Parties and Play

The month of July was lovely.

And busy. 

I once had ideas of filling all the extra time I'd be bound to have (due to the long length of our stay) completing projects with my mom--Christmas quilts, wedding photo book, cleaning out the boxes I have in storage...  However, the days had a way of filling up quickly.

We had parties to throw (a baby shower, a baby blessing, a cousin's wedding in the yard), which meant we had shopping, baking, fondant rolling and decorating to do.

Emilie & Brisbane's baby shower--a small and fancy gathering.  It's so much fun to have the shower after the baby is here!  We got to pass her around the whole evening. 

Claire checking out her newest cousin

Sweet, beautiful baby

Weddings in my parents' yard are always amazing and beautiful, but so much work goes into it.  Clark helped my mom roll the fondant for the wedding cake.  The day of the wedding we set up chairs and tables, decorated, and made boutonnieres and corsages.  It's always great to see the event come together and to spend time with family.

The head table

I didn't do any of the work that made this gorgeous view...

The wedding dinner

Aunt Beth & Emmett

Cutest guest at the party

When we were planning, pulling off or cleaning up a party, we stayed busy with other things.  Stephen spent a day or two in the hospital with viral meningitis which was pretty miserable and caused some worry, but it also meant we got to spend extra time with Claire Bear who had to put up with us since her mom wasn't around.  :)  We love spending time with little cousins. 

Sharing the animals and giving hugs

Curious about such a tiny thing

Baby Brisbane

Proud Pop Pop with 3 of 5 grand kids on his birthday

We also had lots of fun things to do with family members.  Emmett had a ball at the pool (Riverside and the new Provo Rec Center).  You better believe we took him down the water slides.  He was a little nervous at the top and maybe for the first 5-10 seconds of the slide, but by the time we got to the bottom he was saying "Again?"

This boy is lucky to have such a fabulous aunt.

Water play was also a hit at the Riverwoods fountains, the Springville splash pad (fun times with the Rammells) and in the front yard sprinklers.  Made me ache for a yard for this boy to play in.  

 Sheer joy

Spending so much time outdoors was one of my very favorite parts of being in Utah.  We took advantage of the great non-humid air and the beautiful mountains and we took lots of time to play in the yard (especially the tree house and trampoline).  Vaughn, Margaret, Lucy, Emmett and I enjoyed walks up the Provo Canyon near Bridal Veil Falls.  Emmett also enjoyed the extra play time he got with Khalil, who stayed the summer with Grandma and Grandpa Schmutz.

Playhouse peek-a-boo

Emmett's jumping skills improved immensely during the course of our stay.

Bridal Veil Falls

He was so proud that he could use this water fountain on his own.

  Cousin time

Croc tan.  The result of lots of outdoor play.

There were a couple of nights that we (Mom and Dad included) had to reward ourselves for jobs well done by walking down to Will's Pit Stop.  Nothing like throwback drinks (Orange Bang and Peach Ole) to take the stress away.

We managed to sneak in one girls outing for pedicures and lunch at La Jolla Groves.  The food was phenomenal.  Every single bite.  We politely devoured the three entrees we shared and enjoyed divine hot chocolate for dessert.  Such a fun outing.  It was also monumental that mom got RED nail polish on her toes.  Seriously, it was a big deal.  :)