July 2012

July was a busy month as far as events and photos go! Independence Day always brings out the camera, it's one of my favorite holidays and I want to try to capture every moment. I love the parades, carnivals, food, heat, BBQs, fireworks, everything!

We started off our festivities a little early on the 3rd with some fireworks at Sunnyside Park with the Puffpaffs and Hendershots. Bailey loved the huge slide and playground toys, and of course the sparklers! She's just old enough to hold them and she was awe struck - Gavin and Ethan loved them too.

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Johnson Parade

There's only one parade in a 20 miles radius around here, and it's in a very small town with one street - Johnson, Washington. So we traveled 30 minutes to watch this parade and it was great! Plenty of candy and lots of old cars, and old people. I didn't know anyone in the parade or any of the groups, but I still liked it.

Here I'm sporting the "not fat, pregnant" look

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BBQ

After the parade and a little nap, it was time for a BBQ with friends. I made a yummy trifle - one of my favorite desserts, and chocolate covered pretzels. We all met at the Hayes' house, the kids got to play in the water and the adults all chatted away and ate a delicious BBQ dinner. I love spending the holidays with great friends, they become your family away from family.

Oh the water fun! These kids had a blast on the "water slide", well until poor little Paycen split his eyelid open :(

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Fireworks

Shortly after the BBQ several families headed over to Sunnyside Park in Pullman, Washington for the carnival and fireworks show. Bailey got to play at the playground again on that HUGE slide. She was the smallest kid to go on it and kept going and going and cutting in line each time! Funny girl! All the other kids didn't seem to mind since she was so small. There were a lot of other activities going on and a band playing, such a great atmosphere. Then at dusk the fireworks started, Bailey was in awe again! I loved watching her experience all these "firsts" and can't wait for more.

 

Every year I try to get "good" photos of the fireworks, here's a little collage of this years

 

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Chestnut Beach

Sometime in July, a group of us girl friends took a trip down to Chestnut Beach in Clarkston, WA. I love that that all these fun things are relatively close to us in Moscow. We used to think the closest beach was in Coeur d'Alene, ID, but then we found this gem on the river! The kids had a great time playing in the sand and water and the girls had a great time just hanging out and talking.

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Raspberry Picking

Another great part of summer is all the fresh fruits and veggies that start to pop up. My friend, Courtney, has in-laws that have an awesome garden here in Moscow and she invited us to go raspberry picking there. A few of us met at the beautiful garden and picked until it was too hot to pick anymore! Afterwards I went home and had fresh raspberries on cereal for a few days then made freezer jam with the rest. They were delicious!

(these are all phone photos!)

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25 Weeks

During the beginning of July I was about 25 weeks pregnant and took these photos to remember how I looked. This was still the second trimester, feeling good, had lots of energy and used that energy to lots of fun things in July!

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Elk River Hike

One weekend in July a group of us went to Elk River Falls to hike around the waterfalls there. It's about a 40 minute drive from Moscow and absolutely beautiful! We borrowed a hiking backpack and Mark hauled Bailey all around, I was about 26 weeks pregnant and hadn't exercised since January so we were both sweatin' in up! There were three levels of waterfalls and we went to each of them, stopping at the bottom level to swim. That water was so nice to cool off in! Ahhhh. I didn't get all the way in, but Mark and the others did and jumped off the sides and had a great time. After we went to the local town and had huckleberry ice cream and shakes. Yum!

(these are all phone photos again, I love my phone!)

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Coeur d'Alene

Mark studied a lot this summer for the Patent Bar Exam, but he did take a few days off to do some fun things with us. The first was the Elk River Hike, and then the next day we to Coeur d'Alene for some more summer fun at the beach! Mark hadn't been there before (I had gone with friends) so that was one thing on our summer list we had to do with him. We drove up in the mid morning, got to the beach, ate lunch, played in the sand and water and the park next door. Then it was ice cream for the ride home. Bailey had a good time and again, fell fast asleep on the way home.

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Pioneer Day

I love that even though we don't live in Utah anymore, we still celebrated Pioneer Day! The Stake Primary put on a little Pioneer Day Activity for all the kids, they had pioneer games and activities - butter making, sack races, digging for gold, coloring sheets, food, and even a little photo booth that was adorable. Our ward was in charge of the food table, good thing I have awesome counselors while I chased Bailey all around the activities!

Making butter and her photo booth photo

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Friendship Square

Later that day on Pioneer Day we went to downtown Moscow for Bailey to play at the playgound and see the fountain. It actually turned out to be a good photo shoot and I decided these are her "2 Year Photos". We sure love her and all the fun things she does. There's something everyday that makes us laugh, sometimes Mark and I go to bed laughing at the funny things she says and does. We quote her to make each other laugh and we can't wait to find out what a great big sister she'll be to our new baby girl. I feel so grateful to be able to be home with her all day, we love you Bailey!

One of her favorite things to do is pretend to be a "doggie". She'll get down like this and pant until you tell her to fetch something or do a doggie trick.

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Instagrams

Here's the rest of July in the form of mini Instagrams. These are our some of our everyday moments.

 

jewelry box, holidy nails, 24 weeks, fireworks, parade, BBQ

slept in til 10:52am, CDA beach, green smoothies, 25 weeks, movie date with mom, going to see dad

lunch with dad, bears for bunko, pool day, slept on momma, Dr. Bailey, beach

beach, grocery cookies, 26 weeks, kisses, playtime with dad

raspberries, walk with mom, bread in the bathroom, walmart, popcorn belly, cooking club demo

27 weeks, sick child in tub, new animal toys, watergun fun, choosing a name, elk river hike

 

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There you have it, July 2012. Sometimes I wish I could just freeze time with my family, writing everything down and taking photos is the next best thing I guess.