Be back soon...

I am in heaven right now. Last Thursday my family and I drove here. I don't want to come back. You will have to drag me, kicking and screaming. I will probably be in a bad mood for a few days (except when I am working out and cursing myself for eating so much yummy food and not running). My poor husband will be in a worse mood. So, for one more day, I am in heaven. This is what my heaven looks like by the way...What is your heaven like?

A little culture in my life

I had the chance to attend a few events the last week or so that make me sound like a cultured woman. My sister, Kim bought tickets for her and her husband to enjoy a romantic night at the symphony - under the stars at the Thanksgiving Point waterfall gardens. But, it was their Father and Sons campout that night, so her husband wouldn't even be around. Lucky for me, I got to enjoy the romantic evening with her! It was so much fun - thanks Kim, for being airheaded enough to double book your husband!

To us, the symphony sounded so fancy and cultured. Neither of us knew the set up of the waterfall gardens. We were both planning on decking out for the event. Heels, jewelry, the works. Luckily Kim had to call about her tickets and the lady told her to remember her blanket or lawn chair. Little did we know there would be hot dogs, kettle corn and jeans. Boy, would we have felt out of place. A week later (during my boys' Father and Sons) I had a girls night at the Mormon Tabernacle Choir concert. Complete with a live orchestra. It was so wonderful and such a fun night. Here we are with the Salt Lake temple in the background.

Lexi (my bro's new wife) , me, mom Judy, Shelbie (my other bro's wife) and a great neighbor Colleen. (We missed Kim) This picture got funnier and funnier as the night went on. And by one in the morning, it was hilarious. Anyone else think Shelbie looks like a beauty queen with that crown on top of her head?

A tall glass of heaven

My amazing Grandma Marilyn lives in Southern California and has a lemon tree in her backyard. It's magic, I tell you. There is nothing like showing up at Grandma's and lounging on her leather couches with a glass of her lemonade. Mmmmm heaven. This magical lemon tree produces lots of beautiful lemons. The last few times anyone has gone to see Grandma and Grandpa, they have brought home loads of lemons. We juice them, pour them in empty water bottles, and freeze the ones we won't be using right away. Then there is this really technical and secret recipe of adding the lemon juice to a pitcher of ice water and lots of sugar. We sip, add more sugar, sip, add more lemon juice, sip, add more water...you get the point. Grandma can do it perfectly the first time.

A few of us have tried this with just regular old lemons from the grocery store and it's not the same. It's Grandma Marilyn's home-grown Southern California lemons that make the magic happen!

Kim juicing all the lemons...(Why did I not get a picture of the beautiful lemons? Or the finished product? Sorry, you just get my beautiful sister)

Sleeping Habits (or lack of)

Ever since Clay learned to climb out of his crib months ago, his nights have not been the same (nor ours). I thought I was smart by doing what I did with the other boys - if I was to teach him to stay in one place for the night, I may as well do the transition out of a crib at the same time. For a little while he just slept on the ground (because that is where Spencer spends a lot of his nights for some reason, and he has to be just like him). Then, my mom found a great deal on a toddler bed so we put him there. Except, he would still end up on the ground half the nights, and eventually never used it. Him and Spencer would have "sleepovers" on the grounds of either of their rooms. Koby (being like me), was very annoyed at how noisy the pair was and would complain that they kept him awake.

So, I thought I had the answer to everyone's problems. I brought our full bed upstairs (a beautiful bed that my grandma and grandpa bought for themselves when they were first married - never mind a king, they snuggled!) I put it in Clay's room and moved Spencer in with him. Thus, solving all problems - Koby gets his own quiet room, Spencer gets a new and exciting place to sleep, Clay gets a buddy in bed, everyone wins. Not good enough for Clay, apparently. He now drags his pillow and blanket to the hallway right next to our bedroom door and lays there. (Thank goodness for the hardwood floors in our room - I am sure they keep him from sleeping right next to our bed.) He talks and laughs to himself, kicks the door, rolls all around, and who knows what else for an hour sometimes until he finally lets himself fall asleep. I should be glad that he doesn't normally bother us, but why does he mess around for so long before falling asleep? I hate that he falls asleep so late. We always put him back in bed once he is asleep, but most nights he ends up back on the ground. I am sure he will eventually grow out of this - I mean, I don't know any high schoolers with this sort of problem! But, please tell me I'm not the only one whose child has less-than-perfect sleep habits!?

July 4th

I was feeling especially patriotic this year. I had a chance early in the week to reflect on the beginnings of this country and try to more fully appreciate the importance of it all.

For many years we have been in Colorado for the 4th. We would sometimes go to the parade and always go to the fireworks at Lake Loveland after a great family bbq. We have loved that tradition.
But, this year did not disappoint. A humongous thanks to my bro Jonny and his friends for camping out on the parade route so our family could have a prime spot - it was perfect! The Freedom Festival parade in Provo is great - constantly entertaining for the kids, and just the right length.
Afterwards, we went home and had a long rest.
Then off to our neighborhood bbq and Cul-de-sac of fire. The name says it all. At least three displays of crazy people (my bro being one of them) lighting fireworks. Plus, some great overhead ones (shhhh!). I tried to get a good picture so you could get the feel of the night, but it was hard.

Poor Clay spent the first half of the parade and the whole night of fireworks plugging his ears...

Me and my seester - we are kind of scary. It's a parade, give us a break!

My mom - one super cute grandma!
Clay and papa (Clay can see himself in the glasses)...The tired ones who stayed the night on the street...

High fives to Provo missionaries...

...and to Cosmo...

Begging to be sprayed by every water gun that passed by...

Cool Pirates that stole our treasure (chocolate) from our cooler...

John and Brandon...

The Cul-de-sac of fire...