Happenings...

Last Friday the 16th, was craft day! My mom hosted a "make-your-own-craft" activity in her backyard. Molly explored all the different textures (beads, paint, glue, feathers, crayons) while James made an "Indian-cat" mask.

James and Noah showing off their masks

Cousin Makaylee and her pizza

Sunday we held a Family Home Evening with Steve's family at Sam and Tena's house. It was the biggest FHE they had in a long time with all the out of towners living back in Utah. We had a lesson about the pioneers, ate Tena's delicious cookies and then proceeded outside for a hoola-hoop contest and "boring grown-up talk" in the cool evening air.

And lastly, James has finally found a space of his own. Off of my bedroom, there is a loft. My sisters and I used to play there when we were little and now James has found it to be a perfect place to set up his trains.

Shoes...

I love shoes. They are so wonderful! Poor Steve, he does not understand my fetish with shoes, but is so patient with me when I get excited over them.

Anywho, several friends back in Connecticut would wear high heels to church almost every Sunday. They always looked so sophisticated, and elegant, and feminine that lately, I have been wanting a pair of high heels. I have owned 3 pairs of heels in my life: a black pair I bought for my sister's wedding, a white pair I bought for my own wedding, and a cream, strappy, sandal-like pair I bought for a friend's wedding....are you sensing a pattern here? Needless to say, I do not own any of those pairs currently.

I typically don't wear heels because...well...I can't walk very well in them. I'm not that coordinated. And seeing as how I'm standing most of the day in my line of work, they really wouldn't be sensible.

But the other day, as I was out shopping for a bridal shower present, I got sidetracked by these shoes. I ADORE them!

They also had them in red!

Now of course I had to try on these other shoes too...

But alas, I left the store in the same sandals I wore to the store...

"Oh, I wish was a fishey in the sea..."

...Oh, I wish I was a fishey in the sea...I could swim out in the nudey, without my bathey-suitey...oh, I wish I was a fishey in the sea!"

So we didn't swim out in the "nudey" today, but we did spend a wonderful day outside at the pool with Steve's sister-in-law, Kathy, and her sons. They don't have very many family pools in Connecticut (Ok, they don't have any that I know of), so this was a first for my children. When we got to Murray Pool, James and Molly looked at me like, "What are we supposed to do?" So I showed them how to "play" in the pool and then I couldn't get them out!

Molly was the bravest and certainly won the "fishey" award for the day. She jumped off the side of the pool numerous times and went down the waterslide again and again. James was a bit more reserved but certainly enjoyed playing with his cousins Korbin and Nathan.

The Past Couple of Weeks...

...have been a bit cRaZy!

The school year finally ended for me and the summer began with a rousing game of Hungry, Hungry, Hippo...thanks to Denise from Lowe's! Then it was packing, packing, and more packing. Thanks to Walmart for all the boxes.



James FINALLY got his green cast off and now has a removable cast; just in time for swimming and playing in the sandbox!

We did take one day off to visit a local amusement park with some friends in hopes of regaining some of our sanity.


The hardest part was saying goodbye to all our dear friends.


But the kids and I arrived safely in Utah late in the night of July 4th (after a 3 hour delay in Hartford!). We spent July 5th with my family for a barbeque and fireworks. Then on Tuesday, the kids and I went to the zoo and I was able to get a couple of pictures before the battery died. So of course I missed pictures of the kids at the Days of '47 day at This is the Place Heritage Park and I didn't get any pictures of their new cousin, Ian. I FINALLY remembered to get a battery saturday night, so hopefully this next week will be a better picture week.

So far, we have enjoyed being back in Utah. My parents are SOOO excited to have the kids at home...and they like having me around too.... :) The mountains are so beautiful and I actually know which was is East! I used to think I had a good sense of direction and then I moved to Connecticut and lost all orientation.

Steve is still in CT, but the truck is loaded and ready to head out on Monday, 7/12. LOTS AND LOTS of thanks to all of those who helped Steve pack the truck.

Here are some of the images I did manage to get before the battery died: