Notables in the first half of July

This fantastic human being turned 31! We celebrated at his house with a nice dinner and presents, I set up a "man-date" for him and his cousins to go frisbee golfing,and we also celebrated as our own little family. We made one of his favorite meals that includes both meat and dairy! Gasp! So, we usually save it for a special occasion. :) After our "fancy" dinner, we took the kids to Winco, and bought a bunch of food storage. Ha! We did it last year, and Richie loved it so much, we may just make it a tradition. He also got some less practical things to make his birthday more fun. We got him a good shade hat for when he's washing windows, a new Camelback so he can stay hydrated while he's out working, and his parents bought him a new suit! What a luxury! We sure love this guy. He is the most important person in my life.


A local bowling lane is offering free bowling for kids throughout the summer. Some of our homeschool friends joined us there one day and we played 2 games. I'm pretty sure it was a first for both Gwen and Lindy, and probably only the 2nd time Miles has ever been. They were lovin it! They'd roll the ball down the ramp and then just agonize over where it was going to hit. Usually they celebrated on their way back. Lindy's celebration was true to her character. Instead of hopping and cheering, she'd growl and pump her fists. It was hilarious.



My niece Izzy is in SLC for 6 weeks at a ballet camp. We got to have her at our house for part of a weekend. The kids were so excited! Gwen was so enamored by her cousin who is "on point!" This picture adequately shows her feelings the night Izzy had to leave.


I've been really proud of Gwen lately and her efforts toward her "job". She doesn't complain hardly at all anymore and just goes out and works. She usually brings home a couple of dollars and if she's lucky, a bag of aluminum cans. On this particular day, her can bag in the garage was busting at the seams. So Miles helped her crush the remaining cans, and then we took it to the recycling center. We cashed those babies in for nearly $4. (Which took about 3 months of collecting cans.) She was pretty happy with herself, and even shared a quarter for the candy machine with each of her siblings.

The 4th of July and St. George

We had planned on being in St. George earlier than the 4th, but the kids wouldn't let us skip our neighborhood bike parade and breakfast. Really, they didn't have too push to much. It's one of my very favorite things that happens all year. :) One of my other favorite things of the entire year is that on the 4th, our neighbors drink a bunch and then set off thousands of dollars of fireworks. I was so sad that we were going to miss it this year, so imagine my joy when they had their party on Saturday this year! We pulled the 2 older ones out of bed and set ourselves up on the front lawn and watched for an hour or so. They did not disappoint!

This year was the first year I didn't walk/push a stroller in the "parade". Both Miles and Gwen could ride independently, and Lindy rode on the back of Richie's bike. So I walked down to a corner and cheered and took pictures.:)


After the parade, we packed up and headed down to St. George. We decided to make a pit stop at Cove Fort. I know we've done this a few times, but the kids said they didn't remember! We'll make pit stops there for the rest of forever probably. I want my kids to be aware of their special ties to that place.



We went straight to Russ and Nat's house for a 4th of July party. The kids were in heaven with all those cousins to play with and a pool! Lindy especially loved the pool. She wore a couple of floaties and was able to paddle around independently to her hearts content. However, she was not a fan of the fireworks. She said they were pretty, but scary. Miles, as per his usual was timid, but loved it. Gwen, as per her usual was eager to handle all of the fireworks, sparklers being her favorite.


The rest of the time in SG, we just tried to make the most out of our time there, while still taking it easy. We went to the children's museum, the SG splash pad, made a stop at Judd's for some sweets, rode the carousel, saw the BFG, worked on sewing projects with Grandma, and had a water day in the backyard, complete with a homemade blob! Family is the best. Period. I'm so grateful for the relationships my kids are making with their cousins, aunts and uncles and their grandparents. They have some pretty amazing ones!

The rest of June

Some days I get the kids in bed, collapse on my bed, and wonder why in the world I am so tired. Then I look back at the pictures I've taken and think, 'Oh yeah, it's because we're running around doing all of these things!" Even when we don't go out and do things, and we just "take it easy" at home, I'm still completely wiped out by the end of the day. I don't know if I should be expecting to be more or less tired once baby gets here...I guess we'll find out soon enough eh?



A homeschooling friend of ours invited us over on day to swim at her parent's home. It's some of the most beautiful and well-maintained property I've ever seen. Gwen kept saying she felt like she was a fairy in a fairy land. The pool looks like a pond, but the water is clean pool water. They kids swam around all day. Lindy wanted to be more adventurous, but I was nervous to swim in past where I could touch. I've never been swimming while pregnant before, and I was worried I wouldn't be able to support myself! Ha!


The kids love working with their dad. Richie built a cool trellis to hopefully help our tomatoes grow up and not out this year. So far so good. I think this is the best our garden has ever looked. Speaking of which, check out those peas! Of course, we would like to have about a million times more, but we had a nice little harvest and the kids were big helpers. We're also still struggling to get the truck in good condition. We've stopped dealing with the auto dealership people, who we feel were dishonest with us. So Richie has tried to do all he knows how to do to fix the problems. This week, we'll probably take it into a shop somewhere and hopefully have a top notch truck at the end of this frustrating experience.


Another splash pad day with friends! Can't have too many of those!


Miles and Gwen started swimming lessons the last two weeks of June. I searched high and low for the best experience for the best price, and I think I found it. The kids ask every day if it's swimming lessons! After her first day, Gwen made her teacher a huge "thank you card" on this poster board and proudly presented it to her. :) The only time slot available for this session was during Lindy's nap time. I had to take her a few times, which was 2 hours of torture. Luckily, the in laws stepped in and let her nap at their house the rest of the time. Then I could just sit and swell up in the sun while I watched my kids swim, sans Lindy. I'm looking forward to the other sessions I signed up for, because they are in the morning and maybe I won't get so swollen. In just the 6 lessons they had this session, both kids show HUGE improvement! Gwen is 100 times more brave in the water, and Miles's technique is actually approaching looking like swimming! Totally worth it.



Last week we ventured up to SLC's Liberty Park to be with friends and check out the Canyons "splash pad". We've been before, and it's always a hit.



Richie and I celebrated 9 years of wedded bliss. :) We got the in-laws to take the kids overnight while we went to the temple and out to dinner. My favorite part was after we stopped at a favorite place to get dessert, we headed home and didn't have to put the kids to bed!! And then... in the morning...we didn't have to immediately go into parent mode! Ah what a luxury. We celebrated our family birthday that night with the kids by doing special ice cream sundaes, which was received with the utmost approval of all three kids.



Miles started rec center soccer. He is loving it! He's had 2 practices and one game so far. The game was awesome. It was just what you would expect from a bunch of 6-8 year olds. They all just ran around in a big circle around the ball and tried to kick it. Super entertaining for sure. (He's #10)