Saying Bye Ya'll

I so enjoyed having my sister Tammy and her beautiful family here during the first part of July. I miss the "real life, face time-in the same room" with her. It isn't quite the same on the phone or even webcam (although, thank heavens for both.)

The night before they left and the morning of the departure, I put these t-shirts together for them. (Yes, I know NOW that I spelled Oquirrh wrong---it just makes them more special.) Anyway it was a quick list of the things they did on their trip. I hoped it would be a fun little reminder for her kids.

Speaking of two of those kids, Jeff and Nate---Josh misses you guys very much!

4-wheelin' Fun

We traveled to Grandpa and Colby's property to go four-wheelin' as a family. We had four ATV's so most everyone was able to have time riding around. It was great and the views were so pretty when we got higher up on the summit. Here is Josie, Emmie, and Ian ready to go!

I drove Josie and Alyssa to the top of the mountain. (Thanks again Jamie for the driving lessons last summer!) The girls loved it. Thanks uncles for driving Maddie and Josh around, too. Mike had to work that morning---missed you, Sweetie!

It is so nice to have somewhere to get away from the city. And it was so fun being with extended family (especially our Texas clan!!)

Up the Canyon with Cousins

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

At the Balloonfest

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Learning to Sew

I cannot sew well. I only took sewing in Jr. High. I can do a few things on our machine, but I really don't feel like I know enough to teach Maddie and Aly correctly. So, when a neighbor mentioned she wanted to start a 4-H group and focus on sewing first I jumped at the chance for Maddie and Aly to be involved.

These pics show the scripture bags they sewed and also the skirt that Aly sewed (I just haven't take a picture of Maddie's yet.) They also have sewn shorts. Alyssa wore her shorts on the Fourth of July. I am so glad they are getting great instruction from two sweet neighbor ladies!

MY Little Dancer

Josanna took her first dance classes in June. Jos just loved going and she danced for me on the last day of summer class. She mostly galloped around with a big smile, pointed her toes when asked and hit first position on cue. It was very cute. I am looking forward to taking her to classes again in the fall.

June's Bounty

We had a rainy cool June and our garden loved it. We had fresh spinach, beets, radishes, strawberries and peas.

I had everyone help with shelling peas. It was so nice to serve a bowl with dinner and to freeze some. These are Josh's and Mike's hands.

These red beauties were so sweet. We ate them in bowls at meals or in smoothies. I had enough to share with neighbors and to make this pie. My mom always made strawberry pies from her patch. I remember getting a slice of her pie in the hospital after Alyssa was born in June years ago. Good memories.