Bluebird Chocolates

My mom, Annie, and the kids came up to visit a while back so we tried to have lots of fun for the day. We started with a trip to Bluebird Chocolates to go on a tour of the candy shop. We saw how they made caramel popcorn and found out that the Bluebird Restaurant is no longer part of the same company as the chocolates (and don't carry them in the restaurant candy store) even though they started from the same family. They use almost all of the original machinery and equipment as from the beginning. 

We love popcorn.

They still hand dip all of the chocolates they sell. Of course during the fall and winter holiday months they make and sell the most chocolates. Here's a video of one of the workers hand dipping the chocolate. 

Of course, we then had to buy some. They were so good that later that week, I took Jake back so we could buy a few more. 

After we had spoiled lunch, we came home and ate anyway. Then headed off to the splash park down the street. It always takes Sammi a bit to warm up to the idea of playing in the cold water but she, along with all the other kids, played and splashed a lot. 

Even though it was a short trip, we were glad they came up to hang out with us. It's so fun to have family close enough to occasionally stop by. 

4th of July

We tried to have as much fun as possible for the 4th of July. Luck for us, Cache Valley is a great place to do that. July 3rd, one of the departments put on a huge concert and fireworks show at Romney Stadium. We didn't go to it but we did go with some friends to a park high on the benches and watched the show from afar. The kids loved it. (Side note: glow sticks do lose their potency over time. Ours were less than spectacular but the kids still loved them.)

On the 4th, the city of Hyrum hosts the parade, which oddly doesn't start until noon. We showed up just in time to find our same neighbors, sit with them towards the front of the parade and make out like kids at Halloween when it came to candy and snacks; a cheese stick, hand fulls of otter pops, tootsie rolls, taffy, water bottles, a few frisbees, coupons, and dumdums. 

Loving everything but the camera.

Later that night, our awesome neighbors (who also don't have family in town) came over for dinner and some fireworks. I know it looks bright-ish outside and that's because it was. Having our kids up until almost 11 the night before, we decided to light some of the fireworks at dusk.

Although our show was small, quite a few of our neighbors went all out. We saw about 4 different sets of fireworks within a few blocks of us going for close to 30 min or longer. Neither girl acted particularly scared of the fireworks this year.

God Bless America!

Update to Always Playing

The problem with having multiple picture taking devices is I can't keep track of where they all are and manage to post everything from everywhere. I found these while looking through the tablet pics. (P.S. I got a Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet for my birthday/anniversary/mother's day present. I love it. Can do so many cool things.)

We stopped at Grandpa DeVon's new store. (Cause wherever someone works, that place belongs to them. Have you ever noticed that?) The new RC Willey store in Draper is pretty cool. Also, when you aren't there to buy stuff but see your dad, he tends to show you all the cool stuff you probably won't/can't ever buy but are super neat. Oh, and buy you ice cream and cook at the little deli.

Waterfall pics.

 Then we went to the Chocolate Exhibit at the Natural History Museum of Utah. It was one of the last days but it was employee appreciation for University of Utah staff so we were able to go for free. The chocolate exhibit was just one part so we walked around the rest of the museum after.

It's nice when someone else takes pictures so you can be in one.

Grandma Wendy bought chocolate truffles. Ellie ate hers in dainty, small bites. Sammi shoved the entire thing in her mouth.

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I love chlocolate!

 We went out on the patio to observe the stars and Sammi lounged with Stef.

Say "cheeese"

Logan Temple

Ellie kept saying she wanted to do something fun but I wasn't really in the mood to go and do anything so we drove to the Logan Temple to walk around. The only other time we have gone was a Monday night so the gates were closed. We lucked out today because although the building is closed for cleaning and maintenance, the gates were open and we could still walk around. This time I remembered my camera and that I needed to take some pictures. 

Swinging and sliding down the back railing.

Ellie wanted a picture with some flowers

Taking time to cool their hands off.

Smelling the flowers and digging in the dirt. 

  They knocked on all the doors, tried to open them, and smelled half of the flowers.

As I went to take the above picture, the wind started blowing just a bit. I didn't have to wait long for the wind to be strong enough for this pic. After that the wind just stopped again. I love it. Two of the most amazing and strongest symbols out there. One stands for freedom, liberty, and hard work. The other stands for agency, eternity, and love.

This simple trip reminded me how blessed I am and how I am watched over by a loving Heavenly Father. It brought such peace to my day that we were able to do more.

June came and went.

Not sure how, but June just got completely away from me. That seems to happen a lot lately. Also, I was terrible at taking pictures for all our activities. 

We spent some at Logan's Summerfest Arts Faire. It takes place at the Logan Tabernacle. There were so many things to see and do. They has an arts and crafts area for the kids. The girls made foam visors, plastic sun catchers, and pinwheels. There were booths all across the lawn of the Tabernacle with art work from all different medias; glass work in both stained glass fashion and blown art work, oil paintings, watercolor, photography, recycled art work, crafty decor, etc. Some artists drew and painted on location. There was even a section for side walk chalk art. Here, they had boards set up for kids to draw on.

Girls helping with chalk art.

Finished work.

 We also had the annual Watterson Family Reunion in Ophir, Utah. Great camping ground. We arrived late Friday night and set up the tent. The girls loved sleeping in the tent and managed to stay wrapped up this year so they stayed warm. They played on the play ground and all over with their cousins. I made some pillow cases for the auction.

We tried fishing a couple more times. Once with Grandpa Steve in Wanship and another time here in Wellsville. Daddy snagged a small fish in Wellsville and Ellie helped reel it in. It managed to get free before we pulled it to shore for a pic though.

Ellie and Daddy fishing. 

We also drove to Lava Hot Springs to spend some time with the youth from our previous ward and hang out with Jake's brother and his family. It was a pretty drive and after seeing it, I really think we will try to go back and staying to play. 

Of course, mixed in with that we played across the street and at parks and what not. Just can't believe it came and went so fast.

Tough Mudder, Las Vegas

Apparently Jake and my brother Jeff think I didn't post enough about the Las Vegas Tough Mudder. Here you are boys. If you're going to complain, do it yourself next time.

Memorial Weekend

Over the weekend, we decided to enjoy the outdoors and have some fun. Especially since it was so warm. 

First, the girls tried their hands at fishing. Like most kids on their first time, Ellie was a little disappointed it didn't work out like tv shows and movies. Fish just don't automatically appear on your line. Sammi didn't care. She had a Tinkerbell fishing pole and that's all the mattered. Although the girls might do better at spinners cause they just wanted to toss the line and reel it in. 

Then of course we had to play in the sprinklers. The girls started out a little wary of the cold water coming out of the hose. (Side note; if there is only 1 outside water spout, chances are you need 100' hose. If its on the back corner of the house, 50' won't even reach the driveway to wash your car.) They tried to tell me they would wait until the water warmed up. I know a few people who would love to have warm water come out of the house. Sorry doesn't work that way.

Water was too cold. Time to warm up.