Endless Summer

We love having Maisie home this summer, she makes Nick and Maddie sing with her at the piano.  Why would anyone want to accompany and belt songs with others.  Where did she learn this?  Wierd.

Little friends.  We read.

We puzzle.  We practically have this Costco puzzle memorized.  I sat for two hours and just vibed.  

The popcorn on the apricot trees fruited and ended up as fruit leather.  The children love it.

Summer monsoons mean building shelters and weathering the weather.

Could our pool be any more perfect? No.

 Maddie got braces.  She didn't even know it was happening this morning.  So funny.

I found Molly's written testimony in her room.  Treasure.

The boys decided to use pocket knives and scrape the edge of their dresser.  KILL.

John, Rebekah and their seven children came for a long weekend.  We had so much fun.  

We hiked the lava tubes.

Followed by a picnic.

Nick took all the children for free slushies at Maverick.

We floated the river.

We said goodbye to our European traveler.  We have loved her home for two entire months. She's so excited to go.

And we swam. And swam.  And swam.

Austin pulled Dottie's tooth; she didn't even notice when he pulled it.

Rainbow hair for Molly.  

Nick and I share stake meetings -- he drives me home.  I crochet.  He's a goat.

We played games.

We had family choir.

We exercised.  

We had so much fun.  John's children were kind, respectful, thoughtful, helpful, not annoying and a joy.  Austin said it best, "They didn't bug me.  I would have them back.  I hope they come again."
 

So Much Swimming

We stopped by the dentist for five hygiene appointments -- I'm so glad we get to park in the staff lounge and wait the four hours.  Luckily the dentist came in to visit.  Maddie started at the office; Maisie is training her.

Molly and I both worked on our computers.  (Look at that little pointer pressing down on her mouse.)

Tuesday Ryan and I spent a little over an hour and processed quite a few apricots.  We had quite a nice time working together. 

The next day we actually invited friends over for the boys.  I made them corndogs and let them pilpher the rest of the pop from the garage.  

SWIMMING is our life.  Zero clouds and one million degrees made our dream a reality.

A lady in our ward taught me how to clean our vent hood.  I spent three hours, but I'm so smug.  

Molly spent hours and hours making rubberband jewelry.  Eddie and Ryan made a chain so long that it stretched down the entire hallway.  Then I noticed that they used it as a slingshot with dart arrows.  

Friday morning we went to a baptism in Sedona, only Sedona doesn't have a baptismal font, so we ended up in our building, and we missed the baptism.  Blast.  Maddie had the grand idea to go the DQ for a delicious treat.

Maddie and Nick raced in their first meet of the season.  They both came home with ribbons.

Maisie wanted me to try our bangs.  She works most moments, so we hardly see her.  But, when she is home, she's usually singing or reading.  We're glad she's home for the summer.d

Maisie's Lament

Saturday we hosted Austin's office party.  We ate delicious meats and sides.  The ladies and their families were gracious and fun.

Once they all went home, he and I spent the afternoon in the water.  A lovely monsoon rolled in and we cooled off.

Nick and I are in the same Sunday meeting.  He drives me.  He's gone all week with his Hvac job, so I was glad to be with him.

 I barely spoke to Meg this week.  Here are the little gills growing up so big and strong.  She's an angel mother.

Andy ate at my mother's house today -- lucky little cuss.  She's an angel mother.

Maddie's Quince

Maddie is 15!  We threw her a surpirse party that she didn't know about until one of her friends told her about it.  So, it was a little bit of a downer for her, because that meant that she didn't get to go shopping with Grandma, and that she had to stay home to catch up on geometry instead.  

We only invited a few friends, they are her favorite ones.  Austin smoked a ton of meat which paired perfectly with lots of veg.  The kids swam, splashed, screamed and soaked each other.

The boys found pet frogs.

Sunday morning -- Maddie's real birthday -- was all about presents and wolfing down waffles.  

We did stop to take a picture of the group.  Maddie was quite tickled with her gel set from Grandma Kim, her Babe Lash and her chamois.  

Because Father's Day landed on her birthday, we spent a few minutes honoring Austin.  Meg made this movie for him.  Dad

After church we celebrated with another feast including the grandparents.  Maddie wanted BLTs and homemade peanut buttercup ice cream.  So good.

Maddie's Song

The new gel set was put to good use, and we spent the evening singing all the fathers' songs and birthday songs during choir.

Ryan:  I love Maddie because she plays with me.

Eddie:  I love Maddie because she buys us stuff.

Maisie:  I love Maddie because she's chill about the huge mess I make in her room.

Molly: I love Maddie because she is never bothered when we bother her.

Nick:  I love Maddie because she's a good friend and buddy in seminary and high school.

Mom:  I love Maddie because when she decided to so something, she does it, especially when it gets hard.

Dad:  I love Maddie because of the same reason as Mom, but also because she works so hard.

Maddie's piano is magical, her school exceptional, her sports unbeatable, and her attitude quickly changeable.  She's a peach.  She's a very lovely 15.