Fourth of July

 How glad we are that Camille and her family are back home!  Over the Fourth of July, the Eberts joined us for the Oakley Rodeo on July 3, 2014, and then for the Oakley Parade the next morning. 

 Camille and I agreed that the Oakley Parade is just perfect.  It lasts only one hour, yet has horses, queens, politicians, marching bands, floats, and clowns--all the essentials of a parade.  You can come late and still get a front row seat.  The politicians throw candy.

 We enjoyed watching the Oakley rodeo queens prance into the rodeo grounds last night.  Today it was fun to see those beautiful girls up close, as well as a selection of rodeo queens from around the state.

Camille and Dave bought drinks at the Oakley grocery store, while the rest of us watched the floats and marching bands.

 Some of the best sights at any parade are the bystanders.

 This guy was really patriotic.

 The Eberts wore red white and blue to celebrate the Fourth.

 Mia and Ezra filled bags full of the candy and gum that were thrown to them.

 Jono was a good sport, in the 100 degree summer heat.

 After the parade, we spent a few hours at our nearby cabin, eating "Grandpa's Famous Hamburgers" and just talking.

The Long Goodbye

Jenny and Sam spent a month or more in SLC this spring and early summer, and Jonny stopped by frequently, too.  Jonny's boss at John Deere worked at home and didn't mind if Jonny worked from home occasionally, too--even if home was in SLC.  That will all change this August, as Jonny begins a year of managing 100 union workers at a John Deere plant in Des Moines, Iowa.  We had one goodbye party after another, as Jonny and Jenny prepared to fly back to North Carolina and then complete their move to Des Moines.

 It is always a treat to have breakfast with Michael.  On June 22, 2014, the day Jonny flew back to North Carolina, we began our goodbyes with waffles at Michael's home.  Michael collected eight bottles of syrups at the Farmer's Market--maple, apricot, berry, vanilla crème, and more--and served them to us with our waffles.

 After Church, Dave, Jonny and Jenny, Sam, Michael, and I ate lunch at Finn's, a Scandinavian restaurant with great pork cutlet and marzipan cake.  Jonny said, "I know you and Dad like ethnic restaurants, but could we try something a little more traditional?"  Finn's was still ethnic, but without the curry and fish sauce.

 After Jonny left SLC on June 22, Jenny stayed for another week.  Of course, we needed another goodbye party to send Jenny and Sam on their way.  We chose an old favorite spot--a picnic at Red Butte Gardens.  The flowers, trees, and grasses were lovely.

 With no kitchen, I've gotten good at throwing together no-mix, no-cook meals--olives, hummus and salsa, chips, fresh cherries, meats and cheeses with good bread.  Michael brought homemade chocolate chip cookies that were still warm!

 Mia loved Mike's cookies!

 Sam pulled like a little bull towards the fountain and the pool underneath.  "I always let him get into water, and he loves his bath," Jenny said.  "He doesn't know why I won't let him crawl into the pool, but I'm worried because the sign says, 'untreated water.'"

 The deer statue, with its huge rack of antlers, was irresistible to the Ebert kids!

 Jono and Sophia took turns pushing King Sam in his royal stroller.

 There was fish food for all at the Red Butte Garden pond.

Sam's First Birthday

 Sam didn't turn one until July 5, 2014, but we celebrated his birthday on June 18, anyway.  Jonny returned to North Carolina on June 22, and he wanted to share the festivities with us before he left.  Jenny's parents, the Leathams, also had an early birthday party for Sam, before Jenny and Sam left on June 30.  Jonny and Jenny didn't bother to throw a third party on July 5, Sam's real birthday.  They figured he wouldn't notice!

 Balloons, cake, and hats were essentials for a proper birthday party.

 The birthday boy ate some dinner before he got his cake.

 Since the entrée was spaghetti, Jenny stripped Sam down so he could really get into his meal.

 Sam's hat, with a "one" on top of it, set the style.  "Steve," Dave asked, "why didn't we get you a hat for your birthday, with a '44' on top?"  Jonny and Jenny bought Sam his own little cake to demolish.

 Sam insisted on sharing some cake with Jenny.

 All done and all clean, after Sam's bath.

 Sam's first shoes!  They were his birthday gift from his mom and dad.

Honoring the Guys

Sunday, June 15, 2014, was Father's Day.  It was also Steve's birthday and Jono's birthday.  We honored our favorite men at a barbecue at Camille's house.  Dave, Steve, and Jonny were honored as fathers, with presents and sweet notes, and Steve and Jono were honored as birthday boys.  We wished Kyle was with us, as another great family father.

 

 With our kitchen under construction, Camille was gracious in inviting the whole tribe over to celebrate.  We all love to cook.  Emilie grated lemon peel for the blueberry muffins.

 Annelise and Sophia made the raspberry lemonade.

 Camille masterminded the meal and supervised the workers.

 I made the salad.

 And we all enjoyed the festive party outside on the porch. 

 Dinner included flank steak and baked salmon, roasted red potatoes, green and fruit salad, blueberry muffins, and, of course, cake and ice cream!

 The Ebert girls babied Sam, the baby.

 Jenny is a favorite with everyone.  While the guys watched the NCAA playoffs, the women and little guys played cards.