The kids had lots of fun playing with all the bubbles and other little toys grandma got out for them. They also really enjoyed all of the snacks aunt Katrina kept giving them. (Why have an aunt if she's not going to buy your love with food, right?)
Side note: Joy has been having issues with her oxygen levels recently. She is now on oxygen all the time, so there's a long line of tubing that follows her all throughout the house and she has a cannula in her nose. We talked to the kids about this before hand and said that if they had any questions they could ask grandma and she'd be happy to answer. The kids couldn't have cared less. Seriously, it's like it wasn't even there. Kids are great like that.
That afternoon we took the kids to a new splashpad in Highland. They had fun splashing and chasing and tattling on each other for no good reason. It was stinkin' hot, so even though the water was pretty cold they had a good time. Why no pictures of the splashpad? I was too busy gabbing it up with Katrina about life, the universe, and everything. When you only get to see your only sister in law every couple of years you have a lot of catching up to do!
After the kids were done Katrina treated us all to shaved ice. (Side note: what is with all the shaved ice places in Utah?! Seriously, there seemed to be a shaved ice shack on every corner. Almost as many shacks as Mormon churches. ;)
Kids + shaved ice = happy cuteness
We had thought about taking the kids to see a big fireworks show that night, but decided against it when we realized: 1) the closest show was in Mapleton, a good 20 minute drive, and 2) the kids were all grouchy and tired and jet lagged. (Okay, I know a 20 minute drive isn't that far. But when you factor in all the crowds and traffic, it was just more than we wanted to deal with. We're the world's meanest parents, I know.)
Fortunately, my Grandma Roper had given us a little package of fireworks the night before when we had dinner with her. (Thanks, Grandma!) So we set those off that evening. Yes, I know it's still light. But the kids were going crazy and it was either do this or lose our minds.
Wait - where's Grandma Susie and Grandpa ElRay in all of this? Glad you asked. Grandma Susie was away for the week at Girl's Camp, because she is a saint. (No, really. She is.) Grandpa ElRay was living it up in Switzerland on business. (It's a hard life he leads, isn't it?) Ever notice how whenever we visit Dad and Susie my dad has some sort of business trip? Now Susie's taking his lead and skipping town, too. (Just kidding, Susie!!) (It's fun to tease.)
So Uncle Kevin hosted us for that first week, which included putting on the fireworks show.
Of course the pack included sparklers. (Or, as I like to call them, "finger toasters".)
Even Tess got in on the action. Which is a little dangerous, because the child does not watch where she is walking. I don't even know why she had a dang sparkler... oh yeah, the screaming and the yelling and the tantrums.
We started to do some bigger ones (well, bigger than poppers and sparklers), so Tess found this little seat off to the side and sat safely there for the rest of the evening.
One of the my favorites: "Dueling Chickens". Why chickens would ever duel, I don't know. But I like the idea.
At one point all the kids were up on the hill and Kevin through some sort of bomb think and he threw wrong (so he claims) and it exploded right above their heads. It was hilarious because no one was hurt, just freaked out a little. (I don't know why, but uncles on each side of the family seem to have a death wish for my children. Especially when it comes to fireworks. Must be an uncle thing.)
Lance tried to blow up a car with a wayward bomb thingy, so that was fun.
We saved the biggest firework for the end, but it turned out to be a dud. So sad. So disappoint.
That night we introduced Kevin to "Adult Dinner". Meaning we fed the kids mac & cheese and put them to bed, and then got yummy food (Carl's Jr. in this instance) to eat at home in front of the TV. Welcome to adulthood, Kevin!
Addendum
My brother Kevin has made a few points of clarification:
"Excuse me, it was Lance who threw the firework that exploded right over your kids heads.
If you remember, I kept throwing the poppers too early and they always exploded seconds after hitting the ground. Well away from any of your children."
1 comment:
Excuse me, it was Lance who threw the firework that exploded right over your kids heads.
If you remember, I kept throwing the poppers too early and they always exploded seconds after hitting the ground. Well away from any of your children.
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