictures for the Bowling's Family Reunion in Gridley.

Then we were off to Oregon. Justin wasn't able to attend last minute - we missed daddy :( but we had fun.

We headed to Shady Cove Oregon, where the Tolman's lived for a short while. The Joseph H. Stewart Park was beautiful and we had a lot to do.

Tolman Family Photo

- Missing: Justin & Matt-

Swimming down at the river. A little murky by the shore but it wasn't as bad out away from the rocks and mud.

We went on a hike up the road a ways. There were amazing shoots of water all along one of the paths. The kids enjoyed playing in a little pool of water, which was absolutely FREEZING! Okay, maybe not freezing, but it was less than 50 degrees!
Each night we met as a family for dinner and a fireside. It was nice to reconnect with everyone after the day of activities and have time together.

The boys really enjoyed the fish hatchery too. They loved watching the entire pool of fish jump at the food.

After 3 days at the reunion we headed north about 4 more hours to my hometown. We enjoyed one day of rest there before we returned 2 hours south to shoot my cousin's wedding.

My cousin M'Liss' wedding. It was SO HOT! About 100 degrees and practically NO SHADE or NO AIR CONDITIONING! That's what you get for having it at Wildlife Safari. It was a nice ceremony, lasting only about 10 minutes. The chairs were nearly empty because all the people were crammed in the little areas around where the tiny trees were planted, trying to stay out of the direct sun.

After the ceremony we enjoyed a little more shade. My sister was a life-saver. She and my dad endured the boys throughout the day while I worked.

After a long day we headed north again to my mom's house. Now for the Locher Reunion. My mom's side of the family was gathering in Albany as we were away for the day in Roseburg. Donell and her kids came down to enjoy some time together as well. It was great to see them and spend the days together along with my family.

Hike to Silver Falls

Some of my amazing Aunts and my Mom
{Aunt Melissa, Mom, Aunt Jeanette, Aunt Tina}

It was quite the hike with the umbrella strollers and flip flops. On the way back up we had to stop several times and rest. We'd be pushing one and carrying another on our backs. Luckily, we had some family with us to help us along the way. {Max, Libby, Adelaide, Loralai, Donell, Atticus, Benson}

Enjoying the walk behind the South Fall
{Tiffany, Benson, Max, Mom}

{Mom, Max and Benson}

One day we headed for the Oregon Coast - Oh, how I miss the Coast. It was beautiful. This was the boys' first time at the Ocean. It was very cool and windy as the Oregon Coast usually is. We tried to fly a kite but our kite flying skills aren't the best and apparently I bought a "trick" kite that you can do cool things with...but all we could do was run it into the sand.

I got to shoot the Tesch's family photos too. Jared got to come down to Albany for a day to hang out just before he left for his scout camp.



The day we left we headed for the Albany Pond and rode the paddle boats for a while. Benson and Max loved being able to steer. We raced across which was a lot more tiring than I had imagined.

That evening we headed back home. It had been a long 2 weeks without dad!

The next day I was hired to attend the Biggs '87, '88, '89, '90 High School Reunions.

Amy and Travis' Class Photo

Afton's Class Photo

One afternoon the Laurels had a little boating trip. It was fun to hang out with the girls. They were so good at "tube jumping". I was chicken, so I stayed in the boat and took lots of fun pictures!

{Melissa, Trisha, Libby, Holly & Heidi}

The next day I had my 3rd wedding of the season...

Elise and Kyle

{Oakland Temple}

The following day we went to Sunsplash with the youth. That evening was the reception for the wedding....and then Sunday came and....

Justin was sustained as the new Bishop!

{Tom Tripp, Justin, Jim Brown}

The Butte County fair was fast approaching and each year the grandkids grow pumpkins, sunflowers and whatever else they choose at grandma and grandpa Tolman's house. For Family Home Evening one night the kids went out to pick their pumpkins to turn into the fair.

{A week later was the fair and each one of the kids got 1st place!!!}

The following weekend, another wedding...

Jenny and Grant

{The Palms, Chico California}

Then, the following week we headed for Oregon again. A good friend of mine was getting married. So we made a quick trip up and Justin got to go!!!

{Tiffany was holding Benson off to the side}

Kim and Jeff

{Inman Family Ranch, Elmira Oregon}

It was a beautiful wedding! We had a great night and enjoyed catching up with with old friends.

Saturday morning we woke up early and headed to Timerland Park to watch the hot air balloons take off.

Each year they have an Air and Art Festival and 15 - 30 hot air balloons take off and paint the sky. This particular morning it was very cool and foggy. Many of the balloons went up and then down and landed in the parking lot of a dealership and the fields surrounding the park. The boys loved watching the entire process. They even got to go up and touch the balloon as it was airing up.

Benson and Max loved playing with Grandma and Grandpa in Grandma Heidi's backyard. This is one of my favorite pictures!

Their favorite part of the yard...Swinging!

Grandma has an enormous garden. Benson and Max got to pick pumkins to take home...and it is only August!

Mom wanted a picture of us girls...

On our way home that evening we stopped at my Aunt Tina's house and took pictures of her grandkids, Nathan and Zoey.

September is here and that means the beginning of school, soccer, and fall photo shoot for my boys.

Max loves to pretend he's part of the team. He's always off playing on the side of the field during Benson's games. Coach Jorge is so nice... he lets Max practice with the team during the week. It's fun to watch Max at the end of the games. He runs up and does the cheer and then stands in line with the team to shake hands with the opponents.

Sharing suckers..they are funny to watch
{Brady and Max}

He's getting more aggressive which is good to see. The first couple of games he was all smiles and just happy to run along side the opponents with the ball. Now he's actually trying to get the ball from them.

What a cute soccer player!

First day of school. He was so excited to be back with his friends. This year he goes twice a week, and then next year it's off to kindergarten....he's growing so fast :(

Throughout the last couple of months I was also able to shoot some adorable babies. Here are a couple pictures of them.

{Alex}

{Karam}

All and all, it was a busy and eventful summer. We are happy that fall has come and the weather is finally beginning to cool down.