Fourth of July and Monument Park

Holy dang, I can not believe that it is already July 10th.  This summer is flying by WAY too fast!  Ryley starts his second year of medical school on August 1st, and we have heard that this year is killer.  He takes his boards next summer, so this is really our very last "normal" summer together.  But so far, it has been great, and we have lots of fun plans coming up.  Here is some of what we have been up to:

As usual, Logan and I spend a good majority of our time at the zoo.   Lately Logan has fallen in love with this "Gator" and loves to just sit on him and watch other kids play.

Love this kid.  Whenever he sees me chewing gum he ask, "What in Mouth?", and when I say gum he puts his little hand under my chin and demands that I, "Pit it out." :)  

About a week ago Logan and Ryley were playing with the neighbor's dog.  The dog got a little bit too excited and bit Logan on his tummy.  I was so worried, and cleaned it like crazy every 12 hours, but it has closed up nicely and is now just a little scar. 

Here is Logan on the 4th of July last year....

And here is our big boy on the Fourth of July this year!  He is such a little nut.  He is so smart, and loves to tell jokes.  He speaks in sentences, and can count to ten and recite part of his ABC's.  He loves to read stories and tell his own stories to anyone who will listen. :) He knows all of his body parts, and has recently started asking to "poop in the potty."  I just don't know if I am ready for that big adventure. :)  He has the funniest sense of humor, and loves to pull pranks on me and his dad.  Logan is very friendly, and as we walk through the zoo, or the mall, or the store, or church. he waves and yells, "Hi! How doing?" to everyone we see.  He is also a little mocking bird, and surprises us every day by reciting words we had no idea he heard.  The other day we saw a baby bunny, and when it ran away Logan asked me where it had gone.  I told him this long story about how it had to go home to it's mom, and read stories, and eat a snack, and say its prayers, and go to sleep (because it was also Logan's bedtime.)  He watched me with the most inquisitive eyes, and at the end of the story thought for a minute, and then said, "OK," and nodded his little head, like he was accepting what I had told him.  A little while later he told me the same story, but replaced "bunny" with "dinosaurs."  :) 

We had so much fun on the 4th this year, and I am so grateful to live in a country where I can celebrate and live with my family in peace.  We are so incredibly blessed to have a warm home, good food, clean water, and each other.  I am so thankful for all the men and women who have fought and continue to fight for the freedoms that I take for granted every day.  God Bless America!

He loves to go on walks and views the stroller as an instrument of torture due to the fact that he can't jump out and grab everything he sees.

At the neighborhood 4th of July breakfast in front of the firetruck with Daddy.  

The firefighters were spraying this big "slip'n slide" at the breakfast.  Ryley wasn't planning on going down it when we walked down (hence the jeans), but his Young Men talked him into it.  :)

At Liberty Park with a snow cone

Us!

We got to spend the day with Kayla, Aaron, and Zoa.  It was so much fun!

My 4th of July cheesecake.  Melskitchencafe.com has become one of my best friends. :)  I have seriously never ever been disappointed by a recipe from there.  

Another creation from Melskitchencafe.com.  Giant Cookie!

It really is giant... and SO easy.  It makes the perfect "Thank you" or "Welcome to the neighborhood" gift. 

Last week Logan and I visited This is the Place Park.  Logan loves running around with the baby animals, riding on the trains, and panning for gold.



Within the next month or so we will be heading to the beach in Oregon and traveling to St. George to visit family.  Yeah!