Happy 90th, Grandma Cloe!

Late on Corinne's birthday, the kids and I left for Utah.  We spent the night in Las Vegas, and had breakfast the next day at Bagel Cafe.  I ordered their fruit and yogurt parfait, and was handed this thing the size of a dinner plate!  We were headed up for Grandma Cloe's 90th birthday celebration, which was held early so I could attend.  As it was, I was so pregnant and achy I had to drive the whole way with my seat tipped back.

The kids got to do the Slip N Slide again, despite the unusually cool weather.  We also went to the Nephi Pool, where Corinne went down a waterslide for the first time!
  

Yay Corinne!

Evan Showing off with a Flip

Saturday was Grandma Cloe's party.  We had reserved tables at Chuck a Rama, which is one of her favorite restaurants.  My mom had gotten Levan shirts for each of the kids to wear, and ordered a fancy cake from The Mighty Baker (a place that recently won the "Cake Boss" reality show.)  
  

The orchids were made of sugar!

  

  

After the party, the Browns went to Lowe's Xtreme Air Sports - a trampoline park in Provo.  The kids were blown away, and have asked to go back the next time we're in Utah.
  

Throughout the week, Connor, Elise, and Evan worked hard helping Grandma take care of the dogs.  They were delighted when they got paid in spare change at the end of the trip.
  

Me.  I'm pregnant.

On Sunday after church, we went to visit Grandma Cloe at the Victorian House, then took a drive up the canyon.  Connor made sure we stopped at the dead cow pile.
   

  

Leftover Cake

In an attempt to become more knowledgable in dog-care, I took mugshots of the whippets to help me learn to recognize them.
  

Cap

Rina

Coda

Chasie

Felice

Basilio

Bo

Giuletta

Adelina

Ilaria

Karina

Summer

After we got home from our Pacific Coast trip, Evan did a private promotion for his white stripe belt (he missed the group promotion while we were gone.)  He was so happy to finally have a belt with his name on it!
  

On July 4th, we walked in the annual kid parade down at Glenwood Oaks.  In the evening, we watched fireworks at the church parking lot, complete with rootbeer floats.
   

Most of July was spent working on our Summer Fun List, trying to get caught up in math, and goofing off.
  

Swim Party with the Kennys

This black bear has become a regular visitor at our house.

Cookie Decorating with the Walches

When we returned from vacation, we had to move all our furniture back into the main parts of the house.  Elise's room was hiding a surprise.  She had left a giant Disneyland lollipop behind her bed sometime in May, and the ants had chewed tiny holes all through it.
   

  
The remodel was basically complete by mid-July.  We had a master bathroom with fancy shower and toilet, and an awesome new kitchen.  It was so great to have plumbing  and counters again!
   

Ryan went on a four-day backpacking trip in the High Sierras over Pioneer Day weekend.  He even managed to catch a fish!  While he was gone, the Sand Fire started near Santa Clarita, and dumped ash all over our yard.
  

  

   
Analytic Investors had its Summer Event towards the end of July.  The food was awesome.  The magician was kind of weird.  I don't even know how many ice cream cones my kids took without asking.
   

As a last farewell to summer, our beach-day friends had another get-together at the beginning of August.  One more reason I feel spoiled by homeschooling.  At least our co-op doesn't start until September!
  

Corinne Paige Brown turned four!  Her biggest wishes were to go to Chuck E Cheese (again), and eat cotton candy.  Her daddy got her a cheesecake from Porto's, which she loved.  Her gifts included a 3DS with games, and beautiful clothes from Nana and Al.
  

Elise's Card for her Sister

We had a visit from Aunt Helena, who was very patient with the kids trying to show her every video game they've ever played.  She gave us boxes of keepsake baby clothes from when she was little - it was so cool and thoughtful!