Way back Wednesday - Jason's 8th Birthday

This year for Jason's birthday we had it at a fast food restaurant - I think Hardee's. Usually for both of my children's parties when they were young, nobody came because their birthday's were in the summer. It was always heartbreaking when no kids would show up. 

However, this year we had a great party with friends - Yea! I guess the trick is to have it somewhere fun. 

 A clown came, did tricks and painted the kids. Snakes down the arm was the favorite choice. 

 Remember when a pit full of balls was 'all that'? Now they are gone...

 Me with the clown.

The clown painting Jason's arm. Jason is my sweet heart. Look and you can see all his new teeth. 

Wednesday's Thunder Storm w/Pictures

Wednesday night, June 22nd we had a thunderstorm. 

We don't get very many here and when we do, I love them. I always have loved the sound of thunder and how lightening lights up the sky. 

I was working outside in a flower bed when it began. Then I sat outside and watched the sky light up.

I found these cool pictures on KTVB.com and had to post them - because they are amazing. I did not take any of these pictures - FYI.

 Seriously.... isn't that amazing? I wonder how they took that! Amazing!

I suspect this is the bolt that is in the first picture. Isn't the sky ominous? 

Unfortunately there were fires in the foot hills ... but with the green wet spring weather, they were able to put them out quickly. 

Summer Weather Makes Me HAPPY!

I haven't blogged a lot this spring about my garden. I did start tomato seeds and flower seeds in the house. Everything I started from seed is growing great. 

I decided to plant my tomato plants in the ground this year, instead of a container.

I used the containers for flowers because I am planning a wedding in my back yard in September - and I am trying to beautify everything. 

 I've planted flowers in front of the tomato plants. I hope that gives them a nice look for the wedding. 

 My pea plants have blooms AND pretty soon they will have yummy peas. When they are done, I will plant flowers here. 

 My bush beens are up and carrots in my containers (carrots will need to be thinned). I planted late, but they are growing and the sun is shining. 

 This flower garden is by the garage in the back yard and not attached to my house. The roses crack me up how it went through the roof. I keep thinking I should cut that vine off, but it's funny. 

In front of the roses are daisy bushes that will be blooming any time now. 

You can also see my fire wood peaking through the window in the garage. 

 My honeysuckle vine is in bloom and the smell is wonderful (climbing on the garage). 

Our backyard went from fragrant irises to honeysuckle.  The smells are heavenly. I love being outside in the spring / summer. 

 This sight is my favorite. Hanging laundry on the line (work rags for my cleaning business). I love to hang on the line. It makes me happy!!

This morning I received my milk delivery - which I am still loving. 

This evening I walked down the street to the Meridian Farmer's Market, vendors, a band and water fountain to play in each Thursday night. I purchased corn, asparagus, blueberries, strawberries and cherries at the market today. YUM!

I love this time of year.

I love living downtown and can walk to all the fun activities they hold just down the street. 

I also LOVE living in an neighborhood where I can hang laundry on the line. 

Dairy Days in Meridian, Idaho 2011

Friday, June 17, 2011 was Meridian's annual Dairy Days. This is my favorite city activity.

However, this year I didn't plan it well at all. I sent Brady on an airplane to go see his father for Father's Day weekend and his step sister's wedding on Tuesday June 21, 2011. 

Brady's plane left Boise at 5:30 and and arrived Salt Lake City at 6:35 PM on Friday the day of the parade.

The Parade started at 7:00 PM and I shifted back and forth deciding if I wanted to walk down the street to watch it by myself or stay home. 

Since this is my FAVORITE parade, I decided to walk down and watch it alone. I left at 7 PM thinking Brady was in Salt Lake City and safe ..... and with his dad.

However, when I arrived home an hour later Brady had called 20+ times because his dad didn't pick him up. Oh joy! Brady was furious because I wasn't home or didn't have my cell phone with me. 

Apparently Southwest was having issues with their monitors that showed the plane was delayed. So instead of calling Brady, Maurice sat in the parking lot for over an hour while Brady was furiously waiting and couldn't get a hold of me .... AND he didn't have his dad's phone programmed in his cell phone (a new one). 

Eventually Maurice picked him up and all was well ... almost. (shaking head).

On to the Dairy Days parade. . . . 

 When I arrived the streets were filled with people and balloons. The balloons were a VERY clever marketing for a local candy shop down the street from me ... they gave out balloons with their company name and a free piece of candy for a child when they come into the shop.  

 Vendors were selling their wares. 

 Look, Miss Idaho and Miss Teen Idaho!!! Beautiful girls.

 The beginning of the parade they give out chocolate milk. I wiggled my way up to the front and got some chocolate milk for me and an older couple in the back of the mass of people. 

 Our Mayor Tammy de Weerd in her Cow decorated mini-car.  Whom I am pretty angry with right now. Meridian built a new city building a couple of years ago and filed a law suit against the builder. Guess what??? Meridian lost the law suit and now have to pay the builder 2.3 million dollars... yea tax payers (NOT!). Soooo all of us tax payers are very sad and angry. 

Anyway.... 

 On with the theme of the parade ... we saw lots of cows. 

 Flo even showed up for the parade... DON"T TEXT AND DRIVE!!!

 Meridian Swimming pool float. 

The life guards! Jake, who is in front going up to the Channel 7 reporter. He is in our ward and Brady's age. 

I thought this was a fun picture that I took off of KTVB.com.

 Noah and his cute ark.

They gave out cheese string ... but only to the people in the front.

Nope, I didn't get any.

They also gave out t-shirts. For the past 2 years we got a t-shirt. But, not this year because I was in the back and alone (sniff sniff).

It was a bunch of fun even alone. 

I just wish things would have worked out better for Brady. Poor kid.

(I miss him! He is still gone - for a whole week - comes home Saturday 25th)

June Visiting Teaching Idea

This is what we are giving the sisters we visit teach this month. I found these great ideas here:

"WATER"

  you doing to

become more

temporally self-reliant?

Handout from Mish Mash Mom with all the printable handouts here:

The handouts include a recipe for Super Summer Sloppy Joes

The lesson for June 2011 is on Developing Self-Reliance (which is a topic near and dear to my heart)

and the instructions how to put it together.

I added the water (which is tied to the handout in back with the string) and a crystal light juice packet (I already have on hand).

I also loved the seed packet and had to include it too:

Garden Seeds 

(Blessing Variety)

This idea is from See Me Visit Teach where you can print out the Self Reliant Seed Packet here: 

I added Skittles because that is what I had on hand. 

I love creative people who make up these great hand outs! They sure make me look "all that" when I show up at the door with my partner. Anything to make visiting teaching fun.

Way Back Wednesday: 2001 Boise River Festival

The pictures below were 10 Years ago, when Boise put on a "River Festival".

I decided to scan in my scrap book pages instead of individual pictures. You can click on the pictures to enlarge it. 

Starting early in the morning Boise's sky filled up with lots and lots of hot air balloons. It was a fantastic sight.

 There were vendor booths in the park and of course we had to play in the playgrounds.

 They also held a parade. 

The haven't had the rivier festival for quite a few years do the lack of money to put it on. 

Too bad, because it was FUN ... especially the hot air balloons. 

End of School Year Party - Part 3 Arrows

During the End of School year Party, they were able to target shoot with Bows and Arrows.

 Brady getting all the protection gear on. 

 That's not a pencil... I think he must think he is still in "school" mode - LOL!

 Ready ..... Aim .... FIRE!

Great form!

Watch out Brady... Amber looks dangerous!

War Cry! SCARY!

 The might warriors.

Brady, Erik and Sarah.

More Warriors! Kara, Ammon and Amber.

 It was very kind of Amber to have this party for their group of friends. 

Poor Brady... Crazy teenagers messing around. 

 Brady kicking Erik down to make sure he is alive.

 Great form Erik .... trying it on his knee.

 Amber

 Danielle

Erik presenting Ammon with a bow. 

 Poor Kara!

And there she goes ... she's down. 

 Kara

 Sarah and Kara

 Look how high Danielle has jumped in the air to get Sarah! These photos scare me a bit .. being a mom. Brady assures me they are just jumping straight up in the air.  

 Brady

 Danielle

 Ammon

Ammon

 Who shot Brady... Just kidding. 

Danielle

 Erik getting Kara. 

 Sarah 

Kara in peeking out to see if it is safe from all the blood shed. 

 Kara getting Danielle. 

 Amber getting Brady. 

 Erik

  Trying to look like an AVATAR.  

I sure thought those bows look awesome. 

REALLY the kids had supervision from Grandpa. 

And they had targets to shoot at. No teenager was harmed during this party. 

They really had a great time together. 

End of posts about the party. I'm thankful that Danielle took such great pictures!