July 2013

July started out with Tyler having tubes put in his ears. The poor guy had five ear drum bursts in the previous year and couldn't hear very well so it was time. He was a trooper. He looked adorable in his little gown, had fun playing with the toys before surgery and didn't even cry when he was taken back by the nurse for the procedure. When he came to after the surgery he was bawling and let me hold him for about 1 minute before he was climbing out of my lap pulling on his gown and saying he wanted to leave. From there on out you wouldn't even have known he'd had surgery. 

Grandma Mellen came to visit for the 4th of July. We BBQed, went to the parade, watched the fireworks and explored the art fair at Wheeler Park.

We took Grandma hiking at Sunset Crater and to see the Wupatki Ruins. Of course, it was pouring down rain and lightning but we still had fun. It was beautiful out there with the clouds and storm.

On July 12, we went with Shawnie, Carter and Gavin to Ace Hardware for a free craft day. They showed the kids how they cut glass, let them climb on some of their big trucks and let them paint some wood door hangers. The boys also each walked away with a tool apron filled with a measuring tape, contractor pencils, stickers and other goodies.

On July 13, we went to the annual city sponsored Touch-A-Truck event at the Aquaplex. The city parks various city owned vehicles in the parking lot for the kids to climb in and look. There was a fire truck, police car, Zamboni, giant dump truck, SWAT truck and many other vehicles to explore.

On July 19, we took the worst camping trip ever. The fireban was finally lifted so we couldn't resist but with the lifting of the ban also comes monsoons. It was pouring down rain the whole time we were trying to set up camp. We were all in a bad mood, soaking wet and cold. We managed to get shelter up, the tent up, the beds set up and then the rain let up as we finished. Thankfully it didn't start up again but the damage was done. We managed to get a fire going with the damp wood and eat our hot dogs. It was a cold damp night.

More of us on our regular summer activities of bowling, climbing at the Aquaplex and playing in the theater arcade before summer movies started.

Cole played hockey for the months of July and August when his games and practices weren't getting rained out. We had a hard monsoon season this summer. It was Cole's first year and he really enjoyed it. He just ran up and down the field not always knowing exactly where the ball was. It was so cute.