Summer 2014

This summer was fun, short, crazy, and full of a lot of traveling (see previous blog posts).   Here is a rundown of some the fun things we did in no particular order...

 Just before school got out we started a major outdoor renovation project on our house.  The siding came down, new windows throughout (minus a few up front), a new weatherproof deck and lots of drainage work.  We hired out the majority of the work, but because my husband is rock star (and to keep the costs down) he did a lot himself.  Including taking down all the siding and taking down and rebuilding the deck, and stairs.  I wish I had a finished picture but because we are still waiting for the deck railing guys to come back and finish installing, we are still not done.  Soon!  Hopefully.

With some paint sticks he and kids picked up, on one of his many trips to Lowe's, they decided to make their own weapons one afternoon.  I love that he is teaching them how to make things.  Hopefully some of handy skills will rub off on them, it certainly has blessed us numerous times.

 Skai turned one in June.  We celebrated with a doggie cupcake that Amanda made herself...not sure who had more fun that day!  Skai had a rough summer.  He was neutered in May, soon after recovery he got ringworm.  And when we left him in the kennel for one of our trips he got a bacterial infection that landed him in the dog hospital on IV fluids over night.  The latest was some blistered paws after a trip to the desert while the kids rode bikes on dirt roads.  Yikes!   I have to say he is gold for the kids though, and he has grown on me a lot.  Dave attempted to groom him after his hospital stay as his fur was all matted.  This was after three hours of work.  Now I know why we pay $80! 

We took a trip to Utah for my nephews wedding, and ended up at Emily's playing with the kids, when Grandma was ill.  I was hoping to be the lucky one to be in town when Emily's baby arrived, but he was being stubborn (or getting back at me) and didn't come.  

 The kids soaked up fun cousin time at the park and zoo, anyhow, and we celebrated Madisons birthday with cinnamon rolls for breakfast. 

 This bird has been in our backyard most of the summer tending her nest.  She is on her second set of fledglings now I  believe.  We found a huge hornets nest above her in the same tree.  That explains the three stings this summer...hmm. 

Jacob and Spencer took tennis lessons for a few weeks and had a lot of fun.  Grandpa Marchant would be proud!

On a second trip to Utah over the fourth of July, we spent a few days with Doug and Heather and their kids.  Maren had requested a visit to this park she had heard about and loved it...well all the kids did for sure.  

 I love looking at these pictures and all the fun Amanda is having playing without an injury.  It was great for her.  Unfortunately short lived as it was this night that she hurt her foot again.

Jacob turned five in July.  He loved that he got to ride a gondola the week before when we were in Park City and he loved the last minute star wars cupcakes Amanda came up with.  

He was offered a friend party, but just wanted to take a friend to Banana's like Spencer did.  He and Pax had a great time playing miniature golf and being goofs even though it was like 100 degrees.

 It is a little bitter sweet that my baby has turned five this year.  I love his independence and fierce loyalty, but I am already missing the little guy that is growing up so fast.  Jacob is a fun kid with lots of spunk.  This year he learned to make his bed (he rocks at it), do the monkey bars, and do a wheelie on his bike.  Besides playing his first season of soccer, he loves to play basketball and baseball in the yard, sing "the final countdown" while cleaning the playroom on Saturday mornings, and hang out with Dad every chance he gets.

 He progressed a ton in the pool this summer, and the fear of putting his face under is about gone.  It was fun that his teacher this year was a young man from church.  I think Jacob thought that was pretty cool.

Spencer and Maren also took swimming this summer.  Spencer really progressed with his bravery as well.  Maren worked on perfecting her strokes, and her high dive jumps.

And post injury Amanda worked on honing those Lego skills while she healed.  She made this farm (the detail on the barn alone was amazing) and has been kind enough to let the other kids play with it.  She also found herself a new series on Netflix, the Andy Griffith Show, to keep her entertained this summer.  I have loved that a hundred times more than the Disney channel on the background while I cook dinner.  Nice choice darlin!