June

Yay Summer! We were bummed to have to go back to school after Memorial Day but we survived and everyone was happy summer had finally arrived.

Brynn's high school cheer career started in earnest and she was very excited when she started getting pieces of her uniform. Here's a sneak peek. She is loving high school and happy she made the decision to try out.

We didn't get Molly a graduation gift although we do count her senior trip as a pretty big gift. Something she has been wanting for a while is to get matching permanent bracelets. I'd been promising that we could go get them as a sort of graduation gift so we did that as soon as we could after graduation. She picked the design and it is exactly her (gold with a small, green jewel). I love it.

Brynn saved her money to buy herself a vanity for her room. She waited anxiously each day until it was delivered. Justin stayed up super late a couple nights in a row helping her get it put together and she excitedly moved all her supplies in the next morning. She loves it and uses it every single day.

We had dentist appointments with Jeff that first week of summer so of course we made a day out of it and went to grandma and grandpa's after. Stockton had to be back the next morning for the final day of his driving test so we couldn't stay overnight but a few hours is better than nothing and makes the drive down worth it.

Harper, Ivy, Seth, Brynn, Josie

My friend has the cutest farm stand that she sets up every other week. She is an amazing baker and we like to go see what she has to offer. The cinnamon buns are my favorite.

One of our very favorite summer activities is a lake day with the Webb's. Kelton was heading to Virginia to work at a summer camp so we had to do it early this year. It was a busy Saturday night at the lake but we managed to find a picnic table with shade and access to water so it was perfect. Glad Jenny suggested this and glad we made time for it.

Kelton, Justin, Ivy, Molly, Parker, John, Stockton, Brynn

The kids are busy enough that it's really only Ivy who wants to check activities off the bucket list each week. She looks over it on Sunday night, picks a handful of things that look fun, and then we consult the calendar and figure out the best day for each activity. It's low stress and she seems happy with it. The beginnings of the week seem to fill up quick with the end of the weeks being a little more open so that's when we try to do our activities. That first weekend we made homemade ice cream for banana splits, made cucumber pickles, and played croquet in the yard. I love that she still gets excited for little things.

Molly was reporting to her "college job" (aka soccer team) Monday morning, June 9th. They were hosting a camp for high school teams across the state and were also doing a few workouts and games as a new team. I was excited for her and was happy that she was going to get to meet some of her teammates before she went for good. She was going on her own and was understandably nervous about that. I thought she was so brave. She had a pretty good time. It was awkward at first and since they were running other games, they didn't have a ton of time to spend as a team. But each day got a little bit better and by the end, she was feeling good about the team and the coach. There is a girl from Wasatch just about to start her second year so Molly was happy to know at least one person. She also really connected with her roommate, a girl from Box Elder High School. She was very happy to get home though and so were we!

she's in the back in the middle

second from right in back

Stockton did a summer league with the high school baseball team which meant this was my view a lot of summer evenings.  He got a lot of playing time, on both JV and Varsity and got a of time pitching, which he loves.

Brynn has 11 hours of cheer practice each week. It's a lot. They practice Monday evenings for two hours and then Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday they practice from 6 am - 9 am. That 5:30 wake-up is brutal and I am not a fan. But Brynn is having a great time and is having a lot of success with her stunting, which she is happy to report is on a higher level than she was able to do at Tumble Central. And the coach is trying to change it up here and there and make it fun for the girls. One day they had an "anything but a water bottle" day so Brynn and Oakley filled up a ziploc bag with water, stuck a straw in it, and put it inside a boot.

Oakley Keys, Brynn

They also got to practice for "hick night" (cowboy boots and hat), got their spots on the track for football games, and went on a hike to Stewart Falls. (This was all in one week.)

third from right on bottom

5th from left

Brynn went to cheer camp the next week. They stayed Monday-Wednesday and literally cheered 12 hours a day. She was in cheer heaven. Justin went to watch the showcase they did on the last day. She is definitely one of their strongest flyers.

third from right on the back row

Ivy and I talked the Broadbent's into meeting us at Temple Square one afternoon. Brynn even tagged along! Everything is closed down for temple construction but they moved a lot over to the Conference Center. The kids did a scavenger hunt in the Conference Center and we walked around the rooftop gardens. We were able to see all the work they are doing at the temple and it is going to be so cool when it is done, I can't wait. We also walked around the tabernacle and the Church History Museum where they have a fun kids area all about temples. Ali and her kids had to make it back for something that night but we had nothing so I let the girls get ice cream and we picked out a gift for Grandpa Moyes for Father's Day before we drove home.

Lucy and Ivy

Ivy and Lucy

Brynn, Lucy, Ivy, Seth

Ivy wanted to do a bike wash so we pulled out all of the bikes to the grass, I filled up a bucket of soapy water, and away she went scrubbing and spraying.

Father's Day-

We love when Justin is home with us on Sunday mornings. For Father's Day, he got eggs benedict for breakfast.

He went a little early to church and then the rest of us followed after. That meant we also got home before him but I made everyone stay in their church clothes until he got home so I could take a picture. These kids love and admire their dad so much.

We didn't go anywhere that afternoon and let Justin have a relaxing Sunday at home (which is rare). He watched a golf tournament while Ivy gave him a super long back rub.

He wanted spicy honey chicken, coconut rice, parmesan zucchini crisps, and watermelon for dinner. He made it super easy on me and I didn't spend all afternoon in the kitchen. We ate outside on the grass and it was fabulous.

Molly's favorite summer activity might be going to the lake with her friends. She does it any chance she can get. She'll just load a couple of paddle boards into the back of her truck and off she goes. It is one of her happy places.

Carolyn Ritchie, Molly, Regan Heywood

We put up the pool and started the process of filling it with {hot} water. Yay! We really want to get a heater for the pool but haven't yet committed to one...someday this will happen.

Along with washing the bikes, Ivy wanted to wash all the cars. She had helped Stockton wash the truck really well and then they did the Kia together. Stockton did the inside and Ivy did the outside. Stockton was getting really anxious to get his license and get driving on his own and cleaned out both cars in anticipation.

Molly and her friends went to an outdoor play in Orem a couple of times. She has the best friends ever!

Carol, Molly, Amberly Howe

Molly and Carol

Ivy signed up for a musical theater camp at her clogging studio. The theme was Wicked which made her super excited. She had such a great time and I got to go watch them perform on the last day. She was in her element.

Ivy and I play a lot of games when it is just her at home and she can't think of anything else to do.

More pool time. The girls have a lot of fun when we put the air track in the pool. Stockton doesn't join in too often but he did this day.

Ivy wanted to have donuts at the park and roller blade so she came up with a plan to eat our donuts at the park by the skate park because then she could play at the park and also roller blade at the skate park. She brought her friend, Kallie, and Brynn came as well. We went in the morning before it got too hot but it was still quite warm so Kallie came over after and they jumped in the pool to cool off.

Kallie Gehring, Ivy, Brynn

Ivy, Kallie, Brynn

Kallie and Ivy

Girl's Camp was the last week of June at a cabin in Bear Lake. Half of our family was there all or part of the time...Justin drove up and back with Dale Whimpey on Monday, then drove Brynn and Molly up on Tuesday after morning cheer practice. They stayed until late Wednesday night and drove home after testimony meeting so Brynn could get to Thursday morning practice (so she only missed Wednesday morning practice). Molly stayed Wednesday night and drove home with the leaders. They mostly spent their days at the lake. Molly and Justin played a lot of spike ball on the beach. Brynn spent a lot of time on the boat. Molly especially loved being able to go this one last time. I'm glad they both got to be there with Justin and wish I had gotten a few more pictures!

Brynn, Hallie Whimpey, Bree Lloyd

Snow cones on a Friday afternoon. Molly met us there after her Crumbl shift. Stockton opted not to come.

Grant had a lacrosse tournament in Heber...all his games were played at Wasatch High School. That was great for us since we rarely get to watch our nieces and nephews in their sports. We watched a couple of his games and they came to our house Friday night. We fired up the pizza oven for them, got out the giant slip 'n slide, and let them experience a cold pool. Also a lot of whiffle ball was played. We are usually driving to Plain City so we especially appreciate cousin time when we get to stay home.

Ivy and Lucy

Brynn, Lucy, Ivy

Gavin, Stockton, Grant, Jeff

One of Brynn and Ivy's favorite things to do is to get their dolls and do cheer stunts with them. Brynn has taught Ivy all the different holds and everything so they can make a routine and stay in sync with each other. This is the only time Brynn gets to be a base, haha

Young Women's is the best program and I'm glad my girls get the chance to be part of it.  For this activity, they decorated driveways with sidewalk chalk.

Brynn is fourth in from right