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.

Very Grand, Indeed

Very grand things happened this week.

I crocheted this little tulip, very grand, indeed.

Austin's FHE activity included disclosing dye, very grand, indeed.  Eddie, Ryan and Molly have been using it morning and night since.  Mostly they walk around with neon lips and tongues.

Cleaning my sterling silver jewels with aluminium foil and baking soda, very grand, indeed.  

Maddie brought home her art projects, very grand, indeed.  The comet was on display in the library.

Last day of junoir and freshman year for these two.  They are very grand, indeed.

They face the world everyday together.  I hope their closeness only increases as their age increases.

Oh, just a picture of breakfast oatmeal and it's accoutrements, very grand, indeed..

THEN!  Austin, Maisie, Nick and I hiked the Grand Canyon from the North Rim to the South Rim -- very grand, indeed.  The entire experience was sensational.

Friday afternoon we took a massive shuttle bus to the North Rim.  There was no air conditioning on this bus (though we paid top dollar), not even a breeze from an open window -- they're weren't any.  IT WAS WAY WORSE THAN THAN HIKE!  I sat on the side of the bus with the sun pouring in, so I had to wear my hat indoors.  I was mad, which meant that I didn't talk nor did I pretend to be friendly.  Poor, Austin.  It was best that he napped.

Luckily, six hours later (not the four that were promised.  We had to stop twice for a break, I'm sure we were close to heat stroke, but also so the high-piched beeping -- the alarm that sounded when the bus was overheated -- would stop.  Boo.  Boo.  Boo.  Not so very grand, indeed.

But!  Austin had a dinner reservation awaiting us.  Very grand, indeed.  We were in bed with lights out b 9:15pm with the alarm set for 4:38am.

We began at 5am.  We hiked the first 6 miles of 6k descent in 2 hours.  Then we jogged the next 10 miles in 1.5 hours.  Then we hiked 8 miles up and finished at 2pm.  So great, very grand, indeed.

Highlights (maybe lowlights): Nick broke down and barfed during the running portion.  "Keep up with your boomer mother," I told him.  He would sprint to me, then rest, then catch up again.  He complained that his knees hurt.  I told him to suck it up.  "You don't know how it feels.  You never grew."  Facts. 

Maisie paced a rim to rim to rim ultra marathoner.  She was sensational.  Then, Maisie literally lost her mind and was so mad the last three miles.  She practically screamed at the people we passed to move over.  "I can't do this anymore!"  Well, I told her she could.  She did. "I'm so mad right now.  I haven't been this mad at a hike since the Goblin Valley incident of 2014." 

Austin steadied up the rear with just slow and reasonable steps.  His walking poles kept his knee at bay.  He was the last to finish the run, but he knew not to use all his energy on those first 12 miles.  Smart.  He hikes smart.  Whenever he drank,  I did.  Whatever snack he ate, I ate.  He's just wise.

I loved every second.  My shirt had white mineral lines where my sweat evaporated and left salt.  Austin told me that I was tough.  That morning jog in along the gently undulating trail was just delicious.  I felt like Mr. John Denver, I wanted to sing all about my Rocky Mountain High.  I was fit and free and fast and fun and functional.  YES!  Austin didn't talk, Nick only whined, Maisie cried, so my thoughts were mine.  The pain of the hike was a choice, so it didn't phase me.  I don't think I've ever done anything so hard physically, but emotionally, I've lived through so much more.  Heavenly Father's presence was so real, and I found myself praising His name every time a baby cloud rolled through.  I felt so connected to heaven.  Very grand, indeed.

Celebratory Chipotle.

Austin's watch proved our feat, very grand, indeed.

Andy got a 100% on one of his midterms.  A TIKTOK video of him as the Gigg intern brought in 1.1 million views in two days.  He's very grand, indeed.  Andy -- The TIKTOK intern

Melijah's @theendlessparty podcast is lovely this week.  "Give your best in the areas people can't see."  They also post the sweetest bits of their lives, here: https://thatsaraisinjack.blogspot.com/

 

More

Two more weeks of school.  Eddie was reading to me all about the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World.

Maddie and Nick were awarded top honors is a super lame assembly.

At least they are super and not lame.

Austin grew these ginormous cabbages!  He harvested them and then planted the peppers we spouted inside last month.  He's quite the gardener.  Molly and I decided that we should grow peanuts.

Molly's primary activity was healthy snacking, so she wanted to bring a small charcuterie.  We made a lime fruit dip, and she helped me fill the contianers.

Ryan read 36 novels this school year.  Well done, Ry.  Well done, teacher.

Nick told me he finished reading the Book of Mormon and his novel. He's a reader, that one.

My little friend.

We hiked a 10 mile loop in preparation for our YW overnighter.  

Ryan played his last two football games.  They won the first one, but lost the second one at the last second.  He pulled so many flags, ran for a touchdown and worked really hard.

Pool season 2024 is officially open.  No one knew that Austin heated the pool, but they were pretty excited to try it out again. Swimmers

It's the beginning of a very long summer wherein I wrestle wanted to be so tan, but knowing the damage isn't worth it.  "She white."

Austin made us strawberry gelato.  After Sunday salmon, I found them lounging together.  It's the best treat -- the children loving each other, not the gelato.  Although, the gelato comes in a close second.  

Maisie and I went running four days this week.  We were very sore and very slow.  But, it was delightful to be up early and run in silence, because we were both sucking wind.

Andy asked us to pray for his new crush and their first date -- he just knows she's the one for him. HAHAHAH!  We did pray, though.

This the my favorite twinny introduction.  Please rewind it to the beginning, I don't know why its starts late.: Six Months