4th of July in Parts... Balloon Launch

Casually taking a photo of Hannah and Beckham by the stars!

I have to point out Hannah's dimple! Where did that come from?

Notice the man approaching from the left?

He asks us if we want to go inside the balloon!!?

We all look at each other and of course we all exclaim, YES!

Here we go!!

With one hand on the balloon and the other on my camera I try and capture the moment!

Look at Jaren's face!
Do you see Beckham trying to reach the balloon?

Whoa Dude!!

We're inside the balloon.

This nice gentleman is telling us about the parachute that is velcroed to the top of the balloon.

This is the parachute!

AWESOMENESS!!

Stars and stripes from the inside!

SO COOL!!

When we were done marching out,

I quickly ran to the basket of the balloon to take a photo of the inside from outside!

Flames breathing life into the stars and stripes!

Stars and Stripes majestically raising up!

Still raising...



So cool against the just rising sun!

We did so many awesome activities to celebrate the 4th of July. Not all your typical stuff either. I'm going to have to blog several times just to cover it all.

One "typical" thing we always make sure and attend is the Balloon Launch. The kids and I LOVE this event. It's so thrilling to walk in and through all the hot air balloons being brought to life with bursts of flames. This year we had the special privilage to actually walking inside a balloon that was half way blown up! Talk about being in the right place at the right time. One Mom opted to take photos of her kids inside the balloon from the outside. Forget that! I wanted to experience the belly of the beast for myself. It was truely thrilling and amazing! An experience I hope my kids never forget! I know I wont. I felt like a kid just getting to experience it myself.

Of course the experience is always enhanced by the company of family and friends. At events like this you are sure to bump into someone you know. As I did. This time it was my dear friend from my days living on 900 North. I didn't have much friends till she moved in next door. She was a breath of fresh air. It was great to see her.

All the kids!

Amy and Moi!

Darcy!

Up and Down

Yesterday was one of the yo-yoingist days I've ever experienced! It all began with a trip to Jo-ann's for some Felt for red, white and blue hair flowers. They didn't have any red felt so off we went to Walmart. They have 4 standard colors, luckily red is one of them. While at Walmart I also picked up some deoderant, and candy for the movie. As the cashier gave me my total I swiped my debt card as always. She informed me it was declined. I thought, that's strange. So I ran it as credit. Well she quickly informed me that my card had expired. At this point my hands begin to sweat and my heart begins to palpatate. What am I going to do? I had a few dollars in my wallet so I asked if she'd take everything off expect the deoderant and felt. She sat there looking baffled. How hard is it to even just start over and ring up my few items? The woman behind me then said, "I'll pay for it!" I quickly shot her down, " no, no, no. You aren't going to do that!" This kind woman said, "What, it's 12.00. Not a big deal." She whipped out her card and paid for my items! Can you stinking believe that? I was so overwhelmed that I had to hold back tears! I kept telling myself, "keep it together man! Keep it together." I pulled out the measley $5 that I had in my wallet and handed it to her. There are still kind people in this world willing to help a complete stranger. I still get cholked up just thinking about it.

To complete our hair clips we needed the clips. Off to Sally's. Much to my huge disappointment, they were all out. My 4th of July celebration just wasn't going to be complete without these felt hair clips.

After Grace's nap and a quick trip to the Library I took at chance on Shopko! Holy Moly they had the perfect hair clips! A little more pricey, but I was thrilled.

I rushed home, whipped out 5 flowers. All before book club I might add. As I was sewing them I thought to myself, "I'm doing something my own Mom would do." I even hot glued the clips on with a circle of felt to give them that finished look. As I was testing one out in my own hair it just wouldn't go in! I thought, what the heck is going on here. As I inspected the clips I realized that I had hot glued every single clip on UPSIDE DOWN! I grabbed every one of them on my way out the door and tried ripping those suckers apart. Have you ever tried to undo work with a hot glue gun? My fingers are still a little raw from using my brut muscle! I eventually got them pulled apart, several of the clips losing their lives in the process.

Before I went to bed at 11:30pm I glued on new clips to every one of those stinking hair felt flowers. My day just wasn't going to be complete.

This morning I made sure that every single one of my girls left the house with a hair clip!

Now, every time I look at those darn flowers I will think of that kind woman and all I went through so my girls would look just right for our weekend long celebration!

The Zoo

Hibiscus Flower

My Monkey's on the Rhino!

Grace hanging around!

Beckham and Grandma waiting for the Bird show to start.





Still waiting for the bird show to start!
These guys were front row joes!

How cute is miss Annika in all her freckle glory?

Just can't get enough of her.

Beckham again, monkeying around

The bald eagle, Very patriotic.

The Tiger, it was huge

The baby and Mama Elephants!

So stinking cute. I could have sat there all day and admired her!

The End

No, really, that's the end!

The first weekend of summer my Mom and I took the kids to the zoo. My Mom purchased a Grandparents pass for the next year. The kids are thrilled. When we pulled in my spirits were dampered a little bit by the amount of cars already lined up in the parking lot. It was busy, but we managed to scoot around people.

The zoo is nothing like what I recall from my childhood. They have done so many improvements with more plans in the future. I'm glad that it's busy and thriving. I just wish I could go when there aren't so many other people. I like to pretend I'm the only one there. I try and avoid crowds at all costs.

We had a great time watching the bird show, the tiger drink and pace, the baby elephant eat from the trainers hand, and bats eye us from just feet above our heads. It was a great trip and we can't wait for our next visit!

Thanks Grandma, your the greatest!

While we were walking up to Nature's Nightmare Exhibit a woman pulled in line just ahead of us. She ended up reserving that spot in line for her Mother and her 3 sisters plus all their children. I quickly became annoyed. Why do I do that? I get so irritated when people do the same things that I would do. Maybe that's why I get a little nervous when I actually pull something off similar to that. I try to avoid peoples eyes and sush my children. Oh the small quirks in society.

Fruition

My two bald boys!

When you have small children it's hard not to think of the day when they'll all be in school and you'll be left with so much time on your hands. 2 months after moving into this house I gave birth to Beckham, my 5th child. Jaren was only in kindergarten and gone for just 2.5 hrs a day. I remember trying to nurse Beckham in the front room. We struggled since he had thrush and the infection kept going between his mouth and my breast. It was a chore. It took everything in me to sit down and try to nurse. Hence the alone time I was taking in the front room. This particular memory takes place on a Saturday since I remember Brent went golfing. I hadn't heard Isabel and Annika in a while so I thought I better go and check on them. NEVER LEAVE TWIN 3 YEAR OLDS to their own devices. What happens if you do? An emptied fridge of jam, corn tortillas and raw eggs all scrambled together on your new carpet. I was at my whits end. I was in pain, I was in tears, and I was alone. I called Brent in tears begging him to come home. He came home, when his round of golf was over with. It's at those very moments when school days can't come soon enough. Until they finally do, and you wonder what happened to all the time.

Yesterday while at the Library Beckham really wanted to play a game on the computer. Well, it was time to go and I had to pull him away. He was upset. I thought to myself, I'll just bring him more often once shool starts. My next immediate thought was, No you can't, he's going into first grade and will be gone all day long. My emotions soon flooded to the surface and I had to hold back tears, just as I'm recalling those fresh feelings writing this. Baby Beckham is no longer a baby. He's 6 years old and going into first grade. My dreams of all my kids going into school all day has come to fruition. It's harder to cholk then I ever thought it would be.

At this point I start wondering if I did everything I needed to do for my kids. I know time is not completely up with them. But it's quickly slipping away. I need to stop wishing for the future to come more quickly. It's already here. What a great reminder to myself to love and enjoy my children while they are still mine and at home. Not torn away by the ways of the world and peer pressure.

Besides, not all my children are in school yet. I still have Grace to tag along with me every where I go.

Warning: Psychotic Birds Ahead!

This morning while on my walk I was literally attacked by birds! I'm not kidding in any way shape or form. People passing by could see me covering my head with my hoody and screaming for my life. Yes, I realize I am 10x bigger then they are. But they have beaks to poke my eyeballs out, and talons to rip my ears off! It was SCARY!!! I wasn't planning on doing any running today, but was forced to, to save my life. I'm sure you've seen those birds if you've ever walked on Canyon Rd. I'm talking about the small black birds, with psychotic white eyes! They usually dive bomb me a few times, but nothing like this morning. Those black birds should all be shot!! When I thought I finally escaped them, they reappeared a few yards ahead. One of them was waiting for me in the road, he must have been playing look out. I wont be walking along that stretch of Canyon Road! Yikes that was scary.

In Memory Of

As we were looking for Grandpa's grave this tank came barreling down the side road.

Like an embarassing Mom, I had the kids quickly run up to the road so I could get a good shot.

This was the best of the bunch I took.

We miss you Grandpa Les

Brent forced to be in a picture.

We miss you Grandma and Grandpa Edwards!

In the end, Grace could stay awake no longer.

Sleep overcame her still after being pulled out of the suburban.

While walking back to the cars Brent spotted this engraven tile.
We had never noticed it before.
Grandpa was being honored for his service in the military.

Usually on Memorial Day we just get together with family and celebrate with a b-q. This year we actaully made it to several graves. Our first stop was at Granpa Les's. He passed away just last year. I figured it was going to be busy. But I wasn't expecting Police Men to directing traffic in an out of the Orem Cemetary. I think we just timed it all wrong. They must have had some sort of program and we arrived just as it was ending. I couldn't believe the swarms of people there! We waited for probably a good 10 minutes before the police men directed us in. We found a parking spot and started searching for Grandpa's grave. We hadn't been there since his funeral last year. Luckily it didn't take us long to find it. We didn't stay long or say any words. Next year I'm going to do it differently. I would like to read some sort of poem or favorite memory that I have of our loved ones that have gone on. It just didn't feel right. I'm glad we made it any way, in honor of their memory.

Next stop Grandma Penny and Grandpa Rick's. We had hambergers, and they were the best burgers I've had in a long time. I don't know what my brother does to those things, but they were dang good.

On our way home we stopped by my Grandparent's grave, Grandma Charlotte and Grandpa Edwards. It was nice to see that the headstone was properly ingraven. We could tell that other people had come to pay their respects. Again, I had no peom or words to say. Next year will be different.

Both Grandpa's had served in the military. They both had honorably served thier country willingly and with pride. I am so grateful to the service men of old and new. For their sacrifice to ensure that my freedoms are kept strong and alive. I am grateful for their families sacrifice in letting them leave and live without them for a time. And for some of them paying the ulitmate sacrifice, their own lives. This country is worth fighting for. Even though we are living in uncertain and perilous times. I believe we should fight even harder and with more valor.

Faking It!

I forgot mention a few posts ago how many kids are in softball/baseball and how many games we actually have to juggle. Jaren plays on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Isabel and Annika(on the same team) play on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Beckham who also plays on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On those two days we have to figure out how to get to 3 games. Sometimes they are all at the same time. Other days they are staggered.

Yesterday we had just two games to juggle. Just as Isabel was getting on her uniform she started to complain of chest pains. Oh really, I thought to myself. She also complained of a stomach ache. Skeptical of her symptoms I told her she better go right up to her room and get into bed. What am I suppose to do when every now and then she grabs desperately at her chest. I did call Isabel down for some Top Ramen. She asked me what I thought the pain was. I told her, "A bad case of I don't want to go to my softball game-itis." People, you know your own children. You know when they are faking and when they aren't. She was faking. I wish I was a quick witted as my husband though. When he got home he asked Isabel if she was still in pain. She said yes. He told her we better take her to the hospital cause chest pains are serious. Her eyes got a little bigger and she said the pains, miraculously, went away.

I understand the fear and anxiety that come moments before a game. Even in a simple city league. Hello, that's why I passed on the chance to play on a women's team. The pressure to hit that small ball and then sprint to first basing hoping to heaven that you can get your fat butt moving faster then the ball. I would fake chest pain too!!