More Summer

Every summer it's the same, so I don't know why I act surprised when it zips past as fast as a blink.  Although we didn't necessarily do a lot of big, exciting things, we found lots of fun activities to keep ourselves running.  It's become a family favorite to "camp out" and watch the Logan 4th of July fireworks. Some fun friends met us to watch this year.

Sometimes waiting for the fireworks is the hardest part, but the kids did great. Treats and our portable dvd player = quite pleasant wait time.

The fireworks were great and we had a blast.

Also in July, Steve had a birthday! I LOVE birthdays. Steve doesn't so much. He's actually kind of a birthday Scrouge. Okay, in his defense, it's mostly HIS birthday he doesn't like. He goes along wih all the craziness for the kids' b-days, he'd just rather forget his own.  So this year was no different. He had to work  and no one at work even knew it was his birthday. The kids and I swung by the ol' dollar store to get banners, window markers, balloons, and treats. We decorated his car at work in hopes that his coworkers would see and realize it was his b-day. We filled the car with balloons and a banner, stuck a big banner on the back bumper, spread a big sign on the dash, and of course, wrote on all the windows. Along the back window I wrote, "It's my birthday, No big deal." We giggled our heads off imagining Steve driving his car all the way home. He HATES attention and we certainly created an attention-getter.
When he got home that day and told me what happened, I was crying because I was laughing so hard. Apparently his boss caught him on his way out the door and asked him if Steve could give him a ride. Steve, completely unaware of his spiffy ride, agreed.  (I was already laughing at this point.) He's not a very good story teller when it comes to his own embarrassment, so I didn't get details (though I tried) of the moment of realization. I just imagined them tossing balloons around so they could even fit into the car. Then, Steve drove this guy to a furniture store on the north end of town via Main Street.  I couldn't have planned it better because Main Street was PACKED with people lining both sides getting ready to watch the Cache Valley Cruise In parade. (I snorted at this point. Please, stop! I was begging him to tell me whether he got any waves or honks, but he didn't think it quite as funny as I did.) Apparently he dropped off his boss (who was a really good sport), and high-tailed it home by way of the most obscure path he could find. 
I really think he liked his birthday car. :)

On the 4th of July, we went to Hyrum for the parade. Good times. I love small town parades.

We got there early, but still didn't get a great spot. Go figure. Who'd have thought Hyrum would be so popular. A good friend was there with her family and invited us to sit with them. Thanks, Guys.
It was a fun parade -- even if Bailey did get a little torked at the "big boy" who "stole her candy."
(For the record, he just got there a little sooner.There was no real candy thievery involved.)

There is a little park and splash pad near where we live and we had really hoped to make it there much more than we did over the summer. We did manage to go a few times, though, and the gals really enjoyed it.

We are very excited about the LDS temple being built in Brigham City. It's been fun to see a little bit of the progression of the building as we pass by when leaving or returning to Cache Valley and we are eagerly anticipating the open house and dedication. When we heard that the Angel Moroni was being placed on the top of the temple, we decided to go watch. We found a little spot on the tabernacle grounds and waited in the drizzle with tons of other people. The weather was tricky and the wind was too strong for them to safely place it how and when it was planned, but it was  still a good time. We visited and had some really cool conversation about temples. After a bit, the kids were tired of waiting so we walked a few blocks to the home of my friend's sister. They had invited us to stop by and have lunch. We ate and the kids had lots of fun friends to play with. We were getting ready to leave for home when we walked outside and saw them finally placing the statue on the temple spire. It wasn't what we'd planned - to see it from a block and a half away, but it was still neat to see. 'Can't wait for the openhouse.