July 2015

July...full of fun, family time, and another birthday boy!

We invited over cousins Miranda and Jenna for a sleepover.

Always a good time with those girls. They are so good to play with all four of our kids, not just the ones that are their own ages. 

We had fun making a video of them taste-testing some Crayola powder straws. The different flavors made their mouths turn all sorts of crazy colors! 

The 4th of July was fantastic! Dad did not work at the hospital this year, so we got to have him with us all day for all of the fun.

 We went to the Murray Parade and enjoyed the morning thoroughly.

Tyler, Lilly, and Charlie enjoyed collecting candy and Sam enjoyed waving to the political candidates. :)

 Sam, Tyler, and Dad stayed after the Murray Parade with our ward's boy scout troop to help clean up trash and litter.

Later in the afternoon we gathered at Grandma Deb and Papa's house for some fun time with the Cushings. Grandma had bought a cool water balloon maker that we hooked to her hose...it made a ton of water balloons in no time. We played water balloon games and did a slip n' slide.

We had a yummy BBQ for dinner and then did some fireworks in the front yard.

 Sam was pretty excited to be allowed to light some of the fireworks by himself this year!

 Grandma Deb really knows how to party!

When it got dark most of our family group (Papa stayed home with Sam, who does not handle BIG firework shows well, at all) walked down to the Salt Lake Country Club for their firework show. 

Other fun in July included:

Something I thought I would never see...a text message from my DAD!

Don't get too excited though...after trying it out a few times, he decided it was too much work! :)

Robyn (Bobby) came to town to visit her family for a week or so. Whenever she comes to SLC she gives us (high school friends) a reason to get together for a party! Bobby's mom and dad, the Jensens, are so generous to let us use their backyard/house for our get togethers.

Our group is getting HUGE with everyone having so many kids by now. It was such a fun night to get to hang out and get caught up with my friends. The kids had a great time running around with all of the other fun kids.

Tyler and I went on a date to Hobby Lobby so that he could buy some cool duct tape for some "projects" he is making. He has learned to make wallets and can customize them too.

We saw this stuffed animal "Grumpy Cat" and had to get a picture.

Lilly and Charlie are my baking buddies. Whenever I make a cake (or any dessert for that matter) they want to help! I love having their help too!

They are getting really good at measuring, mixing, pouring, sprinkling, etc!

 This was one of those rare moments when all four kids were at the kitchen table having some quiet time together. The boys have been learning to play Solitaire and Lilly and Charlie were busy coloring.

Sam and Tyler had to have molds taken of their mouths for their braces. The blue goo made them GAG like no other. I felt so bad!

 You can see on Sam's face just how much he enjoyed it. (Not!)

Here are their "before" and "after" pictures.

I was so proud of both of them! When I took them in to get the braces put on they were such good sports! As miserable as it was, they did their best to be good patients. Their orthodontist was so pleased with them that he gave them each a $10 gift card to go see a movie!

 Speaking of movies...

The kids had been looking forward to the movie "Minions" for a while now. Grandma Deb took us, Alex, and Colton to go see it in the theaters. Those minions are pretty entertaining!

Lilly's little friend, Myley, came over to play one day. The kids got this grand idea to make a volcano with a water bottle, baking soda, and vinegar.

They practiced a few times on the patio and then moved the volcano to the yard. They buried the water bottle and then did the experiment again so that it would erupt and come out of the "ground." How clever!

We used our Connect Passes to go to the Discover Gateway (Children's Museum).

 
There was a fun exhibit upstairs that included some lovely dress-ups. One must never get too old for dress-ups...in my opinion.

Lilly and Charlie also had fun participating in a dinosaur lab in their Science Room.

Someone turned FOUR at our house!!!!

We started out Charlie's birthday celebrations at Grandma Deb's house.

She made him a big batch of brownies, just like she did for Sam.

He got some fun presents that included a Lego Duplo truck set and some Hot Wheels.

On the morning of his actual birthday he requested cinnamon rolls for his special treat.

(This is what happens when you ask Charlie to "smile" for the camera. Stinker.)

He got some fun presents: a Thomas the Train castle set, a Thomas book, some motorcycles, a digger, some "Planes" socks, and some crayons of his very own.

Also on Charlie's birthday we were lucky enough to be invited to go to Thanksgiving Point with our friends, the Gilmores. First we went to the Museum of Natural Curiosity! 

 
Tyler loved showing off his "Floating Head" trick!

All NINE kids posing for an obligatory photo outside by the playground!

The birthday boy loved the playground...especially the swing!

 We also went to the Thanksgiving Point Farm!

 We took a picnic lunch, explored, and looked at all the animals. However, Lilly and Tyler were the only ones who wanted a pony ride.

 My big 4-year-old guy enjoyed the tractor ride though!

We had such a fun day at Thanksgiving Point and ended it with a trip to the ice-cream parlor down there! Yum!

Charlie wanted a "Construction Truck" birthday party...so I did my best to make it happen.

 It was his first party with friends and BOY! was he excited!
We got every guest a construction vest (thank you IKEA) as their "favor."

 I made a "pin the construction guy on the backhoe loader" game...which was a hit!

 Dad, Tyler, and Lilly made a construction-themed obstacle course in the backyard...awesome!

 Charlie, Christian Williams, Van Baldwin, Mia Richards, and Will Middaugh were an easy group to entertain! Four-year-olds are so much fun!

Tyler made up a game on the fly....it was like "I'm Going On A Bear Hunt" but with a construction theme. The kids were mesmerized! I was SO impressed with Tyler's skills. 

 I had to include a picture of Mia and Charlie....well, because I'm secretly hoping they'll get married one day! Mia is in Charlie's sunbeam class at church and they get along so well. When they have play dates they come up with the most imaginative scenarios. Mia is so darling and sweet.

The construction truck cake was a winner!

 It was really one of the easiest parties I've ever done and Charlie was extremely pleased! His little buddies are so fun and they spoiled Charlie with some great presents too! What a fun day!

 Lilly has been practicing riding her bike without the training wheels on. She usually will only do it if Dad is nearby and helping her. She's not quite there yet, but close!

 On this particular day, Charlie was ALSO willing to try riding his bike with no training wheels.

 He can ride his balance bike like a champ, so I know his balance is good. However, the pedaling motion seems to be really hard for him. He just needs to practice more too!

 We had another fun adventure with our friends, the Piersons.

 We went up to Silver Lake for a "hike" and enjoyed it so much!

 Walking around the lake is just right for this crew! Not too long and not too short.

Dad and Sam have been out on the Jordan River Parkway a few times.

Sam loves to ride his trike on the pathway and say "hi" to all of the other people on the trail. Such a friendly fella!

I know this is weird photo...and that is exactly why I wanted to include it.

As I was going through the pictures in iPhoto, I came across this one and had to do a double take! At first I thought Matt had taken a picture of his patient(s) at the V.A. Hospital...but then I realized it was just the mannequins he uses at the Simulation Lab at Salt Lake Community College! Phew! He has really been enjoying his work in the SLCC's Nursing Department.

 Last, but not least...a picture of Sam at Boy Scout Camp!

Yes, Sam went to camp...and he lasted the entire week! Luckily, Dad was able to take the week off of work and go with him! They went to the Hinckley Scout Ranch (Monday through Saturday!) and had a great time! Sam even got in the freezing cold lake (see above!) for his swimming merit badge and a kayaking merit badge!!! I was so PROUD of him for making it the entire week and for earning so many achievements! I was also PROUD of Dad for surviving a week with 12-14 year old boys! :) We definitely missed Sam and Dad back at home!