Summertime, And The Living Is Easy

When summer comes, I tend to pack all the fun in we can handle (and some that we can't handle).  I let the kids do all the things that they don't do during the school year, so that by the time summer is over, I am desperate for school to start and for a break from running all day long.  This summer has been no exception.

Right after we got back from California, we started swim lessons.  My kids are fish.  They would swim every day if I'd let them.  I am the opposite of a fish.  I am as graceful in the water as a rock.

The boys picked a soccer class for City Rec, purely because Grant had found some 2 dollar soccer cleats at DI and he was so excited to wear them.  After the first day, he told me that he actually didn't want to do soccer, he wanted to do flag football.  Sorry, kid.

The boys had a Father Son Campout for our Stake, so the girls and I had a Mother Daughter Night.  They chose Chuck-A-Rama for dinner, and then we gave ourselves pedicures while we watched a movie.  It was lovely.  It has become one of our favorite traditions.

The boys had fun, in their own manly way.

We took a walk at Farmington Bay with some friends, and saw some cool birds, frogs and even an otter.  These are a bunch of blue heron nests.

We had an anniversary in there somewhere.  14 years and counting...  The gift was ivory and we had to be creative because we can't afford a new piano.  Or an elephant.

My mom retired, so the kids and I made a quick trip down for her retirement party.  Dustin had to work, so he missed the opportunity for lots of yummy food and helping the kids make 114 slow motion videos.

  I snuck Addie her first taste of cake, as any good aunt would. 

 Where's Waldo?

My mom, reading the kids a funny story.

The kids played with mustaches again.

We've taken a few walks/hikes together.

And that was just in June!

It's Great To Be 8 For Ryan!

Ryan has had an eventful month of July.  He started it out by turning 8 years old.  We celebrated, as all little boys want to, by making things explode.

The volcano cake--pre eruption.

 It's just starting.

 A new set of scriptures.

 Jen's family came down to enjoy the evening with us.

 This is what Addie thinks of Volcano cakes.

 Having fun with the cool huge frisbee from Grandma and Grandpa.

A couple of days later we made more things explode, when Ryan had a Mad Scientist Birthday Party.  I had to really convince him to let me dress up as a Mad Scientist, but in the end, he finally gave in.  Before I could even tell him my idea for me to dress up, he surprised me by saying, "Mom, you can't wear a wig.  Or goggles.  Or a lab coat."  What?!  You are going to prevent my vision of being a true mad scientist?  Apparently the Valentine's Lady has ruined him for anything with even a possibility of being a little crazy or embarrassing.  But, after a few days, I talked him down and he allowed me to dress up, if I promised not to be too loud or talk in a weird voice.

Seriously, can you even imagine someone being embarrassed by this?

 The boys' lab.

 My lab.

 We made slime.  Ryan said this was his favorite experiment.  This little friend got it stuck all over himself.

 Even though many of them said the slime was their favorite, they played with dry ice for about 30 minutes, with many screams of delight.  Dry ice, warm water and dish soap made for a lot of fun (and mess).

 Me, explaining to the boys how an antacid would react with water to launch our film canister rockets.

 Decorating and eating cupcakes.

 Opening presents.

  We also made tiny lava lamps, shot off a bottle of diet coke (which I happened to shoot right up into my own face.  Nice.), ate pop rocks, and blew up balloons using baking soda.  It was an exhausting, but fun party.

Now that Ryan is eight, he is officially a Cub Scout.  He got to participate in an Egg Launch right after his birthday party.  You can see that his egg did not make it.

And he went to Day Camp the next week.

Yesterday he was baptized and confirmed.  It was a happy, full day.  We had family and Ward friends there, and it was really nice.  We are proud of him!  My calling right now is in the Stake Primary Presidency, so I plan and attend the baptisms for the Stake each month.  It was a little different to sit back and relax during the baptism.  But I liked it!

 Avery gave a talk on the Holy Ghost and did a great job.

 Ryan is such a joy in our family.  He is a hard worker and especially loves to help Dustin with his home projects.  He is kind hearted.  We went to the park the other day so he could drive his new remote control truck down the slide.  A little boy (maybe 2 years old?) was watching him and asked him what he was doing.  Ryan explained very patiently how the car worked and showed the boy how to do it, and then offered it to him to drive.  The boy ended up driving it the rest of the time we were at the park.  It was very sweet of Ryan.  Ryan likes everything to be fair, and he really doesn't like to be reprimanded.  He loves all sports.  He loves jumping on the trampoline and can easily do a back flip.  He is a great student, and especially loves doing addition and subtraction problems.  It was always fun for me to volunteer in his class because he would run right up to me when I walked in the door, and give me the biggest hugs.  He is a very cuddly, loving boy.  He is a fun brother and son.  We love him so much!