Summer Fun

We have kept very busy this summer.  Ella and I went boating (compliments of my sister, Sara and Jason).  I didn't get any good pictures.  Ella got up on the knee board and did great.  I was really proud of her.  I tried it out and lets just say.....Ella is better than me.  I did get up but not for long and my arms were sore for days.

We went camping at Palisade Lake State Park...near Manti.  It is one of our favorite places.  They have a lake for swimming, a playground, room for biking, golf, some hiking and lots of fun.  Our neighbors joined us and we had a great time.  It just happened that we left on Byron's birthday.  Happy Birthday Byron!  We celebrated the night before with some take out Buffalo Wings....one of Byron's favorite foods.  We stopped on our way to our campsite in Mt Pleasant at a local grocery store that has a great bakery....Terrel's...in it.  The eclairs are fantastic!!

Our neighbors joined us.  It was really fun....cast and all!

Ella and Raegan

Ella, Raegan and Ross

Only a daughter can get her Dad to join in some swimming...well it was hot too and that helped.

Then a downpour came and our friends needed a battery jump start so that we could go to have pizza.

Warm, dry and awaiting food that we didn't have to cook in the rain!  We returned and the night was cooler and all of our stuff was dry........thanks to that Spring Bar tent we bought over 20 years ago!....that was an excellent purchase.

We saw a local community theatre production of "Peter Pan".  It was very well done with flying and everthing that goes with it. 

Ella with "Tiger Lily".  Ella said she wants to be an Indian for Halloween......the next day she said she wants to be a ballerina.  We'll see....still months away.

I saw "Footloose" this summer as well.  It was excellent and so much fun to watch people I know too!

We also saw "Fiddler on the Roof".  Our friend, Layne, was Tevye.  He was excellent!!  We thought we had prepped Ella well enough.  We talked about the story and listened to the songs.  She really enjoyed the 1st half of the show.  We forgot about how the 2nd half would look to a 7 year old......third daughter leaving "the papa" without full reconciliation and then the family forced to leave their home.  Ella was sitting in between Byron and I.  Near the end I look over and there are great big tears just streaming down Ella's face and she has her arm wrapped around Byron's arm.  She whispers...."you didn't tell me it would be so sad".  I felt so bad.  I see the play ending with a lot of hope for a better future, but that is hard for a 7 year old to completly recognize.  Byron did a great job afterward talking her through the play with comparisons to other stories she has heard and experiences we have read about together.  There are lots of them from the scriptures, our country's past, and our religious history as well.  She felt better and has been singing the songs most every day ever since.  Let's hope her experience at the Utah Shakespeare Festival goes a bit smoother.

We've been to Seven Peaks a couple of times.  Ella has taken some more swimming lessons.

The best part about Pioneer Day is the Float Preview which is held every year at the Sandy Expo Center.  I love viewing the floats up close in an air conditioned environment.  You might even get a chance to listen to a marching band.  I still have hopes of one day actually attending the parade, but until my parade going sister is here from Texas......I'll just have to wait.

Ella's favorite was a music float.  They had a table of instruments that you could play.

I had 2 favorites....this is the one that actually got the people's choice award.  They gave out "I Spy" cards to find things on the float.

This was my other favorite....from Riverton!!  The ark went back and forth and the animals were very cool.  This one also had a "Seek and Find" activity to go along with it.  I highly recommend attending the Days of '47 Float Preview.

Pioneer Day itself was spent making Apricot Jelly, Jam and Syrup.  In the taste test, the syrup won by far!!  It is really good.  I also made Dill Pickles.  I have helped my Mom do them before, but this time she helped me.  My goal this year was to be able to make pickles independently and think I achieved it.  I recently found out that my Mom prefers store bought pickles.  All these years she has sacrificed her time and lots of energy for us.  Thanks so much Mom.....we don't like store bought pickles.  All in all we canned 108 jars that day with more canning to go!! 

Ella, my Dad and Darren juicing apricots.  This project is only to be done outside.....it is messy!

Grandpa asked Darren and Ella to pick some tomatoes.  They got distracted in the nearby mud puddle.  I'm not sure the tomatoes got picked, but they had fun!

Happy 4th of July

My brother, JR and his family came to Utah to visit over the 4th of July.  I love how well all of the cousins play together.  It was so much fun.

This holiday would not be complete without a picnic under the swing set at Grandma and Grandpa's.  I love the "berry" face, cantaloupe in one hand and grapes in the other, with watermelon in the background..........that is our Ella!

Brenner and Ella

My parents have a trumpet vine in their backyard and these two took lots of flowers off and made claws.  Ella wouldn't put them back on for a photo.  They really looked like real claws.

Avee and Ella ready for a day at the Lindon pool.  Thanks Aubree for this cute photo!

The cousin crew

A patriotic moment.....we are proud to be Americans.  We enjoyed a great fireworks show in Pleasant Grove.  Good times!

Better Late than Never.....1st Grade Ends

Since school will be starting in a couple of weeks, I thought I would finish with 1st grade.  I think I am the only mother who gets sentimental the first day of school and the last day of school.  I love Ella's age right now.  I am trying to treasure each innocent day because there are signs of that sweet innocence going somewhere else.

Prior to 1st grade ending, Ella had a field trip to the Living Planet Aquarium.  She was so excited!  I got to go along...bus ride and everything.  It was my first time visiting the Aquarium.  It was good.  I loved watching the penguins.  Ella says she loved it all....but not the touching exhibits.  We went to a park afterward for a picnic lunch and playtime.

Every 1st grader loves their first bus ride.  

Michael, Aniston and Ella

Ella, Gavin, Connor, Michael and Aniston

How long is an Anaconda?  5 first graders long.

I love how the classrooms are decorated with handmade art.

Elise and Ella

Ella and Mrs. Blackburn

Highlights of 1st Grade

Ella loves to ask questions about anything and everything.  Why...is one of her favorite words.

Ella mastered the monkey bars.

Ella's favorite school activities---Reading, Art and Recess

Ella's least favorite activity---Math

Ella brought home books about sharks, reptiles, bees and dinosaurs during the year.

Ella's favorite picture book this year--"The Empty Pot"

Ella can't choose a favorite chapter book---Rainbow Fairies, Boxcar Children, Magic Treehouse, Clementine, Junie B, Jigsaw Jones, Horrible Harry....and the list goes on and on!  I keep being reminded that reading will serve her well.  I hope so....she sure does a lot of it.

Walking field trip to a local park....it sure was a HOT day.

 

Ella's 1st grade class