July 2016 Part 1

July 2nd was project day.  Steve wanted to get the garage organized so all the scout stuff would fit better and be easier to get to as needed.  I loved the idea from the start and was even more elated when all the cleaning helped us find the mouse and get rid of it before it chewed its way through the wall and into our house.  It had created a nice little house for itself behind our big 40 gallon water jugs that we hadn't moved in a couple of years.  The project took us all day, but afterwards the garage was even more organized than before.  The new shelves were just the thing to create a place for everything.  

Taking a break while building shelves.  

In the middle of a mess.

July 3rd the boys left for scout camp.  It was the beginning of "a week of freedom" (as per Naomi).

July 4th Naomi and I went to Best Buy to get a new wireless router for the house.  Our old one had died a sudden death.  We were hoping it would last until Google Fiber was installed and then we wouldn't have to deal with this issue.  No such luck!!  I am proud to say that between the two of us we figured out how to set it all up and get it working.  That is no small feat if you know anything about my tech skills.  Later in the day we picked up my other daughters (the Tufts girls) and went to the pool so their mommy could rest with the new baby.  As always, the lifeguards had games for the kids to play periodically throughout the day.  The girls got to compete in the ping pong ball relay.  Callie was upset because the rules said to hold the plastic spoon with your front teeth and she didn't have any.  She was relieved with the lifeguard told her she could use her side teeth.  

The ping pong ball relay team that won it all.

That night Naomi and I went to the Tufts to join them for a BBQ and fireworks.  Tabitha's parents were in town to see their newest grand baby and I really enjoyed getting to know them a little better.  When it came time for fireworks, Haylie and Naomi wanted to help Phil light the fireworks, Callie wanted to sit on grandma's lap, Paige wanted to be with Grandpa and Tessa would not leave Tabitha's side.  That meant I got a whole night to snuggle with baby Ellie.  It was the best 4th of July ever.

July 5th Naomi and I went over to help Sara paint her bedroom.  Naomi was happy to play with Baxter (their dog) while Sara and I got the ceiling painted.  We came back over bright and early on the 6th and finished the entire room.  The new color really lightened things up and made the room look like new.  

Sara got me this wonderful waterfall for my Chinese bathroom.  The zen is now complete.

That night Young Women was at our house.  It was a late-over party.  We made english muffin pizzas, roasted marshmallows, made s'mores and played games.  It was a fun, but LOUD, night.  

July 7th Naomi had another clarinet lesson.  She is really enjoying the clarinet.  Since she had been so helpful for two days while helping Sara, I told her she could plan this day.  We would do whatever she wanted.  So we ended up at the roller skating rink for several hours and then to Cook Out for dinner.  It was a fun day.  I love hearing her laugh and seeing her smile.  

Rollerskating queen

July 8th we started off the day with an early showing of The BFG.  We liked it a lot.  Naomi said the book was better, but the movie was fun too.

Naomi doing her Gerald impression next to Gerald  

Back at home we called the Tufts girls to see if they wanted to go to the pool with us again.  It was another fun day playing in the water.

Pool time

That night a really intense rain storm came through the area.  The wind was blowing so hard that at one point it was raining sideways and the water was going up the hill in front of our house.  Naomi and I sat and watched it in awe of the forces of nature.  The lightening made it even more gorgeous and amazing.  Steve and the boys got home really late that night.

July 9th Nick was sick all day long. I felt so bad for him.  We just kept giving him ginger ale and soda crackers until his poor stomach decided to calm down a little bit.  

July 11th Nick and Naomi had eye doctor appointments. Nick got contacts and Naomi needed new lenses for her glasses.  After the appointment we hurried home, collected Jeremy and headed to 7-11 for Free Slurpee Day.  We love 7-11

The only thing better than a Slurpee is a FREE Slurpee!

July 12th Nick was still feeling a little under the weather so he hired Naomi and Jeremy to mow the Johnson's lawn for him.  We cleaned up the house in the afternoon and in the evening I went to the Beehive/Deacon roller skating activity that night.  

July 13th it was Jeremy's turn at the eye doctor.  His eyesight was borderline for passing the test for his driver's license so we ended up getting him glasses.  He was actually excited about his first pair of glasses.  We will see how long that lasts.  Nick mowed the Savage's lawn that afternoon and we spent some time that night at a Meet and Great for the new families at LNC.  The summer is going WAAAAAY too fast. 

July 14th Nick was up early to get a couple more lawns mowed before heading to Youth Conference for the weekend.  We hurried home, he showered and we left for the church.  After Naomi and I had dropped the boys off we ran to BJs to pick up the strawberries for an activity later that day.  We hurried home and dipped the strawberries in white chocolate.  Steve ran them down to the church that evening and got there just in time.  Naomi and I finished cleaning the house before Steve got home with the four boys we were hosting for the weekend.  We ended up with two from our ward and two from the Kannapolis ward.  The boys were surprisingly good except for the fact they did not go to sleep until after 12:30 am.  

July 15th we were up early.  I fixed the boys breakfast and then drove them to the site of the service project.  On the way back to the house I stopped at the bank and paid off the car.  Woohoo!!  I had just walked in the door when my phone rang. It was one of the leaders at the service project.  Nick was having an allergic reaction to an ant bite and his hand was really swelling.  I ran to the pharmacy to get some more Benedryl while Julie drove him home.  I immediately gave him some Benedryl and we put some ice on it as well.  He was feeling a little light-headed so I had him lay down in his bed.

A very swollen hand from a very small ant bite. 

Meanwhile, I laid down on the couch to rest a little bit.  When I woke up I swung my legs around to give me momentum to get up off the couch and succeeded in banging my ankle on the open recliner.  My immediate reaction was to rub it to make the pain go away which would have worked if I hadn't cut myself.  The cut was right on the ankle bone and all the way down to the tendon.  It didn't bleed at first, but once it got going it really got going.  I called for Nick and Naomi to come and help because by now it was really bleeding and I could barely walk.  I made the decision not to go to Urgent Care and get stitches since it was right at the lower limit of what is considered for stitches and it was on my ankle so a scar wouldn't bother me.  The kids got me all bandaged up and back on the couch and even called Steve to report on my condition.  Steve left the office and went to pick up the boys from the service project to bring them back to the house the get ready for the dance that night.  I felt so stupid.  My ankle was so sore and I was taped so securely (to make sure the butterfly bandages held the cut shut), that I had to use crutches to walk.  Slight movement was very painful and the pressure of walking was worse.  While the boys showered and got ready for the dance, Steve drove Nick back to his host family so he could go to the dance that night, then Steve got the four boys we were hosting back to the church for the dance.  Naomi helped me make bread and cinnamon rolls for breakfast the next morning.  When Steve got back he took Naomi and I out for dinner at Tiajuana Flats.  He picked up the boys later that night and they actually went straight to sleep after an exhausting day of service and then a fun dance.

July 16th we drove the boys to the church for their testimony meeting.  The conference was over at 11 am and we went back down once again to collect OUR boys and bring them home.  It was nice to have them home again.  

July 18th Naomi was in absolute heaven.  She was dogsitting for the Todds while they were out of town.  She has always wanted a dog and this was a good test of just how much she really wants a pet.

Riley hanging out on the back of the couch. 

Although all the Todds are BYU fans, I think Riley might actually be a Ute!

Long story short, Naomi really enjoyed having a dog for a couple of days, but quickly realized that a dog is a lot of work and she is okay playing with other people's dogs.  

June 20th Jeremy went in for his driver's test.  We were both so nervous we kept forgetting things.   First it was a copy of the insurance.  No problem, I hopped online and printed out another copy right there at the DMV.  Then we forgot his driving log which was at home on the fridge so we wouldn't forget it.  We drove back home to get that.  The paperwork was the hard part.  He passed the driving test with flying colors and is now allowed to drive by himself between the hours of 5 am and 10 pm.  These restrictions are only for 6 months when he will get his full license and be able to go where he wants, when he wants with whomever in the car.

He is Tier 2 official now.

That night the Young Women all met at our house to go do a service project at the Tufts.  We pulled weeds and made their front garden area look amazing.   I got to drive several of them home and this is what happens when they get a hold of your phone!!

I love these girls! (Nick was enjoying himself as well)

July 21st and 22nd were days filled with mowing lawns and getting everything together for the beach trip!!!  One lawn was incredibly long and thick.  It took us twice as long to get it mowed.

WHAT!!!????!!!

The next lawn wasn't so thick but it was full of surprises. I was mowing the front lawn while Nick did the edging.  He came running around the front of the house yelling, "Mom, there is a huge snake in the backyard!"  I turned off the mower and followed him to the back yard.  At the edge of the lawn, right were the woods started, was a huge snake.  I approached it carefully to get a better look.  It wasn't moving at all so I picked up a rock and threw it right in front of the snake.  It still didn't move.  We picked up a stick and poked the tail and, again, it did not move.  At this point I realized it was a very good fake and picked it up.  We both got a good laugh over it and Nick even posed for a picture.  

"Mom, there is a huge snake in the back yard!"

We finally finished with all the lawn mowing, grocery shopping and packing at 11 p.m. the night before the beach.

Oh, and we picked up Jeremy's glasses as well.  Doesn't he look handsome?!
"Mom, I can see things!"

What was Naomi busy doing during all this mowing and running around?  She worked on her fake injuries.  Here are two of my favorites.

Severed toe

Just plain ugly and OUCH!!!

The next blog is all about the beach!!!!