Cousin Day

 Life has gotten extra busy for my Utah cousins.  No one could commit to our annual 3 day camp out and so we decided to camp overnight in one of their backyards.  Then that got shortened to just a Saturday of hanging out together.  According to Ryan it has been "A Summer of Changed Plans!"  I guess I need to not tell him any plans until right before they happen.  While it wasn't sleeping in a tent, the kids all got along, the adults got to chat and we didn't have as big of a mess to clean up.

 We had a picnic lunch and then headed over to Dairy Queen for treats.  GiGi Bonnie got the biggest shake of all and finished every last drop!  We all love her.

 The kids were all in heaven when Adarienn pulled out her perler bead (iron beads, melty beads) collection.  They each did a couple masterpieces and could have kept going had we allowed it.

 The dads sat around and talked about nerdy stuff.  We eventually got them to play a few card games.

 The kids played around in the huge backyard with basketball, skateboards, climbing trees and making art.  Nathan got everyone to sit down and play Telestrations at one point.  I heard lots of laughter.

 We were supposed to have a little camp fire and roast marshmallows but all of a sudden it was 8:15 and we hadn't started any fire.  At first we said we would just not do them but since the kids were a bit disappointed (summer of changed plans) we decided to try it the easy way.  We turned on the broiler and did them all at once.  It worked beautifully!  Everyone was happy and we didn't have a huge mess to clean up.  While it was a little different of a day, I really enjoyed relaxing and spending time with my extended family.

The Float

This week marks having lived in our home for 10 years.  TEN YEARS!!  That is amazing!  I lived in my Folsom home for barely over 10 years before I moved to college.  Weird!  During all of that time I think I have only helped with a float for the Round-Up Parade once, as in 1 day and probably only 1 hour.  I have been kind of proud of that number and don't feel bad about it one bit.  So, imagine my surprise when in April I got a phone call from a nice lady down the street asking if I could be on the committee this year and help build the float.  I almost laughed.  I was really hesitant and told her I'd come to the first meeting and see.  And then I forgot the first meeting, totally spaced it.  So I called Anna up and told her about some of my reservations about helping with the float.  Time and Money were the 2 big ones (the only ones).  She assured me I could help as much or as little as would work for my family.  She also explained how the city gives us money to build the floats.  She also explained why.  Our city is pretty steeped in religion and don't want any alcoholic beverages served or advertised at our rodeo.  With the neighborhoods each doing a float, serving at the concession stands or doing clean-up we can get away with not having alcohol there.  Since I couldn't really argue with such a great thing I agreed to help, when I could.  It seems like I was always there, sometimes just with Anna and sometimes with other friends.  It took SO many hours.  I should have counted it up.  Definitely over 30.  My kids would say, "You are going to work on the float again?!"  While I can't imagine doing it any time soon, I am proud of my work and I am happy for what I have learned and the friendships I have made & strengthened.  The theme for the city was "In My Dreams..." and our ward did, "In My Dreams Adventure Takes Flight."  Here are some pictures of the progression of the float:

 About 8 layers of paper mache on this balloon.  Plus some Steel enforcements and a wood base.  With a couple balloon popping this took FOREVER!

 Kristin and I made these crazy mountains.  Anna said, "Go for it" and we did.  Love how they turned out!

 Starting to put things on the base.  We walked it around the block and were so happy it seemed so stable.

 Love how the flowers added color.  The monkey was all Amy and was amazing.

 Susan got to ride 10 mph to bring it to the starting point and make sure nothing fell off.

 The fringe and festooning (2 words I learned on this journey) are on and we are ready to be judged.

 My kids have walked in the parade two other times.  They have always asked about riding on the float.  Thanks to my many hours of hard work the girls got to ride on the float.  Nathan pulled it.  And Ryan held one of our banners.  Ryan was a little put out that he was too big to go on the float and sad that I didn't work on it when he was younger, but I think they were all happy to be a part of it this year.

 Close-ups:)  We may not have won any medals or ribbons, but I think it looked awesome. 

 

 

 

 

Rodeo Week

 We live in a pretty cool place.  Every year we have a week of festivities.  We have never gone to everything, but we try to do a couple things every year.  This year I was roped into being on the float committee but I will get into that on my next post.  During the actual week, aside from the parades and float, we went to a comedy night and to the rodeo.  The comedy was pretty funny and the kids seemed to enjoy it and laugh.  Callie fell asleep at the beginning but woke up when I try to pry the sucker out of her hand.  She remained happy and awake the rest of the time.

 The rodeo was cold and wet.  I am not a huge fan of the rodeo, but for some reason the kids think it is amazing.   They really wanted to go this year and so we said okay.  After 1.5 hours of sitting in cold rain, I had had enough and took the girls home.  Greg and the boys walked and got home right before 11pm!  I think we are good for another couple years.

 I wish Annabelle wasn't blurry here.  Whenever it rains, my kids (Nathan would want me to say, "girls") like me to sing "If all the raindrops" and then they look up and try to eat the raindrops.  I love watching them do this and often join in. 

Swim Lessons

 After a year off of swim lessons I knew it was time to go again.  We went back to the place the kids went 4 years ago and I loved it.  I was nervous about Callie starting but was SO proud of her first day.  No tears and when the coaches gave her the option of going off the diving board or being done, she went and lined up to jump.  I was SHOCKED and even got a little emotional seeing how brave she was.  Later that day, at lunch, she said, "I just keep thinking about how I jumped off the diving board!"  I told her, "So do I."  I was so surprised and nervous watching her that I didn't even take a picture.  Annabelle also jumped off all by herself for the first time.  Both Annabelle and Ryan improved great over the week.  It was fun to see their skills improve, as well as their confidence.  And then there was Callie.  That first day was great, and then as the week progressed she got more and more scared.  She does NOT like to put her face in the water and even had a hard time jump off the side of the pool to her teachers (something she loves to do with me).  I thought for sure I would have had a chance to take a picture of her on the diving board again, but no.  We have swim lessons again this week and I am really nervous for how she will do.  I don't want to make her do something she is scared about, but I know she can do it and want her to try.  We shall see how this week goes.

Picking Cherries

This has become a family tradition that my children love!  I am not the hugest fan of cherries, but I am happy to spend an afternoon with Greg's wonderful mother while the kids go at it.  This time it was a couple days before her birthday so we brought her dinner and had a nice afternoon of just our family and her.  That was last Sunday and while we have ate them throughout the week today I finally made a couple cherry pies.  It took over and hour to pit them all, but it was worth it.  Cherry pie is much better than a cherry on its own, in my opinion.

Summertime

We have been having a great summer.  Especially if you come over to my house during the first half of the day.  By 6pm I am tired and things get a little crazy.  But the start of the day usually goes pretty well.  Thanks to the Power Of Mom's Summer Camp Kit we have got our mornings down.  The kids know exactly what they need to do.  I have taught these ideas twice now in my neighborhood and I am happy to say that it is working well in our home.  My kids take care of all the things they need to do and if they need help I am around but for the most part they can do it themselves.  I do help Callie, but sometimes her older siblings take that role and earn a service point. 
We don't have too many things planned for our weeks (scouts, book club, park days) so that leaves more room to play with friends, family, go to the pool and just relax.  We do have swim lessons for the next 2 weeks so we shall see how everyone does getting out of the house by 8:40 each day. 
I am also working on a float for Lehi Round-Up days.  This takes a couple hours every day and is one of the main reasons for my crazy evenings.  The girls are excited that they get to be on the float, but it has been hours and hours of work, and we still have another week with all the final details.  In all the years (10) I have been here I haven't ever helped much.  I have walked in the parade once and I think I helped once, but this year I am on the committee.  I knew it would be a large time commitment and knowing that has helped me be more okay with my time spent there.  I do miss making nice dinners and I know my kids miss me, at least a tiny bit, since they comment as I leave, "You are going there again?!" One more week!
Here are some pics from the last week: