Summer Ends with a Campout

Summer is coming to an end. Wait a minute someone forgot to tell Mother Nature that summer is ending. Our temperatures have been the hotest of the whole summer. The last two weeks we have been over 100 degrees if you watch the weathermen. However, out temperature gauges have all read over 105 to 110 degrees depending on the day. The only saving grace is in the mornings it is cooler in the low 70's.

This is the last hoorah for the summer we decided that we needed a camping trip to Sand Hollow. Friday night after work we headed out hoping to beat the rush. The campground was pretty empty for a holiday weekend. A quick setup, dinner, and then it was time to play.

Hiking to the top of the hill... What can we see?

Water...Let's go wading.

Trying to not get to wet...Oops!

Everyone was tired out and ready for treats, movie, and sleep. Everyone was out by 10:00 and back up at 7:00.

More playing in the water and jumping the waves.

Building sandcastles

How dirty can we get out shoes? Yes, I do feed him.

Let's bury Rylee...STOP there is sand in my suit.

It was a great overnight trip. We succeeded getting sandy in everything and all over the place. Too bad summer is ending, but wait soccer is starting and rodeo week is around the corner.

GOODBYE SUMMER.....HELLO FALL

IT Summer Party

The Annual IT Dept Summer Party @ Pine Valley was this weekend. It was great to get away from the heat and enjoy the fresh air, cooler temp, and visit without talking about work. Jim out did himself with too many activities and yummy food.

Yummy food with fresh fruit, BBQ hamburgers & hot dogs.

No pictures please!!

Then came the yummy treats snow cones and cotton candy.

This is as big as my head!

My turn, my turn I have my stick.

Each time a new batch was started the kids rushed over to try the new color. I ended up with a handful of cotton candy I wasn't supposed to eat or touch. I love this sweet treat and it proved to be to much and I snuck bites when they weren't looking.

It was a great party and the kids didn't want to go home. They didn't want to get up this morning for church. Everyone had sugar hangovers.

The Heat Has Arrived!!!!

Summer has finally arrived or should I say the heat has finally arrived. Everyone thought it would be a cool summer. NOT!!! The past week temperature gauges are getting a work out. All over town they each read something different from 118 to 104. So take your pick, it is just plain hot. The weathermen can't agree either, but they always measure at least 5 degrees lower than anything else. How is right? Does it matter? NO!!!

We tried to beat the heat and go early to the splash pad. 9:30 am and it was already 89. The kids didn't care they were off to play in the water.

Ready, Set, Go.....

The race around the splash pad was over with Rylee as the winner.

10:15 am everyone was hot, thirsty, and tired. Time to find some air conditioning.

Summer Level Reading Program

This year our school is offering the Level Reading Progam during the summer. The teachers really encouraged the kids to participate. Rylee had to do it. Faithfully on Tuesday mornings we have to pick up the books for the week from the library.

Each night after school is reading time. This is what we found. Rylee reading to Reganne.


They read this way for about 15 minutes. Then it was back to fighting and teasing each other. We should be happy for those 15 minutes and not fret the rest.

Summer Is Here

Monday morning dawned full of promise to be a great day. The weather reports said it would be warm. Dave promised the kids he would blow up the swimming pool so they could play. Our weather this year has been really unpredictable. One day you are wearing a jacket and the next day shorts. This day turned out to be the hotest day of the year (so far). As we drove by Dixie High School their Marque read 115 degrees. I know it wasn't that hot. It felt like it in my car with no a/c. While Dad was getting the swimming pool ready. We went to the library for the Summer Reading Program kickoff. They had games, crafts, and great prizes.

The home to play in the water and cool off.

I quickly remembered the one thing I hate about summer. The laundry!!! Rylee had three water days at daycamp each week. Reganne & Ryder each have one. Then add in swimming at the neighbors or running through the sprinklers. Thats a lot of towels and suits.

I am know caught up with the laundry. So I say bring it on!

Movie on the Square

One of our favorite summer activities is back. Movie on the Square with Imagine That playing. We packed up the kids, blankets, chairs, swimsuites, towels, and of course gooey popcorn. We were ready for the night. We staked out our spot for the movie and the kids ran to play in the water.

Two employees of KSGU TV were there as the program directors. They decided there were way to many wiggles. They cranked up the music and had all the kids come up front to dance. They did the bunny hop, macarena, hokie pokie, and freestyle.

Bunny Hop

The Hokey Pokey

I think it worked in reverse. The kids were even more wound up than before.

The movie started at 9:00pm. The witching hour for Ryder. Within 15 minutes he was wanting to go home. He was tired and he wanted his bed. Then it started to sprinkle. Just as we hit the car and pulled out it started to rain. Lucky for us or should I say lucky for Ryder we avoided getting soaked.

Happy 4th of July

We are having a long 4th of July weekend this year. It has been full of activities, friends, and food. Friday kicked off our weekend with work and daycare being closed. So off we went to the library and splash river downtown. We joined about 100 of our closet friends there. Everyone running around screaming and splashing about. Why do kids have to try and drink the water? Why do parents refuse to put swim diapers on their little ones? These are the questions I was asking myself as I watched my kids.

St George Town Square Splash River.

Saturday morning came the annual neighborhood parade and breakfast. We were excited to have Dad home with us. He was off for the holiday. Rylee was excited to ride her bike and had helped her dad decorate it. For once everyone was all smiles and looking at the camera. Breakfast soon followed and everyone devoured the food within about 10 minutes. It was starting to get really warm. We headed back home to the air conditioning and to rest.

Ryder

Rylee

Reganne

We enjoyed a barbeque with our neighbors the DeMacedos. Then it was off to the fireworks downtown. Our usual spot this year was taped off with reserved signs. We had to locate a new spot and fast. Lucky for us we found on by the St George Temple. The kids loved their poppers. Ryder even tried them out this year. He would take him about three tries before he could hit them just right. He loved it and mimicked the girls and soon was having as much fun as they were.

We waited and waited and waited finally the fireworks were getting ready to start. Then all of a sudden the sprinklers kicked on. So much for sitting to enjoy the show. We all stood and watched a pretty good show.

Rylee: It is too loud.....Are they over yet?

Reganne: They hurt my ears......My feet hurt?

Ryder: Done???

It was a good show this year and the kids were all asleep within minutes of leaving the parking lot.

Rylee, Sammy DeMacedo, Reganne, Ryder

We had a fun day. Filled with Fun, Food, and Friends. What more could you ask for?

Backyard Campout

This week has been full of activity. Dave planned a backyard campout with the kids for their day off with dad. They were so excited to sleep outside in the tent. They could hardly wait for it to get dark. We decided to try and make smores with them. It wouldn't be camping unless you have a treat.

What campout wouldn't complete without an air mattress to sleep on.

Let's try a sword fight with these cool swords or roasting sticks.

Here they all are roasting their marshmallows. My job was to have the cracker and chocolate ready for them.

YUM, YUM, YUM....Marshmellow goo all over our faces.

Ryder loved to separate them and then eat. Reganne shoved it all in her mouth and then slowly savored it. Rylee ate it really dainty trying to keep clean. They only ate one each and were ready to play again.

Thursday, we were invited to a summer barbeque party with Families Supportin Adoption. This was a group we belonged too during our adoption adventures. Each year they invite everyone back for fun, food, and conversation. This year it was held at a new park Sienna Hills Park in Washington. Our kids love the water and couldn't wait to get wet. There weren't as many people this year, but the kids made up for it. They had alot of fun and made new friends.

Saturday, our social butterfly Reganne had another birthday party. This week it was a slip and slide part with makeovers thrown in. Rylee, Ryder, and I were off to the library and the rec center to play. Rylee loves to go to the library and look at the books. Ryder loves to run around and make as much noise as possible. We only stayed long enough to get new books and then it was off to play in the water. The splash pad was down for repairs. So the shallow side of the pool is where they ended up. We were able to meet Filipe & Sione participants from this last season of Biggest Losser. They are doing a Boot Camp for Life at the rec center this coming week. It was great to seem them and knowing how much they have accomplished. It was nice to see that they are really working towards their goal of helping their community.

Time to get geared up for another fun filled week. The weather has been extremely nice in the high 80's to low 90's. Who could ask for better!

Schools Out and Summer is Here

The last two weeks have been very busy. Filled with so much that needed to be done and enjoyed. The last day of school was May 22nd. Rylee will officially move to second grade next year. Her teacher will be Mrs. McBride. This was the only teacher she knew about. She was so excited to hear that she would be her teacher. Her report card had all high marks with glowing praises from her teacher. She also received her certificate for 100% attendance. We are so proud of her this year and how she has excelled.

Also, on May 22nd was Reganne's teacher Ms. Shanna's last day. She is moving to SLC so her husband can start law school. She had planned a going away party so the kids would understand when she said goodbye. It didn't stop the tears from her, the kids, or the parents.

Lucky for us it was a holiday weekend. We spent our Memorial Weekend with Randy & Janelle helping them with their new yard. It rained, rained, and even more rain. They were able to get the basics done. Randy is a good study and now has it under control.

Summer camp started Tuesday. Rylee was so excited to go and be with her friends. She thought it was great to see old friends and hopes to make a few new friends this summer. Reganne is so happy that she is there and looks forward each day to playing with her.


With so much activity it was not surprising that I walked in and found the kids like this. Rylee was so proud of herself that she put Ryder to sleep. She promptly asked when she could babysit and be the boss. My reply is she still has a couple of years. Ok, she said. I like telling them what to do. I am not sure if the others like it as well.

Along with summer fun comes summer heat....I need to do better and remember my camera.

The Water's Olympics

We have had a pretty quiet week just enjoying being together and watching the Olympics. This is really the first time the kids have really watched it and enjoyed it. They have loved the gymnastics, swimming, and diving. Here are a few new events that we could enter.
Rylee for losing the most teeth. She loves to smile at people and show that big hole in her mouth. She however struggles to eat the things she wants to and asks how to eat. Corn on the cob being one of them.
Ryder's event would be speed crawling. He can move from one room to another faster than I can keep up with him. He also will climb over anything in his way instead of going around. He has figured out how to hold the bottle in his mouth as he crawls along. Then he can take pit stops along his way.
Regannes' event is walking or running the dog in flip flops. Every morning she is up at the latest 6:00 am ready to walk Harley with me. She puts on her flip flops and off we go. She usually runs the whole way dragging Harley behind her. She dressed herself for this picture and even removed the tags herself (with her teeth). Thanks Grandma for the shirts.
It was so hot yesterday after visiting the Corn Festival. We decided to get the little pool out to play. Their next event was diving. Reganne started off and that's when we decided that she had watched to much of the diving competitions. She jumped and landed in the pool with a big splash and a smile.

Ryder decided it was to cold and that he didn't want to sit down. He and Harley played on the side.No speedo's for this boy. His Car's Swimsuit is like wearing long pants. He soon was only in his swim diaper so he could move.

We will missing the Olympics as they end today. We look forward to them again in two years and this time it will be for winter fun.