Our June Summer

With Hayden out of school for the summer we have really tried to make the most of our time together. And if I even consider trying to be a boring mom, I have two boys whose first question for me each morning is, "What are we going to do fun today?" and as much as I'd like to say, "Nothing!" we all know they won't settle for that. We have kept busy with playdates, family get-togethers, and running errands. Hayden is still in t-ball and both he and Roman start swimming lessons at the end of July. Jeremiah is busy studying for the bar, which he takes in three weeks, and I have been busy with work, housecleaning, grocery shopping, cooking, entertaining....well, you get it. While most of our days are pretty laid back, we have done a few fun things in June.

Scottish Festival

Jeremiah LOVES the Scottish Festival, and he's not even Scottish! He just boasts that I am, and by marrying into Scottish blood, he can therefore pretend he's Scottish too. This was my second time going, and Jeremiah's third time. He looks forward to it all year. Men, women, and children show up in kilts, you hear bagpipes all over, and yes, they even offer haggis at the food court.

So they had Scottish games in a sand pit. All Roman had to hear was "sand" and he was out playing in it. I think the festival organizers expected such, though, because there were sand toys to play with. Hayden went for the actual games, trying to throw a wooden beam so that it landed parallel to a line drawn in the sand. He played several times and got pretty good.

The #1 reason Jeremiah attends the festival (no, it's not the haggis!)...the Wicked Tinkers! They're not my favorite (please don't tell him that) but they are fun to listen to. It's like a Scottish/Celtic type music that people like to dance to. And Jeremiah likes to buy their CDs (help me). Okay, okay, so while not entirely serious, I do like listening to them live.

What? Free face painting? Sign me up!

This particular shop has surnames and their coat of arms. For all nationalities, not just Scottish. We got one a few years ago with the Lafranca family coat of arms. For some reason, Hayden is afraid of it...geez, it's just a paper! But he refuses to nap/sleep in a room where the paper is hanging up.

There were several little parades that day, mostly playing bagpipes.

My favorite part of the festival? Hello, British chocolate! Yorkie bars are the best (and yes, it says "Not for girls" on it, which I totally ignore). And Flake bars bring me back to my visit to the UK. In London, anytime you buy an ice cream cone you get a Flake bar sticking out of it. Yum!

Going to the Park/Feeding the Ducks

So I wish I had a fenced-in backyard to send my kids out to play in, but since we don't, I find myself driving my kids and their bikes to different parks throughout the area. I love Nielsen's Grove Park in Provo. They have a fun playground for the kids, tons of room to run around, jogging paths, and a little pond with ducks.

Aubrey wanted her little stroller, but she never puts her babydolls in for a ride. Sometimes it's a Wii remote, sometimes it's a snack or a toy she is trying to hide from the boys. Today it's a water bottle and our bread for the ducks - she's so helpful!

Roman found a duck, he was so excited!

I found Roman feeding the ducks...water. From our water bottle. Aren't they surrounded by water!?

Who cares about ducks when you can steal your brother's bike?

Day at the Beach

In Utah? Yup! Christina introduced us to Spanish Fork Reservoir, a manmade lake and beach, meant for fishing and swimming. The boys were so excited to finally go to the "beach". Aubrey preferred sitting next to me on the beach and the boys loved the water.

My poster children for Cheez-Its.