24th Weekend

I wish more of you could have been here for the weekend's events.  For those who were not here, you were missed.  Here is a little taste of our 24th of July festivities in SLC.

On Friday night we gathered for a little pre-birthday celebration for Liz.  Leslie made a large delicious trifle.  I did not get a picture of it before we dug in.

Everyone enjoying the trifle.

Maren having her little snuggle with Lizzy.

I bought a croquet set and so we set that up for a game or two.

Gabe has found a new passion.

The next day we wanted to go to the temple in the morning.  We soon found out that plan would not work out.  I guess the temple was closed for the holiday.  We decided to go to Ikea instead.  Not quite as spiritual as the temple but very entertaining.  Especially when Noah was giving Miranda and Kelsie rides on one of the carts.  I wish I had had a picture of that.  Unfortunately I did not think about taking my camera to Ikea.  I did get me a Poang chair, very ergonomic.  Then after shopping we went swimming at the Murray pool.  It was a very crowded but we wedged our way in.  It was very fun.  The kids loved the big slide.  There were a few contests on the diving board.  A few of us even enjoyed a massage.  We laid under the waterfall and let the water massage our backs.  Very relaxing.  Then for the last hour we just lazed about talking and laying in the shallow end, getting sun-burned unbeknownst to us. 

 

After swimming we had to hurry home to get cooking for our Pioneer Dinner.  Of course scones were on the menu.

We invited our Arab friend  over to make root beer for us.  He did a great job. 

Ribs and Pageant Chicken were also on the menu.

We had a major smoke out.  At one time the backyard was all filled with smoke.

What pioneer dinner is complete without Campfire Potatoes?

The finished scones.  We served them up with honey butter and Shelley's homemade strawberry jam.  Delicious!

Good company and good food.

Then it was time for the firework show in the front yard. 

This was Jonas doing a sparkler in circles.

This year the state decided to allow fireworks that go up 150 feet in the air.  It was apparently to make money on sales tax.  I went and picked up a few larger fireworks.  We set some fountains and aerial fireworks off.  There were also a few others in the neighborhood lighting them off and so we could see what others were doing. 

On Sunday we went to church and then got together for dinner at Josh and Stacy's.  After dinner we had Whitney do ancestor spotlights.  She talked about James Hazlett Jack and James Lester Jorgensen and others.   We played a few games and then started to hear some fireworks going on outside.  We went out and let's just say for the next 2 hours we had a firework show, courtesy of all of Josh and Stacy's neighbors.  It was very good. Bishop Decker brought over his illegals from out of state that shot up more than 150 feet. They were the size that you would see at a professional show.  We enjoyed those right on the front lawn.  Incredible.  

The next morning we got together for a breakfast and a little parade watching on TV.  We did more eating than parade watching. 

Then we went to the park for a picnic and playing.

Maren practicing her batting

More croquet

My handsome boys.

I was pushing Essie in the swing and she started nodding off.  As soon as I took her out though she got her second wind and then started rolling down the hills.

Arden playing catch with her dad.

Whitney was wiped out.

Later on in the evening Shelley and I went to see 17 Miracles.  A new movie about the miracles that happened with the Willey handcart company.  It was a perfect way to end Pioneer weekend.  It was an amazing movie.  I had never heard about these miracles until this movie.  I recommend seeing it.  I cried through most of it.    Hope you all had a happy 24th wherever and however you celebrated it.

Happy Birthday to Lizzy and Jenny! 

P.S.  While I was doing this blog I was watching  "I Dream of Jeannie".   Now that is quality television.   I watched the episode where Major plays the Minute Waltz in 37 seconds on the little red spinnet. 

Maren's Birthday

Maren showing us how old she is now. 

Maren informed me last week that she wanted to stay at my house the night before her birthday so that when she went back home everyone would then be able to jump out and surprise her for her birthday.  I guess she has been a part of a few surprise birthday parties as of late.  She decided that she wanted the same.  I notified her parents that this was her expectation. 

I asked her what she would like for her birthday breakfast.  She requested panacakes, as she calls them and sausage. 

She had also decided what gift she wanted me to give her.  She wanted a nightstand.  I was desperately looking for something the past few days.  I finally found something that I thought might work.  I did have to repaint it.  I also asked Leslie to do a little hand painting on it.  She did a great job as usual on the little details. 

Leslie got the ideas for the flowers from some Tasha Tudor books. 

Stacy decided it would be fun to go miniature golfing before the birthday party started.  Stacy has pictures of the golfing adventures.  After the golfing Maren wanted to do a waterfight.  We did one last Saturday and I think she thought is was great fun and should be repeated. 

And the water started flying

and flying

and flying.

Little by little everyone got wet except Whitney who was a little under the weather so she was good enough to take the pictures.

Actually everyone got soaking wet.  No matter how wet you are it is still shocking to get a face full of cold water.

Then we had a dry off and started serving up the drinks.

I was in charge of drinks and decided to have some fun with it.  I had these umbrellas in my cupboard and thought it would be fun to use them.  We had tropical punch.

Here is Maren pretending she is on the beach with her drink.  Her smile reminds me of one we saw quite frequently on Hannah at this age. 

Stacy made the cake.  She did a good job don't you think?  Maren has switched it up a little.  Her new favorite color is blue and she wanted it on her cake. 

It was a fun-filled day.  So fun-filled that I ended up having to sleep 10 hours to recover from it.  

Hope everyone is enjoying their July.