July Catch Up - First week of July

What a fun start to the month of July!  We had barely started settling back in from our Nauvoo trip when Puna and Papa came for a visit.  Annie was especially happy that Papa could join Puna this time.  She is always a little disappointed when Puna forgets to bring Papa with her on a visit to Idaho.

On Wednesday night we had a big dinner party at our house with Puna and Papa, Aunt Sue and Uncle Dusty, cousins Mark and Angela, Brady and his girlfriend Madison, and our family.  It was a lot of work getting the food ready, but we had a great visit with everyone.

On Thursday Puna and Papa took the kids to Bear World while Daddy was at work and Mommy stayed home to work in the garden.  Lily and Annie always love Bear World and they loved telling Mommy and Daddy all about the animals and the rides.

Tommy was even brave enough to pet the deer and chase down a few goats.

Lily doing her Speed Racer imitation.

Papa said Lily and Annie rang the bell on the train over and over and over and over and over and over and over and.............

Look at those red cheeks.  It was a hot afternoon.  Lily told us her new favorite flavor of ice cream is huckleberry.

And of course there were a few bears in Bear World!  Thanks for the fun outing Puna and Papa.

Friday was the 4th of July and Jeremy's birthday.  He requested red velvet pancakes for his breakfast.  We topped them with whipped cream and berries to make them red, white, and blue pancakes.  After breakfast and a lazy morning, we made our way to Rexburg Rapids for a day of water fun.  Tommy did not want to be held - he thinks he can swim - and kept jumping away from us to be free in the water.

The water was perfect and the weather was great.  The kids said it was the best day ever.  Perfect way to cool off on a summer day.  That night we donned our red, white, and blue to celebrate Daddy and our nation.

Jeremy requested a raspberry zinger cake for his birthday.  The recipe we found tasted exactly like the snack cakes.  It was a big hit with the birthday boy!  After cake and presents we started the fireworks.  Sparklers were the favorite thing this year.  Tommy was afraid of all the bigger fireworks and spent most of the night crying or snuggled up in someone's lap.  Lily and Annie just wanted to wave sparklers around and do magic spells.

 Our friend bought this huge firework for Jeremy.  We fired it off at the end of the night.  It was pretty cool.

Tommy was just glad when it was all over.  Happy birthday Daddy.  Happy birthday America.  We are so blessed!

Whew!  We were all tired by Saturday morning.  We slept in and stayed home to work on projects most of the day.  Papa and Uncle Brady worked on Brady's car.  Daddy tried to finish the insulation and dry wall in the garage.  Mommy and Puna did laundry and tried to get the house back in order.

Saturday afternoon was HOT.  We all went to Porter Park in Rexburg to play in the splash pad.

We all loved the water - and the break from the heat.

Lily and Annie gave the carousel a try.  Tommy was miserable through most of his ride.  He was so happy to get off.

Lily and Annie got two new puzzles that included stickers, gem stones, and glitter glue to decorate the puzzles.  We had busy little puzzle makers for a few days during this visit.

Monday morning came too soon and it was time to say goodbye.  Thank you for a fun visit Puna and Papa!