July

July was full of fireworks, family and friends!

Sparkler's and Pop-It's were the favorites. I'm sure he'll get harder to please as he gets older, but for now the cheap and easy stuff works just fine!

This was the first year (out of the last 3) that Reed really noticed the fireworks. I don't know if it's a Utah thing (yay 24th of July!) or a fireworks-are-legal-here thing but the whole month of July from dusk 'til about 11 pm we would hear fireworks almost every night. At first the noise outside scared him, but we showed him some fireworks on youtube and he got really excited and was always wanting to go see them or do them. He was a little aprehensive of the at-home ones at first, but them couldn't get enough of them. We did some for the 4th and some for Brent's birthday and a few leftovers on 24th.

My mom came for a week and this is the only picture we have to prove it. Opps. I've been a major slacker in the picture taking department for the last few months. We had a great time with Oma fit lots of fun things in during the week she was here.

One of the things she helped me with was getting my last stained glass window up. I had to take it up to the stained glass window store because it needed loops and new zinc border to get it in hanging shape. That drive combined with a 2-year-old and an antique window didn't sound like a good idea. Now it's up and beautiful in the morning sun that comes into out kitchen. I love it!

We went to Cherry Hill with aunts and cousins. Cherry Hill is a small water park with miniature golfing, ball pen, climbing wall and batting cages, etc. Fun for kids. Brent was able to take a half day and meet us there later in the afternoon. Reed had a blast and after 8 hours there we practically had to drag him to the car!

Going around the lazy river (the only warm-ish water in the whole park) was his favorite.



Minature golfing - the idea was a little beyond Reed, but he had a great time putting the ball in the castle/windmills etc. and finding where they all came out.

He had an hour long nap and woke up rearing to go again!

We've enjoyed a few free outdoor concerts (part of the Twilight Concert Series) in Salt Lake over the last few weeks. Reed came with us the first time and there were lots of other kids there, but we left during the opening band because Reed was already done (missed the Decemberists). Last week Brent and I went on our first -yes FIRST- date since Reed was born. We went and saw Edward Sharpe and the Magnectic Zeros. It was really fun to get out just the two of us and eat an uninnterupted dinner and listen to music. It felt like back when we were just a couple and living in the bay area, enjoying the huge variety of local shows. But after a few hours of that we missed Reed and left the concert early to see how he was doing (it had been 4 hours and we've rarley left him for more than a few hours).

We capped off the month with a family BBQ and Reed was given a cousin's outgrown ride-on John Deer tractor and covered plastic sandbox. He loves them. The driving/steering thing will take a little work, but if we put him in the right spot on the lawn he can just go in circles and loves it! I love the sandbox because he'll be in there for at least an hour digging and building things and I can get so much done in the yard when he's entertained and can see me. Everybody's happy.

Happy Summer!