Tuesday, June 30, 2015

I can't believe it's the last day of June!  Time is flying, as usual!  We took another trip to the pool, today.  The girls love it, and are doing great.  Mimi, in particular, is really making strides with swimming.  I haven't been able to get her into swim lessons, yet, this summer, so I'm glad we are making it to the pool often as a family.  Every minute in the water helps her!


And we have a tiny little tomato!  It's not a cherry tomato, just a regular one that didn't grow very big at all! 


Tonight Meghan invited us to come to the drive in with her and the kids.  I hadn't been to the drive in for YEARS.  In fact I didn't even know it was still there on Redwood Road!  We packed up kids and pillows and blankets and drinks and snacks, and headed out! 


I'm so glad we decided to go.  What a fun experience for the girls to have.  They thought it was the coolest to be outside and watching a movie in their jammies from the car!  I admit I can see the allure...it's super fun! 


Meghan thought ahead and brought nail polish for the girls to use while we waited for it to get dark enough to watch the movie.  Mimi was thrilled.


I'm so glad we decided to go!  I debated for a while, because it seemed like a big amount of work, and out VERY late, but I'm glad I relaxed and we had a great time!

Monday, June 29, 2015

S'mores

Tonight was so fun!  I had purchased this at the end of the summer last year, and never put it together.  I finally got it out this morning, because the Smarts were coming over for s'mores!  I was a little intimidated by building the fire, but was actually very successful!  I made a little fire starter out of dryer lint in a toilet paper roll, and it seemed to kind of work.


I was pretty proud of myself! 


And then we had a great time roasting marshmallows and Meghan and I porch sitting.  A GREAT summer activity that we will have to repeat many times this summer!  The kids loved it and we all stayed safe.  I was a little less than thrilled about doing it on the front driveway, but got over it quickly.  I just felt like we were kind of conspicuous out there with all the people driving by.  But it was the only safe place to do it. 

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Today was a quiet Sunday around here!  We came home from church and Leiden asked if we could snuggle.  Of course I said yes, and she curled up right beside me and then fell asleep!  This is unheard of for her, but I LOVED it!  I hardly dared move a muscle.  She slept for about 20 minutes just laying there with me.  LOVE LOVE LOVE


Aaaand, we have zucchinis!  They are looking good, and I hope to be able to stay on top of them this year.  The plants grow and produce like gangbusters. 

Saturday, June 27, 2015

Vanilla

So, I've seen this on Pinterest a million times, especially around the holidays, and have always wanted to try it...homemade vanilla!  I made it tonight with a friend, and I'm super excited!  It's actually just vanilla beans in straight liquor!  We decided to try two different kinds of alcohol, so one's made with vodka and the other is made with bourbon, which means I had to visit a liquor store, which was a little overwhelming.  They both smell terrible, and I can't imagine why anyone would drink them.  But the reviews say I will love the vanilla so much more than store bought.  We shall see!  We can't use them for 6 weeks, so it will be a bit of a wait.

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Season 3 Shopkins!

We headed to Target today to look at Shopkins.  The girls have been so excited because Season 3 has come out!  We got there, and the girls took off.  You can barely see them down the aisle.


They stood there and PORED over the shopkins.  Looking at all the new ones and my goodness, they already know all their names and know their favorites!  They are so excited to get their own and start their own season 3 collections!

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Red Hair

Got my hair done today!  It's red!  It's still very dark, but in the sun, my friend called it Ariel hair.  I actually really like it.


I've done red before, but definitely not this red.  I hope the upkeep isn't too bad, because it's really fun. 

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

High Dive

This summer it would appear that I can go swimming much more easily with all three girls!  Mac and Leiden are proficient enough to head out to the deep end and the diving boards while I stay back with Mimi.  It works out really well!  Leiden was daring and brave, and wanted to do the high dive!


Go Miss Leiden!

Monday, June 22, 2015

Leiden thought these were hilarious.  This is the case for my eye glasses.  I guess the Kate Spade black and white eyes are pretty fun!



The corn is growing!  It's looking amazing and I've even been remembering to water it!  I am always so amazed to watch plants grow.  From tiny seeds (which we don't often see) to tiny seedlings, to big, full, green plants that will eventually grow corn on them!  What a wondrous thing to watch things grow. 

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Happy Fathers' Day!

The primary did cute little ties for their dads today and we stapled them to white bags filled with popcorn.  They resembled white shirts and ties.  The ties had just a couple questions on them.  
1.  My favorite thing about my dad is ________.  
2.  My dad is good at ______.  
3. My dad's favorite food is _______. 
4.  My favorite thing to do with my dad is _________.
And then they colored the ties.  They turned out super cute!


Of course, on this day, the honor goes to my dad!  I love this guy more than I can say.  He is truly the best man I know.  He loves my mom, he loves us, and he's funny!  He ADORES the girls, and is the most wonderful of grandfathers.  I am so blessed to have him as my father here on earth. 

Friday, June 19, 2015

Sonic!!!

We have discovered the best place ever.  Sonic for happy hour has slushies in a million different flavors for like $1.07 each.  PERFECT!  And you don't have to get out of your air conditioned car if you don't want to!

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Kiddie Pool

I bought this little pool on a whim at Target one day...it has turned out to be the BEST!  The kids are safe, they can cool off, and they love it.  They drag it out and fill it literally every day.  Today we had some friends over and they all got in at once.  Poor Coleman!  Although in a few short years, he will be loving situations like this!

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Blackridge Reservoir

Meghan invited us to come with them to Blackridge Reservoir in Herriman.  I was a little skeptical, but it turned out to be an AWESOME place to take the kids!  We hung out in the sun, because we didn't bring an easy-up, so I was all covered up in my long sleeve rash guard and floppy hat.


Some of Meghan's friends from preschool were there, too.  One of their husbands had brought his boat to tow kids around on. 


So this reservoir is man made, but has sand.  So it's not chlorinated.  More like a pond, without the dirt and stuff growing everywhere.  Perfect!  It got deep out past the buoys, but Mimi did a great job staying close in, and she's doing REALLY well in the water, anyway.  Mac and Leiden could go out to the buoys and were fine.  I LOVE that they are so independent in the water.  There were a lot of people, but the beaches are extensive enough that there wasn't crowding in the water, which is safer, anyway.


We had a lovely, sun filled afternoon! 


Thanks so much for inviting us, Meghan!  We have found a treasure, for sure!

Monday, June 15, 2015

We took off to the Planetarium this afternoon.  The girls, particularly Leiden have been asking to go for a while, now.  It was actually a really great day to go.  Very few people there, so we had the place to ourselves.  We made clouds.


And wind tunnels!


We traveled to the moon and took a stroll.


And we took a photo op on Mars!


With Mac's most recent lost tooth, she has a definite lisp.  I managed to get it on video.


Sunday, June 14, 2015

Sunday Dinner

Sweet Mac lost a tooth!  It seems like they are always losing one or another!


Look who surprised us during dinner time today!  Master Thomas and company!  I LOVE this little man!


The girls were very interested in sharing their special things with them.  I'm not sure he gave the expected response!  We had to explain to the girls that he is too small to play with stuffed animals.


Dinner was delicious steak and watermelon! 

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Took the girls bike riding this morning.  I have hopes of teaching Mimi to ride her bike without training wheels this summer!  We headed over to the church parking lot by our house.  Mimi pretty much freaked out.  She let me take them off for just a few minutes, but then she wouldn't go anywhere, and lost it if I let go of her bike.  She hasn't quite gotten down that you have to pedal pretty hard and consistently to learn how to balance.  I kept looking down while I had a grip on the bike, and her feet weren't even moving!  Hopefully she'll get it!


Tonight went to Rita's with a friend.  I LOVE Rita's!  The cotton candy is the BEST, and I take any opportunity to head over there and get some! 

Friday, June 12, 2015

Ward BBQ

The annual ward BBQ was tonight.  It's always so much fun to go and hang out with the ward members and have the kids play in the water.  They started out by RUNNING the field.  It's a big field!


Of course the highlight of the evening is the water fun.  This year was a giant slip n slide.  The kids had a blast.


Loads of fun!  If you look closely, that's ME on the slip n slide!  I kind of like surprising the kids and being one of those adults willing to make a fool of herself while having fun.


I made delicious 7 layer bars for the potluck dessert...and lucky me!  There was ONE left when I took the dish home.  There wasn't one left by the time we GOT home.  ;)