Holiday's and Traveling

 Activities

This summer has been full of fun things for us, including going swimming at a friend's neighborhood pool with a play group. I've started hiding the things we do every day that are fun, because it's exciting to surprise them and see them get extra excited. They had their first time trying skating this past week when they went to a birthday party, and now they really want some of their own. I said if they kept trying and they were able to skate on their own without the little helper things, that they could get their own, so they worked hard! I was very impressed, and since they did better with blades than the skates, we have ordered some for them now. I most enjoy how Adrian learned to play at the park when we go to eat lunch every day. I bring his camp chair with the attachable plate so he stays put until we all eat, then he is used to running around while I follow, finding things he wants to do.

Independence Day

We had a full day of fun this 4th of July with a parade in the morning, a neighborhood BBQ, and fireworks with friends. There were more things to do because our town really celebrates that we could do in the future, but we were already exhausted after the day we had. This year, we chose to sit at the beginning of the parade, and it even started with an overcast, so it was cool until the sun came out. They handed out candy, necklaces, toys, and the frisbee I used as a fan during the second half of the parade. Adrian wasn't old enough to stand on the line, so he hung back in the stroller with Daddy, and I brought him a few treats every once in a while. Claire and Shay enjoyed the mini horses and seeing some people they knew in the parade, as well as all the candy. I loved that they shared candy with the people around them when it was thrown just in front of them. The BBQ had a blow-up obstacle course that was fun until some older kids started just sitting inside, and there were some arguments. Adrian played in the little blow-up water pad until we got to go to our friends' house. It is nice that other people buy fireworks, and we can just watch! I thought Adrian was getting tired, so we came home, and two different neighbors right in front of us had a ton of fireworks we got to watch. He was so tired but excited that he stayed up until 10 without freaking out, and then slept in really late the next morning.

 Activities

This summer has been full of fun things for us, including going swimming at a friend's neighborhood pool with a play group. I've started hiding the things we do every day that are fun, because it's exciting to surprise them and see them get extra excited. They had their first time trying skating this past week when they went to a birthday party, and now they really want some of their own. I said if they kept trying and they were able to skate on their own without the little helper things, that they could get their own, so they worked hard! I was very impressed, and since they did better with blades than the skates, we have ordered some for them now. I most enjoy how Adrian learned to play at the park when we go to eat lunch every day. I bring his camp chair with the attachable plate so he stays put until we all eat, then he is used to running around while I follow, finding things he wants to do.

Travel

A sad occasion has brought a lot of family together this weekend in Blackfoot. Great Grandpa Bell passed away, and the funeral is on Monday. Only a few family members weren't able to make it here for the weekend, and they were missed. But the Bell house is full, so our little family stayed in Grandma and Grandpa Bell's camping trailer. The backyard has been full of cousins having fun on the zipline, trampoline, swings, and treehouse. Adrian has found his groove, too, and only got upset a few times when I would leave him behind with all these strangers. It worries me for next month when he is going to nursery, but I'm sure things will go good because he is always so happy and playful (as long as they give him snacks). Feeding everyone for Sunday Dinner was the most stressful because it felt like even when we counted and planned, we were worried there wouldn't be enough food.