July

4th of July-

I usually give the 4th its own post but it was weird this year so it's getting included in July's post.  I took the girls up to Plain City the night before but left the boys at home.  We went to the concert in the park and got eaten alive by mosquitos and then tried to crash at my mom and dad's house.  Normally, this would be fine but their house was so, so hot.  They don't have air conditioning and hadn't turned on their swamp cooler this year.  I thought we would be fine with the ceiling fan and a big floor fan but I was wrong.  Molly went to Chloe's so she was fine but the little girls and I tried sharing the king bed and that was my second bad idea of the night.  I slept horribly and they were restless.  I tried the downstairs couch for a little bit but they got up several times so then I went back upstairs.  They were both awake at 4:30 and no one went back to sleep.  Lesson learned.

Good thing it was a holiday because they were quite chipper that morning.  Pictures on the front porch.  They are both in hand-me-down patriotic clothing since Grandma wasn't there to get the new, matching clothes for everyone.  These girls have plenty of hand-me-downs so it was all good.

I took Brynn down to the Walker's because she was planning on spending the day with them at the Warren celebration.  I picked up Molly who was opting to stay in Plain City for the morning.  Molly dropped Ivy and I off at the line-up spot for the bike parade.  Ivy was the only grandkid riding this year which was also weird.  I walked alongside her and then we watched the rest of the parade with Molly and Bryce and Erin's family.

Brynn on a borrowed bike and Josie at the Warren parade

We went to the park and I had Ivy all to myself.  Or maybe I should say Ivy had me all to herself.  Anyway, I gave her a budget and we walked all the way around the park so she could decide what she wanted to do and how she wanted to spend the money she had.  She did spin art, the fish pond, and hair tinsel. She got nachos for lunch and cotton candy for her treat.  She ended up going a little over budget and bought a lip gloss and a chapstick holder with her own money from her bank account.  She has plenty saved up.  Molly spent her time with Abby.  Their flavored lemonades are so good and that's one place Molly chose to spend her cash.

When everyone was done, we went back to Grandma and Grandpa's house and waited to go swimming.  I had Ivy watch a show for 30 minutes because I was exhausted and needed to relax for a minute.  Then she got in the pool to swim by herself while she waited for other cousins to come join her.  She was content to be on her own for an hour or so until the Walker's and Brynn showed up.

my parents are just a block away from the park so it's a quick walk home-we have never, ever seen it so busy though and had to document all the cars and crazy parking

This was when Molly and I took our leave.  We were leaving the following morning for trek and Brynn and Ivy were staying with Erin and Ali.  Like I said, it was a different holiday than what I am used to-my parents were gone, no Broadbents, the Walkers stayed in Warren, Justin and Stockton were gone (although this has happened before because of baseball), and I had to leave early and didn't finish out the day.  Oh well. I will look forward to next year.

Molly and I drove home and we were extremely lame the rest of the day as we finished our packing, did some watering, cleaned the house, and went to bed early.  Molly did go out with her friends and watched the fireworks so there was that for her.  She got very little sleep that night but the rest of us didn't get much more than her because it was an early wake-up for everyone!

Heber Stake Trek 2023-

This trek had been a long time coming.  Covid pushed back the originally scheduled trek a couple of times, then FSY was last year, so trek was this year.  Molly and Stockton had been planning on going months and months ago-they didn't really have a choice, ha-but Justin and I were very unclear about our responsibility.  We had heard a couple different things from a couple different people.  Finally two weeks before trek was supposed to start, Justin reached out to the stake presidency councilor over trek to find out for sure what we were doing.  The answer was that we were fully expected to be there.  We didn't have an official assignment but they were going to rotate us through the companies throughout the week so that bishops were able to trek with all their youth.  So that meant I needed to get 4 of us outfitted and ready to trek.  We needed to be at the church that first morning (Wednesday the 5th) at 5:30 am.  Justin had to hurry and get a loan submitted at 5:00 that morning before we could leave!

 

I will admit that I was struggling to feel super enthusiastic about going to trek.  My mind was changed when we got to the church and I saw the gym filled to almost-overflowing with youth, all dressed up in their pioneer garb.  I started to feel more excited to spend the next few days with them.  We had some opening remarks from President Thunnell and a prayer to get us going.  Our ward gathered for a group photo-we had an impressive amount of youth commit to trekking!

Molly on the furthest left in the back, Stockton 4th in from left on the front row, me and Justin 8 people in from Stockton

We had parents shuttle us to the spot where the handcarts were waiting. It took us a minute to get sorted into families and companies and then we were off!  It was really neat to see the line of carts and youth with a beautiful blue sky and lush green fields!

Khloie Kelsey and Molly

Stockton and Sam Freeman

Stockton and Kelton Webb

Jake Webb, Justin, Chase Turman

the mosquitos were so bad they recommended face nets for protection

We hiked with red company the first day.  We hiked 10 miles with a stop for lunch about halfway.  We hiked so fast, the missionaries serving there said we were several hours early to our campsite that afternoon.  Justin tried to do a good turn and help a youth with a stubborn pocket knife and ended up with stitches from the trek doctor.

We set up camp and had several hours of free time.  I think this was good and the kids loved having the down time each day.  John Webb was in charge of games...we never got to play some that he had planned but each day he set up gaga ball, 9-square, and spikeball and those were very popular and played by large groups of kids.  There were several impromptu games like "Big Booty" that popped up all over camp.  It was a fun night.

Molly and Bryson Allen

Day 2: We hiked with yellow company this day-Stockton's company.  His handcart led out and claimed to be the quickest of all!  They were fast!  The missionaries didn't let us go quite as fast as the day before.  They paced us and made us take more breaks.  Most of the kids didn't love this-they just wanted to hike and get to camp.  But we made good time anyway and no injuries/stitches were needed this day.  The trail was so pretty and exceeded my expectations, which were admittedly low.  I thought it would be dry, dusty, and not very scenic but the fields were green and spotted all over with beautiful wildflowers.  Several girls gathered bouquets and some made flower crowns. 10 miles this day as well.

Stockton 2nd in from left on that first cart

Justin and John Webb-these two turn into little kids when they are at activities together

Camp that night was my favorite of all the nights.  We set up and relaxed for a bit before dinner.  The same games were set up.  Spikeball and hacky sack were favorites for my family.

Molly, Justin, Drew Whimpey, Sloane Ellingford

Dale Whimpey, Justin, Molly, Stockton, Jake

After dinner we had a square dance caller come up and teach us how to square dance.  We made a gigantic circle, paired off, and learned how to square dance.  My partner (who I didn't know and can't remember his name) and I were quite good, I have to admit, and we had a ton of fun.  Justin paired up with Molly and they also had a lot of fun, but they did say they weren't very good at it.  A lot of kids told me later that this was one of their favorite parts of trek.

After the square dance, everyone was just mingling around when we heard over the speakers "Boot Scootin' Boogy" and everyone took off running to the big open field where we had done our square dancing.  That commenced a huge hoedown...line dances and music and lots of teenagers and leaders.  It was so, so much fun.  The kids were tired from their couple of days of walking but as soon as that music started, they had a burst of energy and were able to dance the night away.  It was my favorite night of the entire trek and so fun to be with the youth in that moment.

Day 3:  The third day was the hardest.  It was hot and we didn't have the pleasant breeze from the day before.  We also had to reroute because of a whole bunch of cows and that added two more miles.  I think everyone was wishing we could just get all the miles done that day and go home-but we still had that day and that night and then the hike out before we were done. But it was good.  We got to our lunch spot and had a fun surprise-someone in our stake who is a pilot flew over and dropped several boxes of ice cream sandwiches.  Those super tired kids had no problem running after those treats!  We also did the women's pull that morning.

That night was more chill-we had a youth talent show and our stake president spoke to us.  We got attacked by mosquitos.

Day 4: This was our final day.  We took time to get packed up and headed on our way.  It was a short hike that day-only a few miles.  It felt great to reach the end and know we had all made it, haha.  Molly enjoyed trek.  She loved the girls in her family.  Our stake did not have ma's and pa's instead they had youth-led families and called them Big Brother's and Big Sister's or "Bigs" for short.  Molly was called and set apart several months ago to be a Big Sister for her family.  She had to plan and coordinate devotionals and just generally be a leader for her family.  It was great to observe this dynamic within the whole group and I thought it worked really well.  I always think we should let the youth have opportunities to lead when they can.  (They had four companies that each were led by a couple, each company had either a YSA aunt or uncle, they had medical leaders, and other leaders like bishops and stake youth leaders so the Bigs had plenty of support.)

Big Sister Molly is second in from left, Emily Page next to her also in middle

Molly second in from right

Stockton loved his family.  They got along and bonded really well.  He had a great trek experience and would go back and do it all again.  He claims that his handcart was the fastest of all the handcarts but they never really got to put that to the test.  They did pull together well so he could be right!

Stockton second from right with his "brothers"

Regardless of personal trek experience, we were all happy to get to the end.  The prospects of showers and our own beds were very appealing.  Justin and I were so grateful to have gone and to have been there with Molly and Stockton and the amazing youth in our ward!

Molly, Jake, Stockton, Kelton

one of the boys went around giving other people random "tattoos"-the Stake President did not like it-but it was the son of the 2nd counselor, Tanner Thunnell, doing it!

Daniels Canyon Ward finishers-not even going to try to point us all out but we're all in there somewhere

Justin fits right in with these kids-Justin, Sloane, Jackie Bingham, Molly

We got home that afternoon, took showers, and unpacked.  Brynn and Ivy were with Erin up in Ogden so I had to drive up and get them.  They had had a great weekend split between Erin and Ali's house, a quick trip up to the cabin, swimming in grandma and grandpa's pool, cousin sleepovers, playing with puppies, and all the other stuff they did. Justin had to unpack from trek and then pack again for a work trip he was leaving on the very next morning.

Josie, Ivy, Lucy-this photo was recreated that week-look how those girls have grown! (original photo, July 2020)

Justin was heading to California for...school.  Yup, he is officially a student once again.  America First sent him to Pomona College for essentially a master's degree in credit union management.  The timing is bad with all the other things he has on his plate right now but it's not an opportunity you say no to.  We have both felt good about it and know that he will be magnified in all his areas.  At least that is what I keep telling myself.  He was there for two full weeks.

The first week I think he really enjoyed.  He got to know the others from AFCU that were there-some he already knew, some he didn't.  He was one of four first year students and their group also included two second years and two third years.  They all got along really well.  He also met a fellow Braves fan and member of the church from Washington and they became friends over the two weeks as well.  He was in class everyday and told me it was very reminiscent of being a USU student...same kinds of desks and all handwritten notes (they didn't use computers to take notes because the teachers thought they might be tempted to work).  Each night they had a different activity...a luau, a decades night, and similar.  On Friday night they went to the Angels game-another ballpark visited for Justin!-and on Saturday they spent the entire day at Universal Studios.  The entire AFCU group, minus one first year but plus the Washington guy, went to church together on Sunday.

with fellow first years and guy from Washington

Justin is second in from right

Hogwarts Castle

The second week was when it started to feel long and not so much fun anymore.  That second Monday was the longest, hardest day.  They got put into groups and had to make and present a project.  They were at the school from 7 in the morning until 9:30 at night.  They were also hitting the studying really hard by then so would spend several hours after school to study.  He had long days Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday with lots and lots of studying.  They had their final Thursday morning.  It was 100 questions and a lot harder than he had expected.  But he passed and was happy and relieved to have that behind him.  They all attended the graduation ceremony for the third years that night and flew home the following morning.

first years study group

AFCU group after graduation-Justin on far left

He was gone for 12 nights and that was a very long time for all of us-him to be gone and us to be home without him.  Like him, the first week wasn't too bad but the second week just drug on forever and it seemed like he was never getting home.  Everyone was very happy when he got home that Friday afternoon.  He took a nice, long nap that day!

What's next?  Well, he will get his project/assignment/thesis soon and he will have until April to get that done and turned in.  The two weeks of school was one thing but this is the thing that he has heard is the hardest part.  He will really have to be disciplined to set aside time to work on this over the next several months.  Then he will go back to school for two weeks next year as a second year, do another project/assignment/thesis and then go back one last time for his third year where they run a simulated credit union and graduate.  So, it seems like a lot and a daunting task ahead of him.  But there must be a reason he is doing it now and know that reason will be made clear at some future point.

Life continued as usual while he was gone.  If the kids were younger, I would have taken them somewhere fun for several days but they had things they didn't want/couldn't miss.  So we were home and that's okay.  I took Brynn on her date to Panda Express. Not too gourmet but just what she wanted.

We had an afternoon when Brynn set up the giant slip 'n slide on the grass.  The girls did some swimming as well and then came in and got to work doing some salt painting.

Molly's doing her nails

Stockton did get to go out and have some fun without us when he joined the Moyes and Broadbent families for their annual backpacking trip.  They went to some lake in the Uintah's, he loved every minute of it, and it sounds like it was a smashing success.  Molly would have liked to go but didn't want to miss soccer.  Justin would have liked to go but was being a responsible adult/student.  Brynn didn't care to go but she couldn't have gone anyway.  And Ivy probably would have gone if Justin would have been available to go...maybe someday.  But I am glad that Jeff and Bryce are super nice to make sure Stockton has the chance to go.

Stockton forgot to pack his water shoes so he is crossing this river bare-footed (he's in the back)

Stockton, Grant, Seth, Harper, Gavin, Spencer, Abby, Grace

always baseball with these boys...Spencer, Gavin, Stockton

Bryce, Abby, Erin M., Grant, Spencer, Stockton, Harper, Gavin, Seth, Jeff, Grace

Brynn and Ivy wanted to try on my wedding dress so we pulled that out of my closet one day.  They've grown a little bit since the last time we did this but they've still got a long way to go before it fits them!  Also, I still love my wedding dress.

One day I was at Lee's and I found a gallon milk jug in the freezer section filled with chocolate ice cream mix for an ice cream maker.  It was super cheap too-only $8.  There is no way I could buy all the ingredients for that much homemade ice cream for cheaper than that.  So I grabbed it and spent the rest of the afternoon defrosting it so we could make some later that afternoon.  It was pretty delicious!  The girls topped it with marshmallows, chocolate and caramel syrup, and lots and lots of sprinkles. (The gallon jug was enough to do this twice more!)

Shaylee Williams, Brynn, Ivy

I had told the kids that they could each take a night to have a sleepover in my bed one of the nights Justin was gone.  Brynn and Ivy loved the idea.  Stockton was a no.  Molly and I had a girls night and watched a chick flick but she opted to sleep in her own bed.

 Brynn and Ivy wanted to play croquet one afternoon.  They set up the course in no particular way but how they wanted and we played.  I thought about letting them win and then decided not to and beat them.

We've been wanting to get back out and hike with Gene and April but just haven't been able to match our schedules up.  But we did make it happen when Justin was gone.  We met them at their house Monday morning (one week and one day with Justin gone), along with Heidi and her kids, then drove up Little Cottonwood Canyon and hiked up to Gloria Falls.  It was a hot day in Salt Lake County-above 100 that afternoon-but the mountains felt nice and when we got to the waterfall, it felt like someone had turned the air conditioner on.  The waterfall was impressive after a big water year and the mountains were gorgeous.  A morning well-spent!

Evie, Gene, Brynn, Stockton, Ivy, Luke, Jake in the back

 

Ivy, Gene, Brynn

Girls Camp 2023-

Molly and Brynn were able to attend Girl's Camp in a beautiful little spot in Wallsburg.  It was only 30 minutes away which made it super nice for all the back and forth that Molly did.  She would have loved to stay the entire time but it was the week before soccer tryouts and they were holding some pre-tryout scrimmages that she felt she needed to attend.  When you have to be two places at once, you divide your time as best you can.  Since youth can't drive themselves to camp, I drove her back and forth.  And I was happy to do it-if it was any further away, she would have just missed camp entirely and she and I would have been super bummed about that!

Anyway, they both loved camp and everything about it.  I was a little sad not being there after being able to go the last two years but it would have been way too complicated to figure that out with Justin gone and everything else that was going on.  Justin was disappointed not to make it.  They got to zipline/do a ropes course, practice archery, spent a day at the lake, made lots of bracelets and jedi braids, had a faith walk, ate good food, stayed up late in their tent (Brynn), and really just enjoyed being with the other girls and leaders in our ward.  It sounded like it was a huge success and a magical first Girl's Camp for Brynn!

Molly and Brynn tried swapping camp hoodies

Brynn, Sloane, Brooke Turman

Molly in the front

Brynn, Brooke, Kelsey Larsen, Sloane, Haley Knowles

face masks

Brynn is doing the head stand

Ivy was out-of-her-mind bored for the two days that Brynn was gone.  We played a lot of board and card games.  She did some shopping on Amazon and bought herself another sparkly purse.

On the last day of Girl's Camp I took Stockton and Ivy to Splash Summit.  Ali and Erin were taking their kids so we decided to meet them since it was so close.  Ivy is old enough to do all the slides so we spent time there, as well as in the lazy river and wave pool.  Stockton was rarely seen-he and Grant and Gavin and Tessa were doing their own thing.  I made them stand by the sign on our way out as proof that we made it there this summer.

I had put Brynn's hair in lots of little braids for camp so it was a fuzz ball when she got home and we took it out.  This is the face of a girl who loved camp.

Brynn has had a summer full of cheer and she loves it. Practice twice a week, boot camp, choreography week, the Heber parade.  They are cheering on a Level 3 this year so they are working hard while having all that fun.  I asked Brynn if she would be happy going to the gym everyday and she thought that absolutely sounded like a great idea!

Ari and Brynn-nerd day

I don't know who first came up with the idea to put the kid paddleboard in the pool but someone had the idea and it stuck.  We almost threw that paddleboard away earlier this summer because we really don't use it anymore.  Good thing we didn't because it's now become a fixture in the pool and is used nearly everyday.

It makes me most happy when my kids play nicely together.  Brynn and Ivy are regular playmates but Stockton doesn't always join them.  I don't remember what they were doing but I have to celebrate these moments when I can.  I took this from inside as to not ruin the moment.

My hands-down, no-contest, favorite sporting event is the World Cup.  This summer was the Women's World Cup.  I was excited-I could watch soccer every day.  The games were played in Australia and New Zealand so the live games were at odd hours...mostly in the middle of the night.  Molly and I tried to catch a few games by setting alarms and getting up to watch.  We would doze in and out while catching most of the game.  Good memories.  I was extra die-hard and got up to watch the 3 am US vs. Sweden game.  It went to overtime and penalty kicks and was a heartbreaker for the US.  But I was awake for every single minute! (It was a Sunday so I knew I could get a nap if I needed.)  I also watched the final game which was at 4 in the morning.

The kids were planning to sleep on the tramp on the night before the 24th.  Then some clouds and a storm came through so they decided to sleep in a tent instead.  Molly didn't find that quite as appealing as the open sky so she bailed but the other three followed through and stayed out all night.

We didn't make any plans for Pioneer Day.  Justin had only been home a few days and didn't want to turn around and do anything too crazy.  Ivy had been invited to Lagoon with Lydia Evans and they were paying for her entrance so I gave a green light for that fun day for her.  The rest of us had a relaxing morning.  I mowed the lawn.  Around noon we decided to stop and grab some sandwiches and head up Guardsmans Pass to Silver Lake.  Well, I was thinking Silver Lake but when we got there Justin looked at it and said it wasn't the lake he was thinking.  He was thinking of Bloods Lake, which luckily is in the same canyon and only 10 minutes away.  We had passed Bloods Lake so we turned around and drove back to the trailhead for the hike.  

This is a gorgeous hike.  We've done it before but in August so we were lucky to be there when the wildflowers were all blooming.  Molly and Brynn were the brave ones who got in the chilly lake and swam around for a few minutes.  It was hot and probably felt refreshing to them.  We tried to recreate a few photos from the last time we were there.

then

now

then

now

We stopped for snow cones on the way home and supplies for a crepe bar for dinner.  Stockton had Kelton over and Brynn had Layla over and Molly had Jackie over and Ivy made it home so we had a full house for the rest of the night.  The younger kids did some night swimming and the older girls watched a World Cup game with me.  We didn't go back out for fireworks or anything but were content to relax and go to bed earlier.  Molly had an early morning the next day with the first session of tryouts starting at 7 am.

Kelton and Stockton

It's not summer without soap clouds.  Ivy's friend, Gracen, was able to join us this year.  She had never done it and was suitably impressed. 

Brynn, Ivy, Gracen Nalette

Gracen, Ivy, Brynn

Let's talk about Wasatch High School girls soccer tryouts.  Molly had so much success last year and we were so proud of how hard she worked.  She had set a goal this year to make varsity and she was determined to reach that goal.  I thought maybe it would be okay if she made JV again since they sometimes have JV players dress and play up on varsity.  I thought that would guarantee her plenty of playing time and the potential opportunity to play at the higher level.  Molly did not agree.  She wanted varsity and so she set out to make it happen.  She did not miss a morning conditioning all summer.  She missed one Friday morning strength and agility training when we went paddleboarding.  She made it to the scrimmages and conditionings even during girls camp which was a huge sacrifice.  They held tryouts starting the 25th.  They had 5 sessions of tryouts, 2 hours each.  10 hours of tryouts!  They were mentally and physically exhausted.  Rosters came out two hours after the last session...Molly had done it, she made varsity!  I went out and bought her a mini cake and a balloon to celebrate.  Justin and I have learned to never underestimate Molly ever again.  She is a determined kid!

Brynn's souvenir from Girl's Camp was a jedi braid and we found out that when it's in a ponytail and gets wet, it can stand straight up in the air!

This is Ivy being silly in the cheer pick-up line. 

I wasn't sure if we were going to make it to Bear Lake this summer but we were able to squeeze in a really short trip at the end of July.  We left Friday after lunch and came home Saturday by dinner.  It was a perfect Bear Lake weekend with the blue, blue lake and blue skies as well.  We met our friends, the Webbs, at the cabin.  They had been in an airbnb for the entire week but were staying at the cabin with us for that night.  They ordered pizza for all of us and we spent most of the evening outside playing games in the yard.  The kids tried to pull a late-nighter, had even said they were going to stay up to watch a 1:30 World Cup game but when I woke up to go downstairs to watch the game, they were all out.  Some on the couch, some on the floor. I at least got Molly to go up to her own room and I think Parker and Jake ended up in their rooms around 5 that morning.

The whole reason we were there began the next morning.  John was swimming across the lake and Justin was going to be his safety boat captain, meaning he would ride paddleboard while John swam.  He had to make sure he swam in a straight line and basically that he was okay the entire time.  So they left early to get to the starting line while Jenny and I waited for the kids to get up.

Justin and John-starting line

When they got up, we fed them and then got ready and headed to the lake.  We set up next to the finish line so we could watch for John and Justin when they finished.  The kids played in the lake, on the paddleboards, and we had lunch.  It was hot outside and the water felt wonderful.  Jake and Parker were so nice to include and be aware of Brynn and Ivy.

Ivy, Parker, Brynn, Jake, Stockton (Kelton behind Stockton but hidden)

John came it at the 4.5 hour mark.  I can't even imagine swimming for that long.  We stayed a little longer so the men to could eat lunch and John could catch his breath but then we packed up and headed back to the cabin.  We stayed a little longer and then both families packed up and headed home.  I'm glad we got a nice day in Bear Lake this summer.

Justin and John-finish line

Ivy and Parker

Stockton, Molly, Ivy, Brynn, Jake, Parker, Kelton

We ate dinner outside one Sunday and somehow Brynn and Ivy ended up in the pool with their clothes on. (It's not much of a mystery how it happened-Justin threw them in.)  Ignore Ivy's gross mouthful of food.

Speaking of the pool, it's mostly provided the entertainment I was hoping it would.  These two got in almost every day this summer.  They still need to get used to the temperature of the water (Brynn) but we might move it next year so it gets more sun throughout the day and I'm sure that will help.

Monday, July 31st: we were a house divided again.  Molly was at soccer camp in Mount Pleasant.  Justin and Stockton were at priesthood camp in Flaming Gorge.  A perfect chance to take Brynn and Ivy school shopping.  I had tried to talk the kids into spacing out their school clothes so that it wasn't so much all at once but they wanted nothing to do with that.  They decided that given that option or getting a set budget from me, they would prefer to pay a percentage of what they got.  So we went with that. Brynn and Ivy found most everything that day (Brynn got a pair of pants a week later).  I took Stockton to the outlets on his own the next week.  He didn't find much and has done a little more online.  Molly went with her friends when she was home from camp and is still shopping around for a few things.  Can't believe July is over and school is once again upon us.