July 7, 2010: Eight Years of Liking Each Other...and Produce

Eight years ago today, Dave picked me up at the airport late one night. I was flying back to Virginia after spending Independence Day in Utah. On the way home he said, "I like you, and I want to date you, but not exclusively, yet." I'm paraphrasing, but he had someone else in mind that he thought he should probably ask out before devoting himself to me heart and soul for eternity....To Be Continued.

Below is are updated pictures of my garden. It's too close to the house and I think the stucco is making things too hot. I should be growing jalapenos. Next year I am moving them to a better location. I have harvested some of the lettuce heads over the past few weeks, and now they are growing back again.

The onions will be ready soon I think.

Second round of strawberries

Lots o' basil, a big head of romaine, and kale galore. I put a leaf of kale in my smoothie every morning for extra whatever it is that kale has.

Green beans and more basil. I think we'll be having basil in something tonight for dinner.

Tomatoes are starting to grow, green beans, onions, romaine, and a bell pepper. And more kale.

This garden isn't doing as well, but has zukes and stuff in it. I think it actually has too much shade because it doesn't really get much sun until 10am and by 4pm it is in the shade again. Next year...

My early girl has one lonely tomato. This is compost, peat moss and vermiculite. It should be growing like crazy! I also have used miracle grow on it. Not sure what the deal is.

This tree has finally really taken off. It is supposed to ultimately be a shade tree for our patio and I think it might actually get there by next summer.

July 6, 2010: Ama and Papa GG

Since Dave had the day off, we decided to head up to Ogden to visit his grandparents. With all of the craziness that we have had the past six months, we hadn't had a chance to get up there. We left around 10:30 and arrived around 12:30 (after getting slightly lost). After having pizza for lunch, we headed over to the pool and took the kids swimming. It was a beautiful day, but the pool was crowded because it was a holiday. We sat and visited for a while afterward, while the kids played with matchbox cars.

They moved to a new condo a while ago and Dave's aunt and uncle decided to remodel the patio. It is absolutely beautiful! It's tree covered so there is a lot of shade, and we spent most of our time out there. Clara was much less shy than she has been in the past as well.

Ama and Papa GG, Dave, Josh and Clara

Papa GG and Josh

Ama GG and Clara

Ama GG and Josh

Papa GG and Clara

Clara and Josh playing by the countertop. They loved the swivel chairs.

Josh's Love Notes

Josh has started writing love notes - lots of them. I am the happy recipient of a lot of them. This one is the latest, greatest, and cutest.

"You are the cools Mom. I love you Mom you are nis to me. I love you you are cool. You snugl with me. I love you. You are the best mom in the intr wrld. Love, Josh"

I'm tellin' ya - I want to bottle this kid up and keep him little. With his reddish brown shaggy hair, his big blue eyes, his freckles, his crooked teeth. He is exactly the little boy that I hoped I would have and I couldn't love him more. Even when he drives me nuts.

July 4, 2010: Independence Day

It was a quiet Independence Day for me - I spent the day in bed with my leg up reading because the cellulitis kicked in. I took some antibiotics and put heat on it. Determined not to let it ruin our weekend plans, we headed down to Springville for First Sunday Dinner at my dad and step-mom's house. We grilled a variety of meat, had a variety of salad, fruit, chips, dips, homemade ice cream, etc. etc. It was a food fest! We ate outside on the deck, which was lovely.

Maggie, Sam and Ellen went swimming in the hot tub

We didn't let our kids swim, but they stood by the side and splashed and threw beach balls at their cousins' heads for fun.

That's Kacy in the background. She's a famous blogger. I like to name drop.

Georgia and Glenda - we love having Glenda around. She has been coming for the past few years and it has been wonderful spending time with her and getting to know her.

Believe it or not - it was cold outside (and I don't get cold) so Georgia went and got me a blanket. I loved this blanket. I want one.

I don't think we wear our kids out enough. I mean, it's only 10:30 pm and they were only up until 11:00 pm last night. Geez - life of the party these two. (And yes, that is the bathroom floor. They were supposed to be brushing their teeth, but didn't get that far.)

July 3, 2010: Independence Day Preview

Since I live in a state that celebrates all Sunday holidays the Saturday before, we decided to go ahead and join in the fun. I slept in a bit, and then went out to weed, where I was bit by a spider of some sort. As a rash spread throughout my lower leg, we realized that I would need to go to instacare to get a round of antibiotics. We were supposed to be at a baptism at 1pm in Bountiful, and it was noon. So my mom came and got the kids and took them with her, while Dave and I went to the hospital. After resting a bit, we drove up and met everyone at a park for a picnic. I didn't take a single picture of it. Sad. But, I repented when I got home. I had made Nat's sugar cookie dough the day before and stuck it in the fridge. I rolled it out and baked it and decorated a few cookies before all of the kids arrived to decorate the rest. I used a different frosting recipe because I haven't been able to master Nat's yet, but I added her super secret ingredient and so it tasted about the same and everyone raved so there you go.

All of the shapes cut out were stars and flags

Clara was anxious to get started. I had to tell her no less than 20 times to wait until her cousins arrived!

Jubilee when she finally got to eat one. This girl has a sweet tooth to rival mine.

The older kids played a game while the younger kids frosted. Then the older kids reaped the benefits and just ate them all.

Cute, Sassy G! Who looks a little bit like the brunette version of another G that I know.

These are all of the kids we had hanging out last night. 14 in all from 3 moms. And only 2 are mine. That's some serious reproducing, eh?

We started off with sparklers and then moved on to street fireworks.

Eric, Sean and Jack enjoying home made ice cream.

Clara just wanted to ride her scooter. She didn't care that much about the fireworks.

Josh - smack in the middle of all of the girls...again. He says that they take turns hitting him or kissing him.

Jack and Kristen getting kid snuggles

And, as always, I have to include a picture of Charlie!

After we finished the street fireworks, we headed over to the cemetery to watch the big ones that the city sets off in conjunction with their festival. We discovered this location a few years ago and while word has spread, it's still a great place to watch - even if it is a little spooky. We took care to sit in an area where there weren't headstones.

Believe it or not, it was actually chilly! Our high for the day was about 82 so by 10:00 pm it was down to about 60 and we all bundled up in coats and blankets.

Clara was about done for the day.

Sean couldn't stop talking about Tutti Fruitti ice cream all night. We hope he gets some soon.

July 2, 2010: Butterfingers

Today I woke up, watered the plants, got the kids breakfast, did some laundry, and then got a call from my mom that our friend had chopped the tips of three of his fingers off while mowing the lawn and she needed me to go get his fingertips from his yard and take them to the hospital.

Crickets.

Then I yelled, "Josh and Clara! GET IN THE CAR!"

Then we drove over to his house with a ziploc bag, I found the fingertips, and we headed for the hospital. Good thing they just built a new hospital down the road. Good thing I was trying to move so fast that I didn't take too much time to think about it. Good thing I have had enough gross experiences in my life. As my mom put it - I was more freaked out when Clara cut her hair all off than I was getting fingertips from his backyard.

On the way over I called Dave and told him what had happened. He left work right away to go to the hospital to be there to give Curtis a blessing. I also called my friend Rachel, because her husband works close by, and he ran over as well. They waited until Curtis's dad arrived. Dave said Curtis was cracking jokes non-stop about bringing finger foods from now on to parties. Shock will do that to you I guess.

They weren't able to save two of the fingers because the blood vessels were too small. They were able to save his pinkie finger. He stopped by and brought me a butterfinger as a thank you for bringing his fingertips to the hospital. I have a feeling that we will be cracking jokes about this for a long time to come. It could have been much worse, and fortunately he has a good sense of humor about it.

July 1, 2010: Swimming, Lunch, and Harry Potter

This morning I contacted a friend of mine in my ward about hanging out. We decided to meet at the clubhouse at her apartment complex to go swimming with the kids. I got some stuff done and headed over. The kids LOVED her pool, because it wasn't crowded and they could wear their floatie things and swim to their hearts' content. They are both red faced now. I got burnt in a very strange line on my thigh, which I can't figure out unless it was the sunscreen. Oh well. We had a great time and it was very relaxing.

After swimming I took a catnap, put the kids down for naps, and then got up and headed to Blue Lemon Bistro to meet my dad for lunch. We had a good visit and good food. I went home and started reading Harry Potter 7 again because I really read it in a rush last time and don't remember a dadgum thing about it. Since the new movie is coming out in November, I figure that gives me time to read it and then forget again. I also got some cleaning done and made some ice cream that didn't set up so I have to start over. Darn.

Tomorrow starts the Holiday Weekend - and next to Christmas, Independence Day is my favorite holiday. We've got lots of stuff planned - water games, a baptism, a picnic, fireworks, dinners, etc. etc. so I may not be blogging until Monday or Tuesday. Try not to miss me too much.