A Date With Ava

My little Ava has not been getting enough attention lately. She just wants to play! And talk! And be with you! So for the last week or so she has been begging for a date. The time just hasn't worked out until today, and we finally got to spend some quality alone time together.

First we got dressed up. She wanted us to wear church clothes and she picked out her Easter dress, but I convinced her I should just wear a skirt. On the drive she kept telling me that it was just my shirt that we needed to change, but once I convinced her that it didn't have any holes she was OK. We went and made an appointment at the nail salon and then headed to the dollar store. She picked out a microphone with bubbles in it and a squishy orange toy and bubble gum. She really just wanted that gum.

Then we went to IHOP for lunch. She chatted about her nerves about starting kindergarten, and her friends, and her family. She is so bright and sweet and wonderful. I could have sat there across from her all day. But we had to get the nail appointment because that was the most important part. She has been so excited for her first manicure. The minute she got in that chair she was all nerves. Straight, grumpy face. Not a word. She was very happy about it all afterwords, all giggles and smiles. But while that guy was working on her she wasn't about to crack a smile.

Then she wanted to go somewhere fancy! And I couldn't think of anywhere. So we went to the temple and walked around and I looked at the flowers and the brides and she nervously watched for bees and played in the fountain. On the way back to the car she ran out into the grass to smell a dandelion. All those thousands of flowers. The one dandelion.

Ava is such a light in our house. On the way home she sectioned out her gum to share with her siblings and told me, "the point of having things is to share!" She sometimes gets pushed around here and it makes me so mad, because she is so kind and thoughtful. She is never the instigator, always the peacemaker. I hope someday to have the kind of Christlike love for people that Ava has.

Two dates

Now that the kids are all getting a little older, it has been easier for Tim to leave them for longer than an hour and we've had a couple fun dates this summer. Really we have to thank Brett and Suzie Goodyear for getting us out of the house, because without their invites we probably wouldn't do anything.

First they got tickets to a Bees game. I hadn't been since high school and I don't think Tim had either. We went to at Lucky 13, which has the most amazing burgers. I'm not even a huge burger person and I love that place. The game was so much more fun that I thought it would be. We got ice cream and talked and laughed. The field was beautiful and the weather was perfect. It was so nice to get out.

Then last week we went to the Faith Hill and Tim McGraw concert. We don't listen to country, but they sang enough of their oldies that we knew some of the songs. Tim got a headache and had to leave while Faith Hill was singing, but we both enjoyed the rest of it. I just love the energy and excitement of the loud music and big crowds. Everyone all jazzed up about something they love. I haven't been to a concert since high school, either, and it was so fun. Plus I just have the best date!

Pioneer Day

Tim doesn't get the 24th of July off of work, so we typically don't do anything, but the last couple years have been fun. Our friends and neighbors the McLaughlins invited us over to watch the other neighbors' fireworks show and have a BBQ again.

During the day I took the kids swimming at the Coates' and then in the evening we went to the get-together.

There were a lot more people there this year, which was OK. But their yard was done this year and it was so nice back there. The kids had a million things to do with a giant playhouse, sand pit, spider web, lawn, you name it. Someone brought a foam machine that was just amazing. It was so high that poor Ava got over her head and couldn't find a way out and panicked. But everyone has the best time. Even Mason ran around the entire time with a big smile and zero boredom or complaints. The fireworks are seriously impressive, especially for a neighborhood thing. And Sarah McLaughlin has been such a sweet friend since we moved in, I'm glad to have her.

A Scout Day

 Mason got to go to a day camp with is cub scout troop and they did some cool stuff. Of course when he came home he had nothing good to say about it, but Tim said he had a great time.

4th of July

We spent the 4th of July at my mom's house, as per tradition. She always puts on a great party. The kids played lots of games and hung out with their cousins while we barbecued and visited. One of the games was catch and release goldfish, and most of them died, but Mason convinced us that he needed to bring home the two that were living as pets. And we gave in. Just as we were about to start our backyard fireworks, Tim took Mason to Walmart to get them some food. He came home about halfway through. The only fireworks that impressed him were the snakes. In fact, those were everyone's favorites, because...

The day before the fourth we really partied. During the day we went with the McLaughlins and Goodyears to the Coates' to swim. Their pool was nice and warm and everyone loved it. They've been good new neighbors. Then we went home and got ready and headed to Logan to watch fireworks with the Larsens.

Becky and Jeron's house is right across the street from the USU stadium where they do a big show every year. Tim and I went to it one year for one of our first dates and I loved it. Loud music and fireworks are two of my favorite things. The band was playing Beach Boys covers which is totally my kind of jam, but Tim hated it.

When we got to their house they had a big blow up slide rented and still set up in their yard so the kids had something fun to do right away. And they all loved it. We snacked and talked and the kids played and then we started the fireworks. First Jeron's brother in law bought a few big ones that we set off in the drive way and that was super exciting. They did a few other driveway fireworks and sparklers before the show started. Then we all sat on the front lawn to watch the city fireworks. It was a really good show, but it was also really late and we had a long drive ahead of us, so I asked Mason if he wanted to go and he said, "I would rather bleed to death!"

I love Independence Day and this one did not disappoint.