July

July is swimming with patriotism.  I love the flags adoring doors and porches.  Love the red and white ribbons in little girls hair.  Love that we LOVE our amazing country and appreciate all those men and women for keeping it that way.  What a blessed place to be! 

This month has been wall to wall fun.  I think July is just as busy and exciting as December!  Midway hosts some exciting events in July, including the Plein Air Art competition.  During Independence week you will see the fields and streams dotted with artist and easel, as they paint Midway's beautiful landscapes.  Artists then enter their pieces in the competition and sell them at City Hall.  Beautiful!  Our good friend George Handrahan entered again this year.  This one is my FAVORITE!  You can feel that morning light hitting Timpanogus, as the valley still awaits the sun's arrival.  Love it! (want it!)

This fourth of July we hit the cowboy museum again, sat on some antique tractors, devoured sugary snow cones, swam in the neighborhood pool, ran through the sprinklers, then went to the Drury's house for dinner. The Drury's have an amazing view of Memorial Hill, where they shoot off the city fireworks. What a great holiday!



Cam with  his sarcastic and hillarious friend and work colleague, Jeff Drury

Cam was out of town for the Pioneer Day holiday, so we decided to celebrate without him! First we headed up to Grandpa Page's cabin and spent some time with Grandma Holly, June, Ally, and Glen.  It was so nice to be there again and to remember Grandpa Page and all things that made him great.

I hoisted the kids up for a ride on the "giraffe tree."

Ella asked me to take this photo.  She wanted to look "serious."  

So beautiful!  That's some good lookin' posterity!

Two of the greatest ladies in my life.  Grandma Page and Grandma Holly.

After a wonderful lunch and hike at the Page cabin, we drove to the Timberlakes to spend some time at the Thredgold cabin!  We went for a hike, felt the breeze on the swings, and then spent the night in the great outdoors!

The next morning we packed up (mom got her bearings) and we were off to Lagoon for our annual excursion. Only one accident to report.  I had to convince the worker on "Puff the Magic Dragon" that although my pants were soaked in the crotch, the liquid on the seat was NOT pee, but rather water from an exploding camelback.  Ha!

Josh had a great time with his best friend Tate.  Wishing I would have snapped a picture of the two of them!

 Josh

We have some of  the GREATEST neighbors on our street.  Here are a few of them.  Josh is catching salamanders in the neighborhood ponds with Ella and Elizabeth Ballsteadt.

Josh below wearing my slippers.  He thinks it's a hoot that our feet are the same size.

New Hair cut!

Josh has been saving all Summer, and combining his birthday money, was able to  purchase himself a "ripstick."  (I think that's what they're called....)

Daxton

You're probably wondering why there is a picture of Josh on Daxton's post.  Click on the photo to zoom in and you'll see why.  Best photo bomb ever!

The kids were so sad when Josh went to spend a couple nights with Kelli and Kendall.  Actually it was bliss for both Josh and the siblings!!

Ella

Ella had a momentous occasion this month with the loss of her first tooth.  She and Dax were jumping on the trampoline, and she had a foam noodle in her mouth.  One tug of the noodle from Daxton and "Pop!" Out came the tooth!  

Ella's cousin Audrey lost the exact same tooth the exact same day!  Both first teeth too! Crazy right?

This is a great picture that needs no describing but defines Ella to a T. 

Here the kids are taking a snack and water break.  We were able to get "phase one" of our landscaping done this month.  They put in the sod and trees and we planted all the perennials, shrubs and grasses, plus shoveled bark everywhere and laid the drip lines.  The kids were hard workers.  I told them for every hole dug they could earn a quarter.  Good incentive, in the front yard alone we dug over 100 holes. Hot and hard work!

Amelie

I love this picture of her.  Amelie is always the first to help, and continues working long after the others have quit.  Though I tried to give her easier tasks with our yard work, she insisted on digging holes with the "big shovel."  

This is her "I'm bored" face.

Aunt Kelli did a dance camp in my back yard this year.  She did a fabulous job and taught kids from around the block creative movement and hip-hop.  Here's Amelie doing the hip hop routine.  Love it. And a few more pictures of the kids with creative movement.

Cameron

Cam served his mission in Bordeaux France from 1998-2000.  While there he became good friends with an Elder Cuillard, a missionary from California who was just as clever and sarcastic as Cam.  They have kept in touch over the years, even worked together in St. George at Steven Wade Powersports.  Well now they are at it again and are partners in Sales for Mountain States Networking.  I think they are going to make an amazing team. The kids love Rob, and Josh likes to tease him about his strong dislike for the Lakers (since Rob is an avid fan).  Here they are all jumping on the tramp one day.

Cindy

I am happy to have grass to run through.  Happy to have trees and plants, flowers, and even weeds to pull!  Happy to have Summer in all it's beauty and glory! Happy to be alive.  :)