July 2013 and Graduation

 July was filled to the brim! Here's our calendar to prove it: 

First was Family Fun Day with Katie and Nick's families. We had tons of fun at the North Ogden Aquatic Center, went on a bike ride along Riverdale's river trail, and then camped in Katie's backyard. 

True to fashion, Katie had a creative and funny idea to stake out our tent sites.

The night ended with sparklers.

And the morning after brought all the cousins together, sleeping bag-mussed and tent-tired.

The 4th of July! Covey made that hat and flag at school and knew the words to "What's More American?".

Riverdale's Parade. I just loved seeing all the cousins together.

Finn just realized "if mom's taking this picture...then that's not mom holding me".

BBQ and games at Aunt Cristie's.

You know if you get people together long enough a game of Red Rover is bound to erupt. 

Btw, no shirt, no problem Nixon. 

"Red Rover Red Rover, send Ella right over!"

 A Sunday afternoon brought the Meldrums over for a visit. 

So cute! Stacey, Mitchell, and baby Jay, due September 20th!

We got to babysit Nixon! He was so much fun to have over.

Looks like Nixon learned the PA way to check a heartbeat. 

Pure Texan.

Faye's 6th Birthday!

Her party started with a water balloon fight.

 Miss Faye Pants. So stinkin' beautiful inside and out!

 Nick always gets so sweaty and nervous for pictures.

Present time!

Silly Finn, these gifts aren't for you. 

 I love how happy she looks. She got the exact cake she requested to the last detail.

 Little Valley Days in Mantua.

Covey helping Uncle Jason launch a pop bottle rocket.

Grandpa Nelson and Finn. 

In the background it looks like Covey is up to something. 

A little baseball.

Pretending to be a Big Leaguer. Come on, Pitcher, right over the plate! Pa-Tooey! 

 Oh yeah. A double. And this is how we do it on second base.

Finn's pulling the skeptical hippo look but Matt's too sexy to pass this pic up. Yiyah!

 Wrestling with Grandpa. Matt says his dad is the best wrestler he's...ever...wrestled.

Haha! Amazed by the extremely close fireworks!

 Sometimes when we're fed up with the boys we put them in this hole under the house. Don't worry, they get enough oxygen through this opening. (ahem. We're really at the zoo.)

Waiting anxiously for Ryan Shupe to perform. 

Judging by the man in front of Covey, this concert is gonna get wild. 

Waiting patiently for his turn on the tramp at gymnastics with Faye. 

Covey explaining that he has waited long enough.

Covey mastered "blending" during preschool this year as well as his one and two-vowel rules and all his shapes and counting backwards from 20. He passed his assessment with his teacher and with the Headmaster and was cheered by his class as he received his "Blending Badge"! His name was put on the Bulletin Board in the hall (on a car because he keeps his "motor running" when he reads :).

Last year for his Alphabet Crown, I made him a cake. This year he wanted to go to Orange Leaf for ice-cream with his buddy, Kayson. Let's just say Covey can get a little crazy about ice cream. 

Getting pedicures/manicures for Katie's birthday!

 Getting more used to the splash pad.

 Last day of preschool. His teachers this year were Miss Cheyenne and Miss Gayle. Miss Gayle was so sweet and gushed over Covey. And he loved her back!

 Finn loves to "talk" on the "phone". It could be anything he holds up to his ear, but when he was first figuring it out, this was how he did it. Back of the neck. "Why can't Grandma hear me??"

 Yay! Another Nixon day! Poor guy broke his leg on a trampoline and had to wear a cast for a week.

"Hey, no cameras!"

 Covey's version of "bunny ears".

Just being Covey :)

We went to the Days of '47 parade for the first time. I loved it! It really puts all the 4th of July parades to shame. Look who it is! Yee-haw, President Uchtdorf!

Eating his giant donut. I also bought "pioneer candy" (lemon drops and rootbeer barrels) for all the kids but they weren't interested in it. Weird, huh?

Sweet Mitchell. Covey's still working on that donut!

(Is that lady in the background holding an invisible camera?)

Look how awesome! I may have to boycott Riverdale's parade.

 Art projects from school.

Dog pile on Uncle Nick! Donuts in hand and Finn's Potato Head glasses :)

My busy bees wiping the appliances. They better hurry up or it's back to the hole they go. 

Finn loves glasses (and hats) as you can see. He got these little beauties from Lucie's birthday party and loves to wear them.

 Checking out the quality of the orange juice before he checks out. (PS look at Covey's cute little bum!)

Neighborhood watchin'.

Thankfully, Matt had 2 days back at school before graduation. The first day, Covey and I made decorations for his surprise party. The second day I spent making this cake. I added buttons on the pocket and stitch marks along the "seams" after I took this picture.

At Daddy's GRADUATION!!

Giving his "speech".

Many people made mention in their speeches about the "Backrow Guys". These were the only sane people in the program. Seriously. Pictured: Jeremy, Alex, Andy...

...Travis...

...Mike...(Matt's first Australian friend)

..."Backrow Chad" (not to be confused with Montana Chad or Gay Chad)...

...and of course, Matt!

No, this isn't an Abercrombie ad, it's Covey. 

Graduation Party at the Melum's house! He was very surprised!

Covey's poster was awesome. He came up with what to say on it and I wrote it out for him on a sticky note for him to look at. Then, I drew the red crosses and he cut them out and glued them on himself. The picture is Matt (see the beard?) going to the hospital to work. By the way, it says "Hip Hip Hooray for our P.A." not "Pa" as the group at the party thought. Silly family.

Kaitlin and Brock endlessly entertaining Finn. They are so great with him!

He loved the cake!

Yes, Matt. YOU did it. It was a little bit Me, but mostly You.

The party ended with a little kid Karaoke and shooting contest. Justin won, for the record.

Covey's third Home Depot craft. 

At Andy's graduation party in Heber! Covey is convinced he loves Spiderman, even though he has never seen a Spiderman movie or read a Spiderman book. But that's ok. He is the cutest Spiderman I've ever seen!

I love how you can see the crinkles in the white paint because he was squeezing his eyes shut so tight.

Then it was time to dress their dog up in one of their white coats....

 ...and then...

 ...burn them in a fiery inferno.

And bringing home a sleeping Spiderman. Rest easy, law-breakers. He's takin' the night off.