Today we celebrated Kelsey's graduation from the University of Utah and Audrey's birthday. We went to dinner at one of our favorite places.... Bella's, a Mexican restaurant on 2700 N in Pleasant View. Amie came up from Huntington to help us celebrate. It was nice to have all 3 of the girls there together. I love this picture of them.
July 2 - Levi's Blessing
We combined several things into the weekend since Amie and part of her family traveled up from Emery County. Levi received his baby blessing today from his father Michael. We met at Audrey's house afterwards and had a picnic of sandwiches, salads and cookies. The kids played on the swing set and the rest of us visited and took pictures. It was a beautiful day.
...play in the back yard, of course! On the swing set and in the water. With balls, and cups, and other useful things that make play fun.
July 4 - Parade
We went to a parade today. Not the kind you would expect. It was much better! It was the Mecham kids 4th of July parade! They decorated their bikes with red, white and blue crepe paper streamers. They made paper prizes. And they bought penny candy to throw at the crowd... their parents and Dave and I, the grandparents. Of course, we gathered the prizes up and put them in bags for the kids, but what they did was clever and over-the-top fun! It was the best parade I have ever attended. And you could tell how much fun the kids had doing it. They were so cute as they sped up and down the sidewalk throwing candy our way. Alia even made herself and entry tag. I loved them in their patriotic clothes sporting their decorated bikes, wiggle cars, and scooter. Oh... I love these kids! They make me smile all over.
Kelsey is classy! She may be an educated professional... but will always be that down-to-earth country girl I love. Her heart belongs to the country. She lives it every day. I love the American Flag vest she was wearing today.
Both Makaela and Brayden were gone so she invited Dave and I out for a 4th of July BBQ. I enjoyed it, but it did seem a little strange that it was just us adults.
Fireworks
We have the best view of fireworks a few hundred yards up the road from our house. You can see dozens of firework displays to the north and to the south, as far as the eye can see. From Brigham City in Box Elder County to the most southern cities in Davis County. Our small town of Willard puts on a pretty good show right in front of us.
July 9 - Lemon Dessert...
I made lemon dessert today and followed the same recipe that Audrey did. It looked good but didn't turn out. I was so bummed.
July 11 - Summer Activity - Science
Time for another Super Summer Activity! This week was all about science. We made squirty sidewalk chalk. Three bottles were the colors and three bottles were the vinegar mixture. The kids started out squirting their liquid chalk on the driveway, making designs and writing their names. Then they added the vinegar mixture. The colors started to pop! They were mixing, swishing, jumping in, and splashing the colors... creating beautiful kaleidoscope-like patterns.
Outdoor Fun
Time-out for some backyard fun!
Three Brothers
Handsome fella's... Ben, Levi, and James
Levi
3 months old
July 14 - Cone Flowers
July 24 - Dave's Cooler
The cooler is done! Dave bought the shelves and didn't waste any time in stocking them with fruit and produce. He's in business! I love his smile. He worked long and hard at making this happen. Great job Dave!
July 29 - Ice Skating
It was a free day to go ice skating at the Ice Sheet at Weber State University. It's always a fun activity that the kids look forward to every year.
July 31 - Family BBQ
Bill and Alisa, Jeff and Emily, Steven and Ann's family, Audrey's family, and Kelsey's family came up for a backyard BBQ today. It was so enjoyable having them here. The kids had a blast playing together. Loralee, Jeff's daughter, fit right in. There was plenty of stories, laughter, and fun for all. I liked it so much that I want to make this a yearly tradition.
As I was sitting at the table listening to conversations and seeing smiles, I had an incredible feeling of peace come over me. Was it that there was so much good there? It caused me to think that heaven must surely be like this. Family ties that bind eternally. I felt love, peace, harmony. I'm certain that mom and dad and Shaniel and Steven were there. I relished in the moment. A lot of priesthood power was there. I knew in that moment that I loved my family more than anything and that families are eternal. I am so very thankful for my parents, brothers and sisters and my children. I can't think of better people I want to spend eternity with.
Today was also Kelsey's first day on her job. She looked so very beautiful today. I am so proud of her.
Brayden
Brayden is into Dave's weapons, uniforms, hats, masks, and boots. Anything Military! He is modeling a gas mask for us. He looks like an alien in it! Brayden is a funny kid. He is always making me smile. He reminds me so much of Steven. He would do things like this!
Abandoned
This was an unusual place to find a bird nest... in the dirt, underneath the blackberry bushes. It was apparent that the bird nest had been abandoned. The eggs had cracks and chips on them as if a predator had come in. Sad.
Love...
Every time I go out on my front porch I see my beautiful red geranium in bloom. It's hard to believe it's in its 7th year of life. What's even more beautiful is the blue bird house Steven made when he was a young boy in cub scouts. I'm in love with the memories that it brings me and comforted that it's the first thing I see when I go outside. It brings Steve close to my heart.
The plant that Leslie gave me at Shaniel's funeral is another love in my life. The small delicate purple flowers that bloom periodically remind me of Shaniel and her love for flowers. I feel her near. The plant is located in my sunroom and it is one of the first things I see every morning when I wake up. It makes me so happy.
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