SUZ: JULY

Here is our July in reverse. I found a swing for Lou at a garage sale...she is a fan. She also has plenty of little volunteers that would love to push her in said swing.

We went to a Friday night concert in a local park. It was a Beatles cover band named Lonely Hearts and it was so much fun. We walked down with our stroller and lots of card games. We introduced Phin to the game Set.

We visited Hill Aerospace Museum. Many of the planes out front are closed but we were able to go into one plane inside the museum.

The kids went to a Forces of Flight class and learned all about the four forces of flight. Millie was chosen as a volunteer to show how the shape of a wing can impact speed. They had a marble run with a straight track and one that went up and down. The one that went up and down was the fastest.

A neighboring city has a summer reading program that we attended throughout the summer. For the last event they had a local author come and read her book. She brought instruments along and had the kids help her out with sound effects.

We went to Hogle Zoo one day. We usually go during the winter for the Wild Wednesdays so it was fun to go in the summer for a change.

Lou was absolutely fascinated by the polar bear that was swimming.

We spent a lot of time at the splash pad. It was a hot day and the kids wanted to cool off.

We were able to see the Rhinos being fed.

We also went to a Dog trick show that the kids loved.

All of the Apes were outside for the day. We loved watching the baby Gorilla.

The giraffes were out by the Zebras and you could pay to help feed them. They had super long tongues.

The kids took lots of Summer Rec classes in July. Here is Phin at Mad Scientist class shooting off his rocket.

Here is Silas after his Tiny Tots class. The last day was a water day...but they forgot to tell us that.

Phin also took an Archery class. Their last day was a water day as well. They tried to shoot at specific spots on the target...if they missed...they got wet.

Silas spent lots of time building with his Duplo Legos.

Millie's BFF had moved to Indiana earlier in the summer. We were delighted to have a playdate when she came back for a quick summer vacation.

We went to summer school lunch a lot. I love that it is one less meal that I have to make...and clean it up.

Millie worked very hard with some summer reading classes and earned a new bike and helmet.

Here she is on her last day of classes with Miss Sarah.

Silas also took a Little Imaginations class and came home frequently with things he had created.

Millie took an Arts and Crafts class...this was right up her creative alley.

Seth wanted to check out some camping sites near Grantsville. So we drove out one night for a little cook-out. He made yummy tin-foil dinners for us.

There was a fun tree swing close to the site we ate at.

Lou loved playing in the dirt.

Phin found a good "thinking" tree.

Seth gave the older kids a bar of soap and a butter knife to carve with.

Phin ran the Handcart Days 5K race with me. I am amazed by his ability to always dig deep at the finish line. I was able to find the next two photos online. Look at Phin's stride as he crosses the finish line.

After the run we enjoyed a pancake breakfast in the bowery. It was so much fun to spend some one on one time with Phin.

We finally went to Lagoon-A-Beach this summer. Silas was so tired at dinner after Lagoon-A-Beach that he had to put his head down to rest.

Lou loved the Lazy River. The river is usually quite chilly...but the water was just perfect because it was so HOT outside. I was happy to have this floatie so Lou could be right in the water. I used my feet to protect her from other tubes and the sides of the river.

Seth had the Friday before July 24th off of work. So we went on a little walk around Farmington Bay. It was really pretty out there.

Here is Millie's new bike a few days before she earned her helmet.

We also got Silas a bike. Here Seth is trying to teach Silas to use the breaks.

Halloween preparations have started at our house...and the kids are counting down. We are going with a Mario cart them this year. I ordered Millie's dress off Amazon and was so impressed with the quality.

Here the kids were watching Seth assemble the bikes.

My two boys in their Captain America Shirts.

Kinetic Sand at Mad Scientist class.

We celebrated our 12th Anniversary this month. We celebrated by going to the temple to do sealings. My parents were so kind to watch our kids while we went. My mom had prepared names and we were able to do the sealings of a couple and their seven children....it was a very special experience.

I hadn't been to the Marmalade library branch near my parents home so I took the kids one afternoon.

They were HUGE fans of the kid section of the library with iPads. We will have to make stops at this library a frequent occurrence.

Amy told us about a Hogle Zoo event at a local credit union. Phin was able to play this Zoo themed game. He was given a budget and then had to get all around the Zoo and still have money left. We may have to copy this idea with a Lagoon version of our own.

The kids were able to see a few animals up close. They even got to touch this tortoise.

Phin was thrilled when his costume arrived. Silas has worn his non-stop since I found it on Facebook marketplace.

Millie with one of her arts and crafts creations.

We went to the Days of '47 Float Preview Party. My kids look forward to this every year...mostly for the face-paint and balloons.

Lou was very intrigued with the balloon artist.

Millie and I loved this Wizard of Oz themed float...it reminded us of our Halloween costumes last year.

Millie and Phin also made helicopters one day in their Mad Scientist class.

Our favorite ranch (Cross E) gave away some free tickets to their Sunflower Festival on a Monday night. We were thrilled to go...although it was quite hot. The kids liked this fan that also blew water to cool them down.

We wandered around and were each able to pick one sunflower to take home.

Silas pretended his sunflower was a sword.

Little Lou in the sunflower field.

Millie was terrified of the bees that loved the field. She also didn't want to touch the "pokey" sunflower. So Seth helped me get this shot of her in the sunflowers.

We went to Lagoon with friends in July. I love this shot of Millie being hit with water.

Millie was terrified of riding the giant Ferris wheel. I was proud of her for facing this fear.

While the kids were doing their various summer recreation classes, Lou and I walked around the park. I love how she is putting her little fingers through the connection on her sunshade in this photo.

Here is another photo of Silas our master Lego builder.

We went back to Kangaroo Zoo this month. Millie and Silas chose some fangs as their prize.

Millie and Phin made lava lamps one day in Mad Scientist class.

This photo reminds me so much of Millie at this age. Lou often has one or both feet up in the air. She actually often rests her feet on her car-seat/stroller handles.

Silas' favorite color is green...almost every piece of artwork he brought home from his class was green.

We celebrated lots of food one particular week in July. We went out and got fries on National French Fry day.

We now have a Banbury Cross close to us. A friend texted me to let me know that they were giving away free test doughnuts the week before their official opening so we headed over...so delicious.

Millie's dream catcher.

Silas' fruit loops necklace.

Phin really enjoyed archery class...although the first class they had a LOT of rules to review.

We also celebrated Cow Appreciation Day. We picked up some Chick-Fil-A and met Seth at a local park.

Green Slime at Mad Scientist class.

Slurpees on 7-11.

Millie's jellyfish.

Lou loved hanging out in the hammock with me one evening.

While Lou and I relaxed the kids ran through the sprinklers. Our poor lawn...this drought has been tough. We were initially only able to water our lawn once a week. We have now been given permission to water two days a week...but most of our lawn still looks like this.

We also spent some time at the Gateway Splash Pad.

We had originally planned to visit the splash pad at Red Butte garden...but were so sad to see that the splash pad was closed. We did enjoy exploring the rest of the garden.

We also visited the Utah Museum of Natural History. They have a temporary exhibit all about the perception of color that was very fun.

One week we made a goal to visit a new to us park each day. This park is up above the Farmington Cemetery. After playing I took the kids down to see my grandparents grave as well as two of my aunts. It was the first time that I had seen Aunt Becky's gravestone.

We went to the library one day and came home with lots of How to style books. Millie was especially interested in origami and fingerprint bugs.

This was Eggett Park which is in a little canyon just under the Bountiful Temple.

Seth was given some last minute tickets to a Suite at the Vivint Arena for a Jazz Summer League game. We were able to take Millie, Phin and Lou with us to the game. Silas was very happy to have our favorite babysitter all to himself.

Wildcat park was also a hit. Phin worked on this slide puzzle for almost our entire visit.

We spent the evening of July 4th at the Splash Pad.

Seth and the kids made paper boats and floated them down the little stream.

We did a fun STAR hairstyle for Millie.

The morning of July 4th we went on a bike ride/run to Firefighter park.

We joined Jami and Tawnya's family up at Box Elder campground for a cook-out.

The kids loved playing in the little creek by their campsite.

We also played in the sand at Mantua reservoir.

Seth borrowed some motorized toy boats...unfortunately they got stuck in weeds. So he borrowed a little kayak and tipped over when he reached the boat he was retrieving.

We joined Amy's family for fireworks at the golf course. The kids had the best time running around and playing with their friends while we waited for it to get dark.