4th of July - Week 46

We had a decision to make - go to Kansas City or host a BBQ and watch fireworks in Colorado. We opted to host a BBQ to get to know people in our neighborhood. Since we didn't know if people could come on July 4th, the BBQ was on Monday, July 3rd to begin the holiday. We cleaned up the backyard, put up our shade tent and had a nice evening with people.

Also that day we found a bunk bed with a trundle for our boys. After picking up the bed, we bought a belt sander and hand sander.

The hope is to have the beds refinished by the time boys start school.

We headed to get a few things from the library. There is a new water feature at the library.

We let the boys play in the water for a long time. They have asked that they may come back again.

Since we live so close to Wyoming, people in our neighborhood put on a fireworks show every night since Saturday night. They were great fireworks that shot into the air. Many different firetrucks drove by our house. We can only imagine they were helping people with their fireworks.

For the 4th of July, we stayed home. Sweetheart go to play games. The boys played with Legos. I got to work on a quilt. In the evening, the Eckert family brought over fireworks and cake.

We lit off the fireworks at our house then walked down the way to a park to watch the city fireworks.

That night the boys finished Ender's Game by O. S. Card with their Dad. They have been reading books together.

The library system here hosts classes throughout the month for art, body movement, and other subjects. The one for our local library was full so we headed to a different library to participate. It was one of the smallest libraries we've ever visited. The boys built a diorama of a dinosaur in a different book setting. They picked the Roman Parthenon and San Francisco. They took a friend with them, and all had fun.

A family in our ward was moving. They had a couch they couldn't take. Since we married, we've owned 1 couch. In May, another family moved, and they gave us their couches. It was so AWESOME to have a place to sit instead of on the floor. We have 2 main living areas, and one now had furniture. I was very excited to have a couch for the other living area. We now have couches. The only thing we have to decide now is how to arrange them.

On Saturday we left for the annual Locey Family Reunion in Park City, Utah. We decided to drive through Dinosaur National Monument.

We stopped, and Sweetheart loved the Monument. The main viewing area is a collection of bones. It is believed that the collection occurred because it was a delta and watering hole collecting the deceased bodies. While we were there, one of the groups was of blind teenagers with their chaperons. The Ranger was describing what the bones looked like and let them touch different areas of the dig. We commented on how it would be interesting to "see" a park through someone else's description.

On the way we saw the Vernal Temple.

The boys were happy to arrive and see their cousins. Bring on the adventure to the next week for the Locey Reunion!

Be Well!

*****

 Backyard Treasures - Basil

Backyard Treasures - Rosemary

Backyard Treasures - Chocolate Mint

 Backyard Treasures - Orange Rose

 Backyard Treasures - Red Roses

Backyard Treasures - Unknown Flower

 Hurricane with a Sparkler

 Fireworks and Glow Sticks

Bedtime on the 4th

 Dinosaur National Monument - Green River

  Dinosaur National Monument - Green River

  Dinosaur National Monument - Green River

 A Random Field in Utah

Visitors, Firsts, and Fireworks - Week 45

Auntie Yvette and her children came on her way East. Auntie Yvette has made a goal to go to the 50 States before her oldest graduates from high school. They are visiting the Northeast this summer. They will have gone to the lower 48 by the end of this summer.

While they were here, we went to see the Denver Temple. Monday morning they packed up and headed East.

We started our summer jobs. We made a list of jobs that need to be done each day - inside, outside, music, homework, and reading. Once their jobs are done they get to watch an old movie. It's part of their education. The movie has to be made before 1980. So they are OLD.

In our area, a summer book group was organized for children. We went to our first one that read the book "Lucy Lady Bug" by Sharon King-Chai.

Afterward they got to decorate their own cupcake with their own spots. They had a fun time.

Hurricane had his first den meeting. He was over the moon excited and brought home a cup of dirt and a silver pail.

The cup of dirt reminded me of the Brian Regan comedy sketch about waking up on the day of the science fair and remembering he forgot to do the science fair. He brought a cup of dirt as his assignment. Hurricane loved the evening. Underfoot and I enjoyed our evening together by talking on the front porch.

It had been a particularly hard day for me. He was very kind to be my buddy for the evening.

The sunset was lovely that evening.

Underfoot started to see the chiropractor because he has complained of his back hurting for a while. When he was being adjusted the chiropractor said it is funny how a child will react the same way that the parent does. Underfoot holds his breath. So do I. Underfoot doesn't "relax and helps" with the adjustment. So do I. We chuckled.

We attended a Concert in the Park as a family. The band was called That 80's Band. They played different 80s songs. We had a really good time listening to the music, playing cards, and dancing.

Underfoot had a play date with a friend from school. He made this friend at the end of the school year and was really happy to have someone to hang out with at school. The whole family came for the play date. The parents are from Napal.

On Saturday the ward hosted a pre-4th of July with a BBQ, a bike ride, ultimate Frisbee, baseball, and socializing. The men in the family rode their bikes. I drove the food. The men had a really good time running around and riding their bikes. They took a long time to come home in the heat of the day.

That evening we went to Four Mile Historic Park with the Eckert family.

The park is a living museum for what it was like during the settling and early days of Denver. The park was free for the evening because the city was doing their fireworks that evening.

The fireworks were fun and close.

Be Well.

*****

 A Pretty Breakfast

 Another View of the Denver Temple

Flowers at the Temple

 Flowers at the Temple

 Flowers at the Temple

 Flowers at the Temple

 Flowers at the Temple

 Flowers at the Temple

 Flowers at the Temple

 Flowers at the Temple

 Flowers at the Temple

 Sweetheart was picking a few weeds at the temple.

Someone attacked the ice cream from the outside. 

Apparently the inside was too hard to eat.

 Another View of Fireworks

  Another View of Fireworks

Day Camp - Week 44

We returned home to get ready for Day Camp and clean up from our trip.

Hurricane attended his first Day Camp.

Underfoot attended Webelos Camp.

They were at the same location at the same time. Our pack needed a staff volunteer. I volunteered for that role and was the Shooting Range Guard.

The first day at camp I hyper-extended my knee. I was so grateful that I had a job that I could let it heal. Each night we camp home and showered immediately from being hot and then filthy. We then drank and drank and drank and drank water.

On Wednesday, we celebrated Meg Bostwick's birthday. She loved birthdays and love the phrase "Treat Yo' Self." Meg's funeral had been the day before.

Cousin Susan, Meg's Mom, invited everyone to treat themselves for Meg. We treated ourselves with a Frostie.

The boys started the library reading program.

Hurricane and Underfoot participated in an Eagle Court of Honor by doing the flag ceremony. Hurricane had a lot of firsts this month with Scouts.

Saturday was busy with cleaning the church and a summer work picnic. We went to Boondocks and played all the games.

Sweetheart's favorite is the Laser Tag. He got the most points (23,000+).

Be Well.

*****

 Last Day of Day Camp - Day 3

 Our Pack

Hungry?