So Much to Do, So Little Time

Every summer seems to go by really quickly. This one was no different. With moving to a new home, working on the float, and everything else we really tried to spend as much fun time together as possible. Our summer 'to do' list was fairly long. We managed to do almost everything on it! Ok, maybe 75% of what's on it. Here are some highlights:

We celebrated Pioneer Day, again with new neighbors. There were fireworks and treats galore. It is so fun to be in our new neighborhood.

 Watson and I visited This Is the Place State Park with Challey and her kids one day. He got to work like a Pioneer child and get a close shave like a Pioneer man. He also found a few teeny, tiny gold nuggets while panning in the creek.

 Chandler braved the weather (and being the new guy) at High Adventure Scout camp. He endured it well and had a pretty good time. His leaders said he had a great attitude even though he and all of his gear was soaking wet pretty much the whole trip. Chandler also got to go to Youth Conference/Scout camp with our old ward, Mount Jordan 4th. They went river rafting in Moab and then camping at the Yates cabin. He got lots of friend time this summer.

 Watson and Chandler used the giant hill in our backyard to be daredevils a couple of times. I love that this is here. Chandler was so cute to make sure Watson was outfitted with lots of safety gear: helmet, gloves, knee pads. I love seeing him take care of his brother.

 We enjoyed a soggy day at Lagoon one day. The weather was actually great and kept the crowds away. It was so fun to be together. Chandler convinced Dad to ride the Samarai. That probably will not be happening ever again. We ran into some kids from our old ward and Chandler got to go on some of the bigger rides with them as we catered to Watson's speed.

One day, probably one of the hotter July ones, we made a quick trek up Ensign Peak. Chandler beat us to the top by taking the shortcut. Watson did pretty well and Sparky was a pro.  We read all about Ebeneezer Beesley's "High on the Mountain Top" hymn and felt a little ancestor connection.

We also went to Seven Peaks a couple of times, a Drive In movie and Airborne. There were lots of little things in between too. All in all, it was a great summer together. We closed it out with a housewarming party to welcome our new and old friends to our new home. I'm so glad we were healthy and able to celebrate so much this summer. We are so blessed.

Parades, Parades

 This is the year of the FLOAT, for us anyway. Our evenings and weekends have been busy with creating the best float possible for the Sandy Utah Mount Jordan Stake. We were happy to do it (most of the time) because we love President Smith and the the other Stake Presidency members. We were grateful for ALL of the hours and energies put into this by so many. We were really blessed to be able to accomplish this great task. We participated in two parades, the Draper Days on July 19th and the Days of '47 on July 24th. It is amazing to witness all the work to make parades successful! The Draper Days parade was fairly simple. It was nice to transport the float to the Sandy Expo after for a couple of days. The Float Preview Party was a success and we had lots of great people helping with that. 

 Moving the float downtown for the Days of '47 parade was quite a feat. Scott and Chandler and some other stake members helped that to happen. Watson and I snoozed at a hotel close by. I was on the parade route by 6 am the next day for judging and making sure everything was in place. There was a minor glitch with the camera on the float, and the engine running. But, in the end, everything worked fine. We were in the parade, kind of on TV, and very relieved once it was finished. What a project!

Thank you to everyone who helped make this a success! This will be something we remember forever.

Liberty!

I love the Fourth of July. I love to have the time to recognize the blessing of freedom. I am amazed that I was so lucky to be born in the United States and have the gospel. I love to have my family around me to celebrate our country and the many who made it, and are continuing to make it, a fantastic land.
Of course we started the day with our traditional breakfast at Grandma Nettie's. One day I expect and hope to take over the tradition. I do want to have a home loved ones can gather and create new memories. My mom is a great example of this.
We also celebrated with fireworks with our new neighbors and some of our family. Chandler opted evening activities with a friend, we missed him jumping fire with his bike this year.

Fishin' in the Dark

We live within 10 minutes of a little fishing reservoir. The boys put fishing on the "Summer To Do" list. So, one night we squeezed it in. The fishing was for crawdads. The bait was hotdogs. The boys had a great time. I was happy to observe it all. I think they caught about 15 or so? 

Forties?

So much has been going on around here. Summer started off super busy getting the float ready. Scott spent almost every night at the warehouse working on building the dang wonderful project. My only birthday wish was to be together and not work on the float. Well, part of it came true...
Scott surprised me in the morning with bunches and bunches of flowers the boys picked out. They were beautiful.

I got to go to lunch with my mom and then she dropped me off to Scott. He took me to another surprise. I got a day off with pampering at a spa. The pedicure was absolutely perfect. The massage and facial felt so good. It was fantastic! I'm grateful for Scott's thoughtfulness and Chandler and Watson holding down the fort together.
Scott went back to the warehouse, in hopes of getting the float ready for a parade in two days, and the boys and I celebrated more with dinner. We finished of My Day with cupcakes in our new home.

If I'm going to turn another year older (I haven't learned yet how to stop that from happening) I'm grateful to spend it with my boys. I'm so blessed in so many ways. I'm so grateful for my little family.