Summer So Far

 Summer so far has been exciting and exhausting. Summer really started with the Shakespeare Festival, which in my memory I have only missed about three times. It is a summer tradition that I absolutely love and that I credit with my love of Shakespeare and live theater. Every year when I teach Shakespeare I wish I could take my students to the Shakespeare Festival. You get so much more out of a Shakespeare play when you see it performed on stage: especially in the outdoor theater that is a replica of the Globe Theater. It puts you right in the atmosphere. I can't wait for Ellie to be old enough to go see the plays. I took her to the greenshow one of the evenings and Fred Adams himself, founder of the festival, came and said hello to her. "You sure are starting her young aren't you," he said. Then he pinched her toes and said, "Those toes are more fun than any of the plays." Thanks to my wonderful mom for watching Ellie while Brian and I enjoyed the shows. We also beat the heat by eating endless shaved ice and playing in the pool.

We stopped at Cedar Breaks on the way home and enjoyed a beautiful scenic drive.

Brian makes fun of me because he says I think the 4th of July is better than Christmas. I'd have to say that Christmas is my favorite holiday, but the 4th of July does pull in a close second. It just doesn't get much better than a 4th of July in Oakley, with its candy-throwing parade, sense of overwhelming patriotism, professional rodeo, and of course our Cannon family reunion. I love this holiday!

I loved how much my little niece Eliza just adored Ellie. She wanted to hold her and play with her all day long. I also love the 4th of July because it is almost guaranteed that I will see my sister Emily and her cute kids who live in Texas the rest of the year.

I'm also glad that at least one of my kids will have a cousin her age to play with. Here is Ellie and her new cousin Joey. So cute.

Summer so far has been wonderful.