A Midsummers Dream

And here we are, in the middle of Summer.  Actually, we started with 10 1/2 weeks of school free days and now we are down to 4.  Man, it is flying by!  We have been jam packing in the fun and I think the remaining weeks will be less exciting.  Ah well, thats a good way for the kids to be gung ho about going back to school.  The beginning of July, we went to our local pool with wonderful Shannon.  They have these awesome Aquaballs the kids would get in and try to run across the pool.  Mostly, they just fell and crawled.  Shannon is here with one had on Brenna and one hand guiding Katelee in her sphere.  

 

 I was watching Katelee and Grant try it out (and taking pictures), while chillin with this dude:

 

Yes, he does glow in the dark. 

 

Dave ended up having some 'business' in Wyoming, so he stopped at a firework shop up North and he and our neighbor put on quite the show. 

 

 

I was totally ready to run if I heard sirens.  Dave was on his own...maybe even the kids too! 

 

We had a bit of a let down in our fourth of July firework show because the park is being renovated.  We got a bogus tip on where to watch the display at the temporary location.  We Petricks aren't messing around with our love of pyrotechnics.  Here's to next year... but, we did have a great neighborhood pancake breakfast,  make an attempt at a star braid,

wear festive apparel

 

 

and eat patriotic food!

 

 

We had the demolition derby the next day and got our hillbilly on as we cheered on crashing cars! 

Dave had some work in St George, so I though it would be a great idea for us to go down and stay in the hotel with him, swim, go to the children's museum down there and have a mini getaway.  Turns out it was a terrible idea to Harrison.  He cried the entire way there and back (minus 15-20 min naps) and he now despises his carseat.  No good.  But, the non baby McArthur children had a royal time...



I got some awesome video of Katelee and Brenna performing Frozen songs for random strangers, they brought the house down! 

 

Later that week, Dave took Grant, Katelee and Brenna to Phoenix to visit Uncle Brian and Uncle Brent, Aunt Kimber, Max and Karly.  They spent two days on Brian's boat and playing with cousins. 

 

 Grant and Katelee both got up for a bit on the surf board and I was told Brenna has no fear in the water just like the other two!   No surprise there...

 The kids were in heaven with their awesome cousins.  Here are the soul sistas...

 and the infamous Max

 

They can't wait til we get to visit with them again. 

 

I enjoyed some one on one time with baby boy and loved having an empty sink.  Is it me or are there never ending dishes!!  I watched Shakespeare and ate artichoke pizza, you know, important things no one else would want to do around here.  Brenna came back with a new song she made up a few days later..."I love everyone in the world except you."  I almost choked on my water and I had to clarify.  So, I replied, "Brenna, do you mean you love everyone in the world ESPECIALLY me?"  She thought for a minute and sang again, but with a twist.  "I love everyone in the world BUT you."  Guess she really knew what she meant.  I would be offended, but practically the next day she told me  that she loves me so much and I am the best mom she has 'ever seen.'  She then said she was gonna keep me forever...awwww...it may or may not  have been because I just bought chocolate milk, but I will take it!

 

She is one for the dramatic pause, though.  We asked her to say the prayer over dinner and we all bowed our heads, closed our eyes and waited.  I peeked over at her after awhile and she smiled as she said, "Oh, did you want me to say that out loud?!" She is a tricky one. 

 

We started this week out with the float preview for the upcoming pioneer day celebration.  We are SO happy Devin and his family are in town!  The kids had some awesome face painting designs that day. 

 

And, Mr (you are a Wizard) Harry is 11 months today!!  He is super grumpy the last couple weeks...I think he is growing some teeth and doesn't enjoy that.  He loves to wave bye bye and has started taking steps.  He is a momma's boy and wants me to hold him all the day long, and most days I don't mind!  Love this little boy!

Playing Hard

 This summer has kicked off with a month just as we expected-lots of sun and fun and full of sibling disturbances.  For the sake of posterity, we will try to focus on the play!  We have played good and hard...literally for this little gal:

Katelee made her theatrical debut as an orphan (Betty) in a community production of Annie.  It was adorable!!  She loved every minute of it and has found her niche.  Never once did she complain about her late and lengthy rehearsals and she is already asking when she will be able to be a main character-yikes!  I have to teach her when you love theatre, you love being any part. 

 

 

All the orphans got to walk in a parade.  She is on the bottom right of the picture.  They sang as they marched-way to represent!  We all had fun watching her perform (well, except Brenna...she liked it for about 15 minutes, then I wrestled with her the remainder of the time.  Brenna did poke me and point up to the stage as she announced, "Mom, you dance like that lady."  She was pointing at Miss Hannigan, who was hilarious and slightly crude...yep, just my kind of gal!! It was a blast for Katelee!

 

 

The kids and I continued on our theatre month when we went to the production of Peter Pan with the Taylors.  It was a fantastic show!  We loved every minute of it, again, Brenna loved about 20 minutes of it before she started asking when it was over or when they would take HER to Neverland.  

 We have enjoyed the outdoors a bit this month.  Grant and Dave went on a Father/Son campout, we have gone to the waterslides, are hitting up the pool today, had swimming lessons and broke out the baby backpack for our first summer hike. 

 

 

We love the view from Ensign Peak. 

We had an awesome time at the hospital's health fair.  We look forward to it every year.  Here the kids are in the fire truck where Grant decided to share a story with the firefighter.  He told this community helper how his dad MADE him watch this show called 'Fear Factor.'  He asked the fireman if he had heard of it and the man, suppressing a smile said yea.  Grant continued on about how some people had to put on all this fire protection gear and go through a burning building.  Outraged, Grant said, "For 50,000 dollars!!  Can you believe it?! I would NEVER do that."  The firefighter taught us that is not a good idea and that money isn't everything! ;)

 

The boys in our family had a big month.  The runt turned 10 months!  He randomly stands but is hesitant to take any steps.  He sleeps through the night (Hallelujah!) and cut his first tooth!  Big boy right there. 

(Sissy boy in this outfit, says Dave)

We get to celebrate Dave in June with Father's Day and his birthday.  For his birthday, he and I had a most wonderful date night-dinner and the Arts Festival.  It was SO much fun!  We will plan on going to that next year and maybe even let our munchkins attend too!  We saw dancers, performers on stilts,

 

a jazz band, awesome visual art work, the Animals Inside Out Display, and had some really great people watching moments!

 

Here is the Father's Day breakfast in bed display....

For any of you unfamiliar with the white blob at the bottom, its a nice pile of grits!  I love Grant's face peeking through.  Grant had his first empty running away threat.  I found a backpack filled with granola bars, clothes and a sling shot and it gave me a clue.  After asking Grant about it, he was so afraid I found his goodbye note but he did show me the list he made of necessary items.  It included: clothes, money, food, water, knife, pocketknife, a note from his third grade teacher and a picture of Harrison.  Those are Grant's basic needs. 

So, on to month two of summer!!  We are loving late nights, sleeping in til 8 (yea, you are old when eight o'clock is a lazy luxury), and all the fun things to do!  The house is a constant mess, (not just because of moments like these:)

But, I can always clean in the fall, right?!