We started out the month of July with Brynlee and Summer both running a fever so I ended up staying home from church with them. The next day they were both still running a little bit of a fever but I had to go to the doctor and do the three hour glucose test so luckily my mom still watched them and both of my other girls for me. Brynlee and Summer were both feeling better by lunchtime and neither had a fever for the rest of the day so we were able to go ahead and go to the library for the carnival they had the next day. This was also they day that I found out I had gestational diabetes so I had to run to the pharmacy and pick up all the things I needed to keep track of my blood sugar and from that point on I had to watch what I ate and get some exercise each day.
The next day was the fourth of July. It was sad to have to miss out on all the fourth of July treats but I survived and still got to enjoy a hamburger and some fruit. My mom and grandma both left for Texas to be there for my aunt Lisa's wedding so we got to watch and pick all the vegetables from grandma's garden for the next week. It was nice to have all the fresh veggies to eat. we picked a lot of squash, cucumbers, and okra that week as well as a big head of cabbage. Joel came and helped me pick things a few times and we all thinned grandma's peach trees while we were there. We also went on a family walk along the Kuna greenbelt one night after we were done picking.
On Friday we went and met some friends at the Kuna beach. The kids had a blast playing in the water and playing with their friends.
On Saturday we went to visit Joel's parents so we could pick some raspberries. We picked lots and then the girls had fun catching tadpoles and playing in the water trough and canoeing in the little canal by their house. Later that night Joel went with his brother Jake to watch the Meridian Speedway and he had fun doing that.
The next week started out with the girls having some friends over to play. Brynlee got to go to her first Activity Days which she loved and then I went to parenting class and we all went swimming at the pool after the class. My girls have been waiting for Brynlee to get her cast off all summer so we could play in that pool. There were a lot of bigger kids in there and a lot of splashing was going on so Summer didn't last for more than an hour. I went to a RS activity that night but since it was just a dinner and I couldn't really eat any of the food it wasn't super exciting.
On Wednesday of that week, Brynlee went to a birthday party for a friend, we went to the library, grandma returned from her trip, and we went and played at another friends house. I had another Doctor appointment on Thursday and my mom was kind enough to watch all my girls for me while I went. We had some friends over on Friday and then my sisters both came over and the kids all had a blast playing with water balloons and in our pool in the backyard. I went and got my haircut that night.
The next week started with me getting released from my calling at church as a primary teacher. I will miss teaching but I wasn't super sad about the release, I was ready for a break. We had a fun day spent at Roaring Springs on Monday. The next day I went to parenting class again. On Wednesday I ended up getting really sick with the UTI that sent me to the Emergency room. My mom took the kids to the library and had them for the day. My sister in law Heather came and got Annalyn that night and took some picture of her for me. She took Anna out for ice cream after wards. Annalyn loved all that individualized attention and had fun posing for the camera. Luckily we were still able to leave for our cabin trip and we had so much fun doing that. When we came home from the cabin we went to grandma Hirtle's house to see Tyson who had just returned from a two year mission to Ghana, South Africa.
We went to church in his ward on Sunday with lots of our family and we got to hear him give a talk and share some of the experiences that he had. Then we went to Aunt Joanna's house for dinner and the girls had a great time playing with all of their cousins. I had anther Dr. check-up on Monday and I made all the kids come with me. This was the first time I had to take everyone and they all complained about coming but they were good for me. I spent the next day washing baby clothes so I could see what I still need to buy. Joel took Kyla on her date night that night. They went to McDonald to eat and then they went and played in the splash pad. They ended the night by getting some treats from Walmart and they had a great time together.
My new ministering sister came over on Wednesday. I haven't had any in a while and I missed it. That night we went to Joel's work party and the kids had an absolute blast. They had everything set up like a big carnival with lots of games and prizes. The girls all got their face painted, they got cotton candy, saw an owl up close, won a real live gold fish that we got to take home, ate some more yummy food, Summer got a balloon, and they all got to go on a pony ride. Summer loved riding that pony and did not want to get off so she got to go on two rides. We came home with all sorts of prizes and treats. We had to set up a fish tank for our fish and we got some food from my parents. Summer must have gotten ahold of the fish food and fed the fish because it was only a few days later that we woke up to a tank full of food and two dead fish. Brynlee and Kyla were devastated. Annalyn's fish was now the only one still alive and it lasted for a few more days before it died too. So much for having some pet fish.
On Thursday we spent the day at grandma Verna's house and Joel took the kids to visit his parent's that night because I had book group at our house. On Friday my mom watched all my kids for me so I could take Brynlee school shopping. We got all her supplies, some new shoes, and two new outfits before she was ready to go home. We also got some lunch and Brynlee got some ice cream. I would have bought Brynlee more clothes but she did not enjoy trying those clothes on. I also wanted to get her a new backpack but she insisted that it had to have the same design as her last backpack and we couldn't find one that would work so she is just going to use the same one she has had since kindergarten. We still had a fun day together and I am glad I got to spend some alone time with her. That doesn't happen as much as I would like. Then Joel took Annalyn on her date night that night. They went shopping and then to McDonalds and to Wahooz and it sounds like they had a pretty good time together. My aunt Lisa and her girls came in on Saturday night and we got to see them the next day at grandma's house for dinner. I got to help with a primary class on Sunday and Joel took Monday and Tuesday off of work. The girls and I spent a little more time visiting with Lisa. It is always lots of fun to visit with them.
Joel built us a new entertainment center this month and I love it. He made it out of old wood window blinds. He also helped my brother Brian put some new flooring in his house. I spent some time making apricot and raspberry fruit leather. The kids loved the apricot but the raspberry stuff was way too seedy for their liking.
The girls also spent time playing with their tadpoles in the garage. Eventually it got too hot for them out there and they all died. Brynlee lost another tooth so now she is missing her two front teeth. I love her toothless grin. The tooth that has been missing up there is finally coming through right now. We went to the park and played a few time, rode bikes and played outside. Joel and the girls ate lots of popsicle to try and stay cool. The girls played lots of house, barbies, and doctor. They like to pretend to have broken bones. We ate some fresh corn from grandma's garden, played in the water, and spent lots of time with family.
