cinema verite

Sophie's first time to drive the ice cream truck. 

I heard about managing anxiety that it's important to remember that the safest place is the present. I guess that has to makes sense, since there you are and you're surviving. I feel bad about this constant feeling of survival mode that I've had for how long I can't say. Something close to panic. I am approaching finals week at school. Waiting anxiously to be able to find a job. Not too many months away. And hoping for the feeling that life has begun again to kick in at some point. Without writing that, its hard to write about much of anything. My children have been wonderfully supportive, but I feel like I've lost this summer when I compare it to all the adventures of the last one....but as Judy Collins sang "something's lost and something's gained. in living everyday.."  Do you know that song?  It was probably Joni Mitchell who wrote it.  So I'm really trying to do my best at school, because I know what I am sacrificing.  Next summer we'll have adventures again.

Enough of that rambling.  It took me a while to get used to my cell phone camera.  So here are some random pictures of the summer that I finally figured out how to get on to my computer.

Caitlin's last day as a "preschooler" in teacher Mindy's class.

A trip to Sonic.

Opening day at Seven Peaks..it was still cold so we had the place to ourselves.

Kyle coming home from sixth grade camp.

Grant's dream come true: McDonald's on the way home from school.

Sophie and car seat.

Sophie and car seat again.

Baseball in the evenings.

June 10, opening day of Super 8, long awaited at our house.  I can't wait to see that again at the dollar theatre.

Another cute picture of Sophie.

Sophie eating pizza.

Pizza.

Some cookies.

birthday at the zoo

Thursday July 6, the kids' Aunt Jocelyn and the cousins were visiting from New Mexico.  It was great to see them.  I've felt unprepared with the camera lately. Last summer I had one in my pocket at all times, now I'm down to the cell phone.  Thursday we tried Seven Peaks together. Got sent home with rain and lightening. We had hot dogs and ice cream at our house and the kids played in the swamp that had formed in our parking lot.  Probably not hygienic, but pure fun nonetheless.

 Jocelyn got a splash back pass, due to the rain closure, so we all returned on Friday.  Sam made me go down the Boomerang. I was terrified. A good way to study the bony landmarks on my inferior limbs since they were all bruised in my backward descent. It was fun to spend that time with Sam despite the black and blue coccyx.

Saturday morning was clinic hours.  In the afternoon we picked up Grandma Martha and drove up to Salt Lake City to the Hogle Zoo, her birthday request.  We haven't been there for months. Everyone was eager to see the Zoorasic Park exhibit.  William just stared and mumbled "Long Neck, Long Neck..."

Olivia peeking out of the bat cave.

Every one's favorite part is the train.

Bethany spotted dinosaurs in the clouds.

Ben and the girls made this diorama for Grandma.

Grandma Martha said it was the best birthday ever.  I was grateful that we were able to spend it with her.  It has been a long time since we have been together on her birthday.

independence

July Fourth.

Sam woke up early and left to hike up to the Y with a family from our ward. They were his Ma and Pa on the Pioneer Trek.

Grandad joined the rest of us for the parade.

 

I was grateful to have a visit from my good friend Alison from Beijing at lunchtime.

In the evening the kids and I drove to a town called Wallsburg between here and Heber where our hometeacher, who is also the boys' scout master, has a ranch.  He and his wife were hosting a Fourth of July party.

Our favorite dog was there.

 

This was were the boys went to scout camp too.  Sam got his canoeing merrit badge.  William was no less terrified.

The boys built this tower at camp too.

More smoke bombs.