Good to see the Tucks!
Amy and Brandon moved away three years ago so he could go to law school in Pennsylvania. Now that he’s done, they have moved again…not back to Boise, mind you, but to Houston. So it was fun to be able to see them for a few minutes as they came though town a few days ago. When they left, they only had three kids (and one was just a baby…), but they had an extra in tow this time! 
Very fun to catch up with old friends! Good luck to them on their new Texas adventures!
Blisters, a baby shower, sparkler bombs, and more food than you can handle…
Otherwise known as: 4th of July in Soda Springs!
Totally fun time! Well, except for Sam…She learned a hard lesson and walked on hot sand at Bear Lake without flip flops…burned her feet to a crisp. She was very brave about it, though, probably because she realized she should have listened to Grandma. We’re so glad they are healing well, and though she misses swimming lessons, she’s pretty upbeat about it.
Neil and Angie are expecting their little girl in a few weeks, and Sam and I went to her baby shower at Grandma’s house while we were there. Angie looks like she swallowed a basketball, but the rest of her is still so small…LUCKY!! We love you, Angie, and good luck with the birth. Logan and Kayd are very excited to have a sister!
Foam in City Park…Sam had to sit out, but all the rest of the kids were loving life. Max likes to bury himself in it!
Jay, Ryan, and Neil decided to summon the police by making sparkler bombs…they make quite a sound, and even blew up Grandma’s (’good’) bucket! They had a ball! I told Jay we probably can’t get away with it in Boise, so don’t even try it! One try blew a 5 gallon bucket about 150 feet in the air…..BOYS!!
On the last night, Ryan and Neil took their boys to the archery range, and Jay and Max tagged along, too. Max LOVED it, and now wants his own bow and arrow set. Thanks for all your help, guys…I’m glad Max didn’t end up shooting anyone in the butt…
Got to see Aunt Pam, Uncle Gary (who really loved those sparkler bombs….), Uncle Ted, Aunt Vicki, and cousin Shae and her hubby Kent. Lots of visiting! Talk talk talk…safe to say we were talking or eating the whole time!
Parade was fun! Candy, horses, and the 4th Ward float that Linds had a hand in building. Looked great!!
All in all, a fantastic time, lots of good memories, and about 5 extra pounds on my thighs (mom’s sinfully delicious cooking)…Thanks to everyone for a spectacular weekend!!
Cousin visit
Aunt Lindsay brought Hayden and Leah to visit us for a few days the end of June. There was swimming, eating, pedicures for the little girls, toy shopping, playing, new acrylic nails for me (Thanks Linds!), and general laughing and having a great time. At the end of their visit, they packed up Sam and Max and took them back to Soda to spend a few days without the parental units, which the kids (and parents) loved! Thanks everyone!!
Jeremy’s birthday/Father’s Day weekend!
Some years, Jay’s birthday falls on Father’s Day, so that makes really easy! This year, he got his birthday on Friday, and Father’s Day on Sunday, which makes for a fun weekend!
I tried my hand at a dragon cake this year, and instead of a menacing, fierce dragon, it turned out more “Pete’s Dragon”. But it tasted great, and I think Jay liked it. We went to see Toy Story 3 (Awesome…I cried!!), and he opened his gifts. A fun day.
For Father’s Day, the kids and I made him breakfast in bed, and he opened his ties (he asked for them!!), and some dragons for his collection. The kids also gave him a coupon book with neck rubs and back scratches. The Primary took pictures of the kids again this year, and as always, we love how they turned out. We’re very lucky to have such a great dad and husband in our lives! We love you, honey!
To my son…
Max,
I just got done having it out with you. Again. Today you asked for money for reading…every chapter. You wanted money for helping…every time. I don’t know why. You said you weren’t going to do your jobs, summer school activity, piano…that you didn’t have to. I lost it. I don’t know what is going on in your mind, but I know that it seems perfectly reasonable to you to behave this way. It is not reasonable in my world, mother world. I’m glad I didn’t spank you like I wanted to…it would have been done in real anger, but I talked and talked, in my harshest tones, and I’m also sorry for that. I did calm down as I talked, and tried to choose my words so carefully as to actually TEACH you something in this moment, but I’m sure you didn’t get that…only my anger. I’m sorry for that. I love you so much, and I feel like I’m failing you….maybe that’s why I blow up. Maybe you choose hormonal times to give me this attitude…I wouldn’t recommend it. But I love you! I love you so much! You are a GOOD BOY at heart, you want to be nice and kind, and I want you to know that I KNOW IT…even when we have times like this. I LOVE YOU!! And in 48 minutes, you can come out of your room…
Love,
Mom
Ahhh…summer
School is out, over, finished for another year. The kids are very excited for summer and swimming…if the weather will ever cooperate. Yesterday and today are supposed to be nice, but then rain and cooler for a while. I’m ready to see the sun for more than one day…
Summer brings swimming and sun, but also anxiety…to me, anyway. I want to keep the kids busy and do fun things to make memories, but not spend much, if any, money. Some people have no trouble coming up with cool things to do, but I stress out about it…maybe because Max usually complains about everything if it’s not what he’s wanting to do. Oh, I still make him do whatever we’re doing, but just gearing up for complaining is really difficult for me…I try to be fun, I really do, and to hear that what I’ve planned ISN’T fun makes me wonder why I even try. (Sam, by the way, loves everything. I appreciate that, Samantha!!)
But I will try! I will keep on. We will try to mix in his version of “fun” (buying things, Boondocks, buying things…where does he get this???) with my version of “fun”(free things: parks, hikes, baking, playing ball with me..). We’re going to swim a lot, have more friends over to play, and make a lot of goodies to share with others (while I try not to eat too many). I’m loving the sun, and hoping for more of it! Maybe I just need some Vitamin D to make me an optimist…I’ll go outside RIGHT NOW to give it a try!