"THE" 4th of July Party I've Been DYING to go to

When I was a weeee little Phrogbottom my family always gathered at Aunt Jack and Uncle Zella's (Yes, we always said their names backwards) pool for a 4th of July party. My Cousin Julie in recent years has been holding a pool party at her house that I have been DYING to go to. Shouldn't the 4th be spent splashing around with a mess of cousins? That is just what we did this year.

Here is a pic of my cute cousin Julie with her son Robert and my Aunt Zella (strangely enough, not the Aunt Zella that had the 4th of July party...oh ya did I mention my Grandma is named Zella too?). We had never been to Julie's house before. After walking through the front door, through the house, past the pool and onto the trampoline Superkid turned to Pops and said, "First a mansion, then a pool, now a trampoline! What! Does a king and queen live here?!" It is funny because my cousin Julie and her husband are the humblest people ever.


Here I am in little boy heaven. Tadpole is closest to me followed by Davis James, Nicholas, Hayden James, and Asher. I hadn't seen Nick and Davis in 3 years and getting acquainted with these little dudes made this the BEST ever 4th of July.
Convincing them to soak their uncles with their turbo kicks, only to have them dowsed by said uncles over and over was the funniest thing ever.

And They Did It In Bonnets

Grandpa Bob and Grandma Sandi took us to "This is the Place" State Park.
There were a lot of activities to please this crowd.
Including train rides...
And pony rides!!!
Lots of them!
It was also Cousin Izzipop's birthday, so it was and extra special day! Happy Big #5!
We made a little pilgrimage to Brigham Young's experimental farm. Still feeling a little ripped off that they don't serve a nice piece of apple pie on the veranda made from one of those 1 lb. apples old Brigham grew. I'm just saying it would be nice if they could back up the claim.
So we took the dessert matter into our own hands. Farr better ice cream that is. The girls had a "grandpa goatee" contest with their ice cream.
I reluctantly shared with this kid.
I went with the mint chocolate chip myself. I was shot through a time tunnel back to my Grandma Smith's house where we would go on Sunday night for cheese toast and a big bucket of mint chocolate chip Farr better ice cream. Nothing else would do, she was a Farr after all. And it is the best mint chocolate chip ever. It was nice to have a little refreshment...
This trip was also an excellent opportunity to introduce these little cowgirls to country dancing...
They were naturals... now when we see each other we greet with a little do-si-do...
And there was even more fun to be had. We panned for a little gold...
Mini train rides...
And a visit to the homestead. We stopped by to visit Grandmother Mary Fielding Smith and her little farm on the outskirts of the settlement. We thought Grandma should see that the fiercely independent, highly determined woman gene is going strong in the family.

It was also nice just to lean up against an old wooden fence and take it all in.
That wasn't for Little Chief. He just wanted to be IN everything. Including the pig pen.
It was an educational experience for all. Looking out over the valley Pops marveled, "Can you believe that when the pioneers got here there was only one tree in the valley? Now the whole valley is filled. Those pioneers were amazing!"
Abizella chimed in, "And they did it all in bonnets!"

They're Not Twins, But Their Dads Are!

I'm still trying to devise a plan to kidnap a little cousin or two so that I can have twins.
These little ladies were trying to fool us with their identities all evening.
They actually fooled even their mothers a few times.
Actually, instead of kidnapping Izzipop I think Abz is going to defect. After spending two nights at her cousin's house, Abizella simply refused to leave, even to go to Lagoon. When I found her playing in Izzi's room she just gave me the eye of defiance. She didn't say it, but I read it in her expression, "Don't even THINK about making me leave."
Since it was the 4th of July, we had a cookout (with so much food that we repeated it 2 more times), and slip and slide (in underwear... I'll spare the kids the embarrassment of posting those pics)...
...and MORE fireworks. Superkid was just DYING to light this tank.
The view was spectacular. Uncle Brian and Aunt Jenny look straight out the window onto the East wing of the capitol every day.
We loved having it as a back drop to our own fireworks display.
It was also a great place to watch the fireworks across the valley. Since aerial fireworks are now legal, the valley was bursting like a pan of popcorn.
We even overcame our fear of sparklers.

Fast Friends

It is always good to come to Utah where everyone you meet already loves you. We took a little Hello tour upon arrival and met up with cousin Davis James. Tad was a major fan.
Then we introduced Lil' Chief to Grandpa Bob and Grandma Sandi. What's not to love?
We especially enjoyed flying on a new member of their fleet.
Then it was off to Grandma Sherrie's to meet cousin Skeeter.
These two little dudes are quite the pair.
And FINALLY the moment arrived when Abizella and Izzipop were reunited. After enduring months of SKYPE reunions, it was good to be face-to-face. And faces were first on the docket. Makeovers for everyone!
Then Uncle Brian, Pops, Superkid and Tad put on a firework show that couldn't be beat! Let's just say that blowing things up came quite naturally to the boys.
Tad especially loved the get away.
Superkid found a grandstand and serenaded us with the National Anthem. It was memorable.
Aunt Jenny had the enviable delight of wrangling the bucking baby boys
Why can't every day be just like this?

Westward Ho!

Getting there is half the fun...
Thank heavens for Jet Blue and their children's rest areas. The kids ran themselves ragged in Boston and New York...
...making plane time bearable.
Even for this little wiggly wart...
It is nice traveling with self sufficient bigger toads who can get themselves through security and make themselves comfortable. Hallelujah! We are here.

Lunch Date

This posse of kiddos kidnapped me from work for a lunch date on the Common.
Pops had a business lunch, so the rest of us took a splash on the swan boats and visited our favorite ducks in the Public Garden.
I think it should be a weekly event from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Next time, FROG POND!

Dear God, This is Abizella, can you hear me?

In an attempt to ween Abizella from needing help with her nightly prayers, we had a discussion about how it is nice to first offer gratitude for blessings you've received and then politely ask for any blessings you would like. This was Abz's take on the conversation.

"I'm thankful for everything and everybody in the whole wide world except for Satan and Superkid."

"Please help my mom grow me a little sister."

Abz, I like the Sprite in you!