No one blogs in the Summertime!! We are all too busy having fun, right?
For me it was certainly the case. I have sworn that I was going to make it a great Summer and I believe that I have. The kids will be going to a traditional schedule which means NO breaks...ugh. I knew that I had to make the most of our time together. This blog is my journal...helping me to remember the little details. Here is a little piece of the tail end of our fantastic summer. *I am still working on my 5k post*
July 14-15 my Uncle Phil came to visit. He is one of my mom's four brothers. He is so nice, it was great to visit with him...it makes me miss all my big family down south! Sunday the 15th after I got off of work, and they got done with church we went to have breakfast at Mimi's. YUM! I love this picture of two sets of brothers and sisters! AWWW.
The girls...and um, one boy.
I was a bit annoyed because there were lots of cameras...no one knew where to look! People say that Sarah and I look alike...I don't see it.
After lunch, we headed to Midvale park for the annual Gonzales reunion. I love love love that the family still gets together! I feel like I know Matt's grandma's siblings better than any of my own grandparents' siblings. They are the nicest family ever and I love going every year. This is Matt's grandma's sister Anna and her brother Gene. Anna looks SOOO much like Matt's grandma...it makes me miss her so much. She has been gone 13 years but I still remember her voice.
Lauren loves every chance she gets to hang out with her cousin Bella.
Jamie wanted a spider...can you tell that is what it is?! LOL.
I wanted a picture of the kids...and of course...Leo had to crowd in. Here he is with 4 of his 5 grandkids. Not the best pic...and Bella was playing with dental floss...hmmm.
I have no pics of this...but later that day we went to my nephew Zander's birthday party...the kids got to swim and Zander seemed to love what we got him. We went back to my mom's house...visited with Uncle Phil some more...the kids showered and we headed home....five minutes later...Jamie was out!!!
July 18th was "Take Your Kid to Work Day" at work...this is the only pic I got. Cute Lauren eating in the lunchroom.
June 21...I worked and during work I re-connected with a long lost friend, Beth. Remember her? It has been fun getting to know her (again) and catching up on what we've missed.
I can't remember what day this was..but check him out. It always makes me laugh..who in the world could sleep like that. It CAN'T be safe!
July 25th I took PTO and took the kiddos to the pool. I invited my next door neighbor...she had her niece and nephew so I told her to bring them along. Denise is so easy going and sweet. She is a teacher, so she has summers off...so we took advantage of her time off too! **I forgot to mention that Denise and I took an adult dance class at the kids' studio. We had so much fun dancing...and I say for two moms of two-we kept up with the young girls pretty darn good! I was always so sweaty...and so happy!** Here is Lauren and Denise's niece Noa. We all had done fireworks together the night before. I LOVE being such good friends with all my neighbors! I am never moving and they better never move either!! My one complaint about my phone's camera is that outside-I can't see how the pictures turn out. I was mad when I got home to see Lauren's hair in her face...but...what can ya do.
Everett is one year older than Jamie! What a perfect pair of sibling friends for my kiddos!
Matt barbequed a lot this summer. This is my absolute favorite!! Healthy too!
I was leaving for work one day when I see this truck across the way and these people are emptying out their trash!!! Boards, hoses, chairs! Literally LITERING...er...DUMPING. I was so mad. I tried to get a good pic..
They followed us out! I guess I shoulda been more scared, but I was too mad. I think those jerks thought it was funny! If you recognize these clowns...give them a good "tsk tsk"!
July 28th my work paid for our entire family to see Batman. We could have seen Ice Age, I left the decision to Jamie and he chose Batman. Here are the cutouts they gave away...my kids were sad we didn't win..but TWO people on my team won $50 Gift Cards-so that was awesome!
July 29th...my mom has a BBQ to celebrate my sister, Ashley's 25th birthday and my niece, Alysia's 22nd birthday. Look how grown up Lauren looks in this picture!
Not so funny.
Noa.
I feel like a jerk that I didn't get any pictures of Denise and I on ANY of our journeys. None of our dance classes...and not of any on our trip to Leatherbys. Next time I see her-I AM GETTING A PICTURE OF HER!
BEFORE: (note Batman PJs!)
August 10th the kids and I were thrilled to go to Payson to go visit Misty and her family. They took us up to the Grotto..it was a fun little walk. All the kids loved it. Awesome! Here is Lauren and Melia...and Jamie and the twins, Aaron and AJ.
Lauren and Melia (she has so much attitude-if you couldn't tell!).
Adam and Misty were busy shucking corn for supper, the boys had fun feeding the...um..."shucks?" to the cows. I saw a bull up close and personal. They are big and scary and apparently mean. There were lots of flies around. Adam and Misty have super defenses and it didn't even bother them-I probably looked like I was having seizures with all my swatting and dodging.
We got the kids settled for bed and Misty and I stayed up talking...just like sleepovers I used to have as a teenager. I even bored Misty to sleep with a story, lol.
The next morning, Misty fed us breakfast and we were off to see her and Adam play some softball. I learned that Payson is pretty passionate about softball, and church (I think it is a law there that you have to be able to see a church at all times in the city). It was great to see Misty do what she loves to do and they are pretty darn serious about it too. I am so glad she didn't ask me to play-I would have embarrassed myself by hitting myself in the nose with the bat like I did when I was a kid. I got to sit in the shade and relax and get a little reading done, it was quite pleasant. We had some lunch-then we headed home....I took a nap when I got home...EXHAUSTED from so much fun.
I can't remember when...BUT this summer we got some fish and a fish tank. It all started at West Valley West Fest fair, I won a fish...so we got a bowl. We named him Stripezeez. Then we thought he was lonely so we got him a friend-Dash. Then Stripzeez died so we got a bigger tank with a filter and bubbler. Dash looked lonely in that big old tank so we got him some friends-Gulliver, Finn, and Tiger. Then about a week later....we went to the pet store and Matt fell in love with a fish that looked like it had a mo-hawk...we bought him and named him Mr. T. I also begged to get a sucker fish to try to keep the tank cleaner-Jamie named him Thunder. I have never had fish so it has been fun to watch them and to keep our tank decorated. I also find the sound of the bubbling water-quite soothing.
I actually cooked a meal or two here and there...see mom, I can cook!
For the last few years we have had a tradition to go to Park City. The kids love it and Matt and I have fun too. SO on August 16th we headed up there again. Here I am in the car...waiting for Matt.
Lauren warmed up for the Rocket by riding the Lady Bug Drop.
Lauren was so excited to FINALLY be big enough to ride the Rocket. Seriously, I was more nervous than she was!! I have to tell this story real fast...Lauren rode the White Roller Coaster with Matt and then rode with me right after because the line was so short. We go all the way to the top and I hear her say "Oh S&%@" I was shocked but I was laughing so hard...I couldn't be mad. If that doesn't tell you that your little girl is growing up-I don't know what does!
Jamie on the Helicopters...he wanted the camo one.
We also were able to tour Pioneer Village. We saw a bunch of cabins and toured the circus exhibit. Here is Jamie next to a picture of the world's shortest man. HA!
We also saw the coin exhibit with early pictures of Utah towns. This picture is for Misty....a Payson lover!
I think one of the kids' favorite things was running around the fountain. In retrospect we probably shouldn't have let the kids do this because Lauren came down with a cold the next day...I am sure from being wet!
Matt thought that it was hilarious to see them get all wet! I was not as pleased....and as we sat next to the kids on rides-we would get wet by association. After riding the Jet Star 2 with Lauren-I looked like I had peed my pants!
Oh boy!
We also rode the big ferris wheel...what a view!
SEE...I was there too! Me and Lars. Best buds for life!
My cute little man. Later that night he said to me "Mommy, I will try to stay your little boy forever" I almost busted out in tears right then and there. When he fell asleep on me later that night as we were watching TV, I just couldn't move him!!! I am so blessed with such a sweet boy.
We just HAD to have our Lagoon corn. SO YUMMY! "Sweet" corn!!!
The kids had a blast crashing into each other on the bumper cars.
The last ride of the night...Lauren and I rode the big swings. I felt like I was flying!
The next day at work...I felt so BLAHH...sad and I didn't know why. I think now it was because I was so sad that all of our summer fun was over. I have had such a fun and memorable summer! I didn't want it to end. I also don't do very well when I don't have anything to look forward to...and I don't have much more planned. ALSO...when Lauren is in school-I don't see her very much and it is very hard on me. As a full-time working mom, (and really ANY mom can relate) we all make sacrifices-we all do what we need to do for our families....it isn't always easy and it isn't always FUN...but we all do what we think is best. ONE more year and I am hoping to go back to the day shift...then Matt and I can be more on the same schedule. I look forward to dinner together every night and being like a normal family. One more year until Jamie is in First Grade! I can DO it!!! Hopefully reflecting on our fun summer adventures will help me make it through. Thanks to all our family and friends that helped make Summer 2012 one for the books!!
