Really, Really Big Summer Wrap-Up

Well, summer has come to an end. It was fun and exhausting. It was a monumental summer, being the first in a new neighborhood and with a baby yard. We're looking forward to many more summers, with more friends, more memories, and better grass. 

Swimming in St. George, on our Southern Utah Tour 

The ol' yard- it's coming along. Just gotta figure out what to do with our 2,500 sq feet of hill. *crying face*

 We had cousins Xan and Tiago, from Georgia, come stay for a few days. We did a few things, like going to Neptune Park, Antelope Island and the Great Salt Lake, the Curiosity Museum, and Cowabunga Bay. We so cray cray! It was really fun having them here. We kinda like them.

Neptune Park

Review of Antelope Island and the Great Salt Lake: It's cool and beautiful. It's also gross. We decided that it was 65% cool/beautiful, and 35% gross. We've been wanting to go there for a long time, and I've read in the past that there are TONS of bugs. Well, it's true. They're called brine flies, and there are trillions and trillions of them that line the shores of the Great Salt Lake. They don't bite and aren't that bothersome once you get used to the fact that they'll land on all your stuff and will land on you if you're not moving. Also, you'll be a salt block after being in the lake. It's just part of the experience. I'd say it's worth going. It's so unique, and the view of the lake up close is really stunning.

Antelope Island sun-in-face picture 

Don't mind my finger. I struggle sometimes.

Why, you really DO float in the Great Salt Lake! Boy Howdy!

Oh man, check out this rif-raf! And again, don't mind the finger shadow. Sheesh.

 They have showers, which is really nice of them. Thanks, Antelope Island!

MomSalon:

Addie has a tradition (which started last school year) of cutting her hair short the day before school starts. She says she wants to be "unrecognizable" to her friends. MomSalon was open for business. I really don't know what I'm doing, I just basically copy the trained professionals at the salon, but I think it turned out pretty cute. Ava wanted hers cut, too. I cut hers really short a year ago, and she was sad about it all year. I tried to convince her not to cut it this time, but she was insistent. And now she's sad again. But I think she looks friggin' adorable.

Before

After

Before

After

I cut Anders' hair too, but didn't get a before picture of him. Not too shabby!

Throwing of the Meat:

My brother Greg sold his house with the balcony, so we had one last Throwing of the Meat to commemorate. I can't believe the kids still like this. He threw hot dogs and hamburgers at them this time, and it was decided that hamburgers are too gross and crumbly. Raw hot dogs are best, just in case you're considering trying this for yourselves. 

Don't fret- the Throwing of the Meat will continue from the rooftop of Uncle Greg and Aunt Amy's new house. Everything is going to be alright. 

We love summer.

Looking back at the dang Past

Uh-oh, I sense some poetic waxing and me being vulnerable coming up. Watch out, now.

Nils and I dug out our old journals a couple weeks ago and read through them. Nils' journal is seriously hysterical. He wrote in it regularly for a couple of years and filled every page with his 16 and 17 year old thoughts and feelings. I could barely breathe, I was laughing so hard. I've read it before, but it has been several years since we pulled it off the shelf. He talked about his daily routine of work, school, church stuff, and there was quite a bit in there about girls. Oh, teenage angst! It's hilarious now.

We were reading my journal, which I wrote in far less frequently- I wrote in it for about 8 years, but with a couple of years inbetween sometimes. Anyway, I said "dang" an awful lot. "That test was dang hard", or "it's dang annoying when she does that." I was so embarrassed that Nils was reading it. I don't know why- it had been eons since I'd looked at it, so it was pretty fresh for me, too. I didn't have time to pre-screen, haha. But he was a super good sport about me reading his, so I had to let him read mine, right?

Last night we were looking at old home videos that we've taken from the time our kids were babies. There was one in particular of when we brought Ava home from the hospital. The kids hadn't seen her yet, because it was when the swine flu thing was happening, so no children were allowed at the hospital. Aani was 2 1/2, Addie was almost 5, and Anders was almost 7. Anders was at school, so the video was just Aani and Addie meeting Ava for the first time. It is one of the most precious things I've ever seen. Ever. I can't stop thinking about it. Addie said in the video, "Too bad Anders isn't here to see how cute Ava is." She kept trying to give Ava her toys to play with. Aani was being unbelievably adorable, tilting her head and admiring Ava, saying, "oooooohhhh!!" I can't even stand it. I want to snatch them all out of the video and squeeze them, and then eat them for dessert.

I'm always ornery when Nils busts out the camera and tries to take pictures of me. He can take as many pictures of the kids as he likes, but I usually hate having my picture taken. I'm trying to be better about it now (kinda), but historically I've hated it. I pick myself apart and am ultra-critical, blah blah blah. My point in saying this: As current me- looking back at those images of myself from a few years ago- I didn't look too shabby. At the time, I thought I looked awful and wanted all pictures and video of myself deleted. Maybe my tummy was poking out, or my hair was wacky, or my back fat made an appearance. I'm always mortified about those things, and I know it's stupid, but there it is. Turns out I wasn't/I'm not as unphotogenic as I thought!

Anyway, I'm thankful to Nils for being persistent in taking video and pictures of our family, so we can have these memories. They are priceless. And I highly doubt that when our kids and grandkids are looking back at these photos and videos, they'll say, "Wow Mom/Grandma, looks like you were a little chunky then, eh?" And if they do, they weren't raised right and need a smack.

Write in your journals, kids! Record your life! It's easier than it ever has been, and no one will be sad that you did. And, let's all be a little kinder to ourselves. Easier said than done, I know, but it's worth shooting for, amiright?