It's summer, and I still love my children

 'Tis summer- the days are long, hot, and lazy. I think I'm starting to embrace it. This summer has been better than the last one. The kids have friends here now, so that's helping in many aspects of life.

We attempted night games, but too many kids came (because our kids invited everyone in the whole world), and it turned a little Lord of the Flies-ish. It ended badly, and we are still hanging our heads in shame. Maybe we'll try again. Meh.

Took the girls to the Dinosaur Museum while Anders and Nils were at scout camp. We haven't been here in years. I think it's so boring. I'm sure it's amazing if you care AT ALL about dinosaurs, but I really, really don't. The girls had fun. It's an excellent once-every-5-years event.

Classic Skating- all kinds of legit. I have so many memories here. These three are good little roller-skaters! I love it.

I'm a really messy painter. I am pretty good at painting, but I myself am a complete mess when I'm done. These orange scrubs are my painting clothes. I was helping a friend paint her basement, and warned her that I'm really messy. This picture was before I even started painting! I opened the bucket of paint and it splattered on my face. Oh man, CLASSIC KATRINA! Snort!

 I got one of those curling wands, because my hair isn't curly enough? No, I got it for the girls' hair. Being the genius I am, I wasn't looking, and grabbed the hot part instead of the handle. Oh daddy, that hurt for a long time.

Nils had the opportunity to attend our stake's "Priest Encampment". He told me the agenda and I said, "you know this is exactly girls camp, don't you?" It was an ultra-spiritual, highly detailed event for priest-aged boys, not at all like scout camp. Nils said it was very impressive and had a good time. He also came home wanting to buy land in Mt. Pleasant where it was held. Hilarious. 

Speaking of scout camp, Anders spent a week having a ball there. They went to Rock Canyon all the way in Provo! It was rather cushy- I think they ate more fast food than they did camping food. They did sleep in tents and go on a hike. They floated the Provo River and zip-lined. Pretty rough stuff. Nils spent a couple of days and a night, and told me that some of the boys were dry heaving and screaming on the hike. In their defense, it was 9 miles and pretty brutal (they got lost), but still. So funny (for me, because I wasn't there).

Anders has awesome leaders who have tons of patience. His loves his deacons quorum and had so much fun spending the week with them. I think they even earned some merit badges.

Top of Squaw Peak

Aani turned 9 on Father's Day and had a fun few days celebrating. She had some friends over for a movie and games, got to go to breakfast at Kneaders with Nils, where they both got free food- free french toast for dads, free pastry for birthdays! You know we loves our free stuff.

Birthday ice cream sandwich at Grandma's. Fancy! You can see my nephew, Stockton, blowing out the napkins that were on fire. We forgot matches...the stovetop burners were used to light the candle...it turned into a whole thing. Thanks, Stockton, for helping prevent Granny's house from burning down.

Last but not least, this massive beast was slithering around our yard. It's really not okay. We do live in the wilderness, but snakes should really try to respect our boundaries. Nils chopped its head off with a shovel, and it kept moving. Nope. Nopeity nope nope nope.

And that's all she wrote!