July 2010

Besides going to the free movies almost every Wednesday morning this is what we have been up to in July.

July 2nd

Scout camp family day

The last day of scout camp is family day.  Our whole family surprised Brenton. He had know idea we were coming.  There was only one other family from our ward that came.  He showed us all around the area.  This place is huge and has lots of fun stuff to do.  We ate dinner with his camp and then came home.  We didn't stay for the closing ceremonies because it didn't start until 8 pm and the drive home was 1 1/2 hours.   

turtle swimming in the lake where they do their fishing merit badge



July 3
Pre Independence Day fun
We invited my parents and Taylor to join us in some pre 4th fun since we wont be joining them on the 4th of July.  My family has chosen to not participate in any activities that particular family members will be at since we aren't getting along with them.  I want to be happy and have a great 4th of July and I wont be able to have a good time because I will be on guard if I am around one person in particular.  That is all I am going to say about that.  Since this blog is  about my family and our doings I will not go into any details about people not in my immediate family.  That is all for my personal journal. 

July 4
Being Sunday and all it didn't really seem like 4th of July.  Normally we are at the pool, have a BBQ, and just hang out with family.  I was really bumbed out that I wasn't going to be with my family watching the fireworks.  I can't remember a year that I haven't been to the fireworks without them.  Maybe once during the just over 3 years Jon and I lived in Michigan.  I was sad and the kids were sad that we didn't get to hang out with everyone and that we wouldn't be sitting in our normal spot with the rest of the family.  Even though I was sad about the whole situation, I knew we had to be alone and we would have a great time just the 8 of us.  The thing that brought the most peace was I didn't have to worry about a thing I could just be myself and not have to feel like I was walking on egg shells and at any moment one would crack and break. 
After we got settled in, the kids got used to the fact of being just the 8 of us and sitting in a different spot and they started to have a great time.  In fact, they all said they liked this spot better because of having more space to play.  Our usual spot is on top of a hill and is very crowded with people as the night goes on so much you can barely walk around your blanket and chairs.  We had lots of room to breath and toss a ball around.  Maybe this will be a new spot for us and hopefully we can bring the rest of my family there next year.  When the fireworks were over, we just stayed in our spot and got out the games and balls again and played.  Usually we rush to the car and make a made dash out of there.  This parking lot in the new spot would be kind of a nightmare to get out of since we weren't parked right by an exit.  It turned out to be a great evening.

Connor

Talmage

Payton, Talmage, Jon, and Kennedy watching the fireworks

Gretta and Hayden

Jon and Kennedy

July 5
We went to the beach with my parents and Taylor.  We had a great time even though the kids didn't catch any fish.  We went to a different beach and the fish were way to fast for us.  They weren't used to people like the other lake.

Kennedy, Taylor, Payton, Talmage, and Hayden



Talmage, Hayden, Kennedy, and Payton



July 12
We went on our traditional blueberry picking for FHE with the Bugee's and Tady's.  This year we brought step ladders so we could reach more of the ripe berries.  A few minutes into the picking it started to down pour on us.  It was really weird because off in the distance we could hear the rain and by the time we realized the rain was coming closer to us it was too late we were right in the down pour.  Luckily for us, it only lasted but a few minutes and then it was all blue skies and a double rainbow.  I wish I had my camera with me to take a picture of it.  It was absolutely beautiful.   


July 19
My sister told me about an event at the library that Talmage and Hayden would love.  They were doing a Star Wars adventure at the library with games, food, and star wars visitors.  Talmage and Hayden both dressed up as clone troopers.  It was a real fun event for them.  They had a drawing at the end and Talmage was one of the winners.  He got to choose a star wars book.

Talmage and Hayden before the Star Wars event

Talmage playing one of the game

Hayden playing the game

Talmage's turn at the pinata

Hayden's turn

Talmage and Hayden with some Star Wars people

Hayden and Talmage

Talmage and Hayden with the book he won

Talmage and Hayden with the Tady kids and some friends from church



During this crazy month our family was asked to do the Amazing Race put on by the sister missionaries in our ward.  You get points by doing missionary type things.  So many of our free nights Jon and I went out with the sisters on team ups.  It was a lot of fun and I was glad I got to get to know these great lady's a bit more.