What every yard really needs

Just so you know, when I blog about our vacation, I'm not writing about things in any particular order. For example, this pink flamingo is in my parents' yard in Oregon. The picture of the kids in the pool was in my brother-in-law's yard in Washington. There will be more from Oregon and more from Washington. I'll post things as I feel like putting them up based on how much time I have or how much effort I want to put into it at the time (maybe how hot it is and whether I'd rather be at the computer or lying down).
So for the time being enjoy and expect lots more about our vacation- just not in any particular order.

Catch of the Day

A reminder: You can click on the picture to see it bigger.

Cousin: Let me show you a trick.
Jr.: O.K.
Cousin: You stand up here like this and jump in the water like this. Wheeee!
{Splash}
Jr.: I stand up like this and jump in the water like this. AAAAAGGGGHHH!!!!
{SPLASH}

I'm just paraphrasing the conversation. That's not exactly what was said.

Vacation

We went on vacation to the Pacific Northwest. It was wonderful. Except it didn't rain the whole time we were there. There was one day when I felt a few droplets- but it just sprinkled. It was not rain.

The best thing about the trip, though, was that we were together as a family.

I love my family.

Long Time No Write

Ah, it has been a while, hasn't it? Well, we went on vacation which we very much enjoyed. I have lots to say about that. We'll have to see when I get around to saying it. Just wanted to let you know I'm still alive and I'll be able to blog more now than when I was on vacation. Until I next write/type, I'll leave you with a lovely picture of me at Simpson Beach (Shore Acres) on the Oregon Coast.

It was a good vacation.

Big Helper

I love this boy.

Happy Independence Day

Saturday is a special day, it's the day we celebrate Independence Day so we don't have to do it on Sunday.
That's the way it is here in Utah. The big 4th of July celebrations are not held on Sunday, they are held on Saturday. So tonight, since the kids weren't asleep yet, I let them come out to watch the local fireworks with me. The big display for our town was held at the middle school just up the street, so all we had to do was walk out our door and we could see them over the trees. I set out chairs for the kids and sat on the hood of our car myself. And of course since I was doing that, the kids wanted to sit up there with me. So the chairs were used at the beginning of our watching the fireworks and at the end by Jr. because I refused to lift him up on the car any more after he kept getting up and down and up and down.
It was a mostly good end to a long day (poor tired Jr. fell asleep in his Daddy's arms after we came back in). The kids have a friend who's birthday is on the 4th, so they got to go to her birthday party earlier in the day. She decided to have a witch theme with scary monsters and ghoulish things welcome. So the kids got to dress up and Jeremy made a monster out of balloons for her. They liked the balloon at the party and someone even put a witch's hat on it since the kids had been decorating witch's hats during the party.

That's a 4th of July balloon sculpture if I've ever seen one. Don't you think?

Epiphany

Nichole: Hey, she’s wearing a Winnie the Pooh shirt and purple pants like me.
[Pause as she looks at the picture more closely]
Hey, that’s me.