Fourth of July 2009

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I love, love, love the Fourth of July in Idaho Falls. Here's how it goes. First we kidnapped some cousins from Utah because they know how fun it is and wanted to come. It starts with the Culdesac of Fire, which is a neighborhood party with fun, friends, good food, candy cannon, fireworks and this year I did some face painting. Olivia loves to paint anything and when she saw me painting faces she wanted to paint mine. Pretty good for a three year old.

Next, the night before, Jeff sleeps on the tramp with the kids. Fireworks are going off all night and it is a blast. This year Kate and Kat did shadow dancing up against the fence.

 

On the morning of the fourth, Jeff and Kate or Kyle go early and set up our spot. It is at the beginning of the parade. They play football and eat donuts while they wait for the rest to show up. The parade tradition goes all the way back to when Jeff and I were dating. We are both very obnoxious at the parade and yelled and cheered for everyone (obnoxious is the tradition) Consequently this leads to lots of candy. We also got the tiger mascot to embarass Annalisa. Olivia was not embarassed to speak to and hug anyone in a costume.

After the parade we go to Kate Courley Park and eat and play games. By the time we are done we just drive home without any traffic.

 

 In the past I try to figure out a way to play volleyball. I have set up games at home to pass the time while waiting for the fireworks. This year we were invited to a volleyball tournament. The kids were invited to come and play water games, so we spent all day in the sun. It was soooo fun. Food was included in this one too. As soon as the tournament was done we went to Jeff's parents to have a BBQ. We all plopped onto the blanket exhausted from the day. Their yard is nice and shady at night. Then we have another huge feast with corn on the cob, etc. This year they played spoons where you have to run to get the spoons across the yard, water balloon toss and face painting replenishment. The kids also played in Jeff's parents new water fountain, which Michael made.

 

 

Lastly we run down to the fireworks right before they start and find a little spot to cram into and enjoy the beautiful show. Wow what a blast and what a day.

Summer Birthdays

 June 19th our little Annalisa turned 13. It's so weird to have a child become a teenager. Now Annalisa has always been the short one, which she likes and it seemed like for 3 years she wore the same sized clothes as is proven by two of her school pictures. But, lately she has grown to about 5' 1". She wears a little makeup and is going into the 8th grade, but she's still a kid and as sweet as they come. Is the change of attitude really going to happen. I actually have a hard time believing it with Anna.

 July 1st our big Olivia turned 3. This year she did know how to open presents and I think we blew out her candles a few times, which is becoming tradition. Kyle decorated her cake with his imaginext pirate ship (Noah's Ark), frosted the cake and placed the animals. She is now all of a sudden talking non-stop, which is weird because she hasn't been interested in talking for about 2 years and 11months. She is still a character, and a crack up with this sweet side. I think she and I are going to have a great time together next year. I can't believe that I will only have one child home. That hasn't happened since Katelyn was a toddler.

August 3rd was Jeff''s 41st birthday. He is definitely getting better as he gets older. Well actually he's always looked great, but grey hair looks awesome with that olive skin, and he's just a dream husband, what more can I say. His birthday was bitter sweet because he spent the day with the Scott family, whom he loves. Fern Scott passed away last week. Jeff has home taught them for 6 years and is now their Bishop. Her funeral was on his birthday and he spoke at it. It was very hard for him to speak because he loves and admires them so much and wanted things to go smooth. I don't think he'll ever forget that birthday. Today one of the Scott children found out that it was his birthday and brought him a present. They would do something like that.

June Fun!

I am so behind, but right after we returned home from Martin's Cove we had visitors from Texas. My brother Charlie, his wife Meg and baby Abby came to visit on a break from school. They just moved from Pittsburgh to Texas to do an intern/ Oral surgery school. We loved having them. Then found out that Utah cousins were in town, so played with them too. Just a good old fashioned game of kick ball.

 Charlie being a good sport.

The Teams

Meg and cute Abby

  We also enjoyed coach pitch softball. This is the first official sport that Kristen has done. She played pretty well for a beginner, and had great coaches, Tammy M. and Linda B. She really loved it and we did too.

Get in postition.  Swing.  Run!

Heidi Jo also graced us with her presence. She took her vacation and came to be with us. We had a blast and trained Spidey (Brandon) on handling snakes. They would have returned home with a snake, but it got away. Brandon is serious about being Spiderman. Brandon is a crack up, just like Heidi Jo.