Bear Lake Family Reunion 2022

Sunday morning the temperature was 45*.  My children froze at church and most of the following week.  Okay, they did fine in a hoodie, and I was very comfortable in two sweatshirts and Meg's coat.👧  The weather is not the report here, the love of family is.

Molly and Kate love each other so much; they roam from anut to uncle gathering all sorts of attention and hugs.  Molly loved Aunt Ashely so much that she wet the bed at their sleepover.  You're welcome.

Eddie engineered this little home in mother's home -- look at his smug face.

All sorts of games happen in that perfect room.

Millie and Maddie were loved my Melijah.  They are the best hosts, and those girls loved that 12 hours gig.

Rain poured all throughout Memorial Monday.  Miraculously, it stopped when we went to visit Daddy.  They were very reverent and respectful.

Then, Bear Lake happened.  We spent the week creating fun and maintaining scores of children.  

I felt so sorry for the children that came to the pool in groups of two.  At least four cousins your exact age is the perfect place to love and be loved.

Nice Grandma Kim prepared all the food, so the stress was minimal and the hype was maxed.

These girls attend that same on-line acadamy.  They talk everyday and knew just how talk every second.

Ryan followed Jace around.  Depite the fact that Jace is doubled in years, Ryan shadowed him every second.  Ryan sure misses Andy, and Jace filled that void so perfectly.

That merry-go-round only threw off one child and only one barfed.  That's quite a record considering the hours they played.

Meg joined me in the loft.  We exercised together everyday, and we just talked about everything.

We filled the entire hot tub.

Andy made is Wednesday call, and it was so sweet to hear him interact with Meggles.

Shade seekers.

Sun bathers.

They're living their best life.

Thursday night I was fevered, so Friday morning we drove home 12 hours.  That was a very long drive.  Ibuprofen saved me, and I was so blessed that our travels were safe.  Coming home to Austin is always the best ending.

 Good ol', Ed. We were ready to be a family again, but family is sure the closest thing to heaven.  

School Ends

Andy graduated from seminary vicariously through Maisie; we are so proud of them both.

Maisie's state-win exuberance made the local paper.

Haircuts finally happened this week.

Nick's tennis banquet 

Even when Nick lost a match, he would declare it a win.  "The other guy was a nice guy, I didn't double fault, and I liked it."  I think it's so cook when my children take risks -- especially if failing is apart of that risk.

Night swimming.

Nick brought home his art porfolio. He pulled an "A," and we are so glad Maisie bailed him out during lunch breaks.

These two.😍

Austin is now the activity-days leader.

They made an obstacle course; the boys were in heaven.

Saturday I drove us the 600 miles and 9 hours to Highland.  We read scriptures 

When we arrived garden planting was well underway.  We spent a lovely two hours in the early evening light chasing, jumping and planting.

This happened: I looked up showings for "Top Gun: Maverick," bathed the children and tucked them in, and we four went to the show.  We were so entertained and laughed out loud several times.

Utah is so fun.  Family is so fun.  

Meg's #21

Meg is 21 today. 

This is newborn baby, Meg.  My poor little girl has been experiment from the very beginning, and I'm very sorry about that. 😔

Somehow, though, she's a dream girl -- in every way. 

When Meg cheers you on, you just know you can do it.  She'll often remind me, "You've got this, mom!"

Tonight she giggled silently when I confessed about my rough evening with the teens, "They aren't really catching my vibe right now."  She just smirked and listened.  It's really easy to have a best friend that sees, soothes and makes me feel safe.  She's just the greatest girl.  It's hard to live far from her, and I miss her so much, all the days.

 She and Elijah are living their best student life in Orem.  They garden, they exercise, they study, they teach, they learn, they love others, and they love Jesus.  They are a perfect match.  I'm very sure that this year will only get sweeter as she continues to make everything she touches golden, and every person she nurtures feels golden.  Happiest birthday my GOATED OG baby!  (I'm pretty good at that slang.) 

Mama loves you!  Daddy loves you! 

Mid-May

(Another post in reverse chronological order. )

We've been meeting with a few families incubating eggs.  Two little chicks have hatched!

Our dishes crew is back to being fairly young and inexperienced again.  Another generation means another round of training = lots of follow up and ants.

Saturday morning we said "no" to several activities, and "yes" to sleeping in; that was nice.  Molly came walking out of her room, "Good sleep, " she crooned.  Our recent newpaper subscription has turned us into Sodoku experts, crossword junkies and cryto solvers.

Look what Maisie is painting!

My floor-friends are getting much older, and I'm getting mmuch more of a workout.  Thanks for the help, Maddie.

😁

"Totchos" were a first this week.  Everyone wants them again.

That's Molly surfing!  She's a swimmer!

YW oragami night was a success.

We found ourselves alone and shopping -- she held onto my leg the whole time.  It seemed odd to me that she felt so out of place.  

Maddie's track award, sans banquet.

Maisie's track award and banquet.

She won "The Eye of the Tiger" award -- an award for working hard at every practice and wanting to win every race.

I saw some browines at Zupas.  I recreated them.

FHE recursor.

My kitchen widows are bursting with color; I hardly know where to place my attention.  Look at the oleander!

Look at the rose tree!

Monday the pool was warm enough to swim.  Everyday this week they've hopped in multiple times.

So one morning at 7:50am, Austin texted me that the kids had hygiene appointments at 8am.  I called Maisie adn Nick and they zoomed from school -- I got the rest of us fed and dressed and zipped over.

Sunday night Elder Babcock Zoomed with our youth.  He testified of the importance of serving a mission and told everyone to make it happen!  "Maisie, do you know that this is all really true?  It's all TRUE!"

Sunday best

May is like spring December.  It's filled with all sorts of banquets, awards, gifts, presentations and busyness.  We have one more week of school, and I hope we make it.