What?

 

Mommy, Look

Jet: Hey, Mom. Look at me.

Mom: Yeah, it's a big smile.

Jet: Do I look happy with a big smile? 

Grand Opening

Recently Jeremy and I did something we don't usually do. We went to the grand opening of a new Smith's grocery store in Lehi. And we weren't even doing balloons or juggling. We were just there as customers.

We got there early enough to stand in line but had good conversation with people around us and we got some free things while waiting. Donuts and water for two.

 

We got some other free things and said Hi to some mascots before we were able to go inside and get the deals we were there for.

 

Normally we don't do things like this. Crowds, you know? We are NOT Black Friday shoppers.

This turned out well, though. It was not too crazy. The employees handled things well. Everyone was polite about getting around in the store. I didn't hear of anybody being difficult. Yay.

 

And the people we were next to and near in line were really nice. The people right next to us even picked up some free things for us.

Yearly Tradition and Monthly Tradition

July 31 was Harry Potter's Birthday. We like to celebrate when we can.

Back in 2020, Nichole explained reasons for eating certain foods on Harry Potter's birthday, so we had sausages and chips again like we had back then. 

We decided to make chocolate frogs. We love making chocolate frogs. This time they were chocolate s'mores frogs.

We made them late enough in the day, we had to wait til the next day to eat them.

We also had Harry Potter Butterbeer flavored popcorn I actually remembered to get out to celebrate the holiday. 

Do you know how many times I specifically have something planned for a holiday but forget to do it on the day? Plenty. 

Since it was the last day of July, Nichole and I did our monthly watch of the movie, Seeking Persephone. Normally we watch it with someone new but this month, I was talking about it with my sister and from there she found out her daughter likes it so they watched it together. I'm counting that as introducing someone new to it because if I hadn't brought it up... She later bought the movie.

International Day of Friendship 2026

July 30 was National Chili Dog Day. The boys had chili dogs while Nichole and I went over to our friend Stephanie's house for International Day of Friendship. 

She was getting some of her art gals together to watch a movie. When I picked up Nichole earlier that week from their regular art time, she gave me my signed copy of the second Timmy Termite book. Then she invited me to come to their movie night on Paperback Book Day, July 30. I didn't mind being included.

We had pizza and other treats. Nichole brought zucchini bread that I baked with zucchini from our garden. We watched The Princess and the Frog and talked about how that was the first movie Nichole ever saw in the theater when she was just a little girl. I blogged about it on March 6, 2010.

It's been a few years since I watched that movie. I enjoyed watching it that night.

Since that day was also National Father-in-Law Day, I texted a happy holiday to my father-in-law. 

Nice time with friends. 

More Recipes from Six Sisters' Stuff

July 29 was National Lasagna Day. In order to beat the heat and not turn on the oven but still celebrate the holiday, I tried another new recipe from Six Sisters' Stuff.

Easy Slow Cooker Beef Lasagna

I had ground turkey available so I used that instead of beef (and cottage cheese instead of ricotta). It turned out well and tasted good.  

Another day as a last minute dinner because I didn't have anything on the menu plan, I pulled out Instant Cooking by Six Sisters' Stuff and threw Bacon-Ranch Potatoes in the Instant Pot. It was a hit with most of us and I needed to use up potatoes anyway. I need to remember the next time I make it to double it. We could have happily eaten more or enjoyed leftovers later.

 

Six Sisters' Stuff have been great lately for making meals without having to use the oven.  

Sleepy Hot Fudge Sundaes

July 25 was National Hot Fudge Sundae Day. We were too busy to celebrate so we celebrated it observed the Monday afterward for Family Home Evening Treat. 

 

That night we also had a lesson about Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and we got out LEGOs to build our own walls. Jet insisted on doing it himself. He was so proud of what he built. 

Earlier that day, July 27, we celebrated National Sleepyhead Day. I told the kids the last one up would get thrown in the lake because we don't have an ocean nearby. I thought for a moment Jet would be the last one but nope, he got up and got going before a couple of the others. I finally threatened (without any intention of actually squirting him) the last child with a squirt bottle. It's become tradition. 

A few of us actually squirted ourselves because it was refreshing in the heat.