That slow starting spring we had sure got HOT quick! We’ve had our fair share of 100 degree days and it is only the beginning of July. Our yard has a few brown patches but we are watering it the best we can. Thank goodness for automatic sprinklers. This past weekend we had enough humidity to get some evening showers, and hopefully will have more of the same this weekend. Before that it had been WEEKS without rain. Yuck.
I don’t mean to complain about the heat in this post. At the end of June we had the chance to visit the Midwest and experience some lovely heat, humidity, and bugs. I have decided I dislike humidity and bugs more than I dislike our dry kiln-like heat, so I guess Utah’s climate still wins. I sure do like all my Midwestern people though. 😉 
We traveled back for my little brother’s wedding. It was a wonderful week full of wonderful people. William traveled fairly well, but by the end of the week his fuse was pretty short. Little bug was just tired of being told what to do, what not to touch, where not to go, and staying in a new place very few days. He managed to turn on the charm when he needed to and cut a rug on the dance floor, but he was especially cranky with his mom and dad.
We returned to a holiday week and 100 degree temperatures in Utah. My poor hanging basket didn’t survive our week away, and a couple of my hostas look rather toasted. Our cat was looked after by our neighbor Judy, who looks after her better than we do when we’re home. She takes her for walks in the yard, hangs out and watches the news with her, and generally spoils her rotten. Judy even straightened up the house a little while we were gone. Heck, I’d let her come mop my floors even if we weren’t on vacation! Have I mentioned how much I love our new neighborhood? I’ve met so many friendly people and the block really makes an effort to know each other. 
Later this summer there is an official block party and on the 4th of July everyone who was around was invited to watch fireworks in some of the elder block-members’ front yards. Everyone pools their money so we’re talking about some serious aerial fireworks and our lovely neighbor Mrs. Walker handing out popsicles. So cool!
This past month William survived his 15 month well-child check up and immunizations. 51st percentile in height and 64th in weight. His head is apparently still huge (98th percentile). He tries to repeat almost any word you throw at him and his vocabulary is rapidly expanding. He is currently afraid of elevators, and baths. He loves animals and stroller walks outside. 12 teeth and counting.
He got his first real haircut from my aunt Sue when we visited WI and his first real babysitter so we could go see Barenaked Ladies/Ben Folds Five/Guster. He is currently really in love with puppies and lawnmowers so we try to find them on our stroller walks. It is fun to discover the things he can comprehend, even if he cannot yet express his opinions with words (soon enough I’m sure!). I really like this age!
Our summer schedule at work is in full swing. I like having a more consistent early schedule but summer always goes by too quickly. It is also a little more difficult to keep William’s routine with him being at daycare missing some of his morning naps. Thankfully he’s still been sleeping great at night. Jason has managed several hiking trips and we invited the cavers to practice climbing ropes from the trees in our yard (boy did that entertain the neighbors!). We even got a babysitter and got out on a REAL date to see a concert at a really awesome outdoor amphitheater. I wish summer fun lasted all year. Here are a few more pictures just for fun! Take Care~S.~
