Summer Fun

Doesn't this just epitomize what summer is?

For this four year old it was the perfect ending to a day at the children's museum.

And even though we found the one place busier on a weekday than the weekend 

it truly was worth it to see these two cooperating and working together;

on their own accord with out fighting!

O Pioneers

Around here July 24 is considered a local holiday. It is a day where we celebrate the founding of our state. We specifically remember the pioneers- members of the LDS church who left their homes back East to avoid persecution. Following the advice of their leader and prophet, Brigham Young, they traveled across the plains for many months. Towing hand carts these pioneers forged through rough terrain and all kinds of weather to a land unfamiliar.

This weekend we traveled to a place unfamiliar to us and spent some time remembering our fore fathers at This Is The Place Heritage Park.

While we didn't have to walk we felt like we were forging into some new territory as we tried to get to this place (We forgot there was a marathon and a parade).

One of our first stops was to learn how wool was made into yarn.

The back yard flower gardens were used to make the dye for the various colors.

Bud Boy loved the toy room as we toured Brigham Young's first house. 

The first thing Jolly J noticed was that the exterior was pink!  

We learned that Brigham Young loved the pink rock of this valley 

and wanted to reflect that in his home.

(sorry no pictures- we were rushing to catch the train for the candy cannon).

We learned the meaning of the phrase "sleep tight".

The mattresses were filled with down or straw. These were laid on top of ropes stretched across the bed. The ropes where connected to a crank. They would then turn the crank to tighten the ropes thus making the bed tight.

After lunch we explored the seas

where Bud Boy found a great place for a nap.

It was then time for a little gold digging.

We cashed in our gold (for a piece of candy) at the local bank.

(This was my favorite part. This guy really played his character well.)

It was then on to the barber shop. Let me tell you it's a good thing our scissors have changed over the years.

The barber shared some about bloodletting. Did you know that was what contributed to George Washington's death? He had gotten sick. As was common practice at that time they needed to get the sickness out. Get the bad blood out. They took out 5 pints. ("Holy Cow!" was my husband's response) George went into a coma and never recovered.

We also tried our hand at leather working.

(No she isn't smoking a cigar-it's beef jerky)

We couldn't pass up the opportunity to take a picture of this corner chair.

After a full days worth of fun in the sun we retired to our car. As we turned up the A/C and my youngest two quickly drifted off to sleep, I was grateful. Grateful that we didn't have to return home as the pioneers came here.

My daily reminder

This past weekend I had the privilege of quietly watching as a girl went through the temple for her first time. The final preparation before her upcoming marriage for time and all eternity to the man she loved. As I sat next to this girl, a stranger to me but someone I felt connect to. I couldn't help reflect on how I felt and what I thought when it was me. It seemed like it was just yesterday.

My thoughts then turned to, "How did I get here?"......

I have been married long enough I can hardly remember what it was like to be single and living with my parents.

I have five kids!

I have a teenager.

I remember making dinner and having enough left overs to last for lunch the next few days. Now I have to double the recipe just to have enough for one meal.

I no longer just hear mothers say they are a soceer mom and a chauffeur. I am living that life!


Today as I read some blogs, I was reminded of some frustrating times and some similar cute things my kids used to do. At the time they were so real and now I could hardly remember that they happened.

My thoughts have culminated into this post where I have realized this has been a time for me to once again be reminded. I need to take time to enjoy and be grateful for what is going on in my life right now.

All to soon, when my kids are grown, I will sit down in a quiet house, uninterrupted, to write a blog entry. My house will not be in an uproar when I finish and will think, "How did I get here?"

Summer Reading

We love books! The summer is a perfect time for us to get lost in a story. I love what my oldest said to her father the other day, "The problem with finishing a book is you have become so involved in the characters' lives you just want it to keep going."

She just recently finished living with the characters in the Ink Heart series and is now reading, Princess of the Midnight Ball  by Jessica Day George that her grandmother loaned her.

Minnie has been taking suggestions from Karebear and is currently loving, My Fairy Grandmother by Aubrey Mace

As for me, I spend every minute I can reading FableHaven. (I know I'm a little behind the times). I love to go from one book to the next in a series so sometimes I hold off until most of the books have been written. I didn't do that with Hunger Games though, My daughter and I read this together. Can't wait until August 24! We even pre-ordered it.

Jolly J always loves a good mystery and if it is at all scary it is right up her alley. She is currently reading  books from the Nancy Drew series.

The other day Tator and I quite enjoyed reading this gem from the library,  Cinderella's Rat by Susan Meddaugh. It is the basic Cinderella story but told from the view of the rat (you know the one who gets turned into the coachmen).

My sons current favorite is A Place to Sleep by Holly Meade. I'm not sure why, but we can't go a day without him dragging it to somebody to read it to him.

What are you reading this summer?

Christmas in July

We know a wonderful lady! If you happen to be associated with her in any way connected to visiting teaching you will get the privilege of themed monthly tea parties during the warmer months.

Once a summer she also holds one for family. She affectionately calls this Christmas in July. This years theme was

Complete with a partridge in a pear tree

and her porcelain dolls displayed everywhere as the nine ladies dancing

 It has become a tradition for the girls to get dolled up and put on a fashion show.

 This year included:

Painted nails

and masks made by Karebear.

The highlight is a multi-course luncheon on the back patio

 and presents, since it is Christmas after all.

Open House

The Fourth of July is a pretty big deal around here. There is a lot of events to help celebrate this day. It has become tradition for our family to have a BBQ and front yard fireworks. When we first started our remodeling we had our goal to be finished before our BBQ. We almost reached our goal, but enough was done and we were ready for a break from housework every weekend. Ready to play! The planned trim work around the windows we will tackle this fall.

If you so desire to look,  here's a sampling of our "new home" we are enjoying.

The Kitchen

(I forgot to get a good before picture.
Too excited to get started I guess)

 (After)

 Could you spot the differences?

We tiled, painted and put in new counter tops

 We then ripped out this carpet from the hall way, two main living rooms and the master bedroom.

After painting the white walls we replaced it with this

 (living room connected to the kitchen)

(front living room-what the front door opens into)




We put tile down the hall way

And the re did the bathroom at the end of the hallway.

(before)

(after)

One Word

could describe June for us

CAMP

We started out with a trip to some family land (technically we went Memorial day weekend but it was the way we started the kids summer break). It was still pretty cold, but we took advantage of the wind to fly kites.

 

Kare bear spent a week at Girls Camp.

When asked about camp she said her favorite things were getting our camp sweatshirts, waterfront (canoeing on the lake), free time and doing the dishes-it's fun at camp!

 She really enjoyed doing flag ceremony and the confidence courses. She didn't do those last year. She also enjoyed testimony meeting and having mom and dad come up for that night. One of the benefits of having your dad be the bishop. Plus she got input on what the bishopric cooked for dinner that night-Spaghetti. Which they all loved even if the noodles got burnt a little.








 The next week Jolly J spent a week at Camp Big Springs

She enjoyed crafts, a zip line, silly camp songs and skits. They went on a 7 mile round trip hike to a glacier where they made snow cones. She also enjoyed a chance to meet some new friends.

Yesterday Minnie, Jolly J and mom went to Activity Days Day Camp.

The girls got to make and launch foam rockets, do archery, boondoggling and shoot BB guns. The highlight was the newly added climbing walls.

As I look on July's calendar I thing swimming could be a word to sum it up. We have swimming lessons and a few trips to various water parks planned.
Should be fun!