4th of July 2011

 We started off the morning with a red white and blue breakfast.  We also created a patriotic playlist that we could listen to as we drove around town.  OF COURSE it had the army song on it - both my boys have that memorized.

 Red strawberries, white -ish waffles and blue plates and notice Ty's USA shirt -oh we are so festive.






We next went and purchased our small fireworks.  I gave each boy $10 but you know that really doesn't go far at those huge firework tents, but it was all we had this year.




We spent the afternoon at my Aunt Tani/Uncle Cal's home - they have this beautiful backyard with a salt water pool that we have spent a few cousin Friday afternoons hanging out at.  Uncle Cal always makes amazing food - he sent me off with some BBQ pork that was too good for words.

Next we went to what has become our 4th of July tradition - known as Aunt Maylene's.  My boys think that the 4th cannot be done any other way - and frankly I'm with them!  Maylene is Michael's sister and the one who lined Michael and I up on a blind date over 10 years ago! 


This is a photo of Maylene and her darling daughter Eliza and my Duncan all camped out on the lawn waiting for the street firework show to start.

This year we were lucky enough to have Aunt Deanna (Michael's oldest sister) as well.  She's in the red, I'm next to her and Maylene is in front.  Deanna is known as the fun one in the family.  She's the go-to-gal on trip planning and all activities fun.  They came up from New Mexico.  We don't get to see them often enough.

 T and Deanna with Sparklers




This year they made all those illegal super cool fireworks legal (my dad says its to increase the sales tax:).  You can see T holding one of the ones that Uncle Aaron brought - and BTW they were super cool.


The other fun thing was that Deanna & Aaron's son Darren also came with them. He was able to tell T about all things military and that really helped T not miss his dad so much on this patriotic day.

 

Pictures from Kelby's Wedding

These pictures were taken by my friend Rani (in the first picture with me. They are from Kelby's wedding. It was a beautiful wedding. Do you like how we kept our boys entertained and quiet?

Duncan's Birthday "Scales & Tails"

This party started out with my little one asking to have a pet lizard or snake. I quickly answered that I was allergic to both - a concept he understands since dad is very allergic to cats. Then I found a City Deal for the Scales and Tails guy to come and do a birthday party show. It had to be done.

We had snakes on our cupcakes, animal crackers, different kinds of popcorn (oh - I mean "gecko grub") and "jungle juice."

yep I sewed 15 pillowcases - Crazy!

Brooks demos the pillow case craft!

Green grass decorations!

I think he had a pretty good time! What do you think?

things to be grateful for

Today in church we focused on joy and on work.  I decided that in lue of a gratitude journal that I would post the things I am grateful for.  In no particular order:
1. glad that I don't hate Valentines Day
2. a husband that I love (more than tolerate:)
3. 2 adorable children
4. modern and new discoveries for autism treatment
5. my dear friends in DayBreak
6. my dear friends from before DayBreak
7. ability to serve
8. scriptures
9. believe it or not - my sunday school class - they make me study and learn
10. our jobs
11. a paid off car - I actually care more about it
12. learning how to cook
13. the thrill that comes from couponing and the sticker shock that comes when I don't
14. the new Herriman Library
15. the excitement of learning something new
16. loosing weight - love the livestrong website!

Off to bed!

The brightest flowers grow in the ugliest pots

http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/voted_out_of_kingergarten_by_classmates_autistic_boy_5_gets_350k_settlement/

I was having a really hard Timon day yesterday when I read this and I thought okay - I didn't have to assemble that legal team or wait 2 years with all that pain to hear the verdict!  I didn't have to prove damages!  I felt very blessed.  We started a new family tradition - I think I might have mentioned it to you -the family testimony meeting right after church.  It was awesome.  I told Timon that I knew he was the big beautiful flower in the ugly pot (from Thomas S. Monson talk at Relief Society Meeting).  It was that Heavenly Father loved him so much to send him to this earth with an Autistic body.  And that even though his body makes it hard for him to always behave the right way or do the socially appropriate thing - that Heavenly Father knows he is trying.

When he bore his testimony he told us how hard he is trying and that he would keep trying.