hot july

It seems to be hotter than usual around these parts. Which means my poor honey is suffering, while I dance with delight. Our summers get extremely hot, which in my view makes up for the extremely cold winters. As of late we have we have been loving the few things that we have been able to harvest: round red radishes, gobs of strawberries, multiple lettuces, and cilantro that smells so divine. We have had a few casualties. Our poor bok choy and broccoli have both bolted, gone to seed, and flowered. We were not equipped with the right knowledge at the right time. We will honor them by eating what we can, and saving seeds.


The carnival moved in right down the street, so it could not be avoided. We promised the kids ONE ride which was exactly what our friends the Barbers promised their son Andrew - Bella's good friend and ride partner.

loving the rose colored mountains on our walk downtown

Making our final stop at the rooftop concert. Which just so happened to be Beatles night -- The Abbey Road Show playing Abbey Road in its entirety!! (Guess Sus does not agree with whatever I'm saying, ha.)

it just so happens to be this little girl's favorite band/music


every night ends looking a little something like this


Yesterday we did all the weekend shopping so we could have everything we needed for Sunday and the 4th. The kids have big plans for raking in the dough on the 4th. Matt bought them all the soda and water they would need in a deal that they would pay him back. Provo holds Utah's biggest parade just down the street from us, and every year, for some reason, everyone in the state comes (there are a quarter million people who attend ... seriously). It gets totally insane - which we love (most the time). This year the kids want to take advantage of the heat and crowds by selling drinks and homemade treats.

aaaand since we had everything we thought we would give it a test at the Stadium of Fire fireworks show last night, where thousands of people watch from the temple grounds. Jarom is sooo all over this. It is kind of embarrassing though I can't help but love it, just because Jarom gets such a high from it. We made a tiny sign that said - "Cold pop for 1 dollar or 3 for 2 bucks." We quickly decided the 3-for-2 deal was a bad idea because people loved it and all of our water was gone within minutes.

In the end they only made $23. They are now halfway to earning some money. Matt spent $40.

But after the trial run I'm thinking they just might have some real success tomorrow. Keeping our fingers crossed.

waiting for the show to begin

showed Oey an oldie but a goodie

Jarom was forced to stop and enjoy the show

this one could not be stopped - wonder if it was the "new" trick I showed him with the red vine straw?

real fullblown fireworks

and my little fam


Today Bell and I started on those homemade treats. But, after making both vanilla and chocolate cupcakes from scratch topped with chocolate ganache in the now-suffering heat of my kitchen and they both turned out to be flops in the looks department, I think I will not go on and make any doughnut holes.

Do you think anyone would want to buy these homely cupcakes? The site wasn't lying when it said they were the best-tasting cupcakes ever ...