Packing In The Fun In July

We are busy every summer.  But this summer has taken it to a whole new level!  We need school to start so that we can recover!  

For the 4th of July, we made a quick trip to Denver to see Dustin's dad.  We hadn't been out to see him since before Covid, so it was long overdue.  We had a great time doing fireworks, eating lots of yummy food, visiting with Dustin's sister and step sister and their families and watching fireworks from a great park (that Rod happened to design, back in the day).  It was a great long weekend.

A couple of days later it was Ryan's 14th birthday.  He requested a triple layer chocolate cake (with full size layers) and I was supposed to surprise him somehow.  So I put a fun surprise in the middle that he found when we cut into it.  Cousins and Grandma Lana came over and it was a fun birthday!

Even though he is my third child to hit 14, it is still hard to believe Ryan is that old!  He is a big help to me in so many ways.  Ryan will come with me on walks, errands, random trips to BYU (see below) when no one else will.  He loves soccer and made a competition team this year.  He plays the bass clarinet and has a lot of natural musical ability.  He keeps us laughing and moving (he's good to want to do active things).  We love him!

The next morning was the start of the Young Men's campout.  Dustin and the boys went and had a great time.

While they were gone, Monica and James and their family arrived from Illinois.  Monica and James stayed for a couple of days and then they headed off to Europe and left the kids here with us.  In an effort to be the favorite aunt (there is a lot of competition) and to not have a rebellion (I was outnumbered 8-1 most days), we planned non-stop fun for the kids while they were here.  I think I'm still recovering from all the fun.

The girls had a picnic and photo shoot (multiple photo shoots, actually).

Sleeping outside in their trapoline fort.

A tour of Mrs. Cavanaugh's chocolate factory (with lots of chocolate, candy and ice cream after)

We went to the Great Salt Lake.  We have had record high temperatures all summer long, and this week was no exception.  The kids lasted only a few minutes before they began getting wet and eventually I gave in and just told them to go for it.  So, the boys played in the water while the girls took pictures and then left in their car to some other adventure. We discovered that you do indeed float well in that salty water.

I just stood there enjoying the beautiful cool water and watching the boys have fun in it for an hour.  My sunburned legs paid for it later, but it was a great day.

As you can see by Huck Finn's outfit there, we really didn't plan on a swimming party at the lake, but that didn't stop us!

Another day the boys resurrected the dam in our backyard.

And then played in the rain!! The first rain we had had in a very long time!

On another day we met Jen and Lynnette at the SeaQuest Aquarium in Layton.  So much fun.

Sunset photo shoot.

We did service during our Sunday night scripture study.  We picked apart tied blankets for a Hopi Indian Reservation.

My nice neighbor had heard we had a house full of kids and he called, wondering if we would be so kind as to let him put his bounce house waterslide up in our backyard to let it air out.  Oh, and we could play on it for a few hours before we let it dry out if we wanted.  It was hard work offering that service, but the kids rose to the challenge!

We went to Lagoon one day!

Yes, we did buy fanny packs for the day.  And then we proudly hid them under our shirts.

The next morning, bright and early (6:45 A.M. to be exact) we had to take Avery down to BYU to train for her upcoming job on campus.  I had grand visions of taking all the kids and having a fun day in Provo, but Ryan was the only one I could convince to get up early to come with me.  So, we went shopping, got his hair cut, ate all you can eat pizza, went to multiple museums, and finally met up with Avery, my nephew Ammon and his fiancé, Anne for ice cream at the BYU Creamery.  Nicole was in town, so she and her in-laws came, too.

We all magically matched our clothes in alliteration style.  Boys in blue, girls in green.

The next morning Avery got her wisdom teeth out.  Poor girl!

Monica and James got home after 10 days of Europe and after they spent some time with James' family, they were back and partying at the Days of '47 Rodeo with us and Grandma Lana.

To be continued...