Another Busy Summer

With year-round school our summers do 2 things - they last forever and they fly by so fast. I say they last forever because the kids get 3 weeks off starting with Memorial Day weekend and then another 3 weeks in July and yet another 3 weeks off starting with Labor Day weekend. But even with all that time, it seems to go by so fast because I try and pack so much into the 3 weeks off in July. Each summer seems to get busier and I promise to not do it again the next year, but I do. So far, in the 2 weeks they've been out of school we've gone to Lagoon, the beach, a splash park, Silver Lake, Discovery Gateway, and This Is the Place park. We've had basketball camp, 5 track meets, Cub Camp and a baseball tournament. The kids have marched in a parade and we've made several trips to the park. The slippery slide has been well used and is ready to retire. Dave's been gone on scout camps for 3 of the last 5 weekends and I've yet to spend the entire weekend with him home. I'd love to say maybe next weekend, but there's another baseball tournament. We've gone to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house, but can't find time to get to the temple for real. And next week doesn't seem to hold much promise for peace. We have 2 BBQs, fireworks, a family dinner, the zoo, 4 baseball games and as much fun as I can cram into the last few days of summer...

Because bright and early next Monday morning, it's back to school. Spencer starts 4th grade, Seth starts 2nd and little Davis has his Kindergarten open house. As much as I look forward to things calming down around here, it makes me sad, too.

Here's some pictures from our latest adventures...

Lagoon

The Splash Park

Discovery Gateway and the Olympic Fountains

Days of '47 Youth Parade & Family Festival

Oquirrh Mountain Temple

Life's A Beach

Isn't that what they say? It sure was today at our house. Yes, even in Utah you can go to the beach. We have one only minutes from our house. Where, you might ask? At Daybreak. There is a huge community that Kennecott is building right here in South Jordan. They actually made their own lake, complete with a sandy beach!

We had never been there, but I had heard great things about it, so we packed up the sand toys this morning and headed to the beach. Grandma Carol came with us and we all had a blast. The kids loved swimming in the lake... ...but the best part was all the sand. Seth & McCall are the only kids that have actually BEEN to a beach. They came with us to Ft. Lauderdale last summer, although McCall was only 1 so that really doesn't count. We've driven by the beach in California, but never spent the day there, so this was a "first" for everyone but Seth. They LoVeD it! Just feeling the sand in their toes was quite the experience. They shoveled and scooped and had so much fun making and destroying their sandcastles. But burying each other in the sand had to be the highlight.

Based on the smiles I saw, I'm sure we'll be spending many more summer days at the beach.

This was one of those great days that remind me how much I love my kids and how much fun they are.

Day of Independence

Our 4th of July was a busy day. Last night, Dave & I were thinking we wouldn't have much going on today. Jackson had gotten hurt in his baseball game yesterday and we thought he may have broken his arm. Turns out that it wasn't broken, just very swollen and very bruised. His team had a game in the playoffs this morning at 9:00 in Heber, but not thinking he would be able to play, we didn't really want to drive all that way to watch him sit on the bench. But Lortab is a great drug. He warmed up with his team and was ready to go. We headed up to Heber a little late because Dave had to help set up the flags for our ward with the Young Men. We got to the game about halfway through to watch them beat a higher seed team. Go Slammers! Next game at 1:00...

So off we went to have lunch at the Dairy Keen. It's a great burger place in Heber that has trains running all around the ceiling and whole Hogwarts display with an "I spy" game for the kids. They love going there and playing with the trains and watching them run over their heads.

We still had some time to kill before the next game, so we took the kids to play at the park. They loved being able to run wild and play. I don't think they ever get tired of playgrounds.

Back to the next game, with the winner going to the championship game. It was a tough game and they fought hard, but ultimately lost. It was a bummer, but this is the farthest they have ever gone in a tournament and we were very proud of the boys.

We thought we'd try something new, now that the kids are getting bigger and more independent. And Independence Day seemed like the perfect time. We drove from Heber up over the mountain and down to Brighton and Silver Lake. The drive over the mountain was dusty and bumpy, but the kids thought that was the best part. The view from the top was amazing!

We spent the rest of the after noon at Silver Lake. The trail around it is very easy and all of the kids walked it without any problem. It was beautiful and made a great setting for some pictures.

We headed home after a long day and finished the night off quietly. Dinner, baths, and a few fireworks at home. Everyone commented on what a great day it was and how much fun they had. It's so nice to be out of the baby stage and be able to do a little more as a family. Today was just a taste of what we can do now with older kids and I'm so excited. Today was one of the best days we've had together. I love the independence that we now have both as a family and as a country. I'm so grateful for the freedoms we enjoy in this land. Happy Birthday, America. We love being a part of this country.