summertime, summertime, sum, sum, summertime

It has been hot, hot, hot here for weeks now, and there's nothing like sticking your head it the sprinkler to cool you down. These are a few shots from Saturday.

It's all fun and games until Ian gets a hold of the sprinkler. Then everyone has to run away.

C'mon guys you were just standing in the water, what's the problem?

Mr. Mischievous gives me a little wink.

This is something Scott and I do for fun: we put Natalie down in the shady grass because she freezes and won't move.

Lest you think this is some kind of torture, she is still her smiley self so we know she is happy.

We hope everyone enjoys the last few weeks of Summer!

what cereal?

I found this picture on my memory card among some I meant to blog a few months ago.

I have a few disclaimers about this incident. First, I normally do not buy sugar cereals for the kids but there was a 10 for $10 and I am a sucker for a deal. Secondly, I wasn't gone that long. Long enough for Ian to decide it was time for seconds apparently. The floor was also covered.

looks too good to eat

This is what happens when you go to the library hungry:

Its kind of like going to the grocery store hungry. I recently made some health goals (probably one reason why the candy looked like an oasis in the desert to me at World Market) and realized that my current menus needed some help so I was looking at the library for inspiration. I won't be making any of those cookies any time soon. Call me a masochist, but I just wanted to stare at the pictures.

These are some of the books I found. Have I mentioned before how I love the library? Its the one place that I can just put whatever looks good in my basket and take it home.

Here's what I was really excited to find on the shelf:

If you haven't heard of this before, it is all about putting vegetables purees into all the food you eat, like squash in the macaroni and such. I really needed recipes that my kids will still eat. Now I just need to get some spinach to make brownies for my family home evening treat.

flashback friday-good times at granite

In this week's trip down memory lane I headed to Wyoming. Angela's recent post about their trip to Granite Hot Springs made me think about the last time I went camping there. I wish I could put together a post of all the times I have been there. Those would be some good memories. I was 6 months pregnant with Kimi at the time so there aren't shots of me, but look at Cali in her cute little suit. I thought she was so grown up at almost 18 months.

That was one comfy napping hammock.

This last picture was actually at Heise Hot Springs the month before. We went up to roast hot dogs and marshmallows one night with Tory and Elizabeth. I found it while I was looking for the Granite photos and decided to throw it in so Elizabeth could see what she was doing five years ago.

Now I have a crazy craving for s'mores.

i think i'm in love

Since I was being a hometown tourist this last weekend, I went to a store that I love to look at the advertisements for: World Market. Lets just say I have a new favorite store to go to. I had to covertly snap these photos so I wouldn't draw store security to me.

There were rows of kitchen items I didn't know that I needed until I saw them.

I thought this clock would look fabulous in my kitchen.

The furniture and decorations were so fun and eclectic.

And here is the real thing that made me want to blog about this store: the European candy section. These are the foods I will eat every day in heaven.

Turkish Delight, anyone?

Hmm, I wonder who this might be a good gift for.

Loved it. I was like a kid in a candy store.

finding nemo

We were hometown tourists this last Saturday and went to a local aquarium. We weren't sure what to expect, but they had some pretty cool exhibits. Below is the tide pool where you could touch the stingrays if you wanted to. I didn't want to. I couldn't help but think of Steve Irwin.

The tank below had some shark swimming around in it, but they were camera shy. That was one ugly octopus. I don't think I have ever seen Ian more excited and happy than at this aquarium. That pretty much made the whole trip worth it.

We got to watch them feed the little crocodiles.

Ian found Nemo. It was quite exciting.

ian and his "guys"

These guys have recently been discovered by Ian in our toy box. I got them on clearance long ago in a galaxy far away. They include, according to Ian, Guy-Maul, Obi-Obi, Roger-Roger, and Anakin. We've tried to convince him that Anakin is Qui-Gone, but he will not be persuaded. (And sorry if my spellings of the names are way off to any of you authorities.)These guys are now his constant companions. They sit by him while eating. They watch when its bath time, they go to bed with him, they have attended our sacrament meeting (I do what I have to to keep Ian entertained,) and they have had epic battles all over our house. He plays with them for hours on end. I love these guys.

growing

Look who is sleeping in her own room now. This is never an easy thing for me to adjust to. She seems to be handling it like a pro. Sorry about the dark photo. It was a dark room, and I wasn't about to use the flash. Also, look who's talking. Well not really talking, but she goes on and on like this. That time it was to the bugs on her car seat.