Fourth of July

We started the day watching the kids march in the Provo parade.

Then we moved on to Mom and Dad's, where we had a fun family picnic.

Here are Eliza and Grafton- cute cousins!

 Honestly, I don't remember much more about the day- we did watch the city fireworks from our front porch again.  I love that we have a great view without leaving the house!

Walker Reunion- Heber Valley Girl's Camp

Our Walker reunion this year was great- we stayed in yurts at Heber Valley Girl's Camp.  I didn't take many pictures, but we started our day at the lake in paddleboats- Tim and I and the 3 little girls in one, 3 boys in the other (Rebekah stayed home to work).  At the end, Emma and Annie thought we were boring and slow, and took the boat out by themselves- they were awesome!  Everyone had fun, but the boys say next time they're trying a canoe.

We got to our yurt, chose beds (most uncomfortable night of my life, by the way- never going there without a good air mattress again!), and then walked up to the challenge course.

All 5 kids said they wanted to do it, which was impressive to me, because I NEVER would have done that as a kid.  Or maybe as an adult.  Not sure.

They all got helmets on, and when the missionaries asked for a volunteer to go first, Annie jumped right up!

She climbed all the way up this tall log,

walked across these very high wires,

and ziplined down the other side.  She was amazing.

Then everyone else had their turn.

Pretty much, after your little sister rocks the course, you don't have a choice, right?

That was a great experience- we can do hard things!

Except for me, of course.  But I just might have to get up there next time....

We ended the day with a big family dinner (lots of yummy dutch oven cooking) and a "campfire" that didn't actually involve a fire, since there were restrictions.

We had a great time- that is the perfect place for a family reunion!

9 months old!

Taking steps, and loving that the kids are home for the summer-

Eliza's 9 months old!

Rebekah's First Job!

Rebekah has joined the ranks of the employed!  I really didn't think a job was going to happen for her this summer- she had applied to 12 different places, and hadn't heard a thing.  Then, at 10 one night, her friend showed up at the door telling her to come now, and she'd get her a job at Little Caesars.  By the time they got down there, the manager was gone, but Rebekah called and went in the next day, and had a short interview with her.  It ended with "I'll call you in the next few days."  But she didn't.  After a couple of weeks had gone by, I told Rebekah she should just call- so she did, and the manager asked if she could be there in 15 minutes and hired her!  I love that she is working food service- my summers at McDonald's and then at the CougarEat were not always fun, but they taught me good things about how to be an employee, and how to interact with people professionally.  

After a somewhat hesitant start, Rebekah seems to be enjoying her job- and a little extra money helps.  She only works 2-3 times a week, usually, but that is perfect for her schedule, and helps prevent burnout!

Strawberry Days 2012

We started out Strawberry Days this year with the free concert and strawberries and cream at the park.  It was so more organized this year than it has been in the past!  The last time we came, we stood in a line that literally circled the entire park.  It was fine- we just stood in the shade and listened to the music while we waited.  I came this year expecting the same experience, but when we got here I couldn't find the line- we could just walk up and get our free strawberries and cream!  I know I wasn't the only one who was surprised, since there were people out there to announce that you didn't need to form a line- just walk up to the front.  We stuck around for awhile listening to the music, although I didn't think it was terribly exciting.  Elvis impersonator.  The kids did find friends to hang out with.  Actually, Rebekah found friends to hang out with, and everyone else insinuated themselves into the group and scavanged Red Vines from them.

Good thing Rebekah has nice friends! :)

We did quite a bit of trying to get boys up to speed on their band songs for the summer parades- Eliza discovered that she loves to play Price's bells!  She also likes to clobber people with drumsticks.

We went to Huck Finn Days for the first time.  The parking situation has deterred me before, so this year I decided we were going to walk down.  The big kids had band practice at the high school, so I sent them down with the Suburban, and then we walked down to the park.  When we were done, the car was already there and we drove home!

Huck Finn days was okay- but it was hot, and there were long, long lines for the cool stuff, and lots of it was geared to kids younger than mine (well, except for Eliza, who I expect will like it in a couple of years).

Saturday was the parade- two kids in it this year (percussion, which Price plays, only marches in one of the parades for the season- too many drums).

Rebekah is second from the left,

and Josh is the third from the right, kind of.

This was the PG city float this year- it won the sweepstakes award in every parade we went to.  Love the elephants!

Matt and Jenni!

Matt and Jenni came to stay with Mom and Dad for a few days- they were on their way to Morgan to drop Jenni and the kids off while Matt was at training. It was so fun to have them here!  We went up the canyon and had a picnic, played at the splash park in Highland, and then had them over for smores in the backyard.  Our kids are good age combinations right now- my kids love to play with and take care of their littler kids, and their kids are entertained by my older kids!  

Eliza's first time at the splash park.  She loved it!

Ethan's Friend Party

Ethan had only one request for his birthday this year: that it be at the space center.

I asked if he was okay with that being his party and his present (it's not cheap), and he said yes, so we agreed.  The time slot we scheduled ended up being a couple of weeks after his actual birthday.

The kids met at our house, played around for a few minutes, opened presents...

Almost every present was a gun.  Think his friends know him well? :)

Ate cake and ice cream. (Wow that's a flattering picture of me)

Then I drove them all down to the space center, they had a 2 1/2 hour mission, and I picked them up, excited and talking a mile a minute, and took them all home.  

Sounds like the perfect party to me!

Swimming Lessons

After several years of taking lessons at private homes, we decided to go to the public pool this year- and we were pleasantly surprised with the quality and the price!

My biggest worry was class size- and my heart sank a little when I saw Annie's class the first day.  There were at least 15 kids that age, all in a big line on the side of the pool... and then they brought out the teachers- 5 of them!  Annie ended up each day with only 2-3 kids to her teacher.  It was awesome!

Emma is a fish!  She was in level 4 this year, and passed easily.  I may actually have to consider swim team next year.  I just have such a prejudice against organized sports in the summer... also early mornings.  You see my problem here?

Ethan has always been a little more hesitant in the water.  He took level 4 with Emma, but didn't pass.  I ended up putting him in another session at the end of the summer, and he passed!  He really made a lot of progress this year.

Rainbows and Wildfire

A really cool rainbow cloud at the pool...

and then this from our backyard:

Yep, that was our very first wildfire in our backyard!  Actually, it never made it onto our side of the canyon, only burned 4 acres, and was out quickly, but it was still both scary and exciting (watching the helicopters dump water was awesome).  Luckily, this happened before all of those homes in Colorado were burned, or I might have really been freaking out!