Happy 4th!

We had a fun 4th of July. The thing that would have made it better is if we could have gone to some kind of patriotic event or ceremony. I like to feel a part of the community on that day and to share in the patriotic spirit. I like going to parades on the 4th, too, but Nathan doesn't love them and it can be quite a pain getting to the parade in Provo.

We started the day with a bike ride. Nathan towed S behind in the trailer. She didn't love it except for the going downhill fast part. I, however, did love it! I tried out my cushy bike seat and it was much more comfortable than the cinder block I had before ;) It felt great to be outside and get some exercise, too. I want to do it more!

Happy bikers

Nathan towing S in the trailer

We visited Nathan's parents later in the day and this is how S looked when we arrived. She was not a happy camper when she awoke and didn't want to go inside, but she finally came around and had fun being there.

We had dinner with our friends across the street and then pulled out S's kiddie pool. Somehow it's not as big as it was last year! It's the first time she's played in it this year.

We have some other neighbors who put on a huge fireworks show each 4th so we stayed and watched that together. We brought noise cancelling headphones for S, but it was still too noisy for her so she spent most of the time inside with Jeff (they watched Little Mermaid :).

S and our friend

Here's to celebrating the freedoms
of this great country!
Even with all its flaws, I wouldn't
want to live anywhere else.

candy bomber was not the bomb

So I heard about the candy bomber doing probably his last drop in Orem as part of the Freedom Festival and I was excited about going from the minute I heard about it. However, it was rather a disappointment. Nathan didn't really want to go, but finally changed his mind and agreed to come (read: decided to please pouty wife). And my mom came with us, too. I thought if we got there half an hour early we'd be doing great, but there were a TON of people there by then. Traffic was terrible, finding a parking spot was ridiculous and it was really hot. Nathan dropped us off and we found a spot in the shade with the MASSES. I tried to tell S she probably wouldn't get a candybar, but that of course didn't actually register with her. 

Finally the planes flew over and I kept trying to take a picture each time. I was so engrossed in this effort that I actually never saw the candy being dropped!! Of course it was a ways from us, too, but it was all over very quickly and we didn't even see anyone who had gotten a candybar! And then S was disappointed about not getting one.

The only redeeming thing that happened was running into a friend from my single days whom I haven't seen in a few years. It was fun to chat with her and see her family.

We waited in the shade for a while for traffic to ease up a little and then Nathan made the trek to the car to pick us up. I probably should have stayed home and watched it on the news! Everyone was a good sport, though. I suppose it could have been worse. :)

There is the candy bombing plane. See, I got a picture.

Selfie of S, Me, and Mom

Happy Birthday Mom!

My mom just had her 80th birthday! Way to go Mom! My sister, S, and I went shopping at the mall with her and then had lunch. In the evening, all the family who could make it gathered for a barbecue at her house. Sadly, I did not take a picture of my mom! You wouldn't think my mom could possibly be 80 by looking at her. Her hair is beginning to gray, but it still looks more brown than gray. She is beginning to slow down, but still does lots of yard work. She's amazing. And she's a rock. Her faith in the Lord is an inspiration to me. I am so grateful to call her mom.

S got to ride the carousel at the mall

Well, at least I guess I took a picture of the cake :/

S had fun running with the cousins

It's fun to see them playing together

now for some happy thoughts

We visited the petting zoo put on by our library this week. There were quite a few different animals for the kids to pet. My favorite was a little pig that was wagging its tail like crazy. Too funny! S liked them all. It was all fun and games until one of the guinea pigs peed on my foot!!

The baby goats were super cute!

And you can't have a petting zoo without some soft bunnies

Ducks...not so pettable

My sister Lynda was in town the other night and we decided to drive up the canyon and make s'mores for fun...and for yum..because, you know, I'm going without sweets for a week (uh huh, yeah right!). Roasting marshmallows around a campfire is one of my favorite things to do. I have happy memories of that growing up, with my dad showing me how to perfectly roast a marshmallow so that it's golden on the outside and soft all the way through. It was also good to drink in the beauty of God's creations and step away from the busyness of life.

our little mountain goat

Vannah is showcasing our delectable s'mores

And this would be me and my little stinker.
She calls me a stinker now, sometimes, too.
I tell her we're both stinkers at times.

So disappointed...

I learned this week that the adoption agency I had prayed about and felt good about using is not accepting new applications right now. Sometimes I just don't understand!! Maybe that will lead us to the next step we need to take toward finding a child for our family. It's hard to know what the next step should be, though! This path to adoption sure has its ups and downs. Sometimes I feel so full assured that we will be blessed to adopt a child and it feels so real and so close, like it really will happen. Other times it seems so utterly hopeless and futile to even keep trying knowing so many other families are hoping and praying for the same thing and that there are fewer and fewer girls choosing to place their babies for adoption. I know the Lord can work miracles and I know they happen in His time and not mine. I have seen it before in my life. But the waiting and hoping and not knowing how things will turn out and not knowing if you're even heading in the right direction are really tough. But I also know, you have to keep hanging on (and an occasional pity party is okay :)

cousin time

We've had the chance to spend some time with cousins lately, something we always love. First, it was a birthday and then just some time at a park with different cousins. It sure is nice to spend some time outside, too. S loves to play with friends or spend time with family every chance she gets!

The Sleeping Beauty-slippered cutie on the right
just turned 2. We sure love her!

Cousin time at the park. I gave him
a hard time for wearing flannels to the
park on such a hot day! He
was sweating up a storm!

She could have swung in this fun swing ALL day.

But this cutie needed a turn...
and she LOVED it, too!

Memorial Day Weekend

We needed to go up to Ogden the Friday before Memorial Day anyway, so we decided to head a little further north and spend the night in Logan. It was a short trip, but still nice to go somewhere. My mom was able to come with us, too, and we were glad to have her along. We ate at The Crepery when we got to Logan, a recommendation from my brother and his wife. It was very yummy.

Saturday was rainy much of the day so we decided to drive to Bear Lake, where none of us had been (or at least remembered going!). Logan Canyon is soooo beautiful and green and lush right now. I loved the rock jutting up through the trees as well as the raging river. Very beautiful! Somehow we didn't end up with any pictures of Bear Lake! I was surprised at how big it is.

Later we drove to Hyrum where Nathan has grandparents and great-grandparents buried. It was good to get more familiar with them and see their graves.

Fun swing at The Crepery. This little girl was NOT a happy
camper here. We had to take turns taking her outside.

Of course we had to drive by the Logan Temple, too.

Logan Canyon--the photo just doesn't do it justice

This restaurant is where Nathan's parents
had their wedding reception.

She can't resist the pinwheels

Mom, Me, S, and Nathan at the Hyrum Cemetery
(a beautiful cemetery, by the way)

Lunch with Grandma in Brigham City on the way home.
(silly girl)

Sunday night I had the great idea that we should all sleep down in our newly finished basement. Nathan got S to sleep and when I finally came down to go to bed, someone was sleeping in MY bed! Rather than disturb her and lose sleep, I just went back upstairs to my bed and had a good night's sleep. Oh well!

This is where she was supposed to sleep.
And, don't be fooled, that cutie is not sleeping
in this picture!

On the actual Memorial Day we spent some time working at home and later visited my dad's grave. Just a few days previously his headstone had been placed on his grave. We were all glad to have it there before Memorial Day. It's been 4 months since he's been gone. It's weird that he's not here. I hope he will help us find a baby to adopt.

more pinwheels...

The view from Dad's grave. I love it. It is a very peaceful place.

Note: I chose not to share pictures of Dad's headstone to protect our privacy.