Grandpa's done it again!

Grandpa got a new puppy today! Robert went with him, Grandma, and cousin Alex to pick her up this afternoon. We all got to meet the new little Yorkie when they dropped Robert off. Kate is hoping Grandma picks the name Annie for the puppy, which is the name of one of the main characters in the Magic Treehouse book series that has been part of our bedtime routine for about a year now. Since Ben and I aren't choosing the name Jack (the other character) for the new baby - a great disappointment to Kate - maybe Grandma can make her happy. In any case, the puppy is an exciting addition.

And yet another - James looses a tooth on the same day!

Twins indeed!

Another first - Kate looses a tooth

Tooth Fairy doesn't get this one. She wants to keep the her first.

Soccer Camp

All three kids participated in a REAL soccer camp last week and had a fabulous time. A few shots from the week are below.

Demolition Derby

Some friends of ours have an annual 24th of July party at their ranch in Central Utah. That same evening is the annual Fairview Demolition Derby. We attended both the party and the derby on Saturday. When we told the kids about the derby, Robert asked if we could walk. He was worried about our van getting crashed into. After a bit more of an explanation, everyone was anxious to see this thing where people paint their cars funny and intentionally crash into each other. The event did not disappoint. Kate's favorite car was "the pink one." It didn't win in its heat, but came in second in the final Wipe Out session. Robert liked the pink car and the yellow car. James said the one he picked won the Wipe Out. Interesting event. Interesting crowd. The kids want to go again next year.
That's the Fairview royalty leading the crowd in the National Anthem. I've never heard it sung from the top of cars that were about to destroy each other.



One of the heats had a few cars that were especially loud. Many people were plugging their ears. Because I was trying to balance three open soda cans, I could only plug one ear. Kate tried helping me out by plugging my other ear, but, of course, that left one of her ears unplugged She quickly came up with a solution we used for the remainder of the heat. Clever, funny girl!
There's that pink car Kate loved . . .

Robert, a few weeks before turning 3

This boy is growing up. Seems like a lot of change in him just in the last few months. Here are a few recent photos that do a good job catching his developing personality.

I signed this almost-three-year-old up for the age 3-5 soccer camp that took place last week and they took him. He was so excited to be able to go to camp and had no trouble keeping up with all the others in his group.

All. By. My. Self. (The shorts are on backwards, but so what.)
(Wish his almost-six-year-old brother and sister would do the same.)

This is him in the middle of working on a bead project. Total concentration from start to finish. And, very proud of himself.

A nap on the way to a family outing.

He loves to play with his brother and sister. He can do just about everything they can do.

Judd - State Party Vice Chair

The State Democratic Convention was held on Saturday. My uncle Jim is the new Democratic Party Vice Chair! My first experience in politics was canvassing for him in a Clearfield City race many years ago. He didn't win that race (tough for a Democrat in Davis County), but through it I learned that there was a Democrat in the Judd family. In fact, not just one, but two. Grandma Judd was a Democrat too! Cause to panic or cause to think?

Funny to think back to that experience and political awakening given my opinions and political leanings and involvement today.

Anyway, congratulations Uncle Jim! You will do the Democrats and the Judds proud, I am certain!

An unexpected photo shoot

Equality Utah was doing some taping for a promo video to show at their upcoming Allies Dinner. They asked Ben to come down to tape a segment and invited the family to come. I had no interest in appearing on camera, but thought the idea of taking Kate down sounded fun. Ben said Kate had a great time and they ended up taking several shots just for fun. Tika, a friend and the fundraiser for EU, just sent several images. Attached are three of my favorites. So precious!

4th of July - REAL soccer

Two of my brothers were in town for the 4th of July weekend. It was fun to spend time with them and their kids. We all enjoyed an exciting REAL soccer game the evening of the 4th that was followed by fireworks. James, especially, was into the game from start to finish. He's been asking to go again ever since.




Kate insisted on bringing her pillow pets to the game. She's had the penguin since Christmas, but just bought the unicorn one with her very own money. She saved her allowance for 10 weeks to buy it. She passed up games and treats at Lagoon when the only way to get them was to use her own money and also the competing desire to add to her zhu zhu pet collection a time or two in order to buy her unicorn pillow pet as soon as possible. Both needed a good washing after the soccer game.

Sharing a snow cone with Sidney.

Not sure how many cotton candy balls out crowd when through.

Happy Independence Day!!!

bowling with cousins

We also went bowling with cousins while they were in town. Robert won the game on our lane and was rightfully proud of his performance. Everyone had a great time and it was fun to celebrate each others' spares and strikes and also share in some disappointments together.

Of course, James spent some time multi-tasking between turns as Olivia and Kate observed.

Ice Cream with G&G

Nathan's kids earned their ice cream by happily helping Grandma weed her yard. My kids just got lucky by being at Grandma's house when the ice cream outing took place. Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa!

Garden progress

Just about every night Ben makes it home before bedtime, he and the kids spend a while checking out the progress of their garden. Tomatoes, a favorite of everyone in our family, are doing fantastic this year. A couple more weeks and we'll have our fill of fresh, garden tomatoes ready to be eaten just as they are, made up into salsa, over pasta, or any number of other ways. Kate and Robert are sitting in front of the majority of the tomato plants in the photo above. Pumpkins (a few varieties) are progressing well in the lower space seen in the photo below.
And, our ambitious gardeners have attempted corn for the first time this year. It's lined up there along the fence in the photo below and seems to be coming along nicely.

The Water Tower

So much for keeping safe by bubble wrapping my kids. Ben has gone to the other extreme by building the ultimate summer-accident-waiting-to-happen apparatus. In the mean time, kids are keeping cool by playing with their new PVC water tower.

The tower is equipped with a traditional sprinkler on the top and the corners include a water gun, spraying station, bucket and water balloon filling hose, and a four-headed snake-like random water sprayer. Each feature has its own shut-off valve so the kids can control the water pressure to minimize or maximize their chosen activity.

I have to say, it is pretty cool and the kids are having a blast playing with and around it. Fingers crossed that no injuries result . . .