This Is Us

  With everything we needed to do, but, and get done for Brichette and Sam's wedding we didn't do much of anything else this summer. One thing we did was get dinner at Arctic Circle.  We got them kid's meals because they came with a dino soaker.  I thought a took a picture of them, but I did save the ad with a picture of them.  Haha... It will be at the bottom.  Anyway... in the meal there was also a free voucher for Dinosaur Island at  Thanksgiving Point - Lehi, Utah  in the Ashton Gardens area. There is a wonderful area that they are growing food! It’s wonderful! The kids had a lot of fun and it was so fun to get out of the house and play.  I was expecting to see more dinosaurs, but I know they are expensive. Also... We never did find the Utah Raptor that escaped.  If you happen to see it, please tell me where you found it. We also got some ice cream from the snack bar. Here are all the pictures I took.  If you get a chance, you should...

  Every year for awhile now on the last day of school we (Lorena, my mom, and/or I) would take the kids to Baskin Robbins for a fun end of school/beginning of summer treat. Since Lorena’s death it’s just been my mom and I taking them. We had to keep doing it! Here we are getting and eating our ice cream!

  For several years now Nick and I have been giving our kids summer fun bags.  What are summer fun bags you ask? Well, after the last day of school we give our kids bags with lots of fun summer things. Such as new swimming suits, pool floaties, a new outfit, sand toys, bubbles, crafts, and more. It’s a fun way to start our summers. Here is our first year  2015 Summer Fun Bags We already have stuff everywhere for Brichette’s wedding. 🤣 Stuff for the pool. There is also D.I. bags that we need to go drop off. 

  We had to drain the water out of the pool this year so we could put clean water in and adjust the support poles. Nick ended up having to go out of town for work so I needed some help getting some more bricks put under the poles. Xander and his best friend Cairo went to the hardware store, bought the bricks for me, and then put them under the poles. It may not seem like a lot, but for me it was a huge help and I grateful appreciated them taking time to help me.

  I am so excited for spring and summer. I’m doing my best to enjoy winter, snow, breath in the cool air, have the fun light from the fireplace going, the heater on, cuddle in blankets, but I am missing spring and summer! How about you? So here are a few pictures to get us through…

I really enjoy gardening/urban farming/homesteading (whatever you want to call it). It’s my therapy. I get to be outside, grow and nurture plants and food that I get to feed to my family. I really miss being able to do it in the winter, but I know without winter we wouldn’t be able to have the water we need to grow things in the summer. So, I will enjoy taking a break and spending more time in my home (which I really need to declutter! 🤣) Just for fun here are some pictures of our garden in the summer and in the winter.

In 2017 we decided to invest in buying an above ground pool.  We don't usually shop at Walmart, but that is where we could find one.  We found a 16' one and got it all set up.  The kids had so much fun and really enjoyed it.  Then something happened and the pump stopped working.  We didn't want to drain the pool take it back, get another one, then fill it up.  So we went in bought a new one (they didn't have the 16' anymore so we had to get an 18'), set it up next to the other one, moved the water from the old one to the new one, and then took down the old and took it back for a refund. For 4 summers we have had a pool.  It has been a great investment.  I don't have to try and pack all the kids up, all their stuff and food, get in the car, pay every time to get into a swimming pool, try to find a spot, worry about people not being kind, keep an eye on everyone, make sure they are safe, pack everything all back up, come home, unpack it all again, a...