Dear summer, part 2

Dear Summer,
Why are you in such a rush? Why do you think you have to go by so fast? Please slow down. What ever happened to lazy summer afternoons? Are you trying to burn yourself out in a blaze of glory? Speaking of blazes, could you maybe turn the heat down just a touch so the kids can play outside.

There is so much left to do and less and less time to do it in. Just thought I would ask.

XOXOX
ps. I still love you but you are wearing me out.

30 seconds more

I was cleaning up the kitchen and had my stack of fliers from the Sunday paper. I was going to set them on the microwave, then I thought "why not put them in the binder, where they belong". So I did and it took less than 30 seconds to do it. This got me thinking about how little extra effort it takes to finish the job right. How many more seconds does it take to actually put the clothes in the laundry basket as opposed to the floor. Or put the dishes in the dishwasher, instead of the sink. It is thirty seconds more. So my goal today is to take the extra time and put the scissors back in the drawer, the book back on the shelf and the diaper all the way out to the garbage can.

I love summer!

Dear Summer,

I love you. You are so much fun. And so deliciously irresponsible. Keep up the good work.

xoxoxo

Liberty Park and Tracy Aviary

What is the best way to spend a day?

Just find a nice happy place to play. Jason and Kayla at the Aviary
The kids really wanted to go on the Ferris Wheel. They had never been on one before and it turns out (get it- turns. ha ha ) that they loved it. I really hate the Ferris Wheel so I did not join them. They gave me grief about it for the rest of the day. " I can't believe you won't go on it." "How can you not like it" "bla bla bla". I hate the way I feel helpless when I get on, I give up all control of the situation and I hate that I can't get off when I want and I have to wait for some kid to decide when my ride is done. So I guess I need therapy. Get over it. I have.

Then they wanted to try the big swings- turns out they loved that ride too. I am so excited that they are big enough and brave enough to try the rides.

They would have kept going all day, but their ever-frugal mother wouldn't buy more tickets


We met up with Kelly for lunch at a place by his work. Then we went back to the park to play in the water.

Aaron is a water baby

Look at the gut on that kid - we are making progress in the weight gain department

We had so much fun that I completely forgot that I had someone coming to the house to change the water filters. OOPs, sorry. we pretty much spent the whole day in the park and the kids are asking when we can go again. Let me know if you want to go with us!

Doughnut falls hike

With family in town, we decided to take a hike up to doughnut falls in Big Cottonwood Canyon.

My Brother, Jared, attempting to cross the stream

got a little deep

Shairylanne shows us how it's done

You can't really tell but the water disappears into the "doughnut", then comes rushing out through the rocks below

the kids are trying to keep Lani warm

Jason is all tied up in knots

Happy Birthday Kelly

my paper problem

I have a serious problem with paper. I have this stack in my kitchen that I need to sort and it just keeps growing and growing. I could not believe how many papers the kids brought home on the last day of school. I spent half an hour dumping papers in the recycle bin and the pile did not shrink at ALL. If you don't see me this summer it is because I am drowning in a pile of paper.