More updates with our summer

 We took the girls to the Sandy Aquarium and it was a really fun trip. They loved the jellyfish, sea horses, huge clam, sea turtle, petting the rays, the starfish, and penguins. A pretty neat use of what looks like it used to be a grocery store -- it was neat to think that they made something so fun and educational. Lena oohed and aahhed over my shoulder in the back pack carrier.

 These girls love these grey skirts my Mom sewed for them. They often go running around like twinners. I love that they play well together for the most part.

 Esther sitting atop a giant frog and rather pleased with herself...

 Our beehive in the back yard. It seems to be a very strong colony -- last year we had two hives, but one didn't survive the cold cold winter so we put the extra boxes onto the strong surviving hive and we are really excited about harvesting it soon... my one apprehension is the below photo:

 Ryan has recently been having "large local reactions" to bee stings. He's been stung in the past without incident, but the last two times he's been stung, he's had big big reactions (He was stung in his bicep and his arm swelled nearly twice as large where you couldn't even see any elbow or anything. This above picture was taken after he was stung on the lip and IMMEDIATELY took 2 Benadryl and 4 IBprofin.... and this photo doesn't even do it justice because this was only about 30 minutes after it happened, but the other picture is less flattering). I think he's learned now to wear his beesuit and I just really hope he's safe while we extract the honey.

 We took the girls to Bear Lake for an idealic day on the beach in June and it was a lot of fun. Here's Lena flying the big squid kite. We've had on the whole a very lovely summer.

 And here is our 50$ piano!! :) LOVE it and it really looks made for our home, doesn't it? We had it tuned and the tuner said he'd have sold it for at least 400$ maybe more. Nothing like that to make you value your steal of a deal even more. It's been wonderful to have a piano to play again.

Amy bamey hanging out in a hammock when we checked out the Summerfest. We've enjoyed all the little local things to do and enjoy ourselves a lot as a family.