Summer Rules #3: Shave Ice Testing

In accordance with the Summer Rules Bucket List (SRBL) we have been trying out shave ice locations. Jo and I tested this location one day after a trip to the library. As you can tell from the pictures Jo was enthusiastic about this particular offering. (She's throwing her head back with her mouth open in the first shot, her way of announcing she would like more. Completely unprompted.) I can't say that I blame her, it was definitely yummy. Tiger's blood with ice cream in the bottom.  Having only eaten shave ice once while actually in Hawaii, I don't know that I am truly qualified in this matter, but from what I recall of said experience, this shave ice was great. No beans though. Next time I am in Hawaii I really want to try the beans. Someone remind me.

This sugary food colouring high was brought to you by North Shore Hawaiian Shave Ice at 1304 North State Street in Orem.

Holiday Rule #1: Take pictures (or pray that someone else does)

Yesterday was one of my favorite Fourth of July celebrations ever. I'm no rookie - I've been doing this for 12 years now in a variety of locations with a splendid selection of folks. But holidays with Jo are really ridiculously better. And yesterday was no exception. Cousins, BBQ, swimming, fireworks. Good times, good times.

Such good times in fact that I completely forgot to take a single picture. Thank goodness for Hannah capturing our two visual memories for the day.

International Trip Rule #1: Get a passport

As I am sure you're aware, you have to get yourself a passport to travel internationally. Even if you are one.

Passports require pictures.

I took so many pictures today.

And not one of them will work. Though if I could I would use row 1 picture 2 or row 3 picture 4.

Hopefully Adam's pictures will be easier?

Summer Rules #2: Make Ice Cream

It wasn't on the Summer Rules Bucket List. But it definitely should have been.
Summer calls for ice cream. If you make it yourself, so much the better.

Proudly presenting, the first ice cream of the summer season:

Lemon Buttermilk Sherbet

All and sundry agree it was delicious. 

Rule #7: No sleep 'till Richmond (subsection a)

The original Rule #7 was a post that happened quite a while ago. This week I had a similar instance. Also quite hilarious.

Jo and I have been going to Mummy and Me swimming class for the last two weeks (check that off the summer to-do list! Yeah!)

If Jo had her way, this is all she would do for class. 

There's a lot of singing involved in the class. And crying babies. And it forced me to learn about swim diapers. And buy a second swim suit (for Jo - I'm still getting by on the suits I bought for Duck in 2010. At least I think it was 2010....). It's been a good couple of weeks. I have the best tan I've had since my summer as a camp counselor - don't get me wrong, I"m still pretty pasty compared to most.

Back to class and the singing. So, there's a song for everything - we do a washing machine song, we sing a modified version of "Ring-a-rosies," we also sing the wheels on the bus (am I the only one who sings that the wheel on the bus go all day long, not all through the town?) etc. Then there was a song I just couldn't figure out. For some reason they were singing about an Indian. I was lost. So for almost two weeks I am listening to this song (I didn't sing it - I was so perturbed by it) thinking to myself "Are we really singing about a 'red Injin'? This sounds so bad. ..." I couldn't for the life of me figure out what this Native American or inhabitant of India had to do with swimming, or why they were calling them a "red injin" with such a twang. Now, one of the side effects of class is that I am constantly singing the songs in my head (Who wouldn't be?). Yesterday as I was showering (where all great revelation strikes, I might add) the "Red Injin" song popped back into my head.
And lightning struck.
"Chugg, chugg went the little red ENGINE."

I am dying.

P.S. How can I brainwash Jo into saying "Mummy" instead of "Mommy"? Would that be confusing for her?

Summer Rules #1

As yesterday was officially the first day of summer, and as I have been working on creating it for at least two weeks now, here is my official Summer 2013 bucket list:


Camping
Grilling
Cascade Springs
Stewart Falls
Late night Sonic run
Campfire
Smores
Tinfoil Dinners
Pick your own produce
Parade
Zoo
Splash Pad
Pineview Reservoir or Willard Bay (or both!)
Snow Cones (As suggested by Hannah - we are on a hunt for the most Hawaiian ones we can find)
Hanna
Carnival/Fair
Drive In
Eat Breakfast Out
Sunday Picnic
Farmers Market
Swimming lessons
Sports game
Fireworks
Hike the Y
Ice Cream Truck
Tubing
Paddling Pool
Feed the ducks
Hot Air Balloons (so excited about this!)

I love a good list. And some accountability.....

Birthday Rule #2: Jo is one

Where did that year go?

Oh how we love this girl!