Our 1st Annual Block Party

Last night we had our block party. As much stress as it was to plan, it was a very fun night. We started out with a BBQ and lots of yummy potluck side dishes. The kids had a water balloon fight and then a watermelon eating contest.



Our winners-Isac 1st place and Isaac 2nd place.

After dinner the adults sat around and talked while the kids rode bikes and played in the tree house, fort and sand box. It was a very fun and relaxing evening with lots of great food. When it got dark, we moved out front for a great firework show! Thanks to all of the guys who provided the amazing fireworks!!


I already can't wait for next year! Who's planning it??!! LOL!

Next Tuesday, Christopher is finally having his tonsils and adenoids removed. He gets strep throat 4-5 times a year, so we opted to have them removed. He will be down in bed for a week, no strenuous activity for two weeks (ie. riding bikes, jumping on the tramp, etc.) and no swimming for three weeks. He silently cried huge tears as the doctor told me all of this. It was SO SAD! I felt like the worst parent even though I am doing it for his own good. Well, because of my guilt, we have tried to cram in as much fun as possible into the past few days. On Thursday we went to the Bountiful Handcart Days Parade. Here are some fun pics. Jen and her kids and Grandma Carver came too.


On Friday we took the kids to Boondocks Fun Center in Draper. It was SO MUCH FUN! They have go-carts, miniature golf, bumper boats, laser tag, an arcade, and a 4-D movie theater that simulates roller coaster rides (one of our favorite things to do there). Our kids were the perfect ages for the fun they have there. They could ride on the rides by themselves and everything is really close to each other so Jim and I sat under the patio and ate ice cream while the kids rode the go-carts over, and over, and over. Laser tag was a total blast! The bumper boats were perfect for cooling us off because you could spray people. The 4-D movie theater was an experience to remember. Picture Star Tours and California Soarin' at Disneyland, only way better! Seriously, you feel like you are on a roller coaster! The wind is blowing, your seat is moving, and you have 3-D glasses on. You get all of the fun and excitement of a roller coaster without the anxiety of actually being on a rickety roller coaster. SO COOL! Ask Jim who won mini-golf, that's right, it was me! The last time I played mini-golf, Jim and I were dating, 14 years ago. I was pretty impressed with myself.







Tonight we are having our block party and fireworks, so the fun continues...

More Jewelry...For Sale

I hope you enjoyed my new slide show of jewelry. I have been making so many earrings that I have decided to sell some if anyone is interested. From the first slide show I have The Purple Diamonds for sale. From the second slide show here are the ones that are for sale: Double the Pink, Blue Pearls, Yellow Daisies, Rain Drops, Brown Sparkles, Black Midnight, Chinese People, Disco Balls, Winter Blue, Pink Hearts and Red Pots. All of them are $3 per pair except the Brown Sparkles, the Winter Blue and the Pink Hearts are $4.

Katrina's New Hobby

I think the earrings are sooo cute! I had so much fun making them. Thanks Jen for getting me into this new hobby!

Scout Bicycle Rodeo

Last Thursday we went to the scout bicycle rodeo. The kids were able to license their bicycles with the police department, learn bicycle safety, and ride through an obstacle course. We rode our bikes there and back. It was a straight coast to get there and just about killed me coming back up hill!! I just chant "So out of shape! So out of shape!" as I peddle. Ugh! I just mapped how far it was to get some sympathy and it says it was 1.28 miles each way. That is so embarrassing!! I swear, it was really hard. My legs and lungs were on FIRE!! (I should mention, my bike does not have gears. Does that get me some sympathy??)

Mary, Mary quite contrary, how does your garden grow?

Ours is doing FANTASTIC!! Our square foot gardens are doing so good! We are so excited since this is our first time growing things in such a small space.




Here is a picture of our first harvest this morning. Green beans, cucumber, butterstick squash, zucchini, and my first tomato!

This is what I had for breakfast. Toasted homemade whole wheat bread with fresh tomato and raspberry jam from last summer. So good!

I love this time of year!

We have created Monopoly addicts

Monday night for family night we taught the kids how to play Monopoly. Who knew that they would learn so quickly and become so addicted! They have played every day, usually several times a day, ever since. They have even been teaching some of the neighbor kids how to play. On Wednesday, I got up around 8:00 to find all of my children up and playing. Unbelievable!! Watch out Grandma and Uncle Mikey, these three are going to be a force to be reckoned with someday!

Summer fun

I have been a negligent poster and an even more negligent photographer, but here is some of the fun we've been having the past week. I hardly took any pictures because we were having so much fun!
Bear Lake
We went camping up Logan Canyon last week for 2 days and met Mike and his family at Bear Lake for some swimming and 4-wheeling.



Here are some pics of the kids 4-wheeling. Again, I am a terrible mom. I managed to get this picture of Caleb

And this picture of Katrina

But none of Christopher riding. He is totally annoyed! I feel bad because he was the best driver out of the three kids. Notice above how Katrina is not on the road. She was constantly going in the weeds. We are a little concerned about her driving a car in four years! LOL! Click on Caleb's picture to open it bigger in a new window. See that smile. He wasn't posing for the camera. That is how his face looked the entire time he was riding! Pure happiness!!
On Monday, we went to the Layton Surf n' Swim with Jen and her kids. So fun! Again, I don't have pictures of everyone. Aymee and Caleb didn't want their picture taken and Christopher was always way out in the wave pool, so I couldn't get a picture.




Yesterday we met Eric and Jen and the kids at Castle park and then took a hair raising drive up Farmington Canyon to check out the campground up there. I do NOT recommend doing this!! It is a one lane dirt road with a sheer drop off on one side as you do switch backs up the mountainside. Jen and I were about to have a nervous breakdown by the time we got there. The worst part was, we had to go back down the way we had come! I swear I am never going up there again!! My general anxiety and fear of heights will not allow it!

Happy Fourth of July!