If I had a wagon, I would ride to Colorado . . .

Growing up in Colorado, we sang this song in elementary school.  I can still sing it.  I still feel this way about my beloved home state.  

I just got home from a glorious family reunion trip "home."  Everyone was able to be there with the exception of two nephews who are currently on missions for the Mormon church.  Below are some of the highlights.

Games at the park below the high school we all attended.  

Pearl Street Mall.  It is full of little gems like this.  

Hiking down Flagstaff mountain.  We did this every year as a family growing up.  

McGuckin Hardware--the greatest store ever.  You can get everything you would ever need there.

Colorado Rockies baseball game.  We lost to the Reds but my three oldest kids made it on the jumbo tron and had stadium style nachos for the first time.  

Last day there, we were awakened at 6:30 am with the fire alarm going off in our hotel.  Thankfully, it was only caused by smoke in the kitchen and we were able to get back inside shortly after I took this picture.

In my parent's backyard.  All of the grandkids in order of age.

The original 7.  

I had quickly changed out of my church clothes to make dinner (it was our family's assigned day).  I am the only sister shorter than my brother and I am always put next to him.   

Each family was assigned a day to make all three meals for everyone.  I can't tell you how many wonderful memories I have sitting around the kitchen table talking to my family growing up.

Proof that Dentist Husband was at the reunion. . . And the many lists my mom created for the reunion.  My mom is famous for her lists.

The original seven in our family reunion t-shirts.

Hiking to Blue Lake (above Mitchell and Brainard Lakes).

We did this every year growing up.

 My sister and I at Blue Lake.  It is a 6 mile hike round trip.  

 All of the grandchildren played soccer and ultimate frisbee on the field by the junior high we all attended.  During one of the games, I got every emotional thinking of the memories I had growing up under the Flatirons in Boulder. 

These pictures got out of order . . .

More from the top of Flagstaff 

 At the bottom of flagstaff.  

Growing up, we always sat on this wall waiting for my dad to come pick us up in the car.  Many years later it is the grandchildren . . .

 Outside our hotel waiting to be let back in after being evacuated because of the "fire".  (We got those t-shirts free at the game the night before and were the closest clothes we could find.) 

Sigh.  It doesn't matter how old I am, Boulder, CO is still home.  

Wonderful trip.

Update

I haven't posted in a while.  Below are some highlights of summer.  

Tons of swimming.  

Notice Toothsome #4's shoes.  Red sparkly flats.  

Our annual Nordstrom experience to remember Dentist Husband's mother who died of breast cancer several years ago.  She loved to shop at Nordstrom.  We go and shop and eat and talk about her. 

Some people have asked, so below are some examples of "ugly summer."  

BTW:  This was taken in over 100 degree heat.  We decided to pretend like it wasn't miserable and take our kids to the driving range then miniature golfing.  We pretended but it was still miserably hot.   

My kids call these my clown pants.  They are linen and I haven't ironed them since I purchased them.  That shirt has a permanent stain on it.  And, I am just noticing, there is no purple in the pants.  Wow.  Really an ugly summer.  

My husband calls these my pajama pants.  You can't really tell but the crotch on these go almost to my knees.  I still think they are cute.  But others have said no.  

I found this on our cell phone charger.  Toothsome #4 did it.  I left it there for days because I thought it was so cute.  

Sigh, we love In-N-Out.

Toothsome #4 was NOT happy that Toothsome #1 was going to scout camp.  We all missed him.  

Beware of sharks.  Yes, I purchased his Halloween costume in July.

Just saw this at the aquarium today.  My ancestors lived on the shores of Utah Lake and were fisherman.  I felt like this was talking about my history.  Go June sucker!  Thank you for keeping my ancestors alive.  I wouldn't be here today without them.  

You can feed the Sting Rays at the aquarium.  I was the fun mom and paid to let my kids do it.  This is squid.

And, it couldn't be completely an "ugly summer."  I have a thing for dresses.  I found this and couldn't resist.  

(Yes, I took the Ugly Summer pictures for this blog.  It felt incredibly self indulgent.  The dress picture was taken to send to my mom.  She was asking about my new dress purchase.  Notice I did my hair and make up for the picture.  Can't have my mom thinking I am letting myself go to pot  . . .) 

Happy summer folks. 

Ugly Summer/Really Who Cares about Ugly Summer

I started this post several days ago.  I titled it "Ugly Summer" and I was writing a post about my plans to not buy any new summer shorts/capris and wear holes in all of my old out-of-date shorts/capris.  You see, I have a habit of when I find a particular shorts/capris on sale that work with my Mormon sense of modesty, I end up buying them in all colors available in my size.  

Well, I have been buying things when I really don't have a need for them, just because they are on-sale and fit with my "Mormon sense of modesty."  In my closet, I have a section for "out of style" clothes that still look brand new and I can't just give them away.  (I paid hard-earned money for them!) Well, this summer, I decided I am wearing those items until they literally have holes in them and I declared out-loud, "Welcome to Ugly Summer." 

But then, last night, on the local news, I discovered my beloved hometown Boulder, Colorado was in fire danger.  The news was talking about areas that were my local stomping grounds.  Mentioned on the news was my high school, my favorite hiking trail, my family grocery store, streets I drove on a daily basis to church, work and school, etc.   I was horrified.  After speaking to my parents and learning they were OK and not that worried, (they are in the pre-evac area), I became mesmerized with the coverage.  Most of my high school friends and church friends live/lived in the pre-evac area.  I have been in contact with many friends, who like me are out of state but worried about their parents, and our city.  You see, while I love my Utah life, I am true blue, Boulder, Colorado girl.  My husband jokes, "When we drive into Boulder County, you relax.  It is like the cells in your body recognize home."    

So, a blog post about Ugly Summer seemed a little stupid.   (And, then learning about the fire in Colorado Springs, CO, made Ugly Summer seem even more stupid).

Here is the smoke hovering over my beloved hometown.  

Me in my recently purchased (for an upcoming trip home) Colorado flag t-shirt.  (I didn't say I wouldn't buy new tops, just shorts/capris.)  My thoughts and prayers go out to all of Colorado and the people and firefighters living there.

Now for some levity (still stupid in comparison to dealing with fire danger but NOT as stupid as Ugly Summer)  two of my favorite things recently:

Going here and seeing 

 this.  

If you get a chance, watch this.  

For my local friends, we own a copy if you are interested.  

My second favorite thing:  My clothes line in my garage.  Several years ago, I had the idea to put a retractable clothes line in my garage.  All summer, it has our wet swim suits and towels on it.  In our hot garage, everything dries fast and it is out of the way and no wet stuff in my house.  In the winter, snowy ski clothes hang on it.  

Again, in light of things going on around the world, who cares but since we must live, these two things have made my life easier and happier.  

Summer, glorious summer

Since school got out, we have tried to take full advantage of summer.  Our mornings look like this:

Until 9:00 am that is, because that is when I enforce: shower, clean rooms and piano practicing. 

Then, we go back to fun summer.  Most days that means going to the neighborhood pool.  I was raised going to the pool daily in the summer and I am so glad I can continue to do that with my kids.  Great memories.  

On the weekends, we try to do something more involved.

Years ago, Dentist Husband purchased a go-kart and at my father-in-law's cabin, he built a go-kart track.  

Using this tractor to make/form the course. 

And if you have a son who LOVES sharks, I highly recommend this jacket from Chasing Fireflies.  (Notice he is wearing his Hannah Andersson shark shirt underneath.)   

 Chasing Fireflies also has these wonderful nightgowns.  Honestly, these are made with the softest cotton I have ever felt.  You may remember, my girls have Halloween ones too.  

And finally, the BIG news of June was Toothsome #1 getting his braces off.  Getting him to smile for the camera is not so easy.  

Turkey Loaf: It is not just for Thanksgiving anymore

About twice a year, I realize I have purchased too many things on sale at the grocery store and I start insisting that dinner (and any other meal that we can) comes from the freezer.  Since it is "popsicle" season, I need to make room for them.  

Let me remind you of this post about our trip to Las Vegas over Thanksgiving.  Because we were in a hotel, we went the easy way out and had Jennie-O turkey loaf as our turkey for Thanksgiving.  

So, I had an extra one in our freezer and pulled it out for dinner one night this past week. My kids all started saying, "Why are we having that?  Isn't that just reserved for Thanksgiving?"  My husband and I laughed out loud at the absurdity of it.  Most people would be shocked that we bastardized a Thanksgiving meal with a turkey loaf.  My kids think we have having a "too fancy" dinner at home with turkey loaf.  Honestly, I can't tell you the humor we got from all of this.  The phrase all week said between my husband and I has been, "Turkey Loaf.  It is not just for Thanksgiving anymore."  

Onto to other things . . . this ladder has been in our master bedroom for about 3 weeks.  Three weeks ago, at 5:00 am, one of our fire alarm started chirping, indicating we needed to change the battery.  (My husband has actually researched why it is common for them to beep in the middle of night and it deals with batteries in cold temperatures not working as effectively and since houses cool down at night . . . blah, blah blah.)   So, during broad day light, I brought this in the house and planned on changing the battery.  But then, it hasn't chirped since.  And frugal me, thinks, until it starts to chirp again, I don't need to change it.  "Let's wait this out."  I honestly thought it would chirp again sooner but it hasn't and I don't want to be stuck in the middle of the night without the ladder.  It is all very stupid.   As Dentist Husband has pointed out, I spend the cost of a battery in my Diet Coke habit in one day, I should just change the battery.  But, no, I have not.  Now, having the ladder in the master bedroom is driving me crazy.  Again, all very stupid.  But, think of all of the Diet Cokes I can drink with the money saved on this one battery.

And with summer, I brought out my favorite Teva flip flops.

Check out the bottoms . . .

I LOVE these shoes.  I plan on wearing them until they just give way.  I would definitely say I have gotten my money's worth.

First and Last Days

First day of 2nd, 4th and 6th grade

First Day of Pre-school

Last day of preschool

Last day of 2nd, 4th and 6th grade

Here is too a great school year and great summer ahead!