Welcome to our World

With the disappointment that followed the news that school will begin online instead of the hybrid model they announced a few weeks ago, we were glad to have the family reunion to look forward to. I was told there were 38 of us that shared a mansion in Ashton, Idaho (the first time in Idaho for all of us except Hubby) but I didn’t count. It was wonderful to all be together! My in-laws know how to organize and feed huge groups of people but they also know how to be flexible and have tons of fun. The first couple days we hiked a little and walked to Mesa Falls, went tubing down the river, I truly enjoyed mountain biking for the first time in my life around Silver Lake, fed ducks, played games and spent many happy hours on kayaks and paddle boards at the little lake on the rental property. I also got to hold my precious newest niece and hear the announcement my oldest niece is expecting. (Imagine cute baby noises here.) Our last day we journeyed out to visit Yellowstone National Park toge...

When Kate's volleyball camp was canceled at BYU we canceled her trip first solo trip to Utah.  Then my father pointed out that she would have nothing to do the entire month of July so we asked our sister-in-laws if Kate could still come to visit even without volleyball camp to go to everyday.  Of course they said yes!  Hubby drove her out and she got to swim, shop, bowl, have slumber parties and have a magnificent time.  I'm so glad she could have this time to bond with extended family and create wonderful memories.  She is growing up so fast! Danny and Michelle also journeyed away from home that week.  They went on a backpacking trip with Avid 4 Adventure to Gunnison National Forest with the destination being Lost Lake.  I absolutely loved hearing the stories they told me on the ride home from pickup and over the next few days.  When their leaders sent out photos it was even better.  All 13 children and both leaders had trail names that were...

It’s official!  This beautiful girl is a teenager!  We celebrated by a best friend coming over before Charly left town, eating at Noodles and Menchies with her birth family, and then the next day -- the actually birthday -- her friend, Ava, came over for cake and presents.  Another day Kate got to go to a lake with another good friend, Margaret.  She is so loved.  I was glad we could surprise her with a hoverboard to ride around and that she has the new iPhone she’s been wanting so much. She is paying for it with her own money too. I’m so proud of her for figuring out how to work for what she wants.  Right now Kate likes the color yellow, eating Pad Thai, watching Ashley Garcia on tv and her current favorite movie is The Sandlot.  Her new favorite game is Roblox, she really wants to visit cousins in Utah, and someday she would like to be the founder of a cosmetics line.  Kate is a pro at making her friends laugh, make up and pointing out all the t...

 Sometimes junk mail works and when your son sees the DMNS has The Art of the Brick visiting, you renew your membership and reserve a day and tickets to go. We had a blast and discovered that we can wear masks for six hours minus taking them off to eat lunch.  Nice to know.  We highly recommended going and seeing the amazing art that can be created with toys. It was inspiring and so good to be back in a place I have been taking my children since they were babies.  P.S. Pictured is my favorite - the pop up book that had a great poem with it about the girl in the boat sailing around the moat. These girls together watching their brothers makes my heart happy. It was also a joy to have M over for a play date with my M too. I just love the parents on D’s baseball team. They are smart and kind and friendly and talented. I’m grateful I get to hang out with them sometimes just because my son is a wonderful kid.  Natalie informed me I’m only allowed to take pictures of h...

Danny is playing in baseball games again!  One of my happiest memories from this summer so far is watching him play as the sun set at the Sandstone Ranch ball fields with my mom and Michelle.  Turns out the coach's son has a twin sister and she and Michelle have become fast friends cheering on their siblings. We got to see what a virtual version of Girl Scout Day Camp was like in June.  I was amazing at how well they were able to make it work from home.  I can't imagine how many hours it took to prepare!  The highlight of our at home experience was dissecting an owl pellet and all the crafts Michelle got to make. Michelle ended her hip hop year with a red carpet recital by performing in the studio  with part of her class (3 other girls) and their moms, and being invited to join the dance studio's new competitive junior hip hop team.  She is excited to triple down on the hip hop classes next school year! When "Mom camp" is run by an artist for the ...