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.

 

Summer Lovin'

Here is the post that proves YW Camp survival.  I deligated the entire process, so I spent my time braiding hair and loving girls.  It was a really excellent camp.  Oak Creek Canyon in Sedona was really beautiful.  

Maisie returned as a special guest speaker.  She testified of obedience while on the covenant path.  She's a dream.

Lots of classes, skills learned, testimonies born and baptisms put on date.  

Virtually no dust at camp, because of all the grass and trees.  

Home to a nice husband and a whole day of recovery.

I missed my little people, so it was fun to be with them.  They had glassy eyes and very little routine, so I doubt they loved being with me.

Annual Father's Day picture.  The adults don't seem so tall anymore.

We gave our nice daddy a Whirly-pop, because he's the best pop in the world.  

This was one of those weeks where so many came together to produce something so grand.  I'm blessed because of the women with whom I serve, the girls from whom I learn, and the mercy I feel as I stay on my own covenant path.

It's now time for my summer to be filled with sewing and music. Here is my first try at the organ.

 Foot Pedals

Road Trippin'

Nick had the opportunity to go to BYU swim camp,  so we hopped in my baby car and spent glorious summers days in Utah.

He droved half of the way there, which was the perfect outlet for my crochet.

I left him with his Cottonhood buddies, and hoped that he would swim hard and fast.  He did.

Rachelle and I met up at the a huge new park and let the cousins run a muck.  They helped Bennett climb the highest structure, but he didn't mind because the reward was a long slide down.  

Eddie and Ryan spent the day at space camp with the Standies.  When I picked up the boys, I dropped off Molly.  I didn't see my three little friends for an entire day, and they were quite fine without me.

Sis made temple appointments for Ty and Maddie, and the rest of us worshipped upstairs.

So good.

Our Timpanogos temple is almost 30 years old, and it's still so beautiful.  The saving of souls on the inside far out shines the exterior beauty.

Maddie, Mother and I shopped for Maddie for several hours.   I don't know how long it's been since I shopped for as long as I wanted -- with Mother!   I pinched myself several times.  We came home to an edamame lunch and chicken leg dinner.  We were all quite relaxed and so happy.  Luckily Camps came to share in the simplicity and quiet nature of Mother's practically vacant home.

Naturally, I crocheted.  This little project is almost done -- it has over 2,400 stitches in the final row.

Wednesday Kimmie, Ashley, and Emily converged upon us.  It was heavenly.  We didn't hear one complaint, fight, growl or tattle the entire day.

PUD park.

My little boys are the big boys now.

Camps and Jib came in the evening.  Jib figured out how to make the grill work, so the hotdogs were delicious.  Andy came and made a few appearances, but he's real busy with school, work and ladies.

I found this photo of Daddy wishing Sis and happy birthday.  Epic.

Then the Armstrongs came!  Those two little babes were adored and eaten up.  We finally helped them nap via Mother's swing.  Her front porch is covered and magical.  How delightful it was to spend the day juntos.  Mostly we vibed and chatted between naps.

Proudest Grandma.

We drove that long way home and found a VRBO resort waiting for us.  Nothing like a good swim.

Maisie found a frog and phoned a friend.  We missed her this week.

Molly gave a talk in church, and Ryan prayed.

Nick won the bird game.

Molly made kabobs.

Austin finally rested.