Documenting the Everyday

I was going through my pictures tonight and discovered this one from Sophie. Her caption is quite correct, he does love that show. Also, I need to do a better job keeping track of who has my phone.

Slick Turns

"Hey guys, check out my slick turns." -Topher, getting ready to show off his scooter skills.

Go Play Outside

Our Independence Day celebrations this year included:

• baking pies (two store bought, one mostly homemade)
• preparing sides for hamburgers and hot dogs
• lots of time in the kitchen for me
• lots of time in the backyard for the kids
• Topher applying his own sunscreen
• Topher running into the house to deposit his excess sunscreen on the palms of my hands

• pool time

• dinner in the backyard

• the biggest popsicles ever

• and drying off as the sun went down

We finished the day with a family movie, followed by that walk around the neighborhood that I wrote about yesterday, then pie right before bed. It was a long day, but a good one.

Happy Fireworks Day!

This post is made possible by the people in our neighborhood who set off gigantic fireworks. I'm thankful for them because all we had to do for an awesome show was take a leisurely stroll shortly after dark. It made for a great end to our July 4th activities.

Stay Cool

It was hot today. The temperature got up to 93 degrees. We still went to the park, when it was only in the mid-80s outside, and played. Everyone had a water bottle, but they were still tired and thirsty when we got home. Topher was so tired that all he wanted to do was lie on the floor and snuggle Peter. It couldn't be the couch or a chair, it had to be the floor. Maybe the floor felt extra cool on his hot skin? Whatever the reason, Peter obliged.

We quickly treated the multiple cases of overheating with popsicles. Everyone recovered nicely.

Like Magic

A brand new park just opened less than a mile from our house. We've gone two days in a row. The slides are big enough that Peter and Cooper can use them, which is awesome. The most magical thing about it? The kids spent the morning fighting with each other, then everyone played amazingly well together while at the park. The fighting started again when we got in the car to go home. A park that makes them get along? I think we might just go everyday.

Keep the Commandments

Bryan was in charge of Primary in our house last Sunday. At the conclusion he used the coloring page that came in the manual for that week. This is what it looks like:

Bryan gave Sophie and Topher instructions to color the hearts one color, the commandments another color, and the footsteps a third color, then he started working on lunch. After they'd been coloring for a little bit Topher let out a sigh of frustration and said, "Ugh! There are too many commandments! I'm tired of commandments!"

Oh boy.

Costuming

My Turn to be the Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything

Today is my 42nd birthday! We had our celebrations yesterday since we knew Bryan had to go into work today. I love Sunday birthdays, so I was happy to shift my Monday birthday to Sunday.

Here's part of my church view:

A fun birthday surprise was getting to see my brother Jordan and his family. They were on their way home from camping and realized they weren't too far from us. We said hello for a bit in the backyard before they got back on the road. I told them I counted seeing them as a birthday gift.

After church Bryan got to work on my birthday dinner. He made his delicious Panang curry.

Sophie asked if she could be the official gift opening photographer. She did a great job.

Topher was the birthday elf, which means he brought me each package or card to open. This cool popup card was Phoebe's creation.

Here's my sugar-free birthday cake. I've had to adjust what food I can eat recently for health reasons, including cutting out gluten and dairy. But I already had this cake mix in the pantry. I decided I would count this as my final (for the foreseeable future) gluten cake and eat it anyway.

That may have been a mistake. I spent most of last night throwing up. I'm not sure what the culprit was since everyone else seems to be healthy. I'm so glad that we did our birthday celebrating yesterday since I certainly have not been up to doing anything other than lie on the couch today.

I've loved getting birthday messages throughout the day from friends and family members. And the kids have all been helpful and kind while I've not felt well. Peter got up with Topher this morning so I could sleep and Cooper cooked the frozen waffles I'd gotten for the kids to enjoy on my birthday. (I had some gluten-free waffles in the freezer for myself that I'll have another day.) All the kids have taken turns watching Topher and Sophie, Cooper, and Phoebe are making dinner as I type this. Maybe that's been my biggest birthday gift, getting to see them be responsible and serve each other while I've been out of commission.

Summer Fun