Wow! What a month!

I can't believe that it is already the middle of August. I missed over a month of blogging! We have had a busy month.

On July 17th we had our Christmas in July Open House for Polka Dot Thoughts. It was a great success. We had so much fun showing people what we have been doing for the past 3 months! Hopefully we will start having parties and get more exposure. If anyone wants to have a party for us, please let me know. You can also see pictures of our Open House at http://www.polkadotthoughts.wordpress.com/.

On July 16th I was cutting up an apple for the boys and Dillon started complaining that his tooth hurt. I asked him to come to me and felt his tooth and sure enough, it was loose! I was so surprised and excited. Well, it took over two weeks to come out. He wouldn't let us try to pull it. The only way he wanted it done was the way he has seen it on Funniest Home Videos with the dental floss connected to the door. So, we tried that...didn't work. Brandon decided if he tied a fisherman's knot that it might work better to hold on to the tooth. At this point, the tooth could lay completely down and the tooth underneath was already coming out. We were trying to tie the knot (well, Brandon was, I was holding Dillon down) and Brandon just finally pushed his tooth all the way down and out it popped! Dillon was so happy to finally have it out. It was so funny because about 30 minutes after we pulled it out, he came running to me and said "Mom, I can see my parent tooth!" I guess that is what permanent teeth should be called from now on!

We also went to Utah for 5 days for Brandon's cousin's wedding. My mom came up from Phoenix and went with us. We were able to go to Lagoon with my brother and his family (also visiting from Phoenix). It was so much fun. The kid area at Lagoon has these huge trees now and so you are never standing in the sun. I also went on the new roller coaster they have and I will never go on it again. It is freaky! We had a great time visiting with them.

On the 24th of July we got together with my aunt and cousins for a BBQ/talent show/volleyball game/driveway of fireworks celebration. It was so much fun to be with them. I would post pictures, but our camera broke while we were in Utah and we didn't get a single picture while we were there!

We were also able to see Brandon's family. Before Brandon's grandma (Gumma) died, she started her life history. After she died, some of his family finished the book and we had a book party to talk about her, honor her and receive the completed book. It is amazing. I read it every night before I go to bed. She was an amazing lady and I am so excited to have all these stories for my kids to know how wonderful she was. We miss her so much! What a priceless gift!

Travis and Lacee got married at the Mt. Timpanogos temple on the 26th. It was a great day. I learned so much from their ceremony. The advise they got was incredible. It was a little warm, but we had so much fun being with Brandon's extended family. So many of them live in different states, so to all be together was great.

We spent the night in Lehi in a hotel and even took the kids swimming in the smallest pool I have ever seen.

Of course, I got to go to Gardner's Village while I was there. That is such a great place. My mom and I went a nostalgia tour of all of our houses we lived in. We had a great time remembering the good times when we lived in Utah. We ate at all our favorite restaurants, visited my dad's grave, drove around Salt Lake, went to The Gateway, and of course, visited friends and family. It all went all too fast. I wish we could spent a couple of weeks there!

This month has been crazy as well. Before my mom went home, we made chili sauce. My mom and dad used to make it all the time when I was growing up. It is honestly one of my favorite things. We canned 21 bottles! I was so excited and glad my mom was here to help me.

Brandon and I were able to sneak away to the Red Rock Resort for 2 nights last week. It was one of the best staycations I have ever been on. The boys went to Grandma's for 2 nights. We did bring them up to go swimming one of the days. They have a great pool for kids. It was so relaxing to not have anywhere to go or anything to do. We asked for an upgraded room and they gave it to us! The bathtub had a TV in it. I took a bath each night and watched the season finale of So You Think You Can Dance. It was awesome.

The boys got new pajamas from Old Navy this week. They were 75% off and sooooo cute!

I finally put some vinyl lettering up in the boys' room. I have been trying to find something cute to do and this is what I decided on. I think it turned out great!

(Being a Brother is better than being a Superhero)

Now we are just getting ready for Kindergarten! Dillon is a little nervous (so am I, but trying not to let him see it!). Well, that is all for now. I think I will go to garage sales in the morning. I haven't been FOREVER! Wish me luck!