Summer Rush

Last week was the Fourth of July! We had a great time with the Rodeo, the flags, the balloons, the breakfast, the fantastic Freedom Festival parade, the picnic at Grandma's, shopping at the mall, the book-signing, the all-too-brief catnap, the other parade, the authentic Bolivian food, the barbecue, and the fireworks.

Mama Mia! But we had a good time!  : ) I love the 4th of July! Independence Day! Hmmm. : ) I look forward to it every year.

When I was a kid, we'd come out here to Utah and watch the parade with all our cousins, uncles, and aunts. . . Sigh. I remember the year I was ten. . It was pouring down rain, and we had to wear sweaters, standing there at the corner of Center Street and 7th East in Provo. I remember seeing a newly married Marie Osmond go by in a carriage with her husband. Such memories we've built up over the years. . . Wow.

This week has been interesting. Sunday, Charlie dropped Eric and Tommy off up at Grandma's in Idaho. They are there to help out with the miniature horses for a week or so. . . Monday we signed Clinton up for summer school. It took all morning, standing in a lot of long lines, in an old building with no air conditioning, to finally get him squared away. . Monday night we actually had Family Home Evening, going over the song that I'd taught the Primary kids on Sunday. Lea and Jeffy had missed it, being as they were up in Idy-Heighdy-Ho with Daddy during church.

Tuesday Laena and Clint both worked. Laena's been picking up a lot of hours lately, to try to cover all of her bills. . . Necessities, you know, like cell phones, beater cars, shopping trips. . . when she really has no where to put all the stuff she already has. . . Sigh. Anyway, it's been nice. They've been able to help out with some of their own things. . The last couple of times we've picked Clint up after work, his boss, whom I have christened 'Igor', has showered us with praise and appreciation, and free pizza, for lending him our hard working son, without whom he could not get along!  Wha. . . ? 'Scuse me? If I could just get him to organize his room. . .  : )

Yesterday I took the kids down to the Dinosaur Museum. Turns out it's their 'birthday week' this week, (maybe they've been there 5 years, I don't know), so we got to do face painting etc, in addition to the regular activities. Aleia was enchanted!  : ) If there's one thing she loves, it's 'BUSY'. Crowds of people, the hustle and bustle of holidays and events. . . She's a fun one, she is. . . Good thing I've still got some energy left. . . While we were there, Laena's friend Hayleigh's . . mother came and picked her up. They were supposed to spend the afternoon boating out on Utah Lake, but H's dad ended up not feeling well, so they went to a movie instead. They seem like very nice people. : )

Today we spent 2-and-a-half, semi-long hours at Lifetouch Studios getting Laena's . . Senior Pictures . . taken. I was having a great old time, until I realized that this was my baby girl, standing there smiling, next the large, white-washed block letters "2 . . 0 . . 0 . . 9. ." How is this possible? Could this be real? Has it really been almost 20 years since I got out of high school?! No . . way! At this point, things became quite surreal, and I became slightly emotional. Sigh. My little Laenabug. . All grown up. . .

Later on this afternoon, Charlie and I took Jeffy to the doctor for his Kindergarten check-up. He wasn't happy about it. Fortunately, he forgot about the shots until the end, probably distracted by the eye exam, and having to draw pictures, etc. . . Sadly, they had to give him FIVE freaking shots, and he didn't take it very well. We had to hold him down, and no amount of treats, stickers, or lollipops could calm his spirits. Deep sigh. Ah, the trials that 5 year olds face. . . Poor little guy. He didn't even want his ice cream cone from McDonald's. . . Thankfully, the kids across the street were out front swimming when we got home, and Jeffy decided that he wanted to play them. . This, and some chicken nuggets with barbecue sauce, made things nearly all better.  : ) 

Now Laena's asleep, Clint's over at Pizza Hut, working away. . . the little cherubs are watching Muppets, and I'm here at the computer. . Hmmm. What a nice way to spend a summer afternoon.  : ) 

And later on, I have a hot date lined up with the amazing Hubby Man!  : ) Can't wait! We're gonna go see that Black Jack Panda movie. Should be fun!

Ya know, you'd think things would slow down in the summertime. . . But time seems to rush along even faster somehow, what with the long sunny days, family vacations, strawberries, camp outs, swimming. . . basically non-stop activities. . . even if it's just water fights and ice cream, Summer seems like a sunny dream. : )