Howdy

I don't think I'll ever get caught up on talking to you, Blog. I have so many things to say and so little time to say it all in, especially since I only ever write at night after the kids go to sleep. It seems like the couple of hours between their bedtime and mine is only a few minutes. And I usually choose to spend those "few minutes" watching shows on Netflix. And that means I don't take too much time to type at night.

It's not possible for me to pay attention to my blog when I'm watching something. And so the online documentation of my life gets neglected night after night while Ryan and I watch an episode or two of  Portlandia , or Sherlock , or Parks and Recreation.

Two weeks ago we started watching Gilmore Girls. Of course I'd heard people saying they liked it. Even my dad and my brother admitted it. I never even knew what it was about. I don't know how it lasted 7 seasons without me seeing a single episode.

We're halfway through the second season and loving it. It's just so addictive, funny, heartwarming, real. It makes me laugh, it's made me fight back tears. And whatnot. And I like most of the characters. And how Luke looks at Lorelai. And Luke in general. =)

It's hard having the whole series sitting there on Netflix, just waiting for me to finish it. I know - the struggles I have to deal with! ;)  I seem to have the theme song stuck in my head all day as I anticipate what's going to happen in future episodes. And I totally wish I had my own background singers going, "lalalala, lalalalala-la." as I'm trotting through town to tell someone something. =) 

"We're closing early! Chew it or lose it!"  Can anyone tell me which character said that, and why? =)

July 4th

We had another lovely Independence Day this year. It's typically celebrated with Ryan's family because my parents are usually gone to Donnelly for the holiday weekend.

We ate some food at Ryan's parents' house, then most of us moseyed down to Ann Morrison for fireworks and to look at the diverse assortment of Treasure Valley residents.

Some of the Lytle ladies -- Jane, Cora, Jackie, baby Lexington, little Tomi, Shirley, and Jane's friend, Cristina (who obviously isn't a Lytle) were perched on the porch, so I started to direct their attention to me so I could snap some pictures of them. Shirley made me join them and had Dallas take the pictures. Dallas is Bethany's husband. Bethany is Ryan's youngest sister. She was not in the front yard at the time of the impromptu photo op. I should make it a point more often to photograph everyone in attendance at each event - unless there are too many people - or when many of them are complete strangers. I feel so sad for the unpictured people.

Lexi is a popular baby. She can't help being so cute.

Jane has such an expressive face. Makes me wonder what she was thinking about. Or what she was sensing.

Oliver in the process of a water fight.

We make it a point to show up at the park early enough to get a spot for viewing fireworks, then we take a walk to gawk at the chalk art competition entries. I am always very impressed.

It irked me to see people tromping, riding, and strolling across the masterpieces. See the tire tracks all over the middle of these cute owls?  =(

Jane and Cristina have a wee fixation with My Little Pony. =)

I am amazed at the artistic abilities so many are blessed with. People can be so creative. I love it.

We met up with some more Lytles at the park. These belong to Ryan's oldest brother, who was in Hawaii with his wife that week. Their oldest daughter and her husband have three kids, and they're pictured here as well.

Royce and Oliver

My apologies again to Dallas, Bethany, Alex, Kinsley, Eric, Ethan, Bob, and anyone else that was unwittingly unpictured that evening. Hopefully someone else bothered to take a picture of you, or at the very least, I hope you took a cute 4th of July selfie in your bathroom mirror.

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I hope all you spambots reading this had a festive Independence Day. Here's a cute pic of Jane and Mable from earlier that day. Enjoy!