June

Molly had a two-day soccer thing in Orem on the first two days of summer.  I took her on my own one day and waited in the car but Brynn and Ivy came with me the second day so they could play at the park and in the splash pad.  They also talked me into getting snow cones.

*Molly had been exploring the idea of trying out for a different club soccer team.  She had a good season and loved Coach DJ but was often frustrated by the lack of commitment from other girls and wanted a better training experience. I was pretty opposed to the idea of going somewhere out of the valley because of the extra work it would require but she had her reasons and they were valid so Justin thought that we should humor her and let her follow through.  So I took her down to the tryouts thinking that they really wouldn't go anywhere.  There were at least 60 girls there and she was only going to play for them if she made a certain level team.  It made no sense to play on the same level that she could play on a team here in the valley.  So we went, she tried, we came home...then found out later that night that she did in fact earn a spot on that higher level team.  It stressed me out to think of the logistics but after so many ups and downs with the team in the valley, we do feel like we need to give her this chance to branch out and and spread her wings a little.  It will work out and we will see how it goes.  (There are six Heber girls on the team so carpooling will be a big help.)

Stockton wanted to work on his pinewood derby car but Justin was at work and I wasn't sure if he could be independent on the tool he was needing.  He used this tool in one of his classes at school so I called Justin who said it would be fine. I still wanted to watch and make sure.  He was totally at ease and fine and I shouldn't have worried.

Brynn wanted to make homemade popsicles.  She chose a couple different flavors but finally settled on root beer float popsicles.  She mixed root beer and vanilla ice cream in the blender, poured them into small cups, let them freeze for an hour or so before adding popsicle sticks...and voila!  Homemade root beer float popsicles!  Yum! 

Ivy wanted to have a movie marathon like last year.  She made a poster and I took her to the store for popcorn and treats.  They held the marathon in my room and they watched How To Train a Dragon and Enchanted.

Stockton wasn't thrilled about watching Enchanted so he stayed with the girls but watched his own show

It's super fun and provides a lot of entertainment when the grass is long enough that you can mow a baseball diamond in it.  Stockton did this one morning and he and Brynn played in it for hours.  Ivy joined them when she got home from her play practice.  They set up the canopy and had snacks and water and chairs.  I was mowing the lawn that day but didn't have the heart to destroy the field so it got left like that for an extra day.

 

Stockton had some friends over that night to play whiffle ball on his field.  They played capture the flag as well and then watched The Sandlot with the projector outside until parents came to get them.  A classic summer night, if you ask me.

Stockton played his whole season of baseball in places like Saratoga Springs and Alpine.  Justin went with him obviously, since he was the coach, so it was hard for me to make it to many games since I would be home getting the girls to the places they needed to be.  It was exciting when they finally had games in Park City so I could go.  I still didn't get to see a single game in it's entirety but this was better than nothing.  I watched Stockton pitch a couple of really good innings, make an amazing catch at short stop, and get a nice single.  Also caught a cute moment with him and his coach.  These were the last games of the regular season and Justin really doesn't think he can coach again (don't hold your breath, he said that last time).  I am really grateful for all the baseball bonding these two have been able to do over the last few years of Justin coaching and Stockton playing.  They share a passion for baseball and it's been fun to watch them talk about players and teams...and pretty much anything baseball. 

When the neighbors cows get in your pasture, it's a rodeo to get them back.  I don't necessarily mind them over here but I don't think we have good enough fences to keep them out of the yard and I definitely mind them being in the yard.  Plus, they were getting aggressive with our pig Hambino and I didn't like that either.

 

Stockton and Justin worked on making this strike zone.  Stockton uses it whenever he plays baseball or whiffle ball in the yard (everyday).  If the ball hits the middle, you know it's a strike.  

A great Sunday afternoon activity is to set up the tents and play.  Then have a sleepover that night.  Stockton was in one tent, Brynn and Ivy (and tons of stuffed animals) in another.  Planning your Come, Follow Me section in the tent is even exciting!

 

A cute picture of Ivy.  This was the morning that dad had to get Ivy ready for play practice.

 

Brynn wanted to plan, shop, and prepare a meal.  She picked to make instant pot alfredo and wanted strawberries on the side.  I also pulled out some leftover grilled chicken and had her cut it into strips so we could have a protein.  We made chocolate cola cake from the Magnolia cookbook for dessert.  She let Ivy help with the cake but did the dinner all on her own.

 

When Brynn told me she was wanting to cut her hair short, I didn't hesitate to get an appointment for the very next day.  Her hair is so good short and it makes it so much more manageable for her.  It dries nice and straight so most days she just has to brush it and if we want it to look a little nicer, I can take a straightener to it and curl the ends a bit.  And she looks so cute with this haircut!

Before

After!

Granny's shakes on a Thursday night!

Brynn wanted to have a puzzle day.  Molly was at FSY and Justin and Stockton were at a baseball tournament so it was just me and the little girls.  We watched The Floor is Lava (not my fav) and did puzzles for a good chunk of the day.

After I took her to see her friend in the high school play, Ivy begged and begged to be in a play.  I found a youth theater that was doing a summer boot camp and the dates worked, so Ivy joined.  She had to do an audition but everyone got a part. They practiced for 9 days straight, minus Sunday, for three hours each day and then had a weekend with three performances.  Ivy's role was an alien named Estherly.  She even had a few one-line solos.  It was pretty adorable to see those little kids (ages 5-8) put that show together and Ivy loved it!

far right

in the middle

2nd in from right

sitting down, facing out

at the cast party

whole cast-she is third in from the left on the second row

I'm a little picky with lawn mowing.  I should totally have Stockton do it but I just enjoy it too much.  Brynn would love to mow as well but I'm not completely comfortable with her driving the mower when the blade is down.  The compromise is to let them drive around the yard for 10 minutes and pick up all the golf balls and baseballs that don't get picked up during the week.  There are always a lot after one week.

 

Justin and Stockton had one last tournament before completely calling it good on the season.  They went out to Vernal for a weekend and stayed with Justin's cousin, Thane, on the old family farm.  Go Wasatch!

 

Molly went to FSY at Snow College for a week.  It wasn't the same around here with her gone but I was grateful she had the experience.  She went with her friend, Callie Bingham, who is a year older so she was put in the older group.  She came home and declared it "the best week of her life."  She became good friends with her group, loved her counselor, and had some spiritual moments to fill her tank.  She loved when Sister Cordon came to speak and the whole group sang "Peace in Christ."

Molly and Callie

2nd in from left

Pallas Andersen, Molly, Jackie Bingham, Callie (Pallas in in our ward. Jackie is Molly's best friend and was Pallas's roommate.  Molly was going to go with Jackie but Jackie's birthday would have put her in the younger group so she went with Callie instead.)

Molly's on the bottom

bottom

in the back with her arm up

back row, middle

I wasn't sure the greenhouse was going to get planted this year.  I didn't clean it out last fall and that was a bad idea.  I would go out there and just look at all that needed to be done to get it ready and then turn around and leave.  It was super overwhelming.  But.  I decided that I would have been sad not to have something out there this year so I put my boots on and got to work.  It was one day of hard, hard work to get it prepped then my dad came up with his nice tiller and finished it off.  I planted not as much...my dad's amazing tomatoes (about 30 plants), some of his warty pumpkins, cucumbers, squash, and zucchini.  I didn't really care about doing pumpkins but my dad just brought up what he had left from his hot bed.  Zucchini, squash, and cucumbers have always done really well in the greenhouse.  And I have to have tomatoes!  I was super happy to get the planting done.

Brynn was my sidekick that day, she is always close by when I am in the greenhouse.  She enjoys the planting and seeing things grow.  She loved playing in the mud and she had me laughing with her antics.  This is the girl who loves to cheer, dress-up, wear make-up...and play in the mud!

 

Teaching Stockton how to iron his white shirt.  If he would put away his laundry as soon as it's out of the dryer, he could avoid this chore.  Since he rarely does that, he gets to iron and that's a good lesson for him to learn.

 

Brynn and I continued our puzzle marathon.  Too bad this one was missing pieces.

 

Our first Lagoon day!  With Ivy's play practice every morning and something pretty much every night, it took us a couple of weeks to finally make it there.  The Broadbent's and Grandma met us there and the kids were able to go around with them for a few hours.  It poured rain the entire drive down but stopped as we were parking and, even though it was chilly, we stayed dry.  Ali and her crew had to leave but my kids decided to stay a little longer doing rides.  Molly was at soccer camp so it was just Stockton, Brynn, Ivy, and me.  We rode a few rides together and I rode Rocket with Brynn and Cannibal with Stockton while the other two watched. I enjoy riding rides so that was really fun for me.

Seth, Ivy, Lucy

 

Donuts at the park on a Tuesday morning.  Only Brynn and Ivy wanted to go.  We stayed for one hour and when the hour was up I told them I had to take a picture of each of them.  This is what they chose.

This is what compromise looks like

 

Coaching baseball was really hard the last couple of months and Justin was overwhelmed most of the time by everything he was trying/supposed to be doing.  But he really did enjoy coaching and it was worth it to him to have the extra time with Stockton.  They had a team party after the Vernal tournament.  These boys have won zero games but there was no drama, they were inclusive, they supported each other, and they really did have a lot of fun!  We'll see where Stockton goes with baseball next, I'm not sure this team is sticking together.  (I have said that before and they end up playing another season.  Also, Stockton was done with this team but switched right over to the younger team so they could get ready for Cooperstown.)

Stockton is on the opposite side, in the small chair

Justin back row, second in from right; Stockton bottom row, second in from right

Ivy wanted to do a "how-to-draw" art show.  This is where we do a whole bunch of how-to-draw tutorials throughout the day.  I agreed that morning to do one each hour with her.  Brynn joined us and the three of us would do the drawing then I would leave while they added detail and color to their drawings.

bee

dad giving a girl a piggyback-they saved these for Father's Day cards

dolphin

narwhal

seahorse

unicorn

Molly got home from her second camp in just as many weeks.  She was at soccer camp at...Snow College!  She stayed right across the hall from the dorm she stayed in for FSY.  She was very glad to be home at the end of the week...as were the rest of us.  Anyway, soccer camp didn't go as well as FSY.  It had its up and downs and girls are mean, as usual.  But she would say it was mostly good so I'll take it.

Regan Heywood, Jackie, Molly, Callie

Callie, Jackie, Molly, Regan

Brynn and Ivy are so close to the same size that it's not easy for either of them to give the other a piggy back.  Maybe a little easier for Brynn.

Father's Day-

Justin only held one meeting in the morning on Father's Day which meant he got to sleep in a little.  I made him egg casserole and bacon for breakfast.  Molly spoke in church and did a great job.  He had minimal meetings after church and was home within an hour!  The kids had already changed out of their church clothes but Ivy did go back and put her dress on for pictures.  We had chips and queso for a snack/lunch and he was able to relax for a little that afternoon.  I bought him a car battery charger/jumper cables and a couple of his favorite treats. (We bought a little commuter Kia earlier in the month that he was driving instead of the truck so it made sense to get him that.  It is much nicer on gas mileage and we are saving the truck for Molly.)  We went to Gene and April's for dinner that night.

Camping isn't really on the schedule for the summer and it probably won't be this year.  That's just the way it goes when your kids have passions that they want to chase.  Justin set the trailer up in the pasture so it can just stay there.  It became a sort of bunk house/clubhouse for the kids (mostly Brynn and Ivy).  They read and play games out there and make houses so it's all good fun and at least the trailer is getting used for something! 

Brynn and Ivy spent some time planning an art club party so I figured I better follow through and make sure it happened.  They planned snacks and girls and Ivy said they were just going to color.  I found a 4th of July craft for them to do and we had mini cupcakes, chips, and carrots.  They didn't do any art besides the craft.  They played in the trailer while I prepped and ate snacks and played outside while I cleaned up.

Raylie Anderson, Brynn, London Mathis, Hannah Reynolds, Ivy, Lydia Evans, Emery Pearson, Verity Phelps, Blakelee Anderson

London, Raylie, Ivy, Brynn, Emery, Lydia, Blakelee, Hannah, Verity

 

Lagoon trip #2.  This was planned so Molly (who had missed our last trip) could ride with Gavin (who had left early to go to work the last time).  We also got the Walker's this time so it was all sorts of fun with cousins that night.  The big kids (Chloe down to Brynn and everyone in between) go off and ride the big rides and the younger group stays together.  Harper was a bit of a floater since she likes to ride Wicked but not Cannibal so I took her to ride a few rides, just the two of us, and that was really fun.  I rarely get one-on-one time with any of my nieces and nephews.  We rode Wicked, Colossus, Spider, and the white roller coaster before finding the younger group again.

Ivy and Josie

Brynn and Harper

Harper, Molly, Chloe, me, Gavin

Stockton and Grant

I made Brynn get in the tub one morning and when she was finished washing, she and Ivy put their swimsuits on and played in the tub.  They found a tube of tub paint and used that up.  They ended up staying in for a couple of hours!  They were prunes when they finally got out! 

After missing swim lessons last year (I was too late in signing up and there were no spots), Ivy was so happy when I got her signed up this year.  I did the private lessons for one week and she loved every minute of it!  I wondered if the price was worth it but was pleased with how much she learned in just one week.

 

Several months ago Molly became very excited when she found out the US Women's National soccer team was going to be playing a game in Sandy at Rio Tinto Stadium.  It wasn't even a question of whether or not she wanted to go so she bought a ticket for herself and I got one for me as well.  She was so excited for this night and it was so fun for me to watch her.  She was totally geeking out being so close to all those players that she has idolized for so long.  She knows every girl on the team, where they went to college, how many games they've played for the US, how many goals, etc. etc.  She is very knowledgeable when it comes to women's soccer.  Anyway, we had a great time at the game.  We found our seats and were happy that, for the first half, we were sitting right behind the goal that the US was attacking.  We saw a lot of action and an own-goal by Colombia to put the US in the lead.

Molly had been texting her friend, Kylie Shields, who was sitting with her family on the opposite side of the field than we were.  They had two seats that they weren't using so at half time, we moved over to sit with them.  Which meant we were on the attacking side for the second half too!  They had seats on the third row and we were right behind and off to the side of the players bench.  Molly was on cloud nine being so close to them!

It got extra exciting when it started pouring and the lightning started.  They had a rain delay for about 30 minutes and we waited for it to clear.  There was a lot of cheering when the players came back out on the field and Kelly O'Hara scored within the first minute after the game started back up.  There was about 20 more minutes before the game was over.  It was such a great night and so amazing that I got to share it with Molly.  She helped keep me awake on the late night drive over Parley's Canyon and we finally made it home at 12:30.

 

Stockton wanted to make homemade ice cream.  He picked mint oreo and it was delicious.  The only snag we ran into was when I told him to put it in the freezer to harden all they way and then I found it in the fridge a few hours later!  We couldn't eat it that night for dessert but had it the next day after lunch.

 

We had a free night and I told everyone it was going to be a family night.  We thought maybe we'd go to the lake but Justin got home a little too late for that.  Good thing too, since we had rain and thunder and lightning shortly after we would have gotten there.  We ended up keeping it super low-key and went to the high school fields to play.  A game of soccer.  Some baseball.  Stockton was pitching to Justin when the high school team showed up.  They were so nice and encouraging and had Stockton pitch to all of them.  We went home to Ivy's banana splits and then the kids had a sleepover in the trailer that night.