It's like riding a bike?

I am married to a swimmer. If Kelly was reincarnated, he'd be a Marlin! I love that about him. He has been swimming since he was 5! He is fun to watch because he is a power house in the water! Butterfly is my favorite to watch! Well, Kelly is getting ready for his triathlon next weekend and has been busy training. He went on the Antelope Island night bike ride the other night and had a blast! He has been running with his friends at work and his friend John who is now training with him for his first tri. He has been swimming a couple days a week. He is doing great! I have never gone to watch the tri in Burley. I guess it's because I don't think the kids would enjoy standing around for 3 hours to see their dad. Maybe because it's BURLEY, ID-not my idea of a fun hang out or vacation stop. Well, to show my support I went to swim with Kel last night at the Rec Center. I was pretty nervous because it has literally been 15-20 years since I last swam laps! It is a little disconcerting to put your face into deep water and get the rhythm after so long but I made myself do it and it wasn't bad! At first I couldn't get my breathing down but after a few laps I got it. I know I have alot of practice ahead but it was nice and enjoyable and a GOOD WORKOUT! The best part was just being with Kelly. I love our "dates" where we do something active together. We love to play Squash together but don't do it near enough! Those are always our best dates and we feel good afterwords! So, I WILL go swimming again and I WILL go to Burley...one of these days, promise Kel!

If this is wrong, I don't want to be right!!!!

This tastes like Starbucks smells! The chocolate chunks are really dark and creamy! Jenna liturally licked the cup clean after I finished it!



Perfect combo of fruity and chocolaty! You must try! I like it better than a banana split!




When I am feeling ambitious I pull out the Cuisinart. I'm feeling ambitious! Strawberry is a family favorite!

I can't help myself. It's summer. And with summer comes ice cream. It's a must!!! I just do extra time on the treadmill to compensate, lots of extra time...It's got to be one of my favorite desserts! Here are my top three...don't drool!

art

" jelly fish" by Bailey


"indian man" by Sam

Bailey and Sam took their first summer session of art this week with Chris Jacobs. They were so proud of their work and had a wonderful experience! This was Sam's first art class and he thought it was really cool! I love their pictures! One of my favorite things about being a parent is seeing the excitement on my child's face when they are pleased with something that THEY have created! Art in particular is always a special way for children to express themselves. It is a little window into their minds and imagination. Even though Chris chooses their subject and demonstrates how to do it, each artist is different and comes up with something totally unique to them!

hooray, a parade!!!!

Hand over heart.

My Favorite Float!

Saturday morning never looked so fun! We skipped the chores and went straight to charming Farmington for their 4th of July bash! It started with a 5-10K and bike race, then breakfast then a parade!!! The kids were sooooo excited! I have to admit, I hate crowds, traffic jams, and trying to find a spot on the curb but we lucked out all around and it was well worth it! I have never been to a parade where they throw coloring/sticker books, Hannah Montana watches, stuffed animals, tiaras, basketballs etc.! They kids scored big time! They had pockets FULL of candy and each of them had at least two otter pops! We met the Plumleys for the parade which made it even more fun! I love how excited and festive everybody was! It was a perfect 4th celebration!!!! We will definitely be back next year!!!

la rouge tomate!

Finally! What we've all been waiting for, what we've all been watching for... every day-especially Jenna!!!!! A red tomato!!!!!! It is sad that this is such a big event for us. We really envy people with gardens. We wish we had a garden and not just a few planters of tomatoes but that is life. Usually I grow herbs too but not this year. Just tomatoes. Luckily my parents and my brother have wonderful gardens. My brother's is a "family" garden. If we do our part to contribute to it's care, we can partake of the harvest. So far we have enjoyed fresh picked lettuce from his garden and beets from my parents. But to step out in your own yard and grab a few zucchinis or cucumbers...I could live off of fresh garden produce! I did growing up and that's why I long to have one of my own. Not a big one. Just enough so that I don't have to can!!!! Maybe someday....we'll just dream until then!

A glimpse into the future

Today Bailey and her friend Mikkall had a play date-can I still call it a play date when they're this OLD??? Anyway, they were in that imaginary world of theirs down stairs when Bailey comes up the stairs in my bridal veil and her white baptism dress humming the wedding march and holding potted lavender. There was a whitish blanket draped down the stairs for white carpet and Mikkall was the groom? Was giving her away? Then Mikkall had on the veil and came waltzing down the stairs! I just had to smile! It's so fun being a girl their age-dreaming of their future...

A Lake, family, and red white and blue!

For the 4th, we spent 4 days lounging around at beautiful Bear Lake! Three of my sisters and their families joined us up at Kelly's mom's house for a fun filled, relaxing weekend! I was worried about weather issues but we had sunny days, blue skies, puffy clouds and lots of beach time! The thing I love about Bear Lake is the fact that the kids can spend all day in the sand and be happy. We don't even have to go to CA for that (which we plan on doing next month) and it's only two hours away! This was the first of many weekends to come up there and we are already looking forward to going back for a family reunion at the end of the month! Here are the highlights!!!

• Watching the kids, both big and tiny, playing non stop in the sand, finding shells and rocks, and digging waterways!

• Watching Andy take Brendon down in the cold lake water!

• Watching Kelly get into his wet suit for a mile swim in the lake! (Triathlon in 3 weeks!!!!)

• Eating milk shakes from town, a MUST! Finding a new flavor or two: mint, chocolate chip, Oreo, malt shake (Kelly's creation) and Snickers, marshmallow, malt (Em's creation). "Hometown Burgers and Shakes" makes the best shakes! (In case you are troubled by all the choices of shake joints there and can't decide!)

• Singing around the fire pit while roasting marshmallows, playing with sparklers, and watching fireworks go off over the lake.

• Movie marathon until 2:30 A.M.!!!

• Adult time-Scategories, talking, and lots of laughs!