Christmas in July

My in-laws, who are currently serving a mission in Cambodia, decided to give us Christmas in July this year.  They wanted all of my husband's siblings to spend some time together.  They paid for all of us to spend the weekend together at the Marriott Resort in Park City.

The weekend was spent swimming, riding the Alpine slide and roller coaster, roasting marshmallows, cooking out, and hanging out.  The cousins had a wonderful time with each other and loved the outdoor activities as well as the game room in the hotel.

Jackson

Isabel

Tyson & Tate

Tate

Annie

Austin

Sam & Dax

Dax

Pool area at resort

Dax

Dax, Annie, Austin, Tyson, Dane

Jackson & Cash

Olivia & Dax

Tate & Dane

Cousins watching the Olympics

Gettin' Crafty - The Fourth of July

I love love love the Fourth of July.  Hands down it is one of my favorite holidays (perhaps my favorite holiday).  I grew up with a father who taught me respect for our country with his service in scouting and his reverence he always showed the flag.  However, my patriotism increased as we spent time as a military family.  I truly learned that freedom is not free.  Having my husband serve two deployments of one year and another 15 month tour my respect for our heroes (our veterans) and those who gave their lives is profound.

OK back to the craft post; I got carried away with my love of the 4th of July explanation.  For the first craft I combined two different wreath ideas found at http://naptimecrafting.blogspot.com/2011/06/another-patriotic-wreath.html and at http://naptimecrafting.blogspot.com/2011/06/another-patriotic-wreath.html.

Second project came from the site http://poppiesatplay.blogspot.com/.  This was a quick fun craft to do with my silhouette.  I downloaded the free font American donuts for the 1776.

Finally, the picture of the wood flag made from a pallet.  I used wood fencing that blew down in my neighbors yard this fall in the big wind storm that came through our neighborhood. I cut the stars out of vinyl with my silhouette but may try a coat of modge podge on them to ensure they stick a little bit better.

Liv danced in the Kaysville parade with her dance studio.  Can I say the parade was miserable hot.  It felt like we were sitting in a furnace. It was a fun day followed by grilling and then lighting fireworks with neighbors.

Liv with her Dance Parade Outfit

Isabel used trick-or-treat bag for her candy

Bellar did her own make-up and picked out her clothes- she is rocking it!

Bellar's star hair for the 4th.

Father's Day

Father's Day for me the last three years has been bitter-sweet since my dad died.  I love being able to celebrate the gift of my father, father-in-law, grandparents, and the father of my children.  However, it makes me miss my own father and the blessing he was in my life and in the life of my children.  It was a good day to think back on a lot of fond memories of him.

My dad - Milton

My awesome Father!

My father-in-law who is setting a wonderful example for the girls as he is currently serving in Cambodia.

The girls love to make things for their dad.  Isabel made a decorative plate complete with pom-poms and pipe cleaners with the instructions "you cannot eat on it."  She also made dad a paper airplane with "To:  Dad.  From:  Isabel. Be safe in California." Dad is on his way to CA for a month for the military.  Olivia made her dad a card with coupons for dad to redeem (dance lessons, gymnastics lessons, game night, movie night, make puppy chow with daughter, date night with Liv etc.) Oh, the favorite was the t-shirt Isabel found with Darth Vader that reads, "Whose your daddy?"

Bellar and Dad - Dad Day June 2012

Isabel made her dad a plate with the instructions "Don't eat on it Dad"

"Whose your daddy" Darth Vader Shirt

Liv bought her dad a book because she wants to have a reading contest this summer.

Reading card from me.

Creative I was this year, I gave him hard cold cash to use for something bike related.  Heaven knows my purchase would not be EXACTLY what he wanted and would only be returned So pretty much, I have a great guy as a husband!

Wedding to be continued.....

Part two of my niece's wedding pictures (only because the pictures weren't uploaded for volume one).  Wedding luncheon was held at Maddox restaurant....DELICIOUS is about all that can be said.  The reception was held in my brother's back yard and I must say the weather was beautiful for the evening.

The Beautiful Bride

Joe, Stephen, Mike, Kelci

Dad & Bellar

My Liv

Bellar with Grandma & Aunt Maryann

        Tears, tears, tears those are the only words for the gift Ashley gave my mother.  Let me go back in time for a moment.  At my father's funeral, the grand kids made duct tape roses with grabber screws as the stems.  My dad always said he could fix anything with duct tape and grabber screws.  In Ashley's bouquet she had placed a white duct tape rose and in Grandma's a duct tape rose as well. 

And finally for the snail and turtle.  These were two lawn ornaments that Ashley did NOT want in the yard at her reception.  Neil and I were given the responsibility to place the said lawn ornaments through out the reception to make sure Ashley knew they had attended the festivities.....we had fun!

Ashley found the turtle on the car!

Helping pass out refreshments

Her brother Nathan modeling the snail

Among the roses

Eating frosting

She had NO clue he was up there.

Turtle shrink wrapped onto their car.

My favorite place at the reception for the snail

Beautiful addition to the daisies

Honorary brides maids

Sitting in line

Watching wedding video

Guarding the gifts

 

 

Joe & Nathan with snail

One last picture!  I decided to try the freezer paper stencil technique with my silhouette machine.  I needed a project to experiment with and came up with this t-shirt for my niece....all in fun all in fun!