Parkstrip re-do.

After 15 years it was time for a change to our parkstrip out front.  We planted waterwise plants years ago and it has worked out pretty well compared to having turf grass that would just waste water.  We started ripping out the yuccas Friday, and Skyler helped me finish the remainder yesterday.  Now we have a clean slate (strip?) to start over.  We're still doing a waterwise landscape, just minus the yuccas.

Waiting for a snail to cross the sidewalk.  Side note, it takes 15 minutes for a snail to cross a sidewalk!

Grasses removed.

I used the tractor to scrape the remaining yucca out.

Waiting on the green waste truck to come so we could get a triple dump.

All tilled and ready for the next version.

Finished view this morning.  We had a nice .030" of rain here last night.  :)

Memories.

Can you find Skyler in the picture?

The school has seen better days.  :(

Trainspotting before Ninja.

We left a little early on Thursday afternoon to watch trains above Union Pacific's Roper yard.  The new Parley's Trail bridge is a great place to enjoy trains.

On our way to the bridge.  He was looking for a pelican in the pond.

Running to see a freight train below.

It was hot but he was happy.

Not too full on a Thursday.

Crazy hair!

G.E. CE44AC hooked to an EMD SD60.

Caboose!!  He was so excited!  He yelled "my first caboose ever!"

Eastbound TRAX train.  He got numerous honks and waves from the TRAX drivers.

FrontRunner approaching us at speed.

It was now time for Ninja, he worked so hard that he got another blister on his hand!

More model rocketry.

Mommy joined us (and took pictures) after work this week.

Arming the launch controller.

Liftoff!

Parachute release.

Chasing down the floating rocket.  (It's just above the middle tree.)

7-11

Here in the U.S., July 11 means free Slurpee day from the convenience store 7-11.  Skyler remembered this from the last couple of years and asked Grandma & Grandpa to take him to the 7-11.  This trip also included a laundromat stop and a carwash.

Back at G&G's, enjoying his Slurpee in the apple tree.

Monday's are art days.

We busted out my airbrush this week.  Skyler is a natural!

Wear his "no sleeves" shirt as he says.

Roughing in the red color.

Such attention to detail.  Can you tell what he's painting?

A farm scene!

Party!

We attended Sebastian's 5th birthday party next door on Sunday.  It was farm themed and really well done!  There were games, food, prizes and a petting zoo complete with rideable horses!

(Photos out of order yet again!  I'm SO just about done with Google's stupid Blogger!)

Juvenile Alpaca.

Riding the pony with the owner's hat on his head.

Wave of the hat.

This is a good idea, wonder where they got it from?  :)

Tip of the hat.

Tiny pony running!

He was happy.

Done.

Rabbit.

First round minus the hat.

All set.

Cool cake!  :)

"Yee Ha!"

Rocket launch!

Skyler's daily Summer contract requires him to do a science experiment with me on Monday's.  After lots of debate, and lots of refusal of many ideas, we came up with one yesterday morning.  Additive manufacturing (3D printing) a flyable model rocket!  An hour of printing later, we were off to the park to launch it.

Directional fins done.  Printing the nose cone.

On our way down to the park.  He's carrying the launch controller.

Armed on the launchpad.

Ready to fire!

We didn't expect to recover anything from the launch since the rocket is called "disposable".  The sucker went up at least 1,000 feet!  Much to our surprise we actually found this:

The nosecone was long gone but we found the motor and fins at the very end of the park.  The motor was still hot when I picked it up!  A little heat damage aside, it's still flyable at least one more time.

Summer work with a helper.

Skyler has been working on his daily contracts most of the Summer.  Last week, Eddy cat came over to "assist" him.  :)

We even got Skyler a "Montessori Carpet" to do his works on.

Parade.

We set out on July 4th to see the parade in Murray again this year.  It still doesn't disappoint!

Ford tractor!

WHAT??!!

3020 gas engine.  Complete with cab!

Beautiful!

He got LOTS of candy!  

All wheel drive Sterling bucket truck.

The train float was back.  Well done.

Urban assault police vehicle.

"Rescue unit?!"  C'mon!

Look at the hydraulic door at the rear!

Zamboni!

Being pulled by a new Ford truck.  Spare no expense by the County!

Highway Patrol 5.0 liter Ford Mustang!

This one still had UHP tags.  I remember when these debuted, they were used to track drugs along I-70 in Southern Utah.

Due to a camera operator failure (me) I failed to get video of the F-35 flyover during the parade.  Instead, after the Murray parade was over, we got home and walked down toward the West Jordan parade and I got the following pics.

Here they come!

4 this year.  I read that the pilots and ground crews volunteered to work on the 4th!

Wow!

No afterburners this year.  They were almost quiet.  Almost...  :)