Who's Two?

Not Claire, even though today is her birthday.  Bryn was way too sad about being gone at camp for Claire's birthday, so we decided to celebrate when Bryn returns.  Claire's birthday excitement consisted of "green greens" for dinner.  And yes, that really is exciting for her.  I still think cake and presents may top the green greens come Saturday.

It's Official

When the slip n slide comes out you know it's really summer vacation time!

Bingham Canyon Mine

You'd think that if my children went to the world's largest copper mine which is one of the only man-mad items visible from space, they'd come back impressed by the scale of the hole and wanting to tell me all about it.  You know what they were excited about?  Pressed pennies.  Grandpa has a collection of them, so they were all too eager to get to try what are usually the off-limits machines.  So instead of hearing about the giant hole, the huge machinery, the amazing scale of it all, I saw it on a smashed penny.

Thank goodness my mom was there to point out some of the more important stuff!

Claire and I stayed home for nap time, so no pictures from us today.

Gardening at Night

It's sort of a necessity when your day is filled with Grandma and Grandpa taking you to the movies, swimming and out to eat.  And when you're done, of course you have to stay up late and eat ice cream with berries.

True Blue

My Dad is a true blue BYU fan, so you can guess where we go every time he's here.  He has his own traditions like getting a Bismark (donut with jelly and coconut on top) and having lunch at the CougarEat, but the part the kids love is time at the Candy Jar.  Everyone gets to choose their own candy, Grandma gets fudge and life is good.   Even if you do have to pose for a picture in front of a picture of what's just outside the building.

Summerfest

For the second year in a row we've had a rainy, dreary Summerfest.  Maybe they should reconsider that name?  The kids always have fun whatever the weather, and it was even nicer with grandparents to share in the excitement.

(Also of note: e-Claire has run off with the SD card.  Well, we're assuming it's her and she's too young to know she's being blamed without a fair trial.  In the meantime, not so clear phone photos or borrowed ones will have to do.)

A Snail Collection

Don't worry, it's just the shells!  Ella has a tendency to want to collect and keep everything she gets her hands on.  She brings home the leftover bits of streamer after a birthday party, she picks up rocks in parking lots, she remembers and loves every stuffed animal she's ever had--even when her mother has long since given them away.  Oh the heartbreak when any of her collected items disappears!

Ella and Grandma have done a bunch of weed pulling the last few days.  Our yard is starting to look like a yard and not so much like an overgrown weed lot, for which I'm extremely grateful.  However, Ella has been collecting snail shells as they've been found, putting them on the outdoor table and then naming them.  Anyone want to guess who Chalky is? Swirly? Mini?

A Day with Grandma

The girls went to the mall with Grandma today.  Here's Ella sporting her new shirt, new hat, and some tasty ice cream.  Bryn came home with a new outfit, also and I'm pretty sure Grandma bought herself a few goodies, too.

Grandpa Rocks

My parents arrived last night for a visit.  The kids are thrilled just to have them here (me, too), but they're especially excited about all the Grandpa spoiling going on.  He gave them all rolls of quarters, took them out to eat at their favorite fast food play area, and he bought a brand new trampoline.  Owen was particularly sad at leaving our in-ground trampoline behind, but life is good again now that Grandpa got him a new one.  He's even thinking he'll let his sisters on it occasionally.

Claire doesn't care quite so much about the trampoline, but she's sure a fan of the slide.  And lest Grandma be slighted, she spent the day baking cookies and reading with kids.  Everyone's happy :-)

I want Bef!

We have the nicest neighbors.  Claire has decided our neighbor, Beth, is her new best friend.  It just may have something to do with the liberal application of Otter Pops.  When she wakes up in the morning, she asks for Beth.  When she's in trouble, she wants Beth.  When she just walks past the window and can see the house next door, she wants Beth.  It's a good thing Beth likes Claire (and the other kids, too!)

*Today's photo by our guest photographer, Bryn, using her brand new camera.*

Peonies

One of the fun things about having a new house is seeing all the things that grow in the yard.  Every flower and plant is new and exciting.  My old house had lots of flowers, but most of them were roses, and I'd been staring at them for the last ten years.  Tulips and lilies and peonies are far more exciting.  And the great thing is that there will be something else fun in a few more weeks.  Hopefully, my enthusiasm will last a few years.

The Crazy is Catching

Check out our neighbor's house...

Yup, the swallows finally gave up on us, just to head next door.  They were caught within a few minutes, so didn't get much done, but I'm glad to not be the only one with plastic wrap on my porch.  I wonder where they'll go now?

Party Time

Bryn was a lot happier with today's birthday experience than the one she had last Saturday.  Apparently twenty-five friends, a multitude of gifts and spending the rest of the day with a few close friends makes up for a lot.  I still just can't believe she's eleven.  What happened to my baby girl?

Swallowing our Pride

So the swallows just don't want to give up on us.  I've googled and read and tried a number of things.  After my first attempt, they just moved a few inches past my deterrent and built again. So today I went with our personal equivalent of a tin foil hat and saran wrapped the porch using painting tape.  Hopefully, our new neighbors won't think we're too crazy.  They do want the birds gone; I'm just not sure they want to be associated with this look.

The Best Flower

The first bloom on our mini rosebush came out today.  It's right by the front walkway so it's pretty hard to miss when you're going in and out of the house.  Owen walked out the door and exclaimed, "Mom, come see!  We have a flower, and I think it's a dandelion!  That's the best kind!"  It's hard to beat the excitement and misinformation of childhood.  Funnier still, we saw a dandelion later, and he got very excited about seeing a sunflower.  Perhaps they offer summer horticulture classes for four year olds?

A New Game

Owen and Ella invented a game today.  It's called Camera Catch.  The object of the game is to hide from me so I can't take their pictures, but then they run out and taunt me with their cute faces, then try to get away before I get them on film.  (Hmm, what's the modern day equivalent of that saying, since it's not actually film anymore?  Before I get them on my SD card just doesn't have the same ring.)

Dance Recital

Dance recital: the last holdout before real summer begins!  The girls had a great time at the recital this year.  They love Miss Kim and Kristin and have really grown as dancers this year.  They both were in group dances to Hannah Montana's Hoedown Throwdown, and the theme song to Phineas and Ferb.

Unfortunately, they're rather scatterbrained mother left the memory card at home and only got it at the last minute so the pictures are all blurry and flashless from the real recital rather than cute and adorable from the dress rehearsal.  Oh well :-)