August 2017

During the first half of August I just tried to smash in as much fun as possible before the second half hit with school preparations and school starting.  I found a good deal on a used trampoline and the kids helped go get it and set it up.  It has a net, but they could not wait for the net before trying it out.  It's just what these two energetic boys needed!

We went up to the ranch one day so the boys would be entertained outdoors, while I worked on writing the primary program.  I found that this year if I made the seating chart first and then made the different groups off of that, then things worked out better.  The primary program was definitely easier the second time doing it! 

We had these two huge trees in our front yard taken down in August.  One was dying and the other was soon to follow, so we said goodbye.

Reading inside during the blazing hot part of the day was a lovely memory this August.  I finished reading the Harry Potter series to the boys!  It took us about 6 months to read all of them, and it was truly a special time for all of us.  Harry Potter is now a favorite character around here.  The turtle is named after him and the boys want to be Harry Potter characters for Halloween.

After we finished we were missing reading time, so Timmy asked me to read Charlott'es Web to him for the third time.

Brian and Timmy did plenty of reading on their own and together pouring over different books we have.

Timmy begged for a book about Oceans so Mark ordered this one.  The fish tank has sparked a major ocean loving side in Timmy.  He learns and remembers all kinds of details about reef life in particular.

Brian started the Redwall books and breezes through them too fast for me to get the next one.  He reads faster than I do now.

We had a large party in our backyard with the Hsiao family and their long time best friends family.

Playing in the park is always an easy summer outing.

Here's another day at the ranch.  A six wheeler ride with grandpa is always a favorite!

So is floating down the ditch.

Mark spent an entire Saturday grinding away the four huge stumps left over from taking down our trees this summer.

I found a home for our little Snowball.  She was getting picked on and so I gave her to a lady with one other small chicken who needed a companion.  I hope she is doing better there.  I miss her.

We took one last beautiful day at the ranch before school started.  I can't get enough of summers up there.

This time Brian, Jordan and Matthew found some good antler sheds during their adventures up on the hill.

Timmy played on the trampoline.

And they all got in the hot tub.

Grandma Joycie helped the boys get ready for school on a visit to her house.  I can't believe she still fits in her old tiny school desk.  She is the cutest and tiniest most wonderful grandma!

And school began!  Brian is in fourth grade and Timmy is in second.

They were nervous to be back, but excited to see their buddies!

They watched the eclipse at school and I went and enjoyed it with Pip.  I loved the moon shaped shadows on the back driveway.

After school started a quick play on the tramp is all we could fit in some days.  Homework and practicing take most of their time at home now. 

Unfortunately for me, that first week of school was miserable and difficult.  I had major vertigo attacks almost every other day that week.  I never had a chance to recover and felt like my whole week was spent trying to stay alive.  While trying to find medication to help, I took my blood pressure at RiteAid.  I'm wondering if low blood pressure has anything to do with it.

August ended with Mark teaching the boys how to fly fish in the field. I was a bit sad to say goodbye to summer and get back into the school routine.  Goodbye beautiful summer!

July 2017

It is September 6th today.  Last night Mark said, "Your blog is dead."  He was both right and wrong on that point.  Since I am two months behind then yes it is a bit dead.  But I am determined to not let it be dead permanently.  It is too valuable to me to have this record.  Summer just got a little full with this awesome life and I got behind a bit.

So here is July in all its fullness!  I crammed so much into that one little month and I would not want it any other way.  That is what July is for in my mind. . . adventure, family, outdoors, Shakespeare Festival, freedom, and fun!

We started the month with a Saturday family trip to Strawberry Resevoir to catch some crawfish and do a little paddle boarding on my new paddle board!  I sold the kayaks and bought the paddle board instead.  I love it!

Then it was up to the ranch to see the Texas cousins a few days later.

Then the 4th of July happened.  Mark stayed home to take care of the ward party while I took the boys to the ranch and parade.

These two spent the day catching little, and not so little, creepy crawly bugs and worms.

The next day was scheduled for the big boat race.  This is one of Brian and Timmy's favorite things.

The boat race was fun and of course Timmy caught a snake at the end.

Back at home Mark continued with his tank settup.  He added the cleaning crew of snails and crabs.

Then we met my family at Lagoon.  It was a hot but very fun day!

Mark, Pip and I started taking evening walks in the park after getting the kids to bed.  Pip loves going to the park with Mark

We went on some outings to the reef store with Mark.

 

We said goodbye to Mark's grandmother who was heading back to Texas.

And we said goodbye to the pony Chip.

The boys played a great game of tennis ball baseball and Pip was truly amazing in the outfield catching the balls.

The tank changed little by little and Mark started adding things.

Here is a game of soccer in the park with the pony in the background.  We have the best place in the valley.

A sad day came when the neighbor cut down the huge cottonwood tree over the field, but it needed to happen as it was mostly dead.  I miss the shade so much.

 My hero Mark spent so much time replacing the hybrid battery in my car.  He stayed up all night so I could drive it to Cedar City the next day.  He is so awesome!

Shakespeare Festival time! I took the boys to Treasure Island and they loved it!

Besides the plays and swimming in the pool, we went to the frontier museum again.  It is always a highlight.

The other highlight is the shave ice shack next to the hotel.

The last day was a bit cold in the pool so the boys ended in the tub.

I love spending time with my sisters during July.  It is always so fun to have Emily here!

I stopped at some trails near Cedar City since I didn't get to go on a hike while down there.  The boys always have fun running around outdoors!

 
Then we all ended up together again at Cove Fort.

We got a glimpse of Chip at his new home near Cove Fort.  He was tied up and not too happy.  I hope he has adjusted better by now and loves it.  It was a bit sad to see him looking like he wanted to come home with me.

This is another evening at the park after the Cedar City trip.

The next week we hiked to Timpanogos Caves with my family.

 It was definitely a highlight of the summer and it made everyone so hungry we just had to stop at Chuck a Rama on the way home.

Kids still found time to mess up their rooms and play with their Legos during July.

I had to find time to work at home.  Life couldn't be all play and no work! Here is Timmy trying out the free bird cage I was making into a temporary cage for the broody hens.

Brian is writing a primary talk here.

Pip cooled off in the water.  July was so hot!

The games these two come up with usually end in someone hurt, but they continue on with it for some reason.

Pip and Jojo usually get one race in each day.  Pip wishes it were more, but Jojo thinks one run a day is all her chubbiness can take.

I started filling this tub of water daily for Pip to jump in after her sessions of fetch.

We took a day at heritage park with some cousins.  The kids adore that place.

 

Mark added even more fish to the tank.

And we took one last July day at the ranch to say goodbye to the Texas cousins.

The boys got into the sand box after I cleaned it all up for them.

The fish tank got even cooler with the addition of the yellow tang.

Mark and the boys had a paper airplane contest.

We finally carpeted the stairs.

And Mark gave the kids their needed haircuts.

I was out playing fetch with Pip, when July left me one last beautiful gift.  It was a few minutes of pure wonder and joy standing there in the middle of our dirt field looking at this beauty of a sky.  Gratitude filled my heart for all of my blessings.