3...2...1...

...nothing.

We tried to launch Hayden's rocket tonight for family night.  We have three separate engines and three separate igniters, but none of them worked.  Sad.  

But the light outside was good for pictures, the grass was lovely to run on, and there was a little rainbow in the sky.  

Can't beat that.

Phew!

It has been hard, back-breaking work, but our yard is well on it's way.  On Wednesday we laid sod, and on Friday we finished off the front landscape with weed barrier and mulch.   In just two weeks we can actually walk on the grass!  Can't wait!

Parade Floats

This Tuesday we went with Grandma V. and met up with some cousins at the float preview.  We probably spent most of our time waiting in line for the animal balloons though.  It was a great way to see the floats without the heat.  

Balloon notes

McKinley put "balloon notes" on our summer list, so that's what they did today.

They wrote a note and attached it to the ballon and off into the air.  They are hoping someone finds it and writes them back!

Pictures by McKinley.

Bike Parade

This morning was our ward Pioneer day celebration with breakfast and the children's bike parade.  The kids were excited to go.  McKinley was especially excited to decorate the bikes.  Hayden did a good job on his scooter.  Sawyer had to be persuaded to at least put on some balloons.  He just wanted to ride his bike.

Some ward members stood along the parade route and threw candy at the kids.

What a difference!

Just before braces were put on (after palate expansion though)....

And 2 months into treatment.

Holy cow!

I give up

Hayden: "I know which one is the worker."

Me: "Who?"

Hayden: "Daddy."

Me: "Yep, he works hard."

Hayden: "I know which one is lazy."

Me: "Who?"

Hayden: "You."

WHAT!?!

Thanksgiving Point

We got an early (for us) start and went to Thanksgiving Point today.  We visited farm country and the children's gardens.  I let the kids invite a couple of neighbor kids to come with us.  We rode the ponies and did a little carriage ride, before heading over to the gardens.

Josh's first pony ride.  He wanted to get down and run around instead about halfway through, but we stuck it out.

Haven't done this for a few years!

Jailbird!

Don't get used to it in there!

Captured a moment on the tractor looking like a big boy!

We played in the gardens for a while, then left to get some lunch since Josh was VERY hungry.  I remembered free IKEA lunch for kids on Tuesdays so we went there.  There was a crazy long line of freeloaders like us!  But I likes me some IKEA meatballs so it was worth it.

Liberty Park

Today we went to Liberty Park downtown.  It was overcast and lovely.  I enjoyed being around all those giant established trees.  It was a little like being back east....a little.   Taking a roaming toddler to a park can be less than relaxing though.  We had one outright escape attempt.

Since it was not very hot today, it wasn't too crowded.

The kids only went through the water features a few times, probably since it was such mild temperatures today.

Riding the turtle.

Josh liked to sneak through the water puddles.

Sawyer looks so grown up in this picture to me.

Taking a little rest at the end of the slide.

Pretending to be a puppy.

There was too much grumbling and bickering in the car so we had to forgo the ice cream after the park :(  But it was a nice park day while it lasted!

7-11

Every year July 11 is free slurpee day at 7-11.  Luckily I remembered on our way to swimming lessons, so we stopped off on our way home and enjoyed our July 11th treat.

Happy 7-11!

Swinging

Just enjoying a perfectly overcast 80 degree summer morning.  This is my kind of weather.

Yummy s'mores

We made these s'mores treats this week.  They were so yummy.  Kent won't try them.  McKinley loves them.  Sawyer only likes the chocolate.  Hayden only likes the marshmallows.  Josh only ate the chocolate too.  

I guess they won't be a new family favorite...but they were soooo yummy!

Swim lessons

We've started our next round of swimming lessons.  This time we are doing it at Guys Swim Gym.  So far the kids love it.  They are all in the same time slot, but they have tailored McKinley's learning to match her level.

It is a salt water pool, so no chlorine smell!  Yay!

McKinley swims the length of the pool, while the others swim the width.

Hayden is already so proud of himself for swimming!

Sawyer's favorite time is the toy finding games.

Summer ideas

At the end of the school year we make a list of the things we want to do during the summer.  We don't always do EVERY thing on the list, but we knock off a lot of them and have fun in the process!

4th of July

We started our 4th by installing a couple more sprinkler zones in the yard.  Around lunch time we headed to my parents for a cousins lunch/playtime.  The kids got to slip n slide, play in a kiddie pool, or hot tub.  

Josh was attached to the toy bus all day.  They had these same buses in nursery as well.   He loved seeing the bus that Hayden rode to kindergarten and sometimes I could hear him singing in the back afterward and I eventually figured out he was trying to sing "The Wheels on the Bus".

We went home for Josh's nap time and our rest time before we headed to Shelley and James house for backyard fireworks and pizza.  They had a great vantage point and neighbors who did lots of good aerials.   

Last day of school!

Sawyer finished 2nd grade today.  This year he had Ms. Malat and then Miss Richards.  He loved playing football at recess, had fun doing his rock collection project, and hated doing homework.

We need to work on the fake smile.

McKinley finished 4th grade today.  She started the year with Mrs. Swords and finished with Mr. Strebel.  McKinley loved taking Spanish and orchestra (with Mr. Hiyashi) in Connecticut.  She had a great time with her economics project running her own store.  McKinley has made lots of new friends, but still misses her Connecticut friends dearly.  Luckily they facetime, text, and email a lot.

We can't believe how much her teeth have moved already!
The little mark on her right cheek is a little dog bite (not our dog).

Last day of kindergarten

Today was Hayden's last day of kindergarten.  They got to take a little sack lunch and have a picnic outside.

He's had a great year in two different kindergarten classes and has done very well.  I'm glad he adjusted so easily with the move and has been a happy little boy (although he still misses his Connecticut friends).

I took this picture on his last day at the last minute while he was waiting for his bus, when the bus came and I couldn't retake it.

So we took this one a couple days later so we could actually see his eyes!