The week before the 4th of July my children were definitely practicing their independence. Natalie finished up Project Launch and is so happy to not have much on the calendar anymore. Michelle and Danny went on another Expedition camp with Avid4 Adventure, this time spending almost a week in Wyoming mountain biking (D’s fav), white water rafting (M’s fav), SUP, archery, and climbing. This year they were in different groups with different leaders but got to play kickball together. Knowing that helped my momma heart let go at drop off. And my eyes didn’t leak at pick up this time, much to Danny’s relief, and probably due to the fact the second he saw me he commanded I sign him out so we could head to the car. Lol. Sounds like Danny was the only one out of both groups to earn the archery pin by getting three bullseyes. When I asked him how he did it he said he just got lucky. I'm not too sure about that because from what I've heard, the 5th & 6th graders had more fun.
That same week Kate had Young Women camp, which this year for her was two days of spending from about breakfast time to dinner time up at the church with other teenage girls from the entire Stake. They had lessons and games and food and time to hang around. She opted not to go to the last day for fear it would be too spiritual and headed to my parents house to hang out with them that evening and spent the night. Hubby worked from home one of those days and the other two days I just tried to get as much done as I could and enjoyed the quiet. Although I am grateful my children got to have these experiences, I’m glad they are home and less busy this week! It’s been fun to have friends (old and new) over for play dates and enjoying watching shows like Loki and The Mysterious Benedict Society together on Disney+ together as a family.
We had a wonderful Independence Day with family and friends. It was fun to see so many people wearing red, white and blue at church, had my parents over for a luncheon bbq, and partied with neighbors for a potluck dinner and setting off fireworks. Some of the boys were disappointed none of the parents bought illegal fireworks but we did have enough to light things for over an hour. I wish I had had taken more photos that day but we were too busy having fun and eating good food. Pictured below: the Patriotic Popcorn recipe from 6 Sisters that Michelle made. By the way, that 500 piece puzzle is missing two pieces.
As though that wasn’t enough fun, that same week I took my youngest three plus one of Danny’s baseball teammates to the water park part of Elitch Gardens. This was our first time doing the water side and I liked it better than the part we’ve always gone too. Kate opted to spend the day at E.O.’s house but I think she would have loved it too. Even though we are at the point where we have saved money with our season passes I’m certainly willing to go back once my sunburn heals. Turn out my thighs aren’t used to sun.
It’s so hard to believe baseball season is over for now. Although we are grateful for higher than average rainfall, the price we paid was having the final tournament of the season canceled first due to lightning and then due to field conditions. The weather was just right for the last scrimmage and fall ball will begin in only a few weeks. The timing was pretty perfect to end baseball on Thursday and then have Michelle’s first track meet on Saturday. Natalie went with us to Roosevelt High School in Jamestown to watch her run the 100, 200, and 4x100. These were some of the last events of the day and the sun was so intense Natalie and I went to the nearby Sheels and bought a stadium chair to put a "versa brella" like what one of the other moms had. It was totally worth it and provided the shade we wanted and will probably get used for other sports as well in the future. We were so amazed by Sheels that after Michelle earned a 2nd place and two 3rd place ribbons, we went back to explore for a long time. It’s a good thing my girls were there to curb my spending. We bought lunch. They didn’t let me buy a paddle board or all sorts of other fun things I wanted. I could have spent hundreds. But, it’s a good thing I didn’t. Turns out our 15.5 year old sofa is literally falling apart and we are going to be purchasing theater seats for the basement. I’m sad to say goodbye to something that has served us so well for so long but am hopeful what we picked out down in Arvada will do the same. Just for historical detail, the last thing we watched as a family on that old green sofa was Black Widow the first day it was available on Disney+ via Premier Access. Oh, MCU. How we love you and your end credit scenes getting us all excited about what comes next.
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