We have so much playing the past few weeks! It almost feels as though life has recommenced since COVID began–but not quite, because we just got notice that we are un-returning to church now. 🙁 But STILL, we have done a lot of fun summery things!
The first thing we did was Fay’s family party on June 15. She had a vision of what she wanted–snacks and drinks and everybody partying in the pool! I have yet to go in the pool, actually, because I’m always on baby duty; but the kids all had tons of fun and it made Fay’s pool party dreams come true.
Our next party, and our first grand adventure of the summer was camping in Green River. Our original plan was to be at Jordanelle; but there was a giant rainstorm that drastically lowered the temperature all over the Wasatch Front and the temperature was supposed to get down to about 33 at night. We still really wanted to go camping, so we tried to find the closest place to camp that wasn’t affected by the storm. Green River fit the bill. Josh EXPERTLY packed the car with gear and food for everybody (Seriously impressive! We have a lot of people.) and we set off. We stopped at Provo Bakery on the way down to pick up an early addition to Josh’s birthday–buttermilk bars! If you’ve never had a Provo Bakery buttermilk bar, you SHOULD!
The campsite at Green River was just about perfect for our age group. There was grass and shade abounding and the river was plenty close enough to go investigate, but plenty far enough away to set parents’ hearts at ease. We had lots of fun running around, playing/sleeping in a tent, and making food on our portable camp-stove.
Everyone fits in the car! Just barely. 
Tent from the outside 
Tent on the inside
The next morning we decided to drive the extra hour and visit Goblin Valley. It was probably the most pleasant weather in history! We happily climbed all over the goblins with Josh and I taking turns holding Bianca/watching the little ones. We met some cool people from South Carolina who have been driving across the country for the past month and will continue on their journey until September, visiting their children as well as cool things along the way! I said it sounded like a great way to spend quarantine; and they said it was how they were spending their retirement. It was a happy encounter.
Goblins! 
They’re just so cute!
Our next party was for Josh’s brother Aaron. His birthday is on June 18, and on our way home from camping, we stopped at his birthday open-house and ate some really yummy chocolate-chip-cookie-dough ice-cream cake!
The next day, June 19, was Josh’s birthday!!! He is now 32 years old and more fabulous than ever! I had been trying for about a month to get him to tell me what he wanted to do for his birthday and he never could think of anything awesome enough. After work on his birthday, he decided he would head out to the store and come home with a birthday party. DID HE EVER!!!
SO YUMMY! (I gave Josh that Pizza Planet shirt for his birthday) 
Two kinds of pie and ice-cream sundaes!
He got a ton of delicious foods that turned into an instant barbecue along with a bunch of outdoor games and party poppers for us all to play with. Then he got out his giant speakers and had his current favorite music playing. It was all so much fun! Happy Birthday, Josh!
The next day, June 20, we got to go to Kathryn’s midsummer party at her house and Bianca was honored to be the midsummer princess. I don’t have any pictures, sadly.
June 21, we celebrated Father’s Day with Josh in the morning and his dad in the evening. Lacey made some delicious peanut-butter cup cookies to go with yummy tacos, and we ate them outside in the lovely weather.
Super-Grandma got to hold Bianca for the first time!
We woke up on June 22 thinking it would be a normal work-day Monday. But when Carter remembered it was his turn to pick family party he decided that, since we had finally finished reading Harry Potter 2 on the way to camping the past week, we needed to have our watch-the-movie party THAT NIGHT for his family party.
This is a moment where I’m going to indulge in a bit of tooting my own horn. Carter decided he wanted our big Harry Potter party that evening at about 10:30 AM, with all the exciting things we had talked about. By dinner time, the three big kids each had a robe–two of them homemade and a custom-made wand. With our dinner of homemade bread (made that day) we had Professor Sprout’s garden, Hufflepuffs, snitches, and home-brewed polyjuice potion. Josh did go to the store while he was out for lunch and got some of the things we didn’t have yet; but I basically made all of that happen in about 7 hours!
Professor Sprout’s Garden spoils 
Hufflepuffs 
Snitches for all 
This is the new Potions Master, Professor Dad, teaching his young wizards how to properly brew Polyjuice Potion (a sherbet-sprite float). Look at their cute cauldrons! 
Carter’s custom wand 
My little wizards! (Thanks, Mother, for the sheets the robes are made from!) 
Watching the movie at last!
We also had our little lesson from Come Follow Me. And, most importantly, Carter was very pleased!
Then this past Saturday, June 27, we joined Aaron’s family once again for Medli’s 3rd birthday party. She was just about as cute as you can get as she lapped up every detail of her Pinkalicious party.
Today’s family party was Portia’s choice and it was just what we needed. We all played dress-up after the lesson–even Bianca!
Oh. My. Goodness. Can you and your family be any cooler!?!? First off, I loved seeing all your littles inside the tent and I am so impressed not only by the awesome Harry Potter party you threw in hours, but also that Carter read the whole book!!!! I love you and your family and your blog!!!!!
You guys do the most fun and creative activities. I love them because everyone can enjoy them! And they are beautifully documented 🥰
Okay, those are the cutest little Hogwarts students! I love them all with their cauldrons. I think you’re winning at quarantine 🙂