Backyard

We've lived in our house one month now (as of tomorrow) and are finally feeling settled in, mostly. We're still missing our couch, so the living room is empty. However, since it's summer, we've simply moved family time outside and are taking full advantage of having a backyard. Today we set up Max's pool in the backyard and then let him push his car around the walking paths. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the walking paths around our house. That, combined with our close proximity to the park, has been awesome this summer and will continue to be for years to come.

Old Ball Game

I, admittedly, am not that into sports. If there is a party involved, I'm good to go, but otherwise, eh. However, we have been going to minor league baseball games since I was a kid, and they are my favorite part of summer. Our team is called the Voyagers, and we went and saw them play for the third time this year tonight. So, we're not devoted fans, but we still go a few times a summer. Baseball games are fun for a few reasons:

• They make the world's best super nachos. And hot dogs. And dill pickle flavored sunflower seeds.
• It's funny to watch my sports addicted sister get into it. Way, way into it. Last week she was the bat girl and tonight she got to be the guest announcer for an inning. I swear she was switched at birth.
• Singing Take Me Out to the Ballgame during the 7th inning stretch fulfills my 1950s nostalgic itch.
• I get to log some good, quality family time.

We got a cute picture of Max with the mascot, Orbit, tonight, but it's stubbornly stuck on my cell phone. I'll have to get another one with Orbit and Max in his Voyagers shirt before the summer is out. I'm sure we'll be back- with the late start to summer this year, we have to squeeze in all the memories we can in a short amount of time. School will be here before we know it along with back to school sales and sweaters. Wait, maybe that doesn't sound so bad.

Summertime Slacker

Okay, to all my family that used to check our blog and stopped because I've been lazy, I'm trying to get back to doing it twice a week. Be patient. This has, without doubt, been the craziest month I can remember in a long time. Between projects on the house, family in town, and a dizzying array of playgroups, I've fallen a little behind on everything.

First, the yard is coming along great. Darreck took the chainsaw to almost everything in the front yard, then my dad helped him grind out the stumps- 27 stumps in all! We've also trimmed up all the bushes in the back and planted grass seed in all the bare spots. Now we're just waiting for the grass to grow and thinking up more things to do next year.

Our new ward has also been a fun adjustment this summer. We've met a lot of great people, and we've already been able to attend a potluck and enrichment. Good way to start. I've also been to playgroup, and we're going to a ward camp out next weekend.

As for Max, today is his 14 month birthday, and he's turned into quite the little character over the past year. His newest trick is folding his arms all by himself during prayers. It's way cute! He has also started referring to all animals as "kitty". Every Sunday he tries to sneak into nursery, and he loves being around people his size. He gets along great with almost everyone and is remarkably easy going. Also, he got his first little haircut today, compliments of my dad who said he "looked like a hippie" with hair over his ears. Whatever.

I promise to try and write more- keep checking!

Very Merry Un-Birthday

Yesterday we threw my dad a 49.5 surprise birthday party. It was a lot of fun, and we totally caught him off-guard. His mom was able to come up, and it was also a lot of fun to get to spend time with Grandma Hess.

The theme of the party was 1960s, and we had tie dye everything and awesome sixties music. Bellessas even brought a lava lamp for the occasion. Roger Call, a DJ from my family's ward, provided us with music and that was the highlight of the night for me. Music from my era sucks; my parents had it much better! There was also, of course, great food and wonderful company.

Dad's actual 50th birthday is in December, but this party was a very fun way to catch him off-guard and celebrate a wonderful man. So, to dad, Happy Unbirthday and enjoy your last 6 months of being young!

Our New Family Member

With the purchase of our new house, we were also able to adopt a cat, something we've wanted to do for quite awhile. Darreck and I both feel passionately about animal welfare and animal adoption. While we know we can't save them all, we were excited to save one from being put down at the animal shelter. We adopted a 2-1/2 year old, smoke point Siamese female cat and named her Santana.

Since she came from the shelter, she had an upper respiratory infection and enlarged larynx, so we're dealing with some health issues right now. However, she's adjusted nicely to our household, and we're happy to have her.

The Fourth of July

This year takes the cake for worst 4th of July ever. And that's really sad to say :(

Saturday the 3rd, we went to Ferguson's annual tank wars party, which was fun, but we missed the tanks because we had to get Max to bed. On the 4th, we went to our new ward for the very first time. That went well, but it's always nerve-wracking to put yourself in a new situation. After church, Darreck, Max, and I went to save seats at the parade so that we would have enough room when the rest of the family got out of church. I don't like parades in the first place (or fireworks for that matter) but this one was especially bad because it was freezing. Sixty degrees, overcast, and windy does not make for a fun parade. Then, to top it all off, my poor sister got sick and had to go home early. We still had our family dinner and watched the fireworks that night, but I'm holding out higher hopes for next year.

However, the day still did have its good parts. Max loved the parade because he got both a fudgesicle and a blue lollipop. Dinner was also very good, and the fireworks show was fun. At least it wasn't raining! Most importantly, we got to celebrate our country and our freedom, and that is way more important than the weather.

Our New Home

We finally got to close on our house on June 30th. This was the third time the closing got pushed back, but it was worth the wait in the end. After moving in, we immediately got to work and painted the ugly, 1970s paneling in the basement. I meant to take some before and afters, but I didn't unearth the camera for a week after the move. Our new project is the front yard, and it's going to take a few years. The poor yard was neglected for so long that, when we moved in, the grass was taller than Max and plants that were supposed to be shrubs were taller than me. The goal this year is to pull all the dead stuff and cut back all the overgrown stuff, and next year we can plant some new things. It's hard work, but it's making a huge difference already.

Spray Park and Luminaria Walk

Okay, so with the move and ensuing craziness, I'm a little behind on the blog. But, since this also acts as my photo journal that I make into a book, it's worth it to go back and touch on some things I missed.

First up, we had an awesome weekend June 24-26th. Friday Max and I met some friends at the spray park and had fun. It would have been more fun if the water wasn't freezing cold, but the kids didn't seem to mind.

On Saturday, the family went to the Luminaria Walk on the River's Edge Trail and really enjoyed the lights and nice night. The river is higher than it has been in 35 years, and the falls are spectacular. At least all this rain we've been getting is good for something. This is an event that they haven't done for the past few years, but it was very well attended and I hope they continue to bring it back.