Gutter of Fire 2011

Our neighbors threw another "Gutter of Fire" party to celebrate Pioneer Day. Since the aerial fireworks were legalized in Utah this year, they didn't have to worry about the fire department showing up (like last year).

Pioneer Day 2011

For Pioneer Day this year we set off a few little fireworks in our backyard.

Smoke bombs, blossoms, and tanks are some of the boys' favorites.

I love this shot of Brandon.

After setting off the tanks so that they shoot at each other, the boys love to set the remains on fire with sparklers.

There was a specific look they were going for, as demonstrated by the photos (below) that they took the next morning.

Are you wondering what is going on with Buttermilk Sky here? So am I.

The boys could not have been more content that evening, having the opportunity to express their inner pyro.

The Far Grandma and Grandpa Visit

We love it when the Far Grandma and Grandpa come to visit.

I just wish I'd remembered my camera when we played laser tag!

Another Use for Silly Putty

Shortly after this, some silly putty horns appeared on me. I neglected to take a picture.

Far Grandma (after laughing): Horns? That should be a halo on your mother's head.

Onion Ring: Well, maybe sometimes. But the horns are accurate, too.

The Dollar Store Feast...Again

After the last Dollar Store Feast, the boys and their friends immediately began making plans for another--only bigger and better. Last week they carried out their plans, accumulating twenty six dollars for the occasion (As opposed to eleven the last time, and there was actually a time before that using three dollars. Hmmm, it's like a number sequence. Is there a pattern? Can we predict what the next number will be?).

I think they all felt rather sick after this. Talk of Dollar Store Feasts has currently ceased.

A River Runs Over It

Several weeks ago we went on a bike ride to see how high the river and lake were. The snowpack in the mountains was at a record high this year--200 percent of normal levels--so flooding has been a concern. Luckily the spring was fairly cool and so the snow has melted at a steady rate, slowly enough to prevent much flooding. Normally spring temperatures are much warmer. However, the water levels are higher than we've ever seen, so we went to check it out.

Although Junior has learned to ride his bike, he has not been eager at all to continue riding it. He has to be coaxed and cajoled. We brought his bike along, contrary to his desires, and at one point stopped and got it out so he could ride. He reluctantly did so (some screaming and crying occurred at some point) but we quickly put him back in the trailer and rode off, abandoning all such efforts because of the horrific mosquito attack that we encountered. They literally swarmed us and swarming mosquitoes make me panic.

Doesn't Brandon look hot on his low rider?

We didn't see any flooding until we got close to the lake. The river flowed over the trail in one spot.

And the road.

You can see that the lake doesn't usually come up this far because of the trees.

Water + rocks + boys = this...

and this...

and this...

and this...

The Dollar Store Feast

This week the boys collectively pulled one thousand and one hundred weeds, earning eleven dollars. (Yes, I pay one penny per weed. Am I generous or what!!?) Then the two eldest and two of their friends set off on their bikes for the dollar store with backpacks on their backs containing only small coolers containing only blue ice. They returned with the coolers full of popsicles and the backpacks full of pop, chips, candy, and silly putty (for the two youngest). Then the feast commenced.

Did you know that silly putty has many uses...

...including making angry eyes?