Happy Birthday to me!

Well I thought I'd be better at keeping up with the blog now that I'm feeling better, but apparently not.  Summer is if full swing here on the surface of the sun and pretty much the only time I take Kenna outside is early in the morning to swing or go for a walk or if we are headed to the pool.  All the pools have now heated up to a nice lukewarm bathwater temperature so its not super refreshing, but it's better than nothing I suppose.  I have also had to put a freeze on my shopping habits.  This has been devastating to both Kenna and I but it is not worth melting between the car and the store in the middle of the afternoon.

My parents came to visit earlier in the month.  It was supposed to be a visit in which my dad helped finish the patio cover, but since Nate finished that earlier this month we found lots of other things for him to do.  He fixed some odds and ends around the house, installed a screen door in our backdoor, and helped Nate poor 6x10 concrete slab under the other half of the patio cover.  The screen door has been worth its weight in gold.  Now, at least that door closes when people are going in and out so that the heat doesn't come wafting in.   The concrete is also nice.  We had Kenna put her footprint in it and we now have ample room for seating in the shade.

My mom was nice enough to clean all my bathrooms for me! Nate has been doing that since I've been pregnant, but let's face it - no one knows how to clean like a mom.  I am not confident that they are (or were) germ free.  She was also nice enough to give in to Kenna's repeated requests to go outside.  I think she was sweating in the sun the entire time she was here, but Kenna was in heaven.

 My parents brought out my old ballet costumes so now Kenna is permanently dressed up in tutus.

After they left, Nate decided he was bored and that building things was a nice thing he could do when Kenna was in bed so he started on some seating to go on our new slab of concrete.  He built six cedar chairs that connect to form a sectional.  We decorated them with some cushions from Lowe's and voila- we are fancy and set for the remaining 9 months of the year when the sun doesn't scorch your eyes out and you actually enjoy being outside.  Just kidding. We get to enjoy it in the morning and evenings.  Once the sun goes down it is kind of pleasant. 

Father's Day was a hit.  Kenna picked out Nate's present all by herself.  She got him a soccer ball and something called "fireball."  Its a little like lacrosse without the sticks and a net that lights up.  We cooked a delicious dinner and had fun spending the day together.  Kenna kept telling Nate, "Happy Daddy Day!"  We sure are lucky to have such a good dad in our house.  He helps with everything that needs to be done and spends tons of time with Kenna, who adores him.  

 
 Poor Nate trying to have a nap and taking one for team fatherhood.

Funny story this month- We randomly found this baby duck at the pond.  A lady walking there told us it had followed her home and she couldn't find its family but she didn't want it.  What else were we supposed to do but bring it home with us? It latched on to Kenna and she ran to whole way home giggling while it waddled after her.  We filled up a pool for it and let her play with it for a while.  She's run across the yard and it would chase her.  She thought it was awesome and it was really cute to watch.  Unfortunately when we went inside for church the duck just disappeared without a trace.  We had absolutely on idea what happened to it.  Kenna was devastated so if she asks, I'm expecting you to all stick to the story we told her - that's its mom and dad came to pick it up.  It sure was fun to have a pet duck for a day.

Nate and Jarom have also started coaching lacrosse.  Some kids in the ward signed up for a summer league and had no coach so they were recruited.  Kenna is napping during the heat of the day which means she gets to stay up late and go to the games.  We had our fist game on Tuesday and Kenna was really excited.  The whole way there she kept asking, "Where is the crotch game?" to which Nate would very firmly reply, "LACROSSE!!  IT'S LACROSSE!!"  She got it by the end of the night and had a great time yelling for the boys.  She had no idea what was going on but new to cheer when everyone else did.

I had a bit of bad news this month.  I failed my pregnancy glucose screen and was told I had to go in for the full 3 hour test.  So I drove an hour to my dr's downtown office, got stuck in the arm, drank that disgusting sugar drink, waited around and got stuck 3 more times over the course of the next three hours.  My arms are still a little bruised but the good news is the test came back normal.

The Hollands came for a short visit on their way from Germany to Provo.  It was great to see them and the girls had a ton of fun playing together!

Now on to the important stuff - my birthday.  Just kidding.  I have spent the day doing laundry, going to the gym and playing barbies.  I'm not complaining I really like my life and every so  often Kenna will remember that it is my birthday and say, "Happy birthday, boo!"  What more could I ask for?  Nate took me out last night.  We went shopping and went to dinner.  I got to pick out my own present and we got to enjoy dinner at the Cheesecake factory.  It was a great night and it's always nice to enjoy spending time without the rugrat.  Lix is taking me to lunch this afternoon and my mom is flying in tonight to take me to dinner!  Good day all around.  The only thing I'm still waiting on is the one present I told Nate I wanted - a birthday card colored by Kenna.  We'll see if he delivers. 

Life is good and we are happy.  And also Happy Birthday to my great father-in-law, Bruce, who is lucky enough to share his birthday with me!

Kenna is very excited to be a big sister and asks to where her big sister shirt literally every day.  When she grows up she says she wants to be a big sister.

Kenna loves to be fancy and wants to pick out her own clothes and wear her sparkle shoes every day.  She asks to get dressed and fix her hair as soon as she wakes up every morning and then puts on her sparkle shoes and accessories.  She is adorable!

Shade

Anyone that has been in Texas for a few hours during the summertime knows that it is absurdly hot here.  We go swimming for an hour, put sun block all over us, and we still come home scorched.  I decided to fight back this summer, so I used Jarom and Alixa's home as a reference and build some shade.  Their home has this gigantic patio cover with enormous timbers which gives them ample shade to sit in while the kids wander around in the backyard picking up rocks.  I sat under it for a long time and thought that maybe I could build one.

The first thing that I did was come up with the design.  When I say that I came up with the design, I really mean that I called Brigham (Kenzie's dad) and Kevin Slaugh (my best friend growing up who builds stuff) and sent them plans.  My initial draft did not pass inspection and they told me that I needed to pour footers.  I didn't even know what a footer was so I knew this was going to be a big project.  I got to work though and googled "footer".  Then I realized what they were talking about.  It really means that you dig a hole and fill it with concrete.  So I thought it would be a good father-daughter experience for Kenna to help me dig 50 inch holes.  I started digging, and about 40 inches down I turned around to get a shovel and Kenna managed to fall right in the hole.  When I turned around again she was gone.  Needless to say, she was just a bit hesitant to "help" after that.

I was frequently calling Kevin and Brigham to ask them questions and get their advice on what kind of ties to get or what to put where.  They were a great help and I always appreciate them helping me on my projects.  This was definitely the biggest one that I have tackled so far.

The rest of the planning and building went off without a hitch.  I went and picked up the 6x6x10 posts from Lowes and saved 20 bucks for renting a truck by putting them in the Altima.  200 dollars later I replaced the windshield that I busted out with the posts.  I decided to go the safer route for the rest of the wood and picked it all up in the rented truck.  Here are pictures of the project from start to finish.  I had to leave it unattached to the home because anything attached to the house requires a permit. 

We already love the shade and spend way more time outside.  Sadly, finishing this project just made us want to extend the concrete pad and get some outside patio furniture, but that will have to wait a few weeks.

Funny story of the week.  Kenzie and I both teach a primary class full of 7 year old rug rats.  One of the tattled on another kid and told me that "Thatcher was not being good and was talking without raising his hand".  I thought I would take the opportunity to teach the kids something.  I made everyone settle down and I asked "Does anyone know what a snitch is?"  The whole class erupted with hands shooting up everywhere and kids doing the oh-oh pick me dance.  I picked Thatcher and he says "It's the ball that they play with in Harry Potter".  The kids went on to explain the game of quittage to me and I realized that my teaching moment was gone.  This generation of kids won't get it when you tell them that nobody likes a snitch.  Kids nowadays.