August

The Albion Youth Theater decided to perform a middle school play this summer with Kendall in mind for a specific role. It was called C-rhyme and Pun-ishment and was a hilarious musical detective story. They had wanted Kendall to play the role of the detective. We told them right from the start though that our summer, and especially Kendall's schedule was going to be nearly impossible to work around. They insisted he come to audition though and had us bring our calendar to see what they could do. So we went but sure enough, it just wasn't possible for them to give that role to Kendall since he wouldn't be able to make it to hardly any of the practices and actually would miss opening night because he wouldn't be done at band camp yet. So they decided to cut out one day of the performances so that he could still be in it but with a much lesser role: Humpty Dumpty (whose murder the detectives are actually trying to solve) who comes in at the very end of the play and only says a few words. Lynnsey also got a role as one of the Old Woman who Lives in a Shoe's children. 

It has been awhile since they did anything other than a Missoula Children's Theater play where they come with all the costumes and backdrops and the whole thing is over and done with in a week. This one had lots of practices and extras like set building, etc. Kendall missed most of that and pretty much just had to show up the night of the performances but Lynnsey spent many hours at rehearsal. She did have a lot of fun and enjoyed spending some time with friends too.

 Our branch did a summertime family activity that the Relief Society was in charge of. Unfortunately the opening night of the play was the same night as the party so we had to split up. We would have just skipped the party so we could see the play,  but since I'm in the Relief Society presidency I didn't have a choice. So Kalen went to opening night and I brought Taylor, Spencer and Kaya with me. It was a circus themed party so we all had to dress up in our clowniest attire. It was fun piecing together costumes. Somehow I didn't get a picture of mine, but the kids looked great.

It was an unusual summer weather-wise. We had a few really hot days but most of the time it was really mild and even a bit cool some days. Still, the kids managed to take advantage of any high-temp days to cool off in the sprinklers!

 As a part of the library's summer reading program, they had a fun performance to end it. We don't know where everyone was because there wasn't a big crowd, but our kids had a great time and we all laughed a lot and learned at the same time.

 The Bramhall's decided that our visit together in Utah wasn't enough and so they came for a few days in August. It is always so much fun to have them! We did lots of visiting and made sure to do the favorites like Turkeyville and Swain's Lake.

 We had to do our traditional dutch oven potato and roasted hot dog dinner. So delicious! And Kalen made a phenomenal bean salad that we couldn't get enough of and was nutritious enough to take away some of the guilt about the s'mores we ate for dessert!

Kendall made a delicious cheesecake that was an amazing first attempt.

It was a great way to end our crazy summer!

The Rest of July

As I mentioned earlier, Taylor and Kendall went to Youth Conference right after we arrived home from Utah. Of course, I don't have any photographic evidence, because neither of them brought a camera with them, but they had a great time. They did another Trek adventure this year (Taylor's first youth conference was also Trek). Technically Taylor is eighteen now but they let him go to one last conference. This was Kendall's first youth conference. 

This year to celebrate our 20th anniversary (which happened while we were still in Utah), we left Taylor and Kendall in charge and went to Detroit for two nights. It was SO much fun! The first night it was already evening when we arrived. We stayed at a place near Auburn Hills that we found on Priceline for a great deal. It was not the fanciest hotel we've ever been in but it wasn't the worst either. And it had a nice pool and free breakfast so that was great. Next door there was a really great restaurant where we ate a couple of times. The next morning we headed to the temple where we spent a long day first doing initiatories (I did 15 and Kalen did about 17!) and then did an endowment session before heading back to the hotel. On the way we stopped for lunch and then at a miniature golf place and played a couple of fun rounds before going back and swimming for awhile before a late dinner. It was just so nice to spend some time together reconnecting and celebrating the fact that I have now been married for over half of my life! Amazing!

This summer the Kids n' Stuff museum offered some dance classes. Kaya was dying to sign up and she had a great time. Unfortunately they didn't really get the numbers of kids they were hoping for. I think the younger classes had a few but the 5 and 6 year old class just had Kaya. So I don't know if that's something they will offer again or not. I loved that it was affordable and right here in town and I think people really missed out. Kaya really loved having her own private instructor though!

 While Kaya was in class, and Lynnsey was at play practice, Spencer had fun in the museum.

 We also celebrated Spencer's 9th birthday in July. He is growing up so fast!

He was ecstatic to get the Mario Kart DS game that he was hoping for!

Lynnsey and Kendall both had visits with the orthodontist this summer and unfortunately it is time for them both to be in braces. :( It is horrible timing with Taylor getting ready to serve a mission me losing half of the kids I babysat for last year and we aren't sure how we are going to be able to afford all these extra costs, but we are hoping for the best.)

We did corn on the cob for Lynnsey's last supper before she got her braces on! Kendall had to wait a few extra weeks because of scout camp and band camp.

Home Again Home Again...

We arrived back from Utah completely exhausted and just in time for summer to get crazy with youth conferences, scout camp, band camp, and about a million doctor and dentist appointments not to mention catching up on bills and yard work and church callings. While Taylor and Kendall were at youth conference, and Kalen was working on college stuff, I did squeeze in a zoo trip with the three younger kids. Unfortunately we didn't get to spend as much time as we had planned because they told us when we arrived that the zoo was closing two hours early so they could get ready for a big fundraising event that evening. So we had to cram in as much as we could in half the time we had planned. Still it was a fun visit and nice to get away from all the stress back at home for a couple of hours.

Wild Africa was a must visit because they had an adorable new baby giraffe!

We planned to come back as soon as Taylor and Kendall were able to come with us, but things were seriously so crazy that we never made it back before the zoo closed for the season! We'll definitely have to plan a few trips next summer.

Utah Trip Week 3 Duchesne

For the last week of our trip we headed to Duchesne for the Potter family reunion. Mom and Dad were in charge this year and they had planned lots of fun for us. We went to Starvation Reservoir (twice because the Bramhall's came late to the party so we ended up going again after they arrived), got to visit with one of my best friends in the world Jenn Curtis (we were thrilled that our trips to Duchesne coincided!), went to Pin Willies for lunch in Talmage and "The Ranch" in Mountain Home and rode four wheelers all over the place (there were some stunningly beautiful places up there!), met up with Andrew and his family for the one day they were available in Park City where we rode the Alpine Slide and Coaster and had a picnic in the park, ate delicious pizza at the Sandstone Cafe in Hannah, and did a temple session at the Vernal Temple followed by a visit to the Museum of Natural History (more dinosaurs!). We also explored the old farm (and got some great pictures) and I got to go to church in my old ward for the first time in YEARS! It was fun to see some of the old ward members that I knew growing up and fun to visit with a couple of my old classmates who are still in the area (one of whom is now the bishop!) We had a really fun time and it was a nice way to end the trip. 

Jonathan's boat is always a big hit!

The kids also love the jet ski's.

Kaya and Naomi could be me and Jenn a few decades ago!

I think if Jenn and I could ever live close by each other, our kids would seriously be best friends. They all hit if off and had just as much fun visiting as I did catching up with Jenn.

Fun at Pin Willies!

The kids lovde the four wheelers.

But Taylor wasn't thrilled to get one that was about five sizes too small!

Spencer was thrilled when Grandpa actually let him drive the side by side!

Kendall actually made it across!

Beautiful little waterfall!

The chairlift heading to the Alpine slide in Park City.

Mom even did the slide!

Spencer and I rode the coaster together. It was great that we could control the speed ourselves, but Spencer made sure we went as fast as it would go! He loved it.

Andrew and Grant

Jessi wasn't able to make it to the Oswald reunion because of her classes, but she came and met us for the day in Park City with Brecken. It was so much fun to see them both.

Fun at the park.

Pick up soccer game!

Nap time for Jonathan!

Almost without warning, the sunny day turned cloudy and we wound up getting drenched in a downpour!

This picture in the Sandstone Cafe is really interesting. No matter which angle you look at it, the gun always seems to be pointing right at you!

We literally took up the entire restaurant!

This made me nervous, but the kids had some fun shooting at targets with their uncles.

Cute girls, Kaya and Rebecca had a ball playing together.

Taylor actually drove the jet ski by himself!

I love that our kids are best friends with their cousins!

More besties!

The kids loved being pulled behind the boat in the raft.

Vernal Temple day! So much fun to spend time with my family in such a sacred place.

Fun at the Museum of Natural History in Vernal.

I love how this velociraptor looks like he's photo-bombing Lynnsey and Cecily's picture!

Sweet cousins!

Grandpa's old barn. I think they are finally tearing it down because it is such a hazard, but I'm hoping they'll save me some pieces of the old wood to make some picture frames.

I loved getting this shot of Kaya on the old farm. Beautiful!

And Spencer too! It was dusk and they sky was really gorgeous and cast an amazing glow on the field and the hills and brought back so many fun memories of the times I spent exploring there as a child.

We took off for home after church on Sunday and drove it straight through again. We are hoping that we don't have to wait four years for the next visit!