WARNING: Blogging Overload

This a test of the Gilson Broadcasting System.  If you have just tuned in, be sure to review posting throughout all 3 blogs to verify that you have been updated on all Gilson happenings.  

Management (aka: Jenn) has recently posted close to 50 postings.  Due to its overwhelming nature, it might be a lot to take in.  So take it at your leisure, or be prepared for a long sitting of information (a notebook and pen might be helpful, too -- jk.)

Again, don't forget to 'See Porter Walk' and 'Director Debany's' latest out-takes.  Hopefully, management can keep up with deadlines and maintain regular postings.  Stay tuned.  You'll return to your program already in progress shortly.

Getting around with two older sisters...

Two older sisters?!

This is the life...

 

A First for Jenn

Sarah (Jenn's sis!)

took Jenn to get pampered...

and got her nails done for the first time...

EVER!

Thanks, Sarah!  You're the BEST!

Princess on Parade

On Freedom Days, 

we showed our patriotic side...

and expressed our flag's colors with watercolor facepaint!

When we got to Main Street where there were tons of vendors, 

the first thing the girls saw was Miss Utah!

"A Princess!"

"It's Sleeping Beauty!"

"Mom, we got to see a real princess!"

"You are so beautiful!

Are there any more princesses here?!"

Another!  Miss Provo!

Ehh, Still Lumpy...

Our little jumping beans:

Sent My Heart Racing!!!

'SNAKE!!!'

in my house!!

(Did you have to do a double-take, too??)

New Rule:  

Fake snakes get put away when done played with.

(Heart still racing.)

Freedom Days - Balloon Fest

Down the street, hot air balloons 

were going up for Freedom Days' Balloon Fest!

From the ground and up, you got to watch 

them fill their balloons and ask questions.

Once there's enough air, the balloon got more vertical!

And then it's fired up until lift-off!

Lift Off!

Balloon Fest involves numerous hot-air balloons and 

a competition of maneuvering their balloons for

the different games they play.

(Yes, they play games while in the air!)

One goal is to maneuver close enough to a target on the ground (a big 'X') and to toss a bean bag onto it from the hot air balloon above.

Closest one wins!

Another goal of the competition is to maneuver close enough to some small helium-filled balloons anchored by their strings to the ground -- and pop them while still in flight in the hot air balloon.

One of the nice perks of living down the street from the event is that the balloons fly right over our backyard!  One group waved to us and said 'good morning!'

This picture was taken from our backyard.

There's Balloon Fest for ya!

Freedom Days - Colonial Days

Also for Freedom Days, we volunteered for the Colonial Days... 

(thanks to one of my faithful early morning exercisers!).

Got to dress up and everything!

What a way to celebrate our independence and how it came to be!

The kids learned that the 'Colonial Days Kids' had to work hard 

as well as play creatively back then.  So now, whenever they're 

helping around the house (or do something helpful when not asked), 

they remind us, "We're Colonial Days!"

There were many, many artisans there:

woodworkers, printers, wool spinners, artists, etc.

There were chalk artists there, too. 

(Talk about inspiration for Myanna.)

We played games (old-style).  

There were tons of fun different games.  

This is just one Debany was doing when I grabbed my camera.

Porter had fun exploring and playing, too.

(Isn't he a cutie!)

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When family came, we went back (this time as spectators). 

And printed our own copy of the Constitution 

(well a portion of it anyways.)

And got to dress up again.

Freedom Days - Children's Parade

Freedom Days in Provo, Utah!

The girls got to be in the children's parade!

Myanna was too nervous to go without Mommy, 

so we watched from the sidelines.

Debany had a blast!

We caught Debany at the end of the parade and then we went back to our spot...

... of course we couldn't wait to eat our candy!

Mommy biked 53 blocks that day!

(hauling two big kids behind her in the trailer)

No easy task... such dedication.

(Time for a nap! -- Thank you, Mommy!)

Great-Grandma Wessel's 77th Birthday

So, the real reason we set off fireworks in our family...

...is for Great-Grandma Wessel's Birthday!

Keeping it simple (upon request), 

we made a patriotic cake and gave her a homemade necklace.

3 of the 4 generations...

(mom, you're in trouble... 

you were supposed to be in this one!!!)

First "Fruits" of the Garden

Our first zucchini!!!

(okay, it's not a fruit, but can you pass up on such a saying?! Okay...)

Our first harvest!

Let's eat it!!!

And when there's one, there's a 

whole bunch more coming out of our ears!

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Jenn's Gardening Analogy:

Gardening is like Parenting...

You have to stop 'sibling rivalry' by 'nipping it in the bud.'

('thank you, thank you.'   --bowing--)

Visitors! Visitors!

Grandma Debi!

Auntie Sarah!

(She surprised us all!)

Grandma Wessel!

(and some tired kids - including Gma Debi!)

and Grandpa Wessel!

So nice to have family for the holidays!

A long trip definitely worth it.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Independence Day!

Stringy and Straggly to Simply SNAZZY!!

Time to stop putting it off...

Myanna's 'haircut' needs to be fixed. 

So all the 'gals' got their do's done!

Myanna wasn't so sure about getting her hair washed.

Debany seems to have been made for it! 

(Debany:  'Can we have one of these at our house?!'

Debany wanted her hair to her shoulders this time.

And out come the curls!!!

Myanna modeling her new do!

Debany sporting her short-'er' curls.

We love Lisa!  She always does such a great job!  

Thanks a HEAP!

(I said 'all the gals' right?  Okay, here's my 'do'.  

No perm, just spray gel and a hair dryer with a diffuser.  

It's natural!  Pretty cool!  

Only Lisa could make those curls come out!

Nice thing is that I can do that at home!)

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What about Porter?!?

Well, he found something to do while us girls got pampered.

(Think I'm kidding?!  Try taking that thing away from him!)