Here's a little taste of my month…
Week 1:
Fourth of July – the hometown parade was pretty much a big WHA-WHA – there was only one real float in the whole she-bang, but I did get to hang out with my family for a while. We (mom, tob, liz, john and becca) went to the City's production of Thoroughly Modern Millie, which I quite enjoyed. I had seen it before at the Capital Theatre but couldn't see or hear much so it was a lot better the second time around.
Week 2:
My niece Erin came to visit. We had a birthday party for her and hung out with the family again. It's weird that she just turned 13! It was also cute to hear her touch of a southern accent…it did my hear good to hear the proper pronunciation of "sumthin." It's amazing when your nieces and nephews start becoming these grown up (albeit still little) people.
I also learned I need to become cleverer in my birthday/Christmas gift giving. For years I've been sending books to my kids thinking they MUST love to read…but I learned that that's not the case. Erin apparently hates reading…um, oops..though she does loves math, Sudoku and playing the clarinet (which I almost got her to admit that she LOVES playing it. Maybe I'll start sending her math books or clarinet reeds.
Week 3:
Went with aforementioned niece and my parents to the Oquirrh Hills temple open house. We had a nice time there and ate sandwiches in the car on the way home.
Spent the afternoon at the DI (Erin's favorite place to visit in Utah) because they don't have them in Tennessee. Should have spent more time looking for an extra set of jeans while I was there—I guess that's what tomorrow afternoon is for.
Saw Harry Potter #6 and have to admit I was less than impressed—too much snogging, not enough action.
The McDermott family reunion – another hot day, but it was nice to see cousins and my grandma. I made my favorite baked beans. Yum!
Week 4:
Handcarts days! I love watching the Handcart Days parade, but this year I didn't get to watch, I got to participate. Our Primary was invited to walk with the Stake's float. We had all of two kids show up but we had a fun time even though it was the hottest day of the year so far (103 degrees). I couldn't help but wonder why the pioneers couldn't have come to the Valley when it was a little cooler.
I also got to have my favorite treat – Cotton Candy!!! (Don't tell anyone I ate 2 of them myself! No wonder the Wii Fit just laughs at me lately). Cotton Candy incidentally (Amber) was invented for the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904 (is that Tob I hear breaking into song?) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton_candy)
I also apparently missed my sister and her kids who were supposed to have shown up for hotdogs and marshmallows in the back yard on the 23rd. I guess they must have stayed in Washington. Too bad, I really would have loved to see them.
Week 5:
Sent out my littlest nephew's birthday gift late (I'm sensing a theme this year, everyone's b-day gifts have been late). Started taking the stairs down from the 14th floor for a little exercise in the day – since I can't seem to get to done at home. Every day this week, except Thursday I've climb down 24 flights of stairs, each consisting of 12 steps). By the end of the week my legs have stopped feeling like jelly when I get back to my desk.
Along with that there's been the usual: laundry (at least 4 loads every week), homework (always waiting 'till the last minute), church stuff (never-ending), work.