July 2020

The last month we have been getting out as much as possible to enjoy summer.  Independence Day was a bit of a let down as our parade and fireworks were canceled due to COVID-19.  People more than made up for it in their own private firework displays, but we really missed the parade.  We went to our neighborhood's unofficial annual firework show on July 3rd and did our own small stash on the fourth.  We also went miniature golfing that weekend and on a short hike.  We went to a nearby lake on the fourth and played in the water with a big inflatable log and my stand up paddle board.  We had "Flag Fruit Pizza" and "Flag Pizza" to be especially patriotic.  Some of our outdoor plastic chairs were in pretty bad shape and cracking so we got some saws and other tools out and had the boys try to get them in pieces small enough to fit in the trash. Ezra had saved up his money for a Nintendo Switch which had been impossible to find due to manufacturing shut-downs, but I found one in late June and ordered it, and it came that weekend too.    

Jim has been off of work on Mondays and doing projects around the house and taking the boys on some adventures while I'm at work.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays I have been trying to take the boys swimming or getting together with friends.  We have been to Rexburg Rapids, Ross Park Aquatic Complex, the zoo, and Jefferson County Lake.  Our garden is doing OK and we have gotten lettuce and herbs and will hopefully have some zucchini, crookneck squash and pumpkins.  Our raspberries are doing excellent and we have made jam and frozen some and eaten lots.

Playing at the park before visiting the zoo.

At the zoo

Jefferson County Lake with friends

Ross Park Aquatic Complex with friends

Raspberry freezer jam

We were able to see the comet Neowise from the hills East of town.  Jim went a second time to take more pictures because the boys were only interested in it for about 5 minutes of viewing.  We took a hike with our friends, the Waltons, and went almost 6 miles.  It went along a creek and had a lot of good shade and was a beautiful area to explore.  We played "soccer golf" or "foot golf" as a family which was fun except we were a little nervous about getting hit by golf balls and it was hard to tell where some of the holes were.  It also got stormy and windy and started raining at the end.  Emmett especially loved it so some of us will probably try to do it again.   Ezra has been interested in fishing and has really persevered despite the terrible luck he and Jim have had.  They finally caught a trout in a nearby pond and we found another nearby pond that have yellow perch that love to be caught.  Another day trip was floating the Teton River with the Waltons.  We borrowed some kayaks from my friend and used my paddle board.  It was a perfect "lazy river" section with amazing views of the Tetons.  Jim and Ezra did some fishing and we're pretty sure Ezra had a Yellowstone Cutthroat on for a bit that gave a pretty exciting fight. 

A tiny wild strawberry Jim found and Elliott got to eat

Ezra finally caught a trout, and ate it!

Elliott with a Yellow Perch that he caught

We saw this moose right before we got into the river.  It was the only one we saw, which was surprising.