My Heart Home

July was the BEST MONTH EVER because we got to spend it in Utah with Nonna, Ppa, and Auntie Sam.  Lillian and Freya could hardly contain themselves on our 14 hour drive.  We made it in record time because they didn't want to stop for anything, not even lunch.

When people ask me what we do for an entire month at my mom's house I always feel a little bit lame because my answer isn't very exciting.  We hang out. We enjoy life, family, green grass, and being in a place we all love.  The feeling I get as we leave Sardine Canyon and enter Cache Valley can only be described as joy.  My heart feels full to bursting.  Every fiber of my being is singing.  We all cheer!  It is what I call my heart home because my heart is happy there.  

My girls spend every moment they can outside playing in the grass.

 This summer they claimed two of my sister's guinea pigs as their own and toted them around from dawn until dusk.

 Freya loved her "baby" Miss Poppins.

Lillian became instantly attached to Daisy, who was by far the best snuggler.

They kidnapped Hammy from my sister's basement apartment and loved to sit and watch her run on her wheel.  I think it may have hypnotized them because they held really still.

 Auntie Sam has plenty of animals for these little girls to dote on. If I had to choose I would say they loved their guinea pigs, the hamster, and this adorable little kitten the most.  They called him Tom Kitten after the naughty little kitty in the Beatrix Potter story.

When they weren't loving on animals they were playing with fairies,

 wrestling with Oliver (who was also in heaven),

 or bugging Ppa for snacks and books.

Don't get me wrong. We don't sit around and do nothing for an entire month.  We spent some time at the dam with cousins.

We collected rocks and made boats and umbrellas out of leaves.

One day we took the train to Salt Lake to see dinosaur bones.

After seeing all the dinosaurs and watching a paleontologist uncover some fossils, Lillian decided she may want to add paleontologist to her list of career choices, right next to Face Painter. 

We celebrated the 4th of July and Pioneer Day with parades, fireworks, festivals, and barbecues.  At home I feel like these two holidays pass by pretty much unnoticed. That hurts my heart! The 4th of July is my favorite holiday. I love the way all the small towns celebrate the day like it is Christmas in July.  My cousin got up and put our chairs and blankets out at 5:00 AM the morning of the 4th so we could have awesome seats for the Hyrum parade. Both of us kind of have the "Go Big or Go Home" mentality and will gladly spend all day hitting up different parades to get in as much celebrating as possible.

 The family fireworks show was a hit and ended with a search for all the little parachute men who came flying out of the Paratrooper Fireworks.

I got our spot saved for the Pioneer Day parade the night before so we were extra prepared for that celebration!  Before heading to the parade we hit up the festival for some yummy treats and fun games. 

I think it is safe to say we got enough candy from both of these parades to last us a month or two!

This summer was especially fun because some cousins came up to visit for a few of the weeks we were there.  Everybody knows that cousin fun is the best fun!  We met for shaved ice several times and each kid ordered a different flavor so they could all have a bite.

 The Slip and Slide kept them busy for hours. First they slid down and then they tried climbing up.

 One day they set up a hospital. They even had an ambulance stroller.

 They picked apples straight off the tree. They were still a little green but that didn't stop them.

 Other than that they pretty much ran wild outside looking for trolls, building forts, and doing who knows what else.

My girls aren't the only people who had fun.  I enjoyed every minute spent at my mom's this summer. I loved teaching the girls at Uinta Academy, trail riding in the mountains, talking with my mom and sister, watching The Great British Baking Show with my step-dad, and staying up late with my aunt and cousin.  

When we left the valley early in the morning at the end of July my heart stopped singing. Especially now that school has started I miss my time in my heart home. I long for cool evenings laughing with my family and slow mornings with these two little girls. I miss the joy.