Seeing as I am his preschool teacher, I am quite flattered by his vote of confidence.

Isn’t it amazing how sometimes the best things come about because of the worst?

p.s.  I can’t wait to be a grandma.  Especially one like Grandma Wilson.

Anchor by Mindy Gledhill

“This album is perfect for dancing with your hunny in a softly lit treehouse (*Anchor* & *All The Pennies*) or solo in a wildflower-floored meadow (*Whole Wide World* & *This Is My Song*).  It’s also ideal diaper-changing, bathtime, baby photoshoot background music (*I Do Adore* & *Hourglass*).  All of which I have done today.  Except the dancing.  Which I plan to remedy this evening.”

{disclosure:  I do not write reviews on ITunes very often.  This would be my first.  I do *adore* this musical happiness.  Part of the wonderful fun was that Mindy had it streaming on her blog for a week.  I feel in love.  ”Whole Wide World” and “All The Pennies” are my very favorites.  Jim Bob heard me listening and loving it so much that he surprised me with the download the day it came out.  Love.}

p.s.  Click on the cover art above to hear a sample.

Somehow his tongue will wait until morning to be fed.

Joshua – Andrew likes to play Tronthon with me. (2 weeks later and going strong!)

Autumn – I like that Andrew likes to help other people. He helps Caleb when he fusses.

(Andrew interjects that he gives Caleb his binky and that it works well.)

Katey Belle – On the chair. Andrew is on the chair. And Daddy is on a chair too.

Caleb – Andrew makes me laugh and smile. (as translated by Autumn)

Daddy – I love Andrew’s copious vocabulary and the funny way he uses words.

Mommy – I love how thoughtful and imaginative Andrew is. He is always making me smile or giggle. Come to think of it, he is always smiling or giggling too.

Jacob – He is the cutest little fire-ball of energy ever.

If Drewby could do anything for one day it would to clean his bedroom. (Daddy: really? Anything? You could go to the moon and you want to clean your bedroom? Andrew: Yup!) Today he cleaned his room and was a “gopher”. Jacob had him slide under the bed and pull everything out. Obviously they had fun. Andy-roo’s favorite dessert is lemon cake with lemon frosting. “And on top, . . . . a cherry on top. A frosting cherry! A big fat cherry!!”

Katey Belle:  I love Joshua.  Yes!

Daddy:  Daddy loves Joshua because he is so funny.  Whenever I turn around he is upside down.  On his bed, against the wall, anywhere . . .   in a handstand.  He is also always willing to say a prayer or to do little chores that need to be done – let the dog in or whatever.

Autumn:  I love about Josh that he likes to help others.  He gives me piggy backs and I love that he gives me hugs and kisses.

Jacob:  I love Josh because he likes to wrestle me a lot and he always has a big smile on his face when I say that.  I wonder why he does that?

Andrew:  I love Joshua because he plays games with me.  Two games!  Ninja and Tronthan (made up by Josh).

Mommy:  Josh is super sweet to everyone and shares all the time.  He shares food and ideas and his time with his brothers and sisters.  He is also a good reader.

If Josh was a flavor of ice cream he would be cookies and cream, because it is his favorite.  One of his favorite primary songs is “Scripture Power”  and his favorite other song is the Diego theme song.

p.s.  ”Tronthan is really simple.  It’s super easy.  You pretend you’re like weird creatures.  You have to find pencils to unlock the creatures to turn into.  You have to go to Tron-land to get certain things for the creatures.”

Sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands.

This magical magnetic creation is made using Dani Mogstad’s “Take Me Away” vacation kit (digital):

The other supplies needed are magnetic tape, scissors, a magnetic tin (mine is recycled), and sand:

I made a fun label and printed my sandcastle sections and decorations.  Then I stuck them to the magnet strip and cut around.  I also glued some real sand onto the castle pieces.  I got a big bag at Walmart for $3 and used the rest in a tub for more sandcastle building.  When I had a nice size collection of pieces I put them in the tin.

Here are a few photos to get an idea of how big the tin is:

Wow, Katey was being a ham:

The kit was then ready to be assembled as desired.

Here’s just one of many possibilities:

Here’s to a summer filled with sandcastle building (real and magnetic)!

p.s.  Jacob’s first creations using the kit:

He even took the photo.  (Because, obviously that is what you do.  ;) )

What I love about Manti is that we don’t wait until the evening of the fourth to celebrate.  No sir-ee.  We start the evening before with a parade.  And then don’t stop until late the next day.  Love that!

The parade is always full of American and city pride.  Our sweet niece Summer was in the Miss Independence Royalty as Miss Liberty  (the equivalent of Miss Congeniality).

Summer is the adorable blondie that's waving.

I absolutely adored the blackboard painted truck from “Candies on Main”.

So sweet! - Just think of all the renting out possibilities!

Plenty of candy and plenty of fun.

parade booty - "Is that a tootsie roll?!??!?"

We had a fun evening at the park celebrating a cousin’s 4th birthday (complete with fireworks!) and then the kiddos settled into the treehouse to sleep out. A new tradition – 2 years running.  This year Jim Bob ran Christmas lights around the trunk for little ones needing to make their way into the house for the restroom.  It was neat to see it all lit.  We are already planning Christmas decor and lighting now.  Jim Bob and his siblings used to sleep outside at their Grandma’s house on the 3rd and would wake up to the bell ringing at the American Legion Hall up the street.  Bell ringing can be done by anyone in the community and is from 6-7 a.m.  We haven’t made it the past few years.  ;)  We will again though.

birthday fireworks

hurray!

treehouse sleepover

all snuggled up

The next morning we made flouffy hair clips and played with cousins while their mom ran the 5K (Grandma did too!).  Then it was breakfast at Grandma’s and speeches at the city park.

The first speech was by Don Tibbs (a judge for many years.  He is also a founding member and a president of the Manti Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees) ).  His speech included how the 4th of July celebration in Manti started as well as some words from our Founding Fathers.  He showed a copy of the Declaration of Independence:

and quoted a letter that John Adams wrote to his wife:

“The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.  You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.”

You can see the actual letter here at the Massachussetts Historical Society website.  Beauty.

The Miss Independence royalty then gave their speeches.  The theme was “Wake Up America” and they all did a lovely job.  Mikala Lindhardt was Miss Independence this year and did a beautiful job.  She is our neighbor half a block over and such a sweetheart.  Here’s part of her speech.

Independence Day Speech-Small (click link to see video)

I cut off the end *sadly*.  She said (paraphrasing, but really close) “Let us all stop rolling over and hitting the snooze button – Wake Up America!”

That was the beginning of the old school celebration.  Foot races (and prizes), local entertainment (lots of great vocals, “Come Sail Away” on the violin, a Michael Jackson impersonator and clogging – does it get any more American??), a dunk booth (with the Stake President taking a turn),  money-in-the-hay, egg toss, greased pole climb, tug-of-war with the dividing line being the water from the fire hose, and all-you-can-eat watermelon.  Whew!  Par-tay!

Come Sail Away (click to see video)

Jim Bob carrying very willing participants into the water.

...and not-so-willing ones as well (Jim Bob, Liz, John).

Roar, GRRR, yum

one for each hand...

"silly Katey and mommy melon"

Our favorite entertainment this year was when the kiddos got up at the end and did their own thing.  I didn’t realize we had so many performers in our family.  A break-dancing cousin and a high stepping Katey Belle – pretty cute.

bustin' a move

After the park we stopped at Fred’s for dip cones.  Yes, these are the small size.  ;)  The girls went for chocolate . . .

and it seems as if all the boys prefer butterscotch.

It was our first Fourth to eat those, but everyone voted to make it an annual tradition.  :)

The day was finished off with an impromptu pot-luck bbq at Grandma’s, homemade ice cream, and fireworks with the temple in the background.  Perfect.  From bells to illuminations – we’ve got it all.

Happy Fourth!

Enjoy the full-on gallery to get the full effect.  All images straight out of the camera (I was not about to edit 249 of them ).  Scroll fast to experience our day in a matter of seconds or feel free to click on any to view larger.

Mommy:  I adore Caleb’s smile.  When he is just waking up and sleepy.  Then he recognizes me and bursts into a huge smile.  Even his eyes smile.  Love that.

Jacob:  I like it when he stares at me and plays little hand games with me.

Andrew:  I love about Caleb when he wakes up from his nap and giggles when I tickle him.

Joshua:  I love Caleb because he moves around his little arms and legs.

Autumn:  Yeah.  That’s the baby happy dance!  Caleb has a cute smile and he is very cute when he does the ba-by hap-py dance.  He’s soooo cute!

Katey Belle:  I love Caleb, Mom.  I love him.  Laughing.  (complete with sign language)  My baby brother.  *hugs and snuggles*  My baby brother.  *kisses*  Now kiss Dad.  Mom, kiss you.  Kiss Autumn . . .

Daddy:  I love how kissable his cheeks are.  And I love his reaction when I do my Donald Duck voice.  And I love his big, beautiful eyes just like his mommy’s.

Daddy:  Let’s start with the biggest first.  *huge cheshire grin*  I love, love, love, love, love, love the way your mommy looks at you late at night when you are all asleep,  and she leans over and softly gives you a kiss on your cheek.  You don’t even know it, but she loves you so much that she has to check on you one more time to make sure you’re alright.  And if she can’t, she sends your daddy.

Jacob:  I like that mommy makes all our meals, and hugs and kisses us and helps when we’re sad.  She also plays with us when she has time.

Joshua:  I like mom because she feeds Caleb.

Autumn:  I love mommy because she snuggles us, and loooves us, and helps us and tells us what to do.

Drewby:  I love when mommy gives me cough drops (poor little guy is sick right now).

Katey Belle:  Park … my mommy.  My popsicle is cold.  T… I… Y!  Silly, silly Katey.  (got to love speaking in third person!)

I think Caleb loves that I feed him too. Tonight it was yummy smushed green beans from our last year’s garden.  mmmm.