JULY and all its GLORY!

Wow, July is already gone, and tomorrow, August will be half over! 

I wonder where I have been?

 Lost somewhere in the whirlwind of life and raising kids. Good thing I love it!

 July is a month of celebrations!
The kids usually look forward to the 4th of July and all the fun that Independence Day brings.  But to me, it signifies the summer being half over, which makes me sad. I love the summer, and I am not wishing it away any time soon. 

*****

The Fourth of July!

Our family, minus the 2 oldest, celebrated the land of the free and the home of the brave...Soda Springs style! The festivities included a parade, followed by food and entertainment in the park. 

The parade was your typical small town parade. Luckily it had rained just hours before so the temperature was nice, not too hot! The town was packed with people and the streets were lined with cars and more people. We got there just as the parade was starting. I don't think Clay remembers the parade from last year, so it was all new and somewhat intimidating to him.  He was a bit apprehensive at first to get out there and pick up any candy.

After a little coaxing, he seemed to warm up to the idea.

Once he got a piece, he would run it up to Grandpa and Grandma Johnson where they were sitting, one candy at a time. It was cute, he was sharing!

The town was packed for the festivities.

Dakota hung out in the stroller sleeping, up until the sirens started to go off.

She is such a good baby; always content and so darn cute!

We were lucky enough to get to celebrate with Wes, Tel and their parents. Some of Clay's favorite cousins!

Daddy and Dakota...seeing the two of them together melts my heart!

After the parade, we walked over to the park.

There they had a few different bounce houses, a train, and a small ferris wheel. All of which were free, if you were patient enough to wait in line for a turn or a ride. We chose the ferris wheel because it had the shortest line...we only had to wait for about 20 minutes. The boys had fun...that is all that matters!

Wes and Clay are such good pals.

After all the fun at the park we headed home for a little cat nap.

Later that afternoon we occupied the boys with water. They sure had a fun time swimming together. 

Dakota hung out and watched them...wishing she could join in! 

Dirk and I decided to do the meal. We ate dutch oven chicken tenderloins, potatoes, grilled corn on the cob and a green salad. It was scrumptious! I even made dessert. A Boston Creme Poke Cake, it was delicious!

I over-ate that night, but it was just too good not to!

I was hoping for a little snap, crackle and pop of exploding color, instead we settled for glow sticks and glow bubbles. The boys didn't seem to mind.

Isn't he just the cutest? He sure can coordinate patterns well!

I love the 4th of July and was glad that I got to spend it with family.

4 days later...we headed to Holden!

While there the kids spent a lot of time swimming in the awesome pool that Grandma splurged on.

Clay was in heaven!

A summer time favorite...homemade root beer!

All the boy cousins--Brooks, Max, Clay, Jack, and Sam

Our last night there we went up the canyon for dinner and grilled steaks. I love going up Maple Hollow, it brings back memories from when I was a kid.

This little boy had what could easily have been his first taste of pop! And he loves it of course.

He thought he wanted up there. Then is was too scary and high!

He was holding on for dear life. We had a hard time getting him off of it because he wasn't going to let go.

Home Sweet Home!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE summer rainstorms.

5 months old!
Dakota is so precious. She is growing up too fast. This sweet baby is a babbler, every  morning she wakes up happy and babbling! She has also learned to use different octaves to express herself. Usually always with a smile. Her disposition and temperament is one to brag about. She is just so good, all of the time. Dakota loves music and for anyone to sing to her. She will usually join right in.

Dakota loves to play on the floor with her toys. One Sunday evening she found her baby doll and was very fascinated with it. It was so precious to watch her look at and play with it. Normally when I put her on the floor I lay her on her back and she immediately rolls to her tummy. I think she prefers her tummy but can roll both ways. She also has a way of maneuvering where she wants to go.

We are all so in love with this baby girl!

Picnic Time!
One afternoon the kids and I decided to take the ranger up in the mountains for a picnic. It was such a great idea, we all had so much fun.

A good half mile of the trail was covered in butterflies. It was so amazing! It felt like we were in a fairytale. There had to have been thousands and thousands flying around.

It was a nice little get away. All of us are looking forward to doing it again.

24th of July!
Pioneer Day commemorates the arrival of the Mormon Pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. Pioneers were normal people with strong convictions who made tremendous sacrifices and accomplished incredible things.
I am grateful and honored to celebrate the bravery of these original settlers, and their strength of character, and physical endurance.
Bancroft kicks off the celebration with a parade.

Grandpa Johnson and the Grand Marshall of the parade.

 

After the parade the DUP (Daughters of Utah Pioneers) puts on a program held in the church. Jeslyn was asked to speak. She gave a talk on her great great great grandmother Sine Sorensen Englestead.

Jeslyn did a very good job. I know she has come to really love this grandma. I have as well, and look forward to meeting her someday. 

I salute the pioneers and others who have gone before and presented us with such a "priceless heritage".


Near the end of July the kids decided to make a hut in the bushes. They spent most of the day cleaning it out and cutting limbs. Once they were finished they had a great idea...they all wanted to sleep in it that night, so we decided to let them. I can't believe that they didn't get scared or anything. Instead, they loved it and slept out there the next 2 nights.

The last night they got eaten alive by bugs. So I made them clean it up and air it out until after the fair. I am quite certain that they won't forget and will want to do it again. I am glad that they like having some good old fashioned fun!

July also kept Jeslyn busy with her steer, Mohawkwa.

Wow, that is it for July? I feel like summer is slipping by so  quickly this year. Maybe it's part of getting older. I sure hope not.
Luckily there is still the hot long days of August...which I look forward to all year. But I'm afraid it will pass by in a blink as well. Is it just me, or are these days just not long enough??