Las Vegas for the 4th of July...

Merril was on a Japanese tour that wrapped up in Las Vegas.  We met him down in Vegas and spent a few days on vacation.  

We're getting silly while Merril checks us into the Monte Carlo.

And played on the sescalato

Then we went swimming at the pool!

Wearing our 4th of July colors!

My sister, Jessica, let us come crash her 4th of July.  Her neighbors set off a ton of aerial fireworks.

We moved back more than once because a firework came too close.  

Jess and I were sitting on the green blanket with Mark and Mikayla when an aerial firework came spiraling towards us!  I felt my leg burning and tried to back up and out of the way, totally leaving my defenseless young children.  Jess was scrambling too.  I heard her say, "The kids!"  She told me she turned back around in time to see the firework explode in the faces of my 2 young kids and all she could see were their silhouettes, still sitting on the blanket.  We run back to them and start checking them all over for burns!  They are both untouched.  Amazingly, I was the only one who was burned, just below the knee!!

Mikayla's shirt had a chemical-looking scorch but her skin was normal.  I thought for sure Mark and Mikayla would have face burns.  The blanket they were sitting on had a huge hole burned into it where the firework exploded.  They were feet away from the hole and escaped unharmed.  

I don't feel like we were just lucky.  I feel we were protected.  I am grateful to the concourses of angels that kept my little children safe that night.

The next day, the kids and I went to M&M World while Merril caught some extra Zzzzzzs.  His tour was long and tiring.

Mikayla wandered off at M&M World so I was paged to the bottom floor to retrieve my missing daughter.  She was hanging with a very nice, grandmotherly, security guard.  She assured me that Mikayla was very brave and didn't seem scared at all.  The tour company paid for a night in the Luxor pyramid.  The elevators moved diagonally instead of straight up and down.  It was a weird sensation that I never got used to.

We don't need an amusement park, just escalators.  

Our last stop before heading home was the Hollywood Car Museum.  

Poor Merril was tired and ready to head back home.  We need to remember not to schedule a family vacation right at the end of a week-long tour.

4th of July weekend at the Laub Ranch...

Merril was coerced (offered extra money) into doing a Japanese tour over the 4th of July.  :(  The kids didn't want to miss all off the fun out at the Laub reunion at the ranch so we went without Merril.  

I think they just like playing in the pond.

They like to jump off this tree.

Mikayla wouldn't be left behind.  There is no fear in that little body.  I wouldn't even get in the water to catch her.  She jumped all by herself with a life vest.  She popped up gasping from the cold but smiling.

Julie did it too.

Mark and I watched from the shore.

It was good times.

Shaved ice and summer go together...

I.love.shaved.ice.  It reminds me of working at the Arts Festival in a booth with my family to make extra money for vacations.  Pina Colada and Lime is still my favorite flavor combination.  Snocone is a dirty word at our house.    

It seems like everyone else likes them too!!

Girl's Camp 2016...

After finishing up the painting project, it was time to send Maxine off to Girl's Camp.  She was super excited!

Merril was able to be a priesthood leader one of the nights and that always helps me feel a little better about sending away my girl.

And what's going on here?  Not really sure but everyone seemed to be having a good time!

Painting Juliet's room...

Before Juliet's birthday, Maxine came to me with the idea of painting Juliet's room.  *groan*  Juliet has wanted to repaint her room ever since Maxine's room got finished in the basement.  It's a brilliant idea but I was reluctant.  She talked me into it and I tried not to cringe as they picked out paint colors.  Why doesn't everyone like tan!!!??  Oh boy, here we go!

They're over-the-moon excited!  I'm just trying to bite my tongue.

 

They settled on turquoise and salmon pink.

But she loves it!

I hope to accept it over time.

Juliet's 9th birthday...

Juliet and her friend Lauren almost share the same birthday.  Valerie and I planned it out a long time ago to go see Finding Dory because it came out July 17th.  We were hoping to catch it in the VIP theatre but it didn't go in the VIP.  

 But first, let me back up.  Juliet started her morning opening presents!

Then after the movie, we decided to hit the pool!

Mikayla was sad so Mark stood beside her and put his arm around her.  So cute!

It was a perfect day and there was hardly anyone there.

After swimming, we picked up pizza and an ice cream cake and headed home to blow out candles.

Awesome day!

Angel's Landing Hike...

Darryl and Shauna Zitting invited us to hike Angel's Landing with them and their kids.  Merril and I switched off carrying Mark in the back pack and also made him walk part of the way.  Mikayla walked the whole way up by herself!

Merril took the 3 older kids out to the chains to the point and I took the littles down.  Mikayla was not happy about it.

Coming down "Walter's Wiggles" switchbacks.

Mark wanted to ride and by now Mikayla was getting tired so she'd ask for a ride.  I'd switch out Mark and carry her in the back pack until it was too much.  Then they'd both walk.  A funny hiker even stopped me to take my picture carrying Mikayla.   

Refrigerator canyon.

Stopping for a rest.

It was a beautiful hike and I think the last time I hiked Angel's Landing, I didn't even have any kids.  It was fun and a great workout!

Loving the swoopy eyes and a project...

I'm in love with swooping my eyeliner way out lately!  I think it makes my elf eyes look even more elfish.  :)

This crummy picture is displaying my new sock clothes line in the laundry room.  It's my new system to store unmatched socks until it's mate comes through the wash.  I've been thinking about it forever and it was so easy!  Just some twine and some 3M removable hooks.  Thumbs up!