Kate loves princess poses.
Jude did not want to be still so I could show how adorable he looks in the Peter Pan/Robin Hood hat.
But Gray did!
Building with blocks in his underpants. Classic.
I'm a little concerned about how often this pretty girl wants her picture taken.
We had a fairly quiet 4th of July. My sister-in-law came down with my niece in the afternoon, and we took the kids to the splash pad. My mom met us there so she could see her other grandchild.
Maggie isn't a big smiler. But she is still so pretty. Which is weird, considering she looks just like my brother.
I was going to go with Nate to the RSL game that night, but since I couldn't find a babysitter I let Colin take my place. He was so excited! Apparently his excitement faded as he had to sit and sit and sit forever during the game. Nate and Tia sent me these pictures.
Cleaning out the garage so my van would fit inside again. I tried to stick Jude in a box so he wouldn't crawl around on the disgusting floor. He didn't like it much. Kate tried to help.
Jude loves to swing. I'll stick him in there and command the other kids to keep him company and push him. Then I'll go work in the garden unencumbered.
I took the kids to the newly renovated Bean Museum at BYU. We had a blast. (This was one of the park day activities I had planned for my ward that no one else showed up to. 90% of the activities were just me and my kids. Almost all of the hikes and things I've posted were for park day.)
I asked the kids to pose like lions.
Colin loved reading about the different animals.
I don't know why he wanted to lay on the couch. Or why he thought he needed to hold up one finger to let me know that he is #1. He sure is a handsome little devil though.
Everyone piling in a chair together.
That hippo does not look happy. Neither does Colin.
They have this great tribute to President Boyd K. Packer in the museum. It includes a lot of his artwork and stuff.
This is like a little recreation of his living room, I guess?
I'm glad some of the aspects of the museum are the same. Like the luscious green carpet.
We finished up our activity by buying some BYU ice cream at the Creamery and taking it up to the temple to share with my mom. She was still working days during shut down. If you look closely you can see some construction people and pallets of bricks. We walked over and some nice construction workers let the kids get right up close and see how they were replacing the broken bricks by the fountains.
Headband? Check. Gun? Check. Lightsaber? Check. Swim shorts? Check. Grappling hook? Check. Homemade Lego blaster? Check. Slippers? Check. Looks like he's ready to go.
Kate looks like a hippie when she styles herself.
This is Gray and his baby doll. The doll's name was Frederick when this picture was taken, but I'm not sure what Gray is calling him now. Gray takes very good care of him. It melts my heart to watch him.
I don't know why, but this pose cracks me up.
Another park day, another hike with my kids. Back to the Grotto!
My brother Seth came with us this time so we could have a friend.
Since it was mid-July the weather was a lot warmer and the kids had fun playing in the water. There was a lot less water than the last time we were there. And there were a lot of other people hanging out.
Kate did a week-long ballet camp at a neighbor's house. She loved it! I'm excited for her to take ballet this fall with this same neighbor. So is Kate. I only have this one picture, because the rest of the time I was taking video.
Working on the boys' room upstairs. Patching the walls and getting ready to paint.
My children are much better at Legos than I am. They are so inventive.
24th of July! This is one of my favorite holidays. I love going to the Mapleton parade. It's short, it's close to home, and the kids get a bunch of candy. Win, win, win. Nate did not join us for the parade. He stayed home and worked. We saved places for Granny and Hannah who met us there. And a couple of my neighbors happened by and sat next to us. I didn't take the kids to the funtivities at the park. Jude needed a nap and I needed to not deal with 4 kids by myself at the park. Maybe next year.
The day started out a little windy and cloudy. This is Kate trying to keep the blanket from flying away.
Jude trying to escape his stroller.
The Mapleton Stake Presidency had these sweet couches mounted on like wheelchair bases. Awesome.
A really cool temple float. At first I thought it was PVC pipe, but I'm pretty sure it was metal welded together.
Everything is awesome! A Lego Movie float. That teenager next to us was really rocking out to the music.
Li'l Sebastian! Just kidding. But the kids did like seeing the mini horse.
Pouting Kate.
Colin photobomb.
Painted the ceiling and walls in the little boys' room.
A Colin Lego Original. I believe it was some kind of space ship. Or perhaps a roller coaster.
Nate and I went to the RSL game on the 24th. We didn't go with the rest of the Silveys though. We weren't going to go, and then he got free tickets from work, so we decided to suck it up and go. :) The pictures were taken with my phone, so they kind of suck, but the seats were amazing. Seventh row from the field and like the 20 yard line. (I know, but my brain thinks in football terms.)
Here's the team warming up.
Not a great picture. I didn't get my hair did before we left. Nate isn't wearing the RSL shirt Scott Hiatt gifted him because it was Pioneer Day and Nate figured that his "You have died of dysentery" shirt was more appropriate for the occasion.
Beckerman!
Li'l Plata.
Celebration after a goal by Garcia.
Another Lego masterpiece.
The boys' room being put back together. All of the bedrooms (except the master) are the same shade of gray. I figured it would just be easier that way. They playroom has bright colors for decoration, the little boys' room has red and navy blue, and the big kids' room downstairs has yellow and green.
Gray loves overalls.
Hippie Kate. The shirt and backpack purse are courtesy of Aunt Hannah.
Painting with friends.
Our garden! This is how it looked at the end of July. Gray is my best garden helper.
One of four giant pumpkins!
One of two of the cutest little watermelons you've ever seen.
We have grapes growing! This is one of the few fruits we've planted that we haven't killed immediately!
Jude loves to play peek-a-boo. For the past several weeks he will hide himself if you say, "Where's Jude?" He loves to hide behind his washcloths. Sometimes he even covers his eyes.
Some signs for the little boys' room. I already had the stop sign from years ago.
I saw this at Hobby Lobby and couldn't pass it up. I told my sister Heather that I expected her to abide by the posted rules. (She said that she transcends walls so the point is moot. We shall see.)
And that was July. August still to come!
