Night at the Drive-In

Friday night we made a spur of the moment decision to go to the drive in.  We were just sitting around wishing we'd done something that evening, and realized there was still time! :).  Things panned out how spur of the moment ideas usually do, but I think we still managed to have a good enough time :)  The kids all loved it, so that's a good thing :).  I forget how tired and impatient I get that late at night.  Everyone was really good except for the little Princess.  She's not a big fan of movies.  In fact, I'm not sure why it didn't occur to me that she should be left with a sitter (or something).  But whatever.  I managed to get her to sleep about 30 minutes before it ended, so that was a nice 30 minutes :).  She mostly moaned.  And screamed.  And moved around from seat to seat, causing everyone else to in the process.  I think if we do this again we will remember to clean out our car better, bring pillows, and find something else for Erika to do.  Possibly sleep.  The movie was very cute, loved all the funny plays on words.  Mater's the star which kinda threw me off at first, but duh, who else would be?

Fireworks in the front yard

Thursday night, we finally got around to lighting our own fireworks at home.  Brad had been looking forward to it all day and couldn't wait any longer!  And it was the last legal day too ;)  It's funny how entertained theyt seemed with our wimpy fireworks after watching the big ones with Chris and Stephanie.  I love that about my kids.  They did sparklers for a long time, Luke burned his hand and was pretty much traumatized by that the rest of the night.  He spent about a half hour in the bathroom with it under running water.  Anytime I tried the ice pack he was fine for a few minutes and then let out this piercing scream because of how cold it was.  But if it wasn't on ice or under water, he was screaming also because it was too hot!  Very big ordeal, to say the least.  I kinda lost it after a while.  I just couldn't win and nothing I was doing was helping.  I wish I'd handled it better, but we got through it all!  If Erika hadn't been crying and freaking out about Luke's freaking out, it might have been easier..... maybe.  We did our little fountains and that was fun.  The big kids managed to not let the chaos kill their fun.  Luckily.  It was short and sweet and then we went to bed :). 







I'm pretty sure he's touching the hot part in this picture.  When we told him we needed to hurry and go inside to put it in cold water he refused.  He and Luke are like complete opposites!



The lighting wasn't quite right to recreate last year's pictures..... but the kids had fun with the sparklers regardless :)





I just love my Noah's face :)

Thursday Picnic

Thursday was our day for our picnic with Grandma, but since Sarah and her boys were rafting we weren't sure we were doing it, so we started out the day just bumming around.  I'm not sure why we've been so tired this week (probably all the late nights), but it's taken it's toll.  So anyway, Grandma called, we picked up Steve, grabbed some Carl's, and then headed on over to the park.  I couldn't believe how hot it was.  Even with it being a little overcast.  Didn't help that we didn't have any shade, but I was just dripping with sweat the entire 45 minutes that we were there!  And it was a long 45 minutes!  I'm not sure how much fun everyone had, Bradley was upset with the park we chose so he spent the first half in the car pouting (don't know how he didn't cook to death!), Charity was bored and ended up taking pictures of everyone.  Kelly took really good care of Erika, but Erika got scared and then cried to go home for the last 15 or 20 minutes.  Which was really annoying considering the fact that she had spent the last hour before we left to go TO the park crying.  So anyway.  Luke and Noah were able to stay relatively entertained.  Kelly too, once she got HER hands on the camera.  Eventually we were able to swim out of our sweat and into the car to get home. 
That first picture of Erika is so her!  She isn't the most smiley person.  I like how Nancy put it.... she's serious.  That sounds much better than snobby right?

























I know this looks gross, but kinda cool right?

Splash Park in Riverdale

Wednesday was our field trip to Riverdale's Splash Park.  I had never been there and until we turned North onto the I-15 ramp, I had thought we were headed down South.  I'm guessing I had it confused with Riverton, but I still don't think I knew there was a Riverdale up North.  Kinda funny.  Anyway, it was a lot of fun.  I got to sit and chat with my friends, Charity and Kelly spent a lot of their time in the Splash part, but a lot was also spent eavesdropping on the moms.  I don't know if this group could have been prepared for how much my girls listen to the "conversating".  Bradley was gone the entire time.... I saw him a few times when I was jerked to the awareness that I hadn't seen him in.... too long, but that was it.  He was the only one who was unhappy with leaving.  Luke had a lot of fun.... I think he needs more fat.... he gets too cold at those things.  He spent a lot of time warming up on his towel.  Noah played in the water a lot too.... he was in and out with Luke though, on the towels.  But no complaints from me.... they all seemed relatively content :).  Erika spent the whole time (well all but the first two minutes where the girls dragged her out into the water and she freaked out about it) sitting on my lap, chasing Rylie around because he was stealing her stroller, and sitting in my lap complaining about Rylie using her stroller..... she's somewhat possessive.  I think we had a good time though.  We might have to go up there again sometime if I can find my way back.

Future Memories

- Thursday the 5th, we went out to Stephanie's parents' house and watched Bakke's fireworks show with everyone.  That was quite the show!  They had all the newly legalized arials.... scary for me since I'm paranoid about things catching on fire, but I think Stephanie and her Mom worried about that enough for all of us ;).  They sure made it a fun evening!  Homemade icecream and all. 


-Wednesday was my big haircut.  I'm still not sure how I feel about it.  It went something like this:  I told her I wanted to cut it off, up to my shoulders.  She started combing it out and realized that it was "probably enough to donate" then asked if I wanted to.  I had already contemplated doing that, but wasn't sure I had enough, so I consented.  (should have asked how much more she'd have to take off)  So she put it in two pony tails and cut them off.  It was shocking how short it was!!!  I knew there was more to go, since it wasn't even, but I don't think I was prepared for how much she was going to cut off!!!  It's SO SHORT!!!  I'll get used to it and I know hair grows back, but I cried on the way home.  It's hard to go from "freakishly long" to "WHAT DID YOU DO TO YOUR HAIR!?" 

-Then I went and helped out at the Seasoning Packaging Plant in Centerville.  Lots of fun since Tina was there to talk to.  She knows way too much about me now :)



- Friday we played at the park with some friends, then bummed around some more.... I don't know what it is, allergies or the heat.... or something, but I have been SO TIRED lately!  And no, I'm not pregnant, so don't ask!  Friday night we went to the Drive-In to watch Cars 2.  That was a spur of the moment idea, and kind of played out as spur of the moment ideas do, but we managed to make it work and had a good time.  Next time we will bring pillows, clean out the back of the car a little more, and leave the windows down.  Also.... leave Erika home or make sure she's asleep.