Sunday Selfies

 

Tysen's Birthday, Maybe

Clearly, we are at Christopher and Tysen's house having a celebratory gathering of some sort. I think it might be Tysen's birthday, which is why I have titled this post that way. But honestly, I'm really not sure. Time has passed and I just don't know anymore.

Bug Collecting

Brandt has a zoology class this semester and his big project is to do a bug collection. He has to get a whole bunch of different bugs, identify them, group them, and pin them to styrofoam board. We have all been highly engaged with collecting specimens. We've got bugs in various containers all over. I've taken to labeling them because Kent has tossed out several that were in cups, not even realizing a big was inside. 

Today we made a terrific find -- grasshoppers engaging in sex. We were at Grandma Sue's swimming and found them, coupled, on the outside stairs leading to the basement. As they were somewhat distracted, we were able to put them into a jar and bring them home. The jar was small and so they were stuck together like that for a long time. I could make a joke here, but I won't. 

It should be exciting to see the finished project.

Here is Thea eating a snowcone.

This has nothing to do with bug collecting,

but she was there as we were swimming and eating snowcones.

Grasshopper sex!

Fugitive

While Kent was at a Droubay Cousin Family reunion today, the DeMartinis gathered for our annual game of Fugitive. It was very exciting as it is every year. After Brandt and Luke's fantastic disguise of mom walking baby in stroller from last year, we had several people do in disguise in an attempt to pass by undetected. Blake was going to be a guy on a bike, with no disguise, but moving more quickly and on the periphery as to be largely unseen. It didn't work because the bike tire was flat. Blythe ordered a long blond wig and tried to walk alone, looking unconcerned about passing cars. She might have made it, but her walk was recognized as was her voice. She was pretending to talk on the phone but was talking too loudly.

I'm delighted to report that Team RoCoCoKa won! I successfully ushered Rowen, Cora, and Collin to victory! We were very stealthy. It was all great fun!

RoCoCoKa

Droubay Cousin Reunion

Ah, Erda and a cousin's reunion. A goodly number of Grandma and Grandpa Droubay's grandchildren, as well as Uncle Dwight and Aunt Bertha, gathered at the ancestral homestead for food and great conversation.  Anytime I visit the big house and property there, it feels like going home after a long journey. All the memories of the farm and the people and growing up come flooding back.  I am grateful for the people who made all of the good things of my life possible--family, God, deep roots.

Sisters' Pedicure

Brenda and Michelle are both in town and to just be together, someone suggested we got get a pedicure together. We met out in American Fork at a place Cammie frequents and all enjoyed having our feet pampered. It was fun to talk and catch up and be with these women I love so much. Michelle is dropping Lydia off at BYU, so she came along too. It was so much fun!

The Moo

 

It's our Moo, outsitting in the field.

She was walking then just stopped and plopped down.

Perhaps she was just enjoying the cool summer evening, the smell of grass,

and the light breeze blowing through her fur.

It took much coaxing to get her going again.

Silly dog.

A Tasty Treat

Blythe wanted to go to Yogurtland today. I would go to Yogurtland most days, so I said yes. I invited Mikayla and her crew to come with, and we all went for frozen yogurt goodness. Yum!

Brandt and Cars "Come Together"

Brandt, while working for Alan and Wilder Productions, was at Orem's Come Together Festival this weekend. There was a car show as part of the festivities, and Brandt took many selfies with them. To me, they all look like the same car, just in different colors, but Brandt liked them. As for his part of working, he helped Alan with sound mixing for bands.

 

 

 

Pink Hair

Cora has apparently been wanting pink hair for some time, probably since Blythe colored her hair pink. Today, when she was over at the house, Blythe dyed Cora's hair. They were both very patient with the process and we hope it looks different enough for Cora to like it. She certainly liked Blythe's attentive ministrations.

A Picnic Out in the Park

While driving past my bank a couple of days ago, Thea said, "Mom, we have a picnic with Grantie Kake at the park?" That's a hard yes! Today I met Mikayla, Kal, Freya, and Thea at a park near the bank and we had a picnic. Mikayla and I did much more talking and eating than any of the children. They did lots of playing. It was a beautiful day, a nice lunch, and terrific company.

School Starts

Another school year has started. It's a big year. Blythe is starting high school. How is that even possible?! I hope it's a good year for both children.

Brandt starting 11th grade

Blythe starting 9th grade

An individual picture of Brandt.

Blythe was too stressed to let me get a picture of just her.

She was already getting in the car to go.

Outdoor Movie Night

We had outdoor movie night at Eugene and Sharae's house this evening. We watched The Sea Beast, a fun animated movie that was on Netflix. I had never seen it and we all liked it. We also liked the popcorn, candy, and junk food we consumed. 

Brandt was working, so Blythe asked if she could bring Austin, a friend from school. Just after we picked Austin up, we saw a real live tarantula crawling across the road. It was big! 

Creepy crawly!

Demolition Derby

Tonight was the Demolition Derby. I got tickets for me and Brandt to go, but then Brandt had a tech thing and Kent and Blythe don't like to go, so I invited Mikayla to be my date. She readily accepted and we joined Eugene and his family for a fantastic evening of smashing and bashing. 

The Demolition Derby cracks me up every year. Something about grown men driving into each other on purpose just makes me laugh and sometimes gasp. Mikayla got pictures! We ate funnel cakes and had raspberry lemonade, enjoyed the high energy level, danced between heats, and had a rollicking good time. 

When we arrived at the fairgrounds, we had a hard time finding a parking spot. Another car pulled up next to other parked car, essentially creating a new spot. As they were staying, I decided we could stay too. Mikayla and I laughed that it was likely we would come out and find the car in the middle of the path out of the parking lot, and sure enough, when we finally made it back to the car, it was completely in the way, right where cars were trying to drive to exit. We laughed and laughed and felt sort of silly for the parking job. 

This is a picture of where we parked.

I am not in the driving path.

In our defense, there were cars next to us and behind us when we parked,

even though it looks like we are just sitting in the middle of the drive-way.

Dog Sitting

The Nortons are away and Dawn asked if we would be willing to watch their puppy, Bella. Blythe was desperate for us to watch her, so she's spending the weekend with us. Blythe has been thrilled to have two dogs at our house. TWO dogs! So much fluffiness to cuddle and walk and snuggle. She has asked me over and over if we can get a second dog, but Moo Moo is sufficient. We can certainly dogsit again.

Blythe took these pictures, nestled in between the dogs. 

 

A Room Full of Glass

Brandt and his girlfriend, Ruth, were asked to help with a production at the outdoor amphitheater at the State Hospital. The production, A Roomful of Glass, was written by a former Timpview student and being put on privately. It's been a tremendous amount of work with late nights. It has been nice that Brandt has his driver's license because he has gotten himself to and from the show. He and Ruth have been doing all the sound.

Tonight, Kent and I attended the show. It was well done and fun to watch Brandt doing his thing. So often he is sitting behind the audience and we can't see anything he does, but for this production, he is in the front and we were able to see everything he was doing. It was great! He and Ruth have both complained that no one values their contribution or helps with their cleanup, even though they've got to put away all the equipment. Kent and I helped tonight when we went to watch and a couple days ago when rain was forecast. We were taking Brandt and Ruth food but then it began to rain and we jumped out of the car to help move the equipment inside, out of the wet. 

I think all in all, it has been a good experience for Brandt if only to give him experience.