Flowers
This year Ben (kinda) landscaped the backyard and we grew all sorts of stuff, including flowers for cutting. I got this new jar/vase which I really like and we have had practically nonstop fresh flowers in the house for months (not really great for pollen allergies). We only got pictures of two of the arrangements he did, but they turn out really pretty and we're enjoying it while it lasts.

Everything we've grown has been from seed, and it has been quite the challenge and a test of patience.
In case you care, here's a list of some of the best cutting flowers we actually got to grow:

Sunflowers (really easy from seed, we did about 80)
Dahlias (from tuber, not seed, but also easy)
Gomphrena (special cutting varieties)
Black-eyed Susans
Feverfew
Yarrow
Celosia
Gladiolas (from bulbs)
Blue Flax
Zinnias (everyone should grow zinnias)
And some others that didn't do so well, we'll have to try again next year.

This summer's been so nice, I'm not ready for fall to come yet.
...Which has practically already arrived in Northern Arizona...
Winter's supposed to be bad this year.
Oh well, bring it on!!

A New Look...

Jolie got glasses!

Isn't that just so cute?

She picked them out herself.

Now she can clearly see the board at school, which is helpful.

She's also in the "I can't show my teeth in a picture" phase.

We just have to make sure she keeps those glasses on all the time.

Welcome to the club, Jolie Bear!

San Diego - Mission Beach

Ben had a few days off work at the beginning of August and it just so happened that my mom and my sister-in-law Brianna were up for a little getaway so we threw together a very last-minute trip to the beach. Talk about spontaneous!

We brought our little family and Bri brought her family, minus Ruby (her youngest) and Golden, who had to stay back to work. (I guess somebody has to!)
We rented just about the only available condo anywhere near Mission Beach. When we were making calls trying to find a place with only 2 days notice, one guy actually laughed at me!

But, we made it, and man we had a good time! Too bad it was only for 3 nights... Bronson asked why we can't just live there. Who can blame him?

These cousins got to spend some much-needed time together...

...finding shells...


...and making sandy messes.





Ben had to get a couple of night shots.


And Grandma Merrill got caught sucking down way too many Diet Cokes...

We spent some time at Mission Beach park.



Ava and Emma got really into their sandcastle-making skills.


We had some issues with the sand.
Faye must have thought it was sugar...


You can tell Asher has older siblings.
He just laid there while they practically buried him alive.

Seaport Village
If you ever go to San Diego, you have to visit Seaport Village. It's a really cute shopping "village" right in the port, and it has some of the coolest little shops ever. There's a shop with all wood toys, which of course was right up Bronson's alley.

Did you really think we could pass up Ben & Jerry's?

Boy, those are some tired faces!

We had a great trip and we're already looking forward to next time... Thanks Mom and Bri for making this happen... We should keep up the tradition!

Harvest



Not too bad for our first real garden...

Utah Excursion

We got invited to my brother-in-law Dallin's graduation in Salt Lake. That gave us a good reason to go up there and turn the trip into a family vacation. Good goin' Dallin!

They let us crash in their sweet new house...

While we were there we decided to hit up Thanksgiving Point at the peak of its growing season...

Ben went to Temple Square first thing in the morning to take some pictures...

And of course what's a trip to Utah without Lagoon...






Thanks Cami and Dallin, we had a blast!

My Gardening Family

Gardening takes many qualities including diligence, patience, love, and knowledge of the plants and their surroundings.
In return our family receives the joys and beauty of our garden.
Granted it will take a few years for the yard and garden to establish and fill in but for now we are enjoying the planning and planting parts.

Veggies and flowers started from seed.

Long process but we learned a lot.

Ben cutting rebar for the tomato cages.

Measuring and leveling to perfection.

A picture of Faye for good measure.

Ben's done so much more. I will post more pictures later!

Jolie 1st Grade

First Day

Last Day

Jolie loved, Loved, LOVED her 1st grade teacher and class. She was heartbroken when she realized 2nd grade comes with a new teacher and classmates. But it's summer and you can't stay sad too long.