So many fun things happening around the Holt homestead this summer. I admit the first week that school let out I was filled with anguish thinking about the forthcoming 3 months. Well, we have one month left of summer vacation and I wonder where the time has gone...So here's the run-down, quite out of order, of everything we've been up to.
To celebrate the 4th of July we have always swam and spent the day barbecuing and such in my parents backyard. Well, with the move that wasn't an option this year. My parents were still planning on hosting a barbecue but Mat and I volunteered our backyard since it was a fairly nice day. Bailey and Mat had began the day with an 8 mile run and it was even somewhat cool out. Nevertheless the kids still wanted water so my dad brought over the "slip n' slide".
Basically a 20 x 40 foot piece of visquine. We ran two hoses and covered it in dish soap.
Eventually the sinkhole in the backyard helped pool the water enough to bring out the skimboards.
Peyton and cousins were happy to sit and play with blocks and barbies all day.
Of course the kiddos could barely wait for the sun to go down to begin lighting the fireworks. I'm not even sure they watch them. They LOVE lighting them though and if that's what they want, we just sit back and enjoy the show!
Bailey and her friend were finally able to make their sparkler heart. Peyton loved sparklers and lighting the bigger fireworks as well.
Although Bailey ALREADY had her present (her cruise) and wasn't supposed to have a party we couldn't resist. And by we I mean ME! I got it in my head that she needed a surprise party and immediately the theme, and decorations all popped into my head. Once the planning in my head starts there's nothing you can do but embrace it if you're Mat.
Aunt Amber made another beautiful cake for dear little Bailey. Seriously we are so lucky to have Amber in our family to make such cute cakes for us.
Chantry invited Bailey over to play for the day so that we could decorate and get ready for the party. We asked Bailey to be home at 7:30 to babysit and told her the boys were in the backyard. She was so embarrassed her eyes were literally filling with tears.
We played minute to win it, doge ball, and lover's leap. Had cake and began an outdoor movie. About 30 minutes into the movie we heard the thunder crackle that said we better move the party inside. We should've began clearing out then but sure enough a minute later we were all scrambling to get everything inside as well as all of the guests. All of Bailey's friends decided it would be more fun to get wet so then they all headed back outside while the torrents of rain came down.
Despite some efforts of clean up the night before the next morning the carnage that was left in the backyard was extensive. Overturned cake plates, spilled popcorn bags, and my precious tissue balls were all sopping wet and made the backyard look like a disaster had hit.
Of course what is summer without a trip to Pine Valley with the Nelson clan?
The usual picnic spot was under construction so we had to hike down to the water which was still ice cold from the snow runoff but we had a blast.
Peyton found a tractor and was quite miffed that there were no keys to be found for it. Apparently she was going to take her cousins for a ride like she does in her barbie car.
Mixed in with all of our summer fun Bailey got to attend her first girl's camp. Although she hadn't turned 12 yet she was able to go with our ward to Lake Powell! Lucky girl to spend her first week at girl's camp lounging around on houseboats and being towed on a tube and learning how to wakeboard!
One very fun part about summer was having so many cousins come to town to visit. We are very fortunate to have most of our family live close but in the past two weeks alone we've had visits from ALL of our cousins coming to play, swim, and laugh with us.
While Bailey was at girl's camp I had another one of my "great ideas" that Mat loves me so much for. I thought it would be fun to finish decorating Bailey's room for her. It took about 10 hours and money we really shouldn't have spent on her but it turned our DARLING! When she came home from camp she was so exhausted she could barely talk but she loved it!
Our summer still has many fun and exciting things to look forward to. With the Bryce Canyon half marathon this weekend, school shopping in Vegas, and a quick getaway planned to Park City, I'm afraid the next month will fly by far too fast.
No comments:
Post a Comment