Summer stuff part 1

I've fallen behind and I'm not sure why.  I don't ever feel like I do much, but I never have time for stuff!  Let me rephrase that;  I spend so much time taking care of my kids and family that I put off doing my own personal things of interests and desires.  So here I am wrapping up summer stuff when it's nearly Christmas.  We are still adjusting to life here in AZ but some things are going really well.  There are several other boys EZ's age that live on our street.  One day after I walked him to the neighbors for some fun, I turned around to find Bruce feeling left out and finding his own way over.  He was bare foot in the house and knew he couldn't walk on the rocks without shoes.  So, he found his Dad's flip flops and attempted to join us because he felt left out.  It was too cute!  I'm just grateful he didn't make it that far (because it was difficult to walk in flip flops that are much too big for you) and that I noticed him before he walked into the street!

They opened a splash pad nearby so we checked it out.  It's pretty good, maybe too much sand.. but so nice to cool off on hot days!

 So, about a month after we moved, we took a trip back to Utah to visit!  Mostly because John had a sister visiting that he really wanted to see, who he hadn't seen in about 6 years.  So, we still didn't have jobs or anything keeping us put so we went back!  Here's some pics of us at the Aquarium. 

 

 

 

Notice Bruce with Bruce?  It was nice to go back for a visit, in some ways it felt like we hadn't even left!  Mostly because we had only been gone for 4 weeks! 

So I am loving the skies out here in AZ.  Maybe it's not having a wall of mountains that block the sky out here so I can see it more.  The clouds often look like the Toy Story clouds and so many colors in pretty patterns.  Every day I feel like Brendan Fraiser in Blast from the Past, "The Sky!"  Here's some cute EZ pics on the trampoline.  The kids are out there jumping several times a day.  It was too fun seeing the different poses captured when he jumped.  We had a good laugh!

We did the 4th of July up right.  Or, the way they do it in small farm country.  We went to the local rodeo.  It's like the biggest thing they do here every year.  It was super fun and the kids enjoyed it too. I can't imagine going every year though...  it sorta feels like to me that you go to one, you go to them all.  How many times must we watch people falling off bucking bulls or rounding up sheep or running the horses around barrels??  It was fun no doubt, but I think I'm good for another 20 years or so... haha! 

 

They do some good fireworks at the rodeo but of coarse we have to do sparklers and glow sticks at home.

We got a dog!  We adopted this male Australian cattle dog aka red healer from the Humane Society.  He's about 3 years old and just a sweetie.  He was already trained and still has never had one accident in the house.  He's smart and kind.  He let's the boys do pretty much anything to him and he just takes it, or sometimes growls/grumbles at them.  He's great and we love the addition to the family!  Oh, and his name is, Max.

We have to get creative when driving in the car.  There isn't much to keep your eyes entertained out the window..

 

 EZ found this old phone my parents have and he took it in the car to play with.  It's a legit phone.  I remember using it once or twice as a kid.  The sucker is heavy!  Oh and it's a rotary phone. 
There is one bowling alley and it's about 45 minutes away but we went and checked it out one night.  Always fun!  I wish we weren't so far away... we've only gone the one time. 

 EZ found some cool sunglasses and felt a pose was necessary.  He's really into posing for pictures lately, which means Bruce is too.

 

EZ took swim lessons for the 3rd time and loved it!  We try to hit the summer water fun as much as we can.  It's always better with friends too!

 

 24th of July parade!  It was pretty big.  Of coarse there were tractors after tractors but this was a new site for me.  On two legs?  With people sitting in the scoop part?  We learned that apparently that's a common thing here.  The kids are always just interested in the candy, which they should be!

 

 

 This shirt made me smile, always something we see a lot more of... I think it says, "this pony don't buck for FREE"

 

I don't remember what they ate exactly but most likely a sucker or Popsicle.  Okay that's good for today.  Hopefully I'll be able to finish up the rest of summer sooner than later, hopefully still this year!