Wet n' Wild

Family Night this week was a trip to the park to play in the water. Michael spent the evening scooting along the bottom of the shallow water yelling, "Look at me Mommy, I'm SWIMMING!" Zach found 2 activities completely enthrawling...hunting for tiny balls (told you he can find them anywhere)

And trying to get me wet! I chopped off his head in this picture, but you can see his method. He would scoop the water in his hands and then run like mad to dump it on me. By the time he reached me it had all dribbled out, so I stayed pretty dry, but he was determined. I ended up with several small wet handprints all over my jeans.

While we were there there was a performance going on, so we enjoyed the music and dances of Mexico while the kids splashed around.

No story here, just some cute mug shots.

Pioneer Day

We are so lucky to live in Utah, where July 24th is one of the biggest holidays of the year. For those of you non-utahites July 24th is Pioneer Day. Doesn't sound exciting? Well, imagine you are 5 and the day invoves a big parade, all kinds of cool pioneer activities and the loudest biggest fireworks of the summer! Get the picture?

There is so much to do it is really hard to choose. We started our day at Liberty Park watching all the floats from the parade make their last circle.There were so many cool ones, but this is the only one that stopped long enough that I could snap a picture with the boys.

Then we walked across the park to the aviary (free that day) and checked out all our feathered friends. Michael was the navigator...

The boys had a ball. They laughed at all the different birds and we stood in front of each cage FOREVER before I could pursuade them to move on. One can only stare at a vulture or a magpie for so long! The whole time Daniel kept saying, "Nonner Titten!" Which translated means, "Another chicken," I tried to stimulate his 2 year old brain by telling him all the birds names, but he would have none of it. They were ALL chickens!

I am not sure who was more interested, the boys or....

the birds... these little cuckoos stared at the boys for a long time, following them as far as they could along the fence.

It was so hot, but we had a good time. Then it was off to the house for a yummy lunch and a lesson in pioneer candy-making. The boys wanted to make taffy. I have never made candy before, but last year I got a candy thermometer and was excited to figure it out. How hard could it be?! HARD! It looked so shiny and pretty in the pot that I thought I was on a roll. This part was too hot for tiny fingers so I had to do it.

Then after it cooled a little it was time for a good old-fashioned taffy pull. The candy was still pretty hot and Michael was the only one brave enough to touch it. I think his favorite part was rubbing slimy butter in between his fingers.

I wanted to snap a pic of the actual pulling, but it happened so fast and my fingers were too sticky so this is the best you get.

The neighbor boys came over right as we were finishing up so we gave them a taste. They said thank you, but I'm not so sure they liked it.

My sugar-monsters LOVED it.

It didn't turn out like taffy, though. It was hard and tasted more like butterscotch candy. Oh well.

After our pioneer "treat" we packed up and headed back to the park for a picnic and fireworks.

I didn't get any pics of the fireworks, but here are the kids trying to set the record for the world's longest glowstick chain.

Now aren't you wishing you lived in Utah?

"And the Rocket's Red Glare..."

I am so behind in posts... There have been 2 trips to Boise, several fun outings, and so many cute little boy moments that have happened since last I typed. Maybe I'll get around to covering all that in a later post, but for now, here are the 2 biggest highlights of the last month (both happen to be on the same weekend). Oh, I stole the photos off Stacy's blog...Thanks photographer-extraordinare!



We spent the 4th of July at my brother Jim's house, since they have a yard and we only have a community mud pit! My parents and sister Stacy's family were along for the ride. I think we overwhelmed them with children. The sun and the noise were too much for John and Jay, who spent the afternoon napping in the shade.


When he WAS awake, John did what he does best... look at those baby blues!

The kids had a ball playing in the kiddie pool, running in the grass, riding bikes, and...mowing the sidewalk. Notice the helmet, it's a dangerous job!

Thank you Andrew, for passing down those blue-eye genes!

The shiner was aquired earlier in the week when the boys were building a bridge out of a boxspring mattress (ouch!)

Of course there were fireworks and sparklers. I always wonder how my kids don't set themselves on fire with those things!

Blue-Eyed Blessing

The second big event of the summer was the next day. John finally had his baby blessing. Can you see the giant red mosquito bites? It's because the baby acne had all cleared up! Still a cutie.
Mommy says, "Don't love your brother so hard!"

They put on a good show, don't they?