Summer Ends

 Austin has begun the tradition that the Sunday game winner gets to choose a Sonic treat -- the others get the Sonic pretzel.  He know how to keep us happy.  The late night FHE runs to Sonic are really fun. 

Happy 25th Anniversary to us!  Of course I decorated the table and of course the bridegroom left and was gone all day.  

Our sax/piano duet practice is coming right along.  He understands all things music -- it's almost as if he spent several years mastering an instrument.  I need him.  My life would stink without him.

Lots of roses and pit tickets to Kelly Clarkson in Vegas tells me he loves me -- I already know that because he works hard everyday and comes home everyday.  I'm sure there are moments that he grimaces at the prospect of both duties, but he's constant and true.  He's my match in every sense of the word.

Legos for days.

Swimming with friends and water baseball for hours.

Taking little girl to Walmart was one of our greatest adventures.  She read the list, reminded me of a few extra needs, and was very polite.  Love her.

Summer faves.

My little lunch and light entertainment.

The children preferred theirs.

Austin made the paper again.  He's spends hours on the MUHS governing board -- an unpaid elected position bites at times.  

Wednesday night was the last night of summer.  We decorated the table and ate our "cafeteria" fare -- sure is easy to prep.

Eddie helped me to make these pencil cookies for dessert.  Clever.

Each night the children gather in Maddie's room.  They helped her clean it and prepare for her first day.

First day of 11th Grade for Maddie.  Just wait, I'll blink and she'll be graduating.

She's a driver.

We spent the day prepping all our cirriculum for another successful year together.

Austin took us rapelling in Sedona.

We love it.

Nick's update:

• administered his first priesthood blessing
• 8 more days until he leaves for Brazil
• "I made an effort everyday to minister to those that are suffering."
• I did 50 push-ups in a row and 35 pull-ups
• "I'm sick."

Maisie's update:

• 217 days left
• transferred to Vermont
• she made tiny loaves of bread and painted paintings for her district
• another day at Six Flags
• 
  
  

Summer Week #9

The children made a rather large mud pile from Grandpa's irrigation ditch.

The sunset pink was miraculous.

This is the new us.  It still seems so small.

Maddie is officially a licensed driver (last post I mentioned this same bit)!

I've been busy -- I didn't a BS in Horticulture from BYU for nothing.  My little car plants are so darling.

After Maddie's road test and her in-person registration for 11th grade, I loaded us up and we went to the valley for all the school shopping and a bit of In and Out.  The boys minimally moped, and we were blessed to be so successful.  So pleased that Maddie is modest and darling.

Austin documented her room and bathroom.  Eesh.  Why does her mother let her keep her space in such disarray?  (Because one day she'll wake up and be immaculate.  In the meantime, I'll keep letting Austin wage this war.)

Wednesday the five of us drove to St. George for a Guymon Family Reunion (four families were missing, but the seven that were there had a grand time).  We actually stopped to pick up dinner, and that was a real treat.

Each family planned a meal and served a mere 50 people.  Glizzy roast was our fare, and we received great reviews.

We spent the morning hours and afternoon hours in the sun and water.  We did find shade which was a luxury for sure.

Evenings we spent walking, talking and playing pickleball.

I think the pickleball was the most memorable event.  Ashley and Kimmie versed Emily and me.  Simultaneously, the other court housed our exact spouses and teams.  The four sisters giggled and ran and missed.  The four husbands played for real and had just as much fun.  My little speaker and stake dance play list hit differently.  WE HAD SO MUCH FUN!  The children tried to kick the moms off, (not the dads), but we wouldn't have it.  Tyler told them that it was our turn for once.  I tell you what, we took our turn.

Aunt Mary Mayhew passed away Saturday night.  We were able to watch her funeral and reminisce about the beautiful ways she added love to our lives.  She's the one who gave Natalie and me the duet book, then she would sit and listen and cackle as we on purpose change the key signatures, repeated measures and tried to out-smart our nicknames we gave her.  I have two aunts that I know really loved me and knew me -- she was one.

Back in March mother and I visited Aunt Mary in her nursing home.  I'm still thrilled we made that happen.

Of course we worshipped in the St. George temple.  Utah temples are so convenient.  We are happy to travel 12 minutes verses 90 minutes to get there, and we are happy that they know how to accomodate the lot of us.

Ron and Rachelle's family is missing, but here is a picture of a few of us. Time for CMF (We made the cousins come down the stairs again so we could video the stanpede.  I started singing and playing my uke, so they knew to come for scriptures.). How much

Andy came for 24 hours -- we loved being with him.  He convinced Ryan to hold up his 165 pound frame.  Poor, Ryan.  He also chatted with Austin in the shade, tubed with me in the lazy river, and went to bed early, because he spent the week in Atlanta on a business trip.  He's a goat, a very fat goat.

I had the privilege of sitting beside Emily and her three children in church.  Too bad I didn't take my bag of tricks, but luckily I had a bandaid for Wes and peach lip balm for Emma -- she took a few selfies.

And, I might have crocheted yet another succulent -- an aloe vera -- on our commute home while listening to "FollowHim", sacred hymns and general conference talks.  Sundays on the road are off while buying gas and stopping for a potty break, but they are so on as we keep the media off and the gospel library running.

Eternal family is the epitome of Heavenly Father's gifts, possible because of the gift of His Son.  My parents sure knew what they were doing giving us each other.  Life is sweeter and so rewarding being heard and understood by so many siblings.  They just get me.  I love them -- five brothers and five sisters.

Summer Week #8

It's really feeling like summer.  The heat is intense, all of our yard is dying, the trees have lost half their leaves, one can see through the oliander foliage, and the grass is very brown and brittle.  Alas, I do my best to stay cool and popular.  

Well, I guess I'm not very popular.

It's funny the mess that's made most mornings just grabbing a swim towel.  Well, it's not too funny.

We met up with friends at the river, and that was not memorable, but it was fun for the children.

Poor little neighbor boy came and they boys shot his back with their orbee nerf guns.  Poor, guy.

Activity Days pool activity Wednesday afternoon.  One father said, "Well, there were too many children who didn't obey the rules."  I kept my mouth shut (he came an hour late, brought three extra neighbor kids and then sat in the sun instead of the shade), doubled blinked and smiled my oiliest smile, "Thank you for being here!"

I spent an entire morning making four high-protein snacks: hard-boiled eggs, bean cookies, cottage cheese and refriend beans.

This little reader couldn't help herself.

Maddie is moving into her car -- she passed the road test on her second try.

Saturday's SEVEN hour swim meet was a scorcher.  Our swimmers are pretty awesome.