I won't lie...starting in August I begin looking for the perfect holiday card picture opportunity. Over the years there have been good pictures, bad pictures and ones that will just have to do. Two kids is pretty tough...three kids is nearly impossible! Why is looking at the camera so hard? Why can't everyone smile at the same time? Not to worry, you won't be seeing any of these pictures in your mailbox come Christmas time.
Everyone's a clown...
These guys are getting so big!
Like her brothers, this girl loves going to school. Here she is, first day of a new school year. Annemarie goes to school two days a week from 9-3. She loves her teacher and classmates.
It was very uneventful...on Saturday morning (prior to the 9a soccer game) Jack came into our bedroom with his tooth in his hand. "Look Mom, my tooth fell out." Just like that. The new one had already started to come in. Jack said he wiggled the tooth a little and it fell out. The other one on the bottom is holding strong though with the new teeth coming in it's getting a little crowded.
Aww...Labor Day. It was hot and sunny and since school has already begun it felt a lot like the end of summer. We spent the afternoon at Les Mason (a state park on Whitefish Lake). The kids swam and played. It was a great day. Peschels stopped by in their boat and Doug tried paddle boarding for a little bit, something we may need to look into for next summer.
How many Peppmeiers can you fit in a blow up raft?
All smiles
Will getting a paddle board ride from Laura
Happy Labor Day!
Will and Jack are on the same soccer team this year (yay!). Saturday was their first game. They did great and had lots of fun. Next time I'll take video to show how much they've improved since last year.
Will (at the front of the line) getting ready to shoot a goal
Jack, working on his ball control
The start of school has happened! Will's first day was Aug. 31 and Jack's was Sept. 1. Will is in Mrs. Akey's 2nd grade class. Will really likes his classmates and thinks his teacher is great! He especially likes how Mrs. Akey does snack in her classroom, while the students are eating she reads them a book. The first two days of school Will woke up early and was ready to get the day started (very unusual for our late riser). 
Jack is in Mrs. Morgan's 1st grade class. He thinks his teacher is very nice. He likes 1st grade but they don't get to play much in class. Jack is in a great class with a bunch of fun kids (and parents). Jack was especially excited about his "mailbox" in the classroom and likes being on the big playground (Kindergarten had a separate playground). Jack was very happy to find his friend Matthew during recess so they could play together (they are not in the same class this year).
Will on the trail
Hot and sticky (I chose not to take pictures while they were whining...not their best performance)
Doug and I with the "happy hikers"
A view of the burned area and new growth
Jack and Matthew playing cards back at camp
While Mick and Chris were visiting we spent a day in the park. We drove Going to the Sun Road to Logan Pass and hiked up to Hidden Lake. It was a bit breezy and chilly when we first got there but the wind died down and the sun came out. We even did some hiking in the snow...
Jack and the Logan Pass sign
Jack and Annemarie feeling the wind in their hair
Let's hike!
The boys with Grandpa and Grandma
Doug wearing Annemarie's pink Hello Kitty sunglasses
mountain goats
Almost there!
Beautiful Hidden Lake
We made it!
Will, Jack and Annemarie enjoying ice cream outside Sweet Peaks.
Everyone at the top of Big Mountain. It was a bit hazy but you can see Whitefish Lake in the background.
Willing finishing stong on the Alpine Slide at Big Mountain.
Everyone in the water at Les Mason.
Corey was in town over the weekend and we had a great visit. Corey spent lots of time with the kids, we went to City Beach, the park, she took them to Huckleberry Days and she and Erin took the boys to Stumptown Art Studio. And of course we had ice cream from Sweet Peaks every day! We even got an adult dinner in one night. Thanks for coming to visit Corey! Come back soon!
Last weekend Eleanore was in Montana camping with her family in GNP. Team Peppmeier and Stef and Tyler all drove over to visit with her and the Brophy family. It was great to see Eleanore and visit with everyone. We took a boat ride, spent time in the water and had a picnic.
