Crazy Weather Aug 2014

This place has been having some crazy weather, although I guess that is its MO.  Today it was raining a torrential downpour, but the weird part was it was super sunny.  One side of our house was soaked and the other side dry as can be.  I find it so interesting that the weather here has absolute lines.  It can be a blizzard, or a downpour and not 10 feet away its completely calm.  The phenomenon astounds me.

Classic Skating Aug 2014

For the end of the summer I decided to use up all those coupons and freebies that the kids received throughout the school year.  We would do lunch and not have to pay a cent. It was my way of stretching that every thin dollar while still getting to do fun stuff.  One coupon we had was for classic skating in Orem.  This Classic is cleaner than the Sandy one but they don't have as many fun things there, but I can't complain we got in for free.  We took quite a few spins on the rink with our scooters and roller blades.  This is a fact that I love about Classic, you can bring your own wheels!  They also have a few bounce house type things.  I had a great time in this one in particular  that I stuck Peter in.  He thought it was so funny until I pretended to walk away. It was a great to play like a kid and a great way to spend an afternoon that was too hot to play outside.

All these boys July 2014

Just another day at Grandma's when these boys all worked together to play.  It is such a wonderful sight to see.  I just had to sneak a picture.  This sin't even all of them.  Man we have a lot of boys in this family, but I love them all

last Yuba lake day of the year Aug 2014

Our last official Yuba Lake day for the year.  We got up early to head down and get a spot.  It was pretty crowded on the shore but we found a place to squeeze in.  We noticed a lot of the boats were out of the water curious we talked to the people next to us who happened to be camping.  The said a huge storm came up the day before and people rushed to get their boats out of the water.  Large waves appeared and sunk 2 boats as they were trying to drive them to the launch ramp.  The would have been better off anchoring their boat and waiting out the storm.  Sounds like a life lesson in there somewhere.  Sometimes when the waters are too rough it might be best to just anchor down and wait it out.

We waited for quite some time for the rest of our crew to arrive.  It was kind of nice to just sit and relax on the shore while our kids played and not have to worry about people needing something.  We did decide though that next time we draw straws and whoever gets the short straw has to go early to get the spot.  Why is it the people with the toys always have to stake a spot?  Once people started showing up the party started.  I had a great day on the lake.  I am getting better at taking initiative and if I want to take the wave runner out by myself I just do it.  I know that sound selfish but sometimes I have a hard time being selfish and then I miss out myself.  So I am trying to find that happy medium.  As for my wave runner skills they are getting better and better.  I can get some good air almost every time now.  Its all about the math actually, you have to know how fast and where to hit the wave just right for maximum effect.  I even got the wave runner to do a full vertical for about 10 feet.  That is where the wave runner looks like its walking upright on the wave.  I was pretty proud of myself. Now if only I could master the submarine.
The weather cooperated so that is always nice and no one got hurt so win win.  Everyone love this silly blue floatie I bought at the end of the year clearence for Scott.  Ironically he has never tried it out but everyone else has a great time in it.  We swam, rode, paddle boarded, built sand waterfalls, ate, and didn't get sunburned so it was a perfect way to spend the last lake day of the year.

July 4th Fireworks 2014

During the fourth of July my sweet niece got severely burnt by a rouge firework.  She was innocently watching the fireworks on her front lawn when one unexpectedly tipped over in its attempt to explode then shot right at her.  It shot up her skirt and exploded, causing the blanket she was on, her skirt, and her to catch on fire.  He quick thinking dad rushed to her aid ripped her skirt off and hosed her down but the damage was done.  She was sent to the burn unit to repair the damage.  It was traumatic for the whole family.  Thankfully this little one is a feisty girl and didn't let it get her down too bad.  She had weeks of therapy and re-wrapping of her bandages but because of her age and health she has healed wonderfully.

This brings us to the 24th of July.  Here in Utah that is a major holiday that included fireworks.  We invited them over for a little fire fun.  Both Lizzy and her Mom were still traumatized with their last experience with fireworks so they spent most of their time watching from inside the house.  The boys were unstoppable.  there is just something about boys and fire.  We tried to keep everything as safe a can be when working with fire.  I even had Amy come out and hold a sparkler telling her this was part of her therapy, she can't be afraid forever,  Its like getting back up on the horse.  She seemed okay with the sparkler and we even had some fun trying to create different designs.  

Foam Day July 2014

Another year of foam day has come upon us.  We were stoked because due to water restrictions it was cancelled last year.  I love doing this because it is something so unusual.  I don't think anywhere else in the world does this.  Our foam day was even featured in National Geographic Magazine. It started as a way to get rid of expired foam the fire fighters use, foam that wasn't good enough to put out fires but still safe to play in.  Goggles are a must because this stuff stings when it gets in your eyes but other than that its a blast!  The kids love to swim in the foam the adults love to slip-in-slide on it and everyone loves the sensation of the cool foam on a hot day. I secretly love to watch the firemen vindictively hose a kid down then attempt to look innocent.  They also have different vendors come out, there is a stage with a band so you can get your groove on and a handful of blow up slides, bounce houses, and obstacle courses that are all free.  They even have free watermelon.  A good thing about these slightly smaller towns.  I fear once this town grows more things like this will no longer be, or they will start charging for them.  SO for now we will enjoy it.  3 cheers for foam day.  Hip hip hooray, hip hip hooray, hip hip hooray!

Fiesta Birthday for Grandma Pool July 2014

My mom's birthday was nearing so we (My sisters Stephanie, Amy and I) decided to plan a surprise party.  Actually the party had been in the works for several months.  We wanted it to be that big huge party she has always wanted to throw, (not for herself but just to throw a big party).  We decided on a Mexican theme which tend to be a running joke whenever we came across a dilemma.  When worried about what would match or how things would go together we just said, "that's the great thing about a Mexican party, it like what the Mexicans would do."  We kept it a surprise from everyone until the week before the party when we had to invite everyone.  We used all sorts of ways to invite and that ended up biting us in the butt.  Just days after we included some other people, someone let the cat out of the bag.  I was a little mad but what could I do the secret was out and we had to move forward.  Scott couldn't understand why I was taking it so well, he said I should have been more mad but I have learned in my life that sometimes its just better to let it go because anger only creates more anger and hurt.  I could be the bigger person.  

For this party we reserved a park with a nice pavilion, we rented a bounce house, and the best part of all we got a Mariachi band.  Truly the Mariachi band was the hardest thing to come by.  I tried all over and couldn't find one with in my budget, at the eleventh hour we got one thanks to a friend of a friend of a friend.

My sister Stephanie used her magnificent talents to make a beautiful embroidered cake.  I am more and more impressed with each new cake she does.  I keep telling her to go into the cake business maybe someday she will listen to her wiser sister. We spent most of the day before cleaning and setting up so I wouldn't be "crazy party lady" on Scott's day off which was the day of the party.  We Wright women have this thing where hours before a party we turn crazy and start yelling at people and running around like chickens with our heads cut off.  Don't get me wrong we get a ton of stuff done during this time but we are crazy, then as soon as the party starts we flip the switch back to human and are pleasant organized hosts for our guests.

The bounce house was a great addition as it kept the little ones busy the whole evening. The food was a taco bar that was mighty tasty and when the band showed up we definitely had a party.  Some of the Reeves ward members were there and said "this is a family party?  Its way better than any Ward party we've ever had."  I took that as a good sign. Maybe in my next life I will be a party planner.  Its just so fun to come up with ideas and see them come to life.  The guest number wasn't as big as I really wanted but there was still plenty of people and I would do it all again even if it was just for 5 people. Happy Birthday MOM you deserve the best!