Summer Lovin'
1. We celebrated Tate’s 4th birthday. He has been waiting for his birthday FOREVER! He was So excited it was finally his turn. He requested a strawberry cake, and that was a hit. He got a brand new bike with training wheels, a remote control boat, a soccer ball and a bubble maker. The Staples were able to join us too.
2. We had a fun dinner at my parents’ house to celebrate Tanner’s graduation. He’s all finished with his residency! Such a big accomplishment. Dana and Tanner took a trip to Hawaii, and the kids are staying with my parents.
3. Ethan played in a basketball tournament at Corner Canyon, and at the end of his last game, his knee buckled under him. He was screaming on the floor in pain. Poor kid. His knee got very swollen, and we ended up ordering an MRI. Dislocated Knee cap. From what I understand, it’s a very painful injury and will need 6-8 weeks of rehab. So disappointing. We decided it would be best to not even play football this season, and just focus on getting him healed up and ready for basketball. We’re hoping this dissent become a recurring injury.
4. Aunt Jan gave us a weekend at her cabin in Bear Lake, so we went over the 24th of July. It was a cute, old-school cabin right on the gold course. We got to town around dinner time and found a place to eat. Right when we got to the front of the line, I heard a loud popping sound and saw flashes of light snapping around the power lines. And then the power went out. So we decided to go unload at the cabin first and hoped the power would be back on. Weirdly, only some of the lights worked at the cabin. We went back into town and found a long line to wait in for dinner—the only place with power apparently. We waited for about an hour, made our order and found a seat outside. And then…The last bit of power went out. But! Miraculously we got our dinner! We had to fumble around to get settled at the cabin without power, but luckily it came back on in the middle of the night.
5. Nana and Grandpa and the Staples kids joined us at the cabin. We had a really fun time. The cabin has an HOA that allowed us access to Ideal Beach which also had a playground and a swimming pool. One night we watched “The Big Year” about the birders in a competition to see the most species in one year. Grandpa and Ty went out the the bird refuge to watch birds. And then we had an owl perch right outside the cabin window all day. Everyone was very excited! Otherwise, we played a bunch of games and ate goodies and enjoyed each other’s company. At the cabin Tate tripped over Ty’s charging cord and his phone dropped to the floor—ruining the screen—again. Sigh.
6. Monday we drove home from Bear Lake and then went straight out to Great Nana’s house for a BBQ. The neighbors opened up their pool for us to swim, and the kids enjoyed that. Great Nana just turned 95! Can you believe it?! She doesn’t look a day over 70!
7. As we were getting ready to leave Nana’s BBQ, we all piled into the car, but it wouldn’t start. Tried to jump it. No go. Is this the end of my tortured relationship with this vehicle? The car was towed. It needed a new fuel pump. $$$ We are looking (again) at buying a new family car.
8. We ordered some new cabinets for the garage! I’m excited about them! While we are in the process of cleaning out the garage, I’m thinking of doing an epoxy floor covering. Big project or No Big Deal? Not sure yet.
10. While the boys were gone I hired someone to come help me clean house. It was amazing to have the whole house clean at the same time, and also to have it stay clean for more than a day! I get excited about the most pathetic things these days, yeah?
11. Jett had a soccer tournament in Oakley last week. They got destroyed, but Jett actually did a pretty good job as goalie. They were just registered for a league that was too hard for them. Hopefully the rest of the season is a little more fun. In between games we got to have lunch together and see a movie, and Jett thought it was a pretty great way to spend the weekend.
12. On Saturday Dad took Ty golfing for the neighborhood tournament, and then they got roped into another tree removal job at one of the neighbor’s house. Meanwhile I had lunch with my friend Megan who was visiting from Mesa.
13. Nana brought the Staples kids over on Thursday afternoon to swim in the backyard. I set up the old pool and splash pad, but it was a bit of a bust because the water pressure wasn’t good and the kids got bored quickly and wouldn’t stop bickering. I love Dana’s kids so much. They are funny and sweet, but I don’t know how she copes with their constant fighting!
14. Nana texted on Saturday that she had come down with Covid. She came to visit me right as she was probably most infectious, but so far iVe for no symptoms. Hopefully I’m out of the woods by now? Part of me wonders if I had Covid in April, but I’ve still never tested positive. I think Nana is doing ok, but just feel crummy and tired. And grandpa is probably going crazy trying to entertain the kids without Nana’s help.
15. Robby and Leisja were able to lock in a relatively good interest rate on their construction loan. They will probably begin building in September.
16. Ty is reminding me of you these days. He heads out to the bird refuge any chance he gets, and then fills in the remaining hours as tightly as possible with golfing and mountain biking. He’s trying to plan multiple short trips to camp and play with his friends before the summer is over.
17. Tate is cracking me up. He’s still in sort of a difficult phase. Any time you say no to him he immediately collapses to the ground screaming. But he is also incredibly sweet and gives the best hugs. He frequently surprises me with his vocabulary and his endless questions. Yesterday we put glow in the dark stars above his bed and he told me the stars were beautiful! He also told me that my dress was not beautiful and that I should have worn something with flowers on it!
I have a bit of catching up to do with my email! Summer is busy, busy, busy! I’m so glad you love Allston. Sounds like the apartment is amazing, and I’m glad it gives you the opportunity to socialize with the neighbors in your building. It sounds like you’ve got your work cut out for you with all of the people you are teaching right now. Sounds a bit daunting to have so many people from the ward moving soon! I know you are up to it. Everyone asks me how you are doing, and I tell them you are absolutely loving your mission. It seems to me that you approach your mission as an amazing opportunity to learn and serve, and that you live the adventure of it all. I know there must be hard days, but I really love all of the growth I am seeing in you. And your food concoctions crack me up!
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