The Balloon Gal's Blog

Lunar New Year/Chinese New Year was February 17.

Jr. Jr., Jet, and I had already celebrated at the library earlier in the month but on the day, Jet and I went to the mall to see the Lion Dance parade.

Then we watched the fireworks there (usually when we watch them, we watch them from home because it's so close, but this was fun watching them by the fountain in the mall's courtyard). 

We went home and ate Chinese food and remembered to actually do fortune cookies this time. Woohoo.It was National Cabbage Day on the 17th. Perfect.

 

It was also Random Acts of Kindness Day and the next day, my son found this clip on his backpack.

It says, "Ur Amazing." Awwww. 

During December and January, Jet and I did a Winter Reading Challenge with Provo Library. We did some fun activities. We did some menu planning together. Jet and I went through cookbooks and he told me which recipes he wanted to do. 

January 29 was Corn Chip Day. That's the day we picked up some prizes. I chose corn chips for one of my prizes.That night was also Chinese New Year so we read an alphabet book about Chinese New Year and Jet and I went out to see the fireworks that night.
I started making Chinese food that day but we were busy so I think we ate what would have been our Chinese New Year meal a couple days later.

We got to see Jeremy's sister and brother in Washington. His other brother and family visited Utah after we got back. It was Pioneer Day, July 24, as was it National Cousins Day.

So our kids got to go with their cousins (the youngest of which we got to meet for the first time) to "Uncharted Worlds: A Journey with Giants" at Ashton Gardens at Thanksgiving Point. It is similar to Dinosaur Island which they had the last couple Summers there. 

That leatherback sea turtle looked menacing.

 

Pirate ship fun. "Ahoy, matey!" 

It was fun after watching Jet holding hands walking around with his older cousins at the zoo in Washington to watch Lucky doing the same thing with his little cousin.

Later Jeremy and Jr. were working on a project at home, so Jet and I went out for a drive up Kyhv Peak Road (it used to be known as Squaw Peak. It was hazy because of fires both in state and out) then a walk along the Provo River Parkway and by Bridal Veil Falls.

Afterwards we read a Provo Story Trail, "How Coyote Stole Fire," at Quail Orchard Park.

Since it was Pioneer Day, at the end of the day, Jet and I watched fireworks from the front lawn with our neighbor.

It was a big day but a good one full of family and fun.

The last couple days in Oregon with my parents (and brothers), we celebrated the 4th of July

and Jeremy and I got out for a little alone time- shopping to get ready for our trip to Washington then a picnic. The picnic was most relaxing. I love time in nature with my husband.

Jet loved watching the fireworks my brother set off on the 4th of July. It was fun to watch him watching them.

The day after, besides bonding time with Jeremy, my mom and I had some "dryer talk." We had been doing laundry and had turned on the dryer then just stood there and chatted for a while leaning against the dryer.

While packing up the van, Jeremy and some of the boys had fun with bamboo. You can blow into bamboo to make music and it's strong enough you can lift a little one.

I'll share more of our wonderful vacation later.