Too much has been happening, and I'd rather not do 100 posts today. So instead, just one long, mega-post. Grab a snack, go to the bathroom first, get comfy. Are you ready?
There's a fun little hike off of 12300s. Between Sandy and Draper. It's short, strenuous enough that the kids think it's cool, but easy enough that they can do it all by themselves, mostly all shaded, and dead-ends at a waterfall. Best hike ever. Rich took the kids by himself one day, convinced me of the hike's awesomeness, and then we all went the other Saturday after the chores were done. Fantastic way to spend a Saturday afternoon.
We had our 7th anniversary! Wahoo! I wish I would have gotten a picture, any picture, of our festivities, but I guess I got lazy. We tell the kids it's our family's birthday, so we make sure we get some time celebrating all together as a family. We had saved a movie theater gift card since Christmas, and we decided it was time to use it, at a full priced movie no less. AND...wait for it...we got popcorn as well. Big deal for our little family. "How to Train Your Dragon 2" was super entertaining. Gwen only got a little antsy, Lindy did great at her very first movie, and Miles cried when one of the characters died. Tender heart I tell ya. Richie and I did manage to sneak in some alone time at the temple doing sealings which was lovely. We even grabbed some sushi for ourselves on the way home.
Richie is officially in the last year of his 20's. He turned 29 on the 2nd. His family had us over for yummy food and presents on the Monday before his birthday. On his actual birthday, I made some of his favorite foods for dinner and then we headed to Scheels to get him some new tennis shoes, which have been so badly needed. The kids think the store is awesome because of the huge fish tank, and the giant ferris wheel, which we actually let them ride this time. Wish I would have taken a picture here. They kept saying "We're so lucky!" over and over again. The ferris wheel was a big hit.
The 4th was so great. We started the day off with our annual neighborhood bike parade and pancake breakfast. Quintessential America. All these cute kids on bikes, scooters, wagons and strollers decorated with steamers, cheap beads and sparkly things, plow through the streets waving to others who came just to watch and cheer. The route ends quickly at another neighbors house and after a quick flag ceremony, we feast on pancakes, fruit, bacon and eggs.
We came home and set up our kiddy pool, sprinkler, and whipped out the cooler full of water balloons my pruney fingers worked tirelessly on the night before. It was one of those times you hope your kids will always remember, realizing they probably won't, but hoping anyway. We tried tossing the water-balloons in towels, aiming them at a chalk-drawn target, playing hopscotch, and playing kickball with the pool as one of the bases. So often, I'm the parent who sets up the activity, keeps things organized etc, but doesn't really participate. Rich is the fun parent. :) But since Lindy was napping, I got in on the action and it was so fun!
Great Grandma Garner is in town with Aunt Nancy, so they came over with the rest of the Garner crew to indulge in apple pie and ice cream and watch our streets fireworks. I don't understand the concept of buying fireworks. Yes, we bought sparklers and pop its. No we did not spend hundreds on explosives that last for a few minutes. Our neighbors, however, did. We estimate that thousands of dollars were blown up on our street on the 4th. And we had a front row seat, free of charge. :) Our street has some very devout LDS families on it. It also houses some pretty rowdy, very non-LDS groups that are so generous. It's a fantastic mix.
A few straggling pictures:
Early morning coloring while mom gets going. Our house is so full of artwork these days which is great, and also enough to drive me crazy. :) They take the initiative to tape them up all over the walls, mail them to all sorts of people, and deliver them to every single person on our street. Miles read about a paper route in a book recently, so he decided he needed to have a paper route too. He draws "newspapers", puts them in a bag, and then rides his bike to every neighbors house and hands them their paper. In the book, a paper route is described as a good way to make money. I hope Miles isn't expecting anything...
Sunday naps. Enough said.
Whew! Did you make it? You did? Good job, as your reward, I leave you with some baby cuteness. This is Lindy's normal, resting face. :) It's hilarious and I kinda dig it.
