Dark, rainy, rainbow

Nate and I were out on a date a few weeks ago when we noticed a giant rainbow arching across the night sky. It was so strange, because it was really getting quite dark and it seemed so ominous and murky outside. So, Nate snapped a few pictures while I drove. I have a bad habit of occasionally taking pictures while I am driving, so I am glad he was there. This is just on Main Street in Lehi around 8:45 p.m.. You can tell how cloudy it is because there are massive mountains in front of us that are clearly not visible. It was just nice to see a rainbow after all the rain we had been having. I don't remember it ever raining so much in June before.

Picnic in the Park

Nate had a wild hair and wanted to try and make some borscht. He pulled out his Russian cookbook and started trying to figure out and translate the recipe. I suggested we head to a farmers market to get some fresh ingredients. It always seems we are heading out to go somewhere just before lunch. Instead of going out, I threw some sandwiches together, put some stuff in a cooler and stashed it in the car.

Nate translated ingredients all the way there with hopes of finding them all at the market. However, when we got there, there wasn't as much produce as we had hoped and all we would have really been able to get is beets. So borscht is on the back burner right now. I think he is hoping to find a less complicated recipe, and I am hoping to find a farmers market overflowing with produce. I suspect there is more earlier in the morning.

But the day was not a bust. The kids love having picnics and were thrilled when they found out we would be having one. The blanket is one my mom made me when I graduated high school, and it has been used and loved so much, that it is starting to come apart. But it's really large and makes a perfect blanket to have in the car.

Nate tried to take a little nap after we ate, but he didn't have any luck with that (shocking, I know). So we headed out for a little dessert and then home for the day.

Suessical The Musical

Midvale City put on a production of Suessical the Musical the last few weeks in June. Since we were Midvale residents for four years, we happened to know a couple of people in the cast. We surprised the kids by going up and watching their friends perform. It was a cute little production and we had a lot of fun! The kids keeps singing about all the Thinks You Can Think!

The musical was performed outdoors. It was perfect, Sophie had a little room to wander and dance, and there were a lot of kids, so we didn't seem to be too disruptive. The evening wasn't too hot or too cold. It makes me want to hit more outdoor productions. I have really fond memories of going to Woodminster when I was little with my family. Something about being outside with all the lights and music is so fabulous.

Tree Of Life

The kids love it when we go down to BYU and take them around our old stomping grounds. A few weeks ago we met up with the Utah Valley Miskins for lunch in the Cougareat. Arriving early, the kids and I took a little tour around campus. They wanted me to take their picture with each statue, sculpture and display we came across. Particularly they loved playing hide-n-seek around the tree of life sculpture. Sophie thought it was great fun.

After lunch we went to the Erying Science Building with Roger and Cassie and the kids looked at all the fun displays. I don't even think I did that when I was there. Then we took a tour through the new Smith Family Living Center building, I think it has a new name, but I didn't catch it. In the building is a museum of education and the church. They had all sorts of replicas, old photos, and video displays.

I always get nostalgic when I go down to campus. I had so much fun going to school there and like to tell the kids about it. But it is always disheartening when the students look so young. I mean, I was just there!

Family Pictures

Check them out here. It was silly all the things we ran into. But I felt determined to get some done, we hadn't since Isabella was 6 months old. I really love Sanae's style and can't wait to see all of the rest. She was so patient with Sophie, who is not a big fan of looking at the camera. And it's nice to have some pictures of Nate and I, we haven't had any in almost a dozen years.

Another one bites the dust, or the roll

This afternoon Bella bit into a dinner roll and her tooth came halfway out. She actually had me take it out-minor miracle-the tooth has been loose for months. I honestly don't know how she managed to keep it in so long.

This is her third tooth lost. The bottom two have come out and have since grown partway in. They still look pretty small though, it is hard to imagine her with big, grown-up teeth. Needless to say, the tooth fairy will be making a visit in a few hours.

Happy Birthday Bella or I Will Not Be Choosing Applebees For My Birthday Ever Again

Bella turned 6 years old on Friday the 29th! I can't believe how quickly the time has gone by. She had a fabulous birthday week. Her Grandma Goo and G.G. surprised her by driving down for the week. They got here on Sunday just in time for dinner.

She had a pretty exciting week overall. We had a Memorial Day BBQ Monday with all the Miskin side of the family. Then she had her Kindergarten Graduation Program on Thursday. She was so excited she sang the songs and recited the program to us again and again. Then on Thursday night we decided to go out to Applebee's for a birthday dinner because her grandma and G.G. needed to leave Friday morning. Well, it all started out okay. She was having a great time until my mom told the waiter it was her birthday. Well, all the waitstaff came over to sing to her and things went downhill from there. The manager that sang also works at Roger's Applebee's and he is foolishly loud. And Bella, she doesn't really like to be singled out or the center of attention amongt groups of unfamiliar people. She sank further and further into the seat as they sang louder and louder. The manager afterward said he had toned it down upon seeing her stricken face. They left and immediately said "I will not be choosing Applebee's for my birthday ever again". It was funny and sad at the same time. But the guy did sing really loud.

Then on Friday she got to open all her presents first thing in the morning. It is becoming a bit of a tradition to do that because we seem to always be busy birthday nights with unrelated activities. Anyway, she got so many gifts, Nate and I were trying to compensate because Jack got a bike I think.

Nate and Jack left for Father and Son's campout, so the girls and I went to McDonalds for dinner and then met up with the Miskin's at Cold Stone for dinner. Twas yummy.