Grant turns 4!!!

Grant has been waiting FOREVER to have his birthday.  He was so excited when it finally came, especially since he was actually feeling better after being sick all week.  The girls made him special presents. (Ellie sewed hers, quite the involved project.  She made him a blanket with a baseball on front wearing a pirate hat and patch.)  Grant is a fun four-year-old.  He loves his sisters and does his best to please them (even almost picking birthday presents they liked instead of presents he really wanted).  He likes to ride bikes, play swords, wrestle with Spencer, play Wii with Daddy, tease his sisters, and bust some crazy dance moves.  He's been begging me to learn to read (poor, neglected 3rd child) and so we will start working on that soon.  He loves to have a cuddle and give hugs and kisses, and makes our home a happy place.

New York, New York

This year, I was supposed to go to Girls' Camp with the Young Women in our ward.  Then I got released and called to Relief Society.  Before this all happened, we'd made arrangements with Grandma Paula for her to come be with the kids while I went to camp.  Since she was still coming, Justin and I decided to celebrate our 10th Anniversary a little early (it happens next May, a time when Justin can't get away anyhow) and head to New York for a few days.  

We had a great time together, and ate out a lot because that is my favorite thing to do.  (I may or may not have planned our trips around restaurants, but whatever.)  Pay to go to the top of the Empire State Building? No thanks, I'll have some yummy breakfast.  In the end, our favorite food was toast and jam at the Clinton St. Baking Company.  Go figure.

We also saw the Symphony (Justin's request).  I enjoyed the first number, and had a hard time staying awake for the middle. But never fear, they played Star Wars as their encore, and I stayed awake for that.  The conductor was hilarious and made a point of noticing all those who entered late or clapped at the wrong time.  We also saw Newsies, but in the end I think I would have exchanged that for the ballet.  Next time we'll know.

Beyond that, some of our favorite time was spent in Central Park wandering around all by our lonesomes with nothing to do.  The simple things are great, that's for sure.

Serendipity:

Alice's Teacup:

The Met:

The Temple:

The High Line:

4th of July!

I love the 4th of July.  This year we did a parade. (Not as good as East Millcreek.  Lots of cars, and not very many floats or bands.  But they did throw candy, which made the kids happy.) Then we had a BBQ with some friends. (Thanks Moons and Wilsons for inviting us!)  And then, we crashed.... no fireworks for us.  Maybe someday we won't get so high on sugar and so low on energy that we just need to go to sleep at 8:00.  Justin and I watched the fireworks out our window while the kids snoozed.  (To my credit, I did try to wake Ellie up and invite her but she was so sound asleep that she didn't move when I shook her.)

Stop Growing Up!!!

Summer

Swimming:

A new bike from Grandma (without training wheels!)

Dane's Dairy:

Meg learns to tie her shoes:

 Spencer's Haircut:

Ellie writes a "Secret Kid" newspaper:

Some of us hide from the cold, wet pool: