July 4th and so forth

For the fourth, we had a bbq at our house with Justin's parents and brother and his wife. It was hot and we ate well.

I made Sarah a new flag shirt so Erica got the smaller one. 

Nothing better than jumping on the trampoline with Uncle Nate.

Around 9 we moved the party out front and broke glow sticks and lit sparklers.

 I tried to buy diving sticks for swimming at Walmart on July 3rd but they've cleared out most of their summers stuff and set up school supplies (on July 3!) So I bought big glow sticks that we could use this night and dive for later.

 Erica is like me and is afraid of sparklers.

 Like wants nothing to do with them.

 But Nana helped her out and now she's all about them and wants Justin to buy more for the 24th.

This is Russian Cream (recipe linked here) that I made for dessert. But for that night it was Independence Cream with red and blue berries

 We could see fireworks going off in all directions and sounded amazing echoing off the mountains and hillside.

Once it seemed that those closest to us ran out of fireworks, I took James inside and put him to bed then we tucked in the rest of the kids. Good times.

Thursday morning we packed up and drove to Vernal. Sometimes you just have to go somewhere you've never been that isn't terribly far and where the hotel has a pool and free breakfast.

 I honestly can't remember why I took these pictures but I totally feel like my mom when I take pictures from inside the car.

 We stopped at a pizza place in Roosevelt for lunch and they had these ride on toys. Justin was nice and turned them on for each of them.

 All the kids cared about was swimming. Seriously. It was the first thing we did after we checked into the room.

After swimming and James's short and dramatic nap, we ate at a Mexican place in town and then went to Ashley Valley Community park. This park is very big and had lots of play structures for the kids to play on. 

 Erica got hurt and James is so quick to give her hugs when she's sad.

 Friday morning after our free breakfast of eggs, sausage, and the kids wasting cereal and yogurt, we drove to Dinosaur National Monument. I love state and national parks and stuff so this was what I most wanted to do.

After we got to the visitor's center, we hopped on a shuttle that took us up and around to the quarry wall. This is where they've enclosed a large quarry wall that is just full of dinosaur bones.

 It's pretty impressive and a little creepy.

 James just got grumpier from this point on.

 Hey there I am. Yay for traveling!

 Henry climbed up to the "don't climb on them" sign.

 Some of the wall is gated off but there are sections that you can get right up to and feel.

Aaaand James liked the rocks the best.

This cute little park ranger started the Jr. Ranger class so Erica and Sarah listened to her for awhile. At this point James was unbearably whiny and only wanted to eat crackers so I took him outside since there's no food allowed in the quarry.

 Once Sarah was done, we headed back to the car. I can't wait to see this picture again in 10 years. Classic.

 From there we took a drive further into the monument. There's a self-guided driving tour that takes you to cool petroglyphs, rock formations and such.

 These drawings are supposedly a bazillion years old.

 The kids found a cool cave to hang out in. It was hot.

 Look at these crazy clouds.

 The tour ended at the Josie Morris cabin and that's where we ate lunch. I have so many memories of eating lunch in the woods on a picnic table as a kid.

 James is less ornery if he's drinking juice, fyi.

This is the cabin Josie Morris lived in until like 1935. Dirt floor, no electricity or plumbing. She was one tough cookie.

 It was pretty roomy for one person though.

 Sarah was such a good sport and only asked about swimming 44 times.

 She has a hole in the bottom of her shoe so she had to dump out the dirt now and again.

Then we hiked up the trail to a box canyon and then came back. Whenever we were not in the pool it was "When are we going swimming?" "Can we go back to the hotel now and swim?" James took a good long nap while I took the kids to the pool. I watched them forever then Justin traded me and he watched them forever while I stayed in the room with sleeping James. 

Then when he woke up we went out for Chinese food. We've eaten take out and made lots of Chinese food at home but this was the first time the kids had been to a Chinese restaurant. This is Justin introducing the kids to egg drop soup. Henry LOVED it.

 James thought it was okay. He mostly liked pulling his straw out and flicking water.

 That face. Sheesh.

 Then we loaded up the kids and went for a drive north of Vernal to see what we could see. We saw purple mountains and a couple of reservoirs.

There's a lot about babies that I don't miss. But I will miss Miss MISS James clutching tightly to my fingers and pulling me where he wants to go.

 We walked around a bit at this reservoir and these two are so cute.

 Saturday morning after another breakfast of food wasting and milk spilling, the kids got back into the pool until it was time to check out. James wanted nothing to do with the water at anytime but he was all about these goggles.

He's so weird. What baby freaks out about putting his feet in a pool but doesn't mind tight goggles on his face. Where does he get it?

Seriously? I can't even begin to explain where James gets his goofy goggle wearing from. We may never know.

 Meanwhile Henry and Erica live for cannonballs.

 So glad all those swimming lessons paid off.

 After I had had enough of whiny James at the pool, I took him away for whiny James in the room to get myself ready and he sat at the table watching Shawn the Sheep pretty much the entire time clutching his blanket just like this. For a kid who loves the tub....whatever.

Erica begged and begged for a toothbrush cover that she saw at Walmart and I told her if we went on a trip I'd buy them. So buy them I did for this little trip. This is the only one I saw used the entire time and I'm pretty sure Sarah only brushed her teeth once. Erica's was in her cup holder in the car the entire trip.

 We drove home on US 40. It was closed Thursday on our way there but reopened for our drive home so we went that way to see the fire damage. It was sad and exciting.

 It's obvious why they had to close the road.

And then we took a short-cut past Strawberry reservoir up over the mountains on a dirt road because that is where Justin longs to be. By that time Redvines were the only thing keeping James from going nuts.

Happy Independence Day!

June tired me out!

These are the moments I live for. I was making dinner and the boys were outside on the trampoline. Henry was being so sweet and making sure James was having fun.

 He's asking him a bunch of questions about what he likes and sees.

 And then he made James laugh. I love my boys.

 Sarah finally got her turn for swimming lessons. Her class is fun to watch because they actually practice real strokes now instead of just floating on their back or blowing bubbles under the water.

 But the diving board is still her favorite.

After Wednesday's swimming lessons, I had to go to provo to get Erica's birth certificate to register her for preschool (I'd never gotten hers or James's). After we were done in the county building, we stopped for doughnuts at Provo bakery. (I will always spell it doughnut, not donut).

 These little turkeys are so hard to take places because they are just so loud and oblivious to what's going on but sometimes you just have to stop and get a doughnut whether they deserve it or not.

Then the next day I registered Erica for preschool at a district building in Springville that used to be Springville Jr. High. I don't think I had been in that building since I was 15 (19 years ago, if you're keeping track) and it smelled the same and I don't think the bathrooms have been updated at all.  It is strange to bring your 4 kids into a building you were last at when you were practically a child yourself.

After dinner went up to the mouth of Spanish Fork Canyon to walk to the dripping rock thing along the river. It was so cool!

 The kids brought their bikes and scooters. It wasn't a very long walk but they had fun.

 Then we stopped at Culver's for ice cream because that's how we roll.

On Sarah's last day of lessons they were introduced to the concept of kneeling dives off the diving board. I missed filming Sarah's dive but it was a lot like the rest of these girls. We moms tried really hard not to chuckle as each kid went off the diving board. Some of us were more successful than others.

A couple of weeks ago we had a garage sale to rid our house of all baby stuff. What didn't sell we donated to DI.  A week later I saw these 2 pairs of shoes on the rack. So in case you were wondering, what you donate to DI stays at that DI.

 Later that day we drove to Midway to get away from the heat and go somewhere (anywhere!). I swear I get cabin fever worse in the summer than in the winter.

 We ate dinner at a park and watched the kids devour an entire package of fudge stripe cookies.

 Not that I can blame them. Cookies are good.

 James ate way more than his fair share.

The grounds were undergoing some major sprinkler renovations so it made for some treacherous ground for the kids to play on but they're tough.

Then we got ice cream at someplace I can't remember the name but they sell Aggie ice cream so yes please.

 Erica got really messy.

 I couldn't get over how messy she got.

 Seriously, how is that even possible?

I had a couple quiet days at home and then I spent a several days at girls camp. After two days of naps and going to bed at 9:30, I think I'm finally rested up. It was so fun and so exhausting and only required one trip to the ER and only one hike that turned into a REALLY long hike. These are our roasting sticks that we personalized with paint and beads and is pretty indicative of what girls camp is all about.

Now I'm ready for July!

Father's Day 2018

I'll just go ahead and speak for Justin and tell you he had a great father's day. The kids made eggs and toast for breakfast and then they couldn't wait any longer to give Justin his presents. 

I let the kids each pick something for dad.

First up, Erica. She was mostly excited to give him a present in her favorite Ariel giftbag.

 She had the idea all on her own to get him trailmix.

And wasted no time asking him if she could have some of the m&ms.

 Next up Henry who also picked his favorite motorcycle giftbag. Only the best for their dad.

He chose Drumsticks, one of Justin's favorite ice cream treats. Aaaaand he's asking dad if he can have one since it's such a big box.

I'm pretty sure James thought it was Justin's birthday and with all the birthday bags, who can blame him.

 A church shirt and a work shirt, as requested. Okay, so maybe James had nothing to do with this gift.

Sarah is apologizing that the bag isn't the right size or shape for her gift.

BBQ lighters! Once Sarah knew this was what he wanted, she helped me hunt all over Walmart to find them. (They're on the checkout lane with the cigarettes, for future reference.)

 Then outside for our picture. Henry was being a pill about the whole thing.

He's like that goth kid in the otherwise normal family photo.

So I zoomed in.

But I couldn't not have him in the photo. Nothing a little starburst bribe can't cure.

I made him a flan, took James for the entire time at church, and took the kids to my parents for a couple of hours so he could have a golf nap. He deserves all the golf naps because he's such a great dad to these little nerds. He's fun and funny and is always pushing them to try new things and is so proud of them when they do. He takes good care of us and makes things happen. I like him.

I also had a great time visiting with my dad and mom. I made my dad some cream of mushroom soup and a loaf of crusty bread but I didn't overcook the bread enough to my dad's liking. I just can't overbake (burn) things. It makes me sad inside. He'll have to burn it in the toaster himself. He and my mom told Sarah and I stories of their childhood (the first time they got indoor plumbing, automatic washing machines, and driving to California with no AC). And we discussed why people had to drink beer and wine because the water would make them sick. Good times.