This week was a busy one. Cub scout Day Camp for Jacob all week.  Take your kids to work on Thursday, swimming, etc.  We stopped by the fireworks store on Friday wide-eyed and excited to see all the possibilities.  We purchased enough to make a big boom on the 4th for friends and family.

It's been too dry the past few years for us to feel safe about fireworks....but, we've had more than enough this year.

Jacob made a stand to hold his pinewood derby, flag key chain, coin satchel, painted on leather, etc.

The last day of day camp.  Hot and humid, but full of fun.  BB guns, archery, crafts and games.

Jacob  earned a few other awards at pack meeting this week.  The campfire was cancelled due to weather (again)....so, games inside and smores done in the oven. 

Gene and I celebrated our 16th anniversary.  Yay! We had a garbage disposal installed for the first time ever in this house.We ate dinner at Cheddars, then went furniture shopping (for my upcoming birthday)

 

For my birthday I got a headboard and frame for our bed.  Yes, finally!

Jacob is getting creative- drum set, lawn mower and fruit

The girls and I were hanging out at the pool. This day it was a bit chilly.  They were reluctant to get in.  Emily finished her reading log for the library reading program.  We found a 6th grade required reading guide and she is eyeball-deep into newly suggested books. 

Father's Day, Talent show etc.

I snapped a picture of Gene and the kids on Father's day (they younger 2 made candy ties in primary).  They all looked so nice in their Sunday clothes.

The day before Father's day we took Gene out to eat at Calhoun's.  He loves a good prime rib and that is a good place to find one!

Sorry, the window was really bright....but, everyone was smiling and super happy.

A few months ago we got Gene a desk on sale....and we just now had a Saturday free to put it together.  Emily helped by getting all the right hardware and tools. 

Here's the finished product.  Great team work. There's nothing like doing a project together to create lasting memories. 

 

 

 The young women in our ward had a talent show/cake auction to raise money for girl's camp.  Jacob did a few magic tricks and Tara was in a beehive group that did a funny lip sync to "The Lion Sleeps Tonight".  Googly eyes on their chin, a hat on their head pulled up to their noses, upside down on the edge of the stage.  I didn't get a picture, but rather recorded it on video....which I can't up load here.  But, there was a photo taken of some other girls in the group...so, you can get the idea.

We spent a whole day making cookies (which Tara made herself-with a little help)  I looked at the batter and it looked so dry....I asked what she put in..She swears she followed the recipe exactly.  I went through each item and realized she forgot the eggs.  We had "Mormon" cookie cutters that we haven't used in years.  The beehive seemed appropriate.  We  made 5 bees out of suckers (leftover Halloween candy-each one representing a beehive in our ward.  Tara, Emma, Caris, Brooke and Autumn) and wrote the Hinckley Be's.....Be true, be humble , be prayerful, be smart, be clean, be grateful....etc. on the top of the cake. 

The temple cake had to do with the Youth theme this year "Stand In Holy Places".  We actually had an angel Moroni cookie cutter too.  Do you like the pearl belt that Emily gave him?

It was a huge success and the girls made all the money to cover everyone going to camp.  We could have just paid the fee....but, this was definitely a lot more fun!

Jacob did a few magic tricks and helped us get rid of more left over Halloween candy by making it appear out of his hat and tossing it into the audience!

This was a perfect Father's day card from Jacob to Gene.....seems to be similar to most conversations they have. 

 

As a side note, Tara showed an interest in musicals at the end of the year.  She saw Annie Get Your Gun in school the last week of school and she wanted this summer to be a Musical summer.  So, very inexpensively we found copies of musicals.  So far we have watched- Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Show Boat, Kiss Me Kate, and Mama Mia (had to throw in a modern one too!) Emily watched all three of High School Musicals but, I couldn't sit through all of them.  Show Boat was my least favorite-only tune I recognized was "Old Man River" Up for this week is Oklahoma.  Kiss Me Kate reminded me to watch "Taming the Shrew" with Elizabeth Taylor.  Eventhough it's not a musical, we'll have to watch that one too!

Hannah graduated from High School and will start SVU in the fall.

 

 

The cub scouts were earning their world conservation patch.  This is the only photo I got, after the work was done and it was popsicle eating time.  Jacob came home a few days later and had both arms elbows to fingertips in huge, itchy red welts.  I thought for sure it was poison ivy.  I poured some essential oils on it, gave him some anti-itch cream and was really planning on a long few days of misery.  I texted Gene (in Chicago)....and an hour later, they were gone.  I consider this to be a huge blessing....there was a little redness but the swelling was gone and so was his complaining.  I am so thankful for what seem to some as small miracles. 

Tara decided to have a summer "do"...by getting some blonde highlights.  Here is a shot yesterday right before going to the pool.

It's growing out nicely....and now she and Emily match just a little bit better.

We got a pineapple and Jacob immediately thought of Matt on Studio C-byutv.  We sent this video to Matt ...so funny!  He says "this fruit was not meant to touch human skin." a line from one of their comedy skits.

We went to Ijams Nature Center.  If you ask the kids they had a great time.  If you ask me, it was a little too much nature for me for one day.  3 spiders crawling on me, 2 box turtles on the path(they were actually cute) and a coiled up baby copperhead I almost stepped on.

 

We've been spending  a lot of time at the Y pool.  It's the best place to meet friends from school and catch up.  I personally think the water is still a bit chilly....but, it's great. The girls spent a lot of time babysitting last week.  They are getting experience with little ones.  Tara went with the ward youth to Nashville on Saturday to do youth baptisms.  She had a great time as always.  
Emily had to go back to the orthodontist because her retainer wouldn't stay in because she's lost so many teeth.  She is watching a friends dog for a few days while they are out of town. 
Gene was in Chicago last week, stopped over in Wash DC for his brother Bennett's wedding.   He's off to Youth Conference tomorrow for thurs-sat.  They are camping out this year....and dressing like Book of Mormon time people....can't wait to see pictures from that!