Summer Reading!

The theme for the Summer Reading Programs for both Orem and Provo libraries this year is "Unearth A Story." 

Jeremy designed a Triceratops skeleton for Orem Library and built most of it with some help from us. The day he built it, after building the head,

Lucky, Nichole, Jet, and I came to the library. Nichole blew up balloons, Jet handed balloons to those needing them, Lucky worked on the back vertebrae, Jeremy worked on the frill (and also the back vertebrae), and I worked on the tail.

After a while, I took the kids home, then came back to help Jeremy finish the balloon sculpture. One day build. Woohoo.

Jeremy reminded me to get juggling pictures and videos. That is a cool background, wouldn't you say?  

By the way, Jet and I matched that day. Aren't we adorable?

 During the kickoff event, we made sure to get a family picture. 

The kickoff event for Provo Library was about modern dinosaurs- birds. We got to watch a bird show and I learned some new things I didn't know about certain birds. It was pretty fun.

The presenter showed us a Lanner Falcon, 

Sulfur-crested Cockatoo,

Harris's Hawk,

Eurasian Eagle Owl,

and Siberian Eagle Owl. 

 

There are a lot of paleontology/archeology themed activities and events for the libraries this Summer. I'm not complaining. You know I love dinosaurs... and birds.

 

I love that the day of the bird show was June 1, Dinosaur Day.

It was also Flip a Coin Day so when Jr. Jr. had a decision to make earlier in the day, I flipped a coin for him. It was inside a vehicle so I had to flip it several times before finally catching it right. Have you tried flipping a coin inside a vehicle before? Not as easy as when you have more open space. 

Cosmo!

Since Lucky didn't have school during Spring Break, he was able to help Jeremy build a giant Cosmo Cougar balloon for BYU Grad Bash again this year. Way to go, guys. Jeremy took Lucky out for ice cream afterward.

A couple days later, Lucky and I went back with Jeremy to set Cosmo up for the celebration. I helped last year and wanted to do it again this year. This is how Jeremy put it:

Lucky, the short one, built the legs, Jeremy, the big one, built the torso, and Kristin, the cute one, did repairs.

Yay! I'm a helper. I love that Lucky is learning the "family business."

 

When we got home, we had more ice cream, in the forms of... root beer floats and/or on top of apple pie.

Uncle Sam Wants You... To Have a Good President's Day

President's Day was February 16. I got a selfie with the American flag that Jr. Jr. and Lucky helped set out with the Young Men that morning.

At Jeremy's most recent fair convention, he created an Uncle Sam balloon. A lot of fairs this year are celebrating the 250th Birthday of our nation so that's what he created.

Hot Chocolate Without the Brussels Sprouts

January 31 was both Eat Brussels Sprouts Day and National Hot Chocolate Day.

We didn't have any Brussels Sprouts so I made Sheet Pan Sausage and Veggies (from A Season of Family Meal Plans, volume 1) with other vegetables instead. Yumm. Good with Brussels Sprouts. Good without.

Later on, I went to sleep while others in the family had hot chocolate. I obviously didn't get pictures because I was asleep. 

My friend, Stephanie, sent me Hot Chocolate Day greetings and a picture of hot chocolate she enjoyed that day. She knows how to celebrate, too. 

 

Earlier in the day, Lucky went to a friend's birthday party. He helped Jeremy build a balloon sculpture for his friend. His friend had a really good, "Whoah!" reaction when Lucky got to the party. Heh Heh. 

 

I Miss Him When He's Gone

Jeremy had a shorter trip recently. He was gone for only a few days and was only a state away.

I still miss him when he's gone but I'm happy when he comes home. I love him so much.

While he was at this fair convention, he built a one man band out of balloons. It was based on a real entertainer, Eric Haines. Eric's website is funmanband.com 

He wasn't at the convention but so many people were sending him pictures of the balloon sculpture before Jeremy could even send him one. Jeremy had talked to him in advance about basing a balloon sculpture on him. This is one of the pictures Eric sent to Jeremy to use as a reference picture.

 

Isn't that so cool? Eric really liked the balloon sculpture. 

Along with the one man band, Jeremy built a few animals following him. I can't get over how much I love the cow. 

The chicken is dancing- it turns on a turn table.

I do love seeing what my husband creates. That's Balloon Guy Entertainment. He is so awesome. 

He Came Back... Again!

I'm thankful for my husband's incredible talent with balloon sculpting. I miss him when he is on trips but I love to see what he is building and I'm very thankful when he comes home.

Jeremy got back this last weekend from the fair convention he does every year (this year it was in Montana). He was able to use those lights he and Jet were playing with the night of the Star Party and it added a fun element. It's hard to see from the pictures but he used different light up objects in different parts of the balloon display. It's fun to see him experimenting. The globe on the pedestal also rotated. Cool.

More Balloon Building

We sent Jeremy off to another fair over Labor Day Weekend, this one was in Twin Falls, Idaho. I love my husband and miss him when he is gone but love to see where his creative talents take him.

This time he built bugs... again. Bugs have been a popular theme lately. I love it. 

Balloon Bonding

Real quick- August 22 was Be an Angel Day. It's become tradition to have angel hair pasta that day with alfredo sauce and chicken. Yumm. 

 

Now to what I really wanted to blog about.

 

Every year, Jeremy volunteers to build a balloon sculpture in the children's section of the Orem Library for the Summer Reading Program. He's been doing it for over 15 years. This year, because of construction, they didn't have him do that. He and Lucky did teach simple balloon animals at the Kid's Art Gala and in August, they built a balloon sculpture to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the children's wing of the library.

I'm very impressed with how Lucky is picking up the balloon sculpting. He built the number 30 and the hat. Way to go both Jeremy and Lucky. I love that Lucky's getting into this and they are getting to have this bonding time together.

Since they were building on Gene Kelly's Birthday on August 23, when I went to deliver some missed items to them (I'm also a helper), I found Lucky dancing around to celebrate.

Later to also celebrate Gene Kelly's Birthday, I wore my bow earrings and pirate ship necklace and we watched "The Pirate" which Gene Kelly was in with Judy Garland.

 

That evening, we went to an end of the Summer neighborhood barbecue. I had a great time socializing. I love our neighborhood.