July Update

Oh my, this summer is goin' by faster than I want it to!

Here's a little update of  the last few weeks....

It's been fun having Josh home from his mission, even if it is for a while. (see previous post).  He recently went in to change his cast and the Doc said he should be out of it by mid September.  Josh is still determined to get back out on his mission, but he's enjoying the time while he's here.  He's a trooper!

<> In the middle of July, most of our family spent a night at the Dixie cabin up in Pine Valley.  It was nice to get away from the heat and just watch movies, take photos,eat yummy food and relax...

<> The Mr. and I decided to go to the Movie in the Park that they do every month in the summer down at Main Street Park.  They were showing the movie called "The Fly Boys" that was actually filmed here in St. George.         

                                     
We went to that movie together a couple years ago as one of our first dates, and we both loved it!  Ever since then, I've been trying to find it to buy it, rent it, borrow it, anything! and I've had NO luck.  I finally got desperate enough to call them and email them because I wanted to get it for Josh for a birthday or Christmas present.  They said they aren't going to have it available until they re-release it (to make more money supposedly?)  I was bummed about it, but after we heard that they were showing it at the movie in the park, we decided to go.

{As we were walking through the park finding a spot to sit, I saw a friend of mine in my ward growing up.  She told me they were doing drawings for 2 tickets to Sea World.  So I went and signed up and after all the entertainment and other drawings, they did the "big" drawing for the tickets.  They had 3 pairs to give away and they announced the first two winners, then the last name they drew was "Jennifer Kastleman"!!
I never win things like that, so I'm sure you can tell how excited I was!

But, after all the excitement of winning them, we aren't even going to end up using them. :(  The tickets expire at the end of this year, and since the summer is almost over for us with lots of other things going on, we were trying to find a time we could work it out to go.  Unfortunately, with me about to start teaching and Josh working and going to school, it wasn't gonna work out... so we gave them to another lucky couple-my brother and sis-in-law for my brother's birthday.  Their 1st anniversary is coming up, so we thought it would be a good excuse for them to go... and Kelli has never been to Sea World, so we wanted them to celebrate}.

<> And of course you can't have July without fireworks! I love living in the state of Utah, because we get to celebrate and do fireworks twice in July!

On the 24th of July (Pioneer Day) my hubby accompanied me to the park to watch the fireworks. I wanted to snap some shots of the fireworks so we headed out a little early to get a perfect spot at the park.

We got some of these great shots!

<> Summer is also the peak time for birthdays in our family, so of course there's been a few celebrations/family get togethers for those.

  and also get togethers and BBQs with other family and friends

we were trying to balance the teeter-totter :) 

<> Besides all the fun summer events, I have just been busy getting stuff ready for my classroom.
  It was kind of overwhelming not knowing exactly where to start and what to do.
 BUT, I think I have a good start with it, and I've had TONS of help from my mom, friends, and my hubby.
I'm trying to do a "castle/royal" theme because I thought it would go well with my last name.
(Kastleman... castle theme... get it? ;)
It's honestly been hard finding materials and supplies already made, so I've been making a lot of my own stuff.
I keep thinking I shoulda' done a simpler theme, like jungle animals or something (cuz' they are So much EASIER to find), but after all my hard work, I think it's comin' along...

Now I just need to start preparing for all the actual "teaching stuff"... :)  ha.