6462 Summit Cove...More Planting and Library Camps

 Unfortunately we had several plants die in the yard. We aren't sure why but the landscape company would only replace the large plants and shrubs. I was disappointed but about the same time a local nursery was going out of business and selling everything at least 50% off so Liam and I went to check it out. Needless to say we came home with a lot to plant. Over the next couple day we worked to get them all in the ground since Nate's wedding was this weekend. It was exhausting but we got it done. I can't wait to see them all fill in.

I ordered all the kids gardening gloves off of Amazon and they have been put to good use for sure.

I have been trying to be better about getting to the library activities. The kids love them and it really requires very little on my part just to get them there. This was one of the aquatic camps this summer.

Fun with Friends

 One day while everyone was playing I decided we needed to get out and do something fun. So we loaded up with the kids we had and headed to Layton to Pizza Pie Cafe for lunch. 

We timed it just right so we had time to run to the dollar store to grab a treat for each kid and then off to the movie to see Lightyear and get popcorn.

But the fun wasn't over yet and we used our gift card to get ice cream to fill our bellies. The kids of coarse all wanted to see if the commercial was true that you could flip it over and it would stay in the cup.

When we got home the kids headed outside in the sunshine and played for hours in the sandbox. To me this is one of the ways summer should look like for kids. Hours with their friends doing fun things without a care in the world.

Happy Father's Day

 For Father's Day this year we invited Matt's parents over and Matt smoke ribs because that's what both he and Kerry wanted. The kids and I put together all the sides and dessert so Matt said it was ok he was cooking on his day. We love him so much and all the work and sacrifices he makes for us to have what we do...love you babes!

Impromptu Service Project

 The activity day girls did a service project at the cemetery where they collected all the flowers after Memorial Day. The girls decided to keep way more than when we had something to do with. So we came up with the idea to plant them in the island by the gate entrance to our community. The kids were all very excited and helpful.

Within an hour they were all in the ground and watered. I know I've said this before and Ill say it again. I'm so grateful for small service activities like these that are fun and make a difference the kids can see.

Update...I was worried for a while that the sun had killed the flowers but as the weather cooled off and we got some rain they came back to life with all their beautiful color. I hope they come back next spring as well. 

Soccer Camp

 This is the first year since Emy has been old enough to do soccer camp that it has happened(they cancelled a couple years due to covid). She was already excited and then she found out the neighbor girls were signed up as well. Diana(our neighbor) had twins the end of May so I told her I would handle all the driving. In the past when Hallie did it the weather was beautiful sometimes a little on the to hot side but this year it was so cold! It rained every day and I sent Emy layered hoping she'd be warm! It's crazy how the weather can differ from year to year.

The last day the sun peaked thru the clouds and ended up being beautiful for their last day

Emy had a great time and is already looking forward to next year. Im grateful for the people that take the time to put on things like this that give kids a chance to be physically active and have a good time.

St George-Part 3

 The next morning we got up and headed straight to the pool after breakfast. We found the cousins and had our kids pair off to make sure we knew where everyone was. I did better than I thought with my worrying but it would have been much better if there had been fewer people in the pools. The kids had a great time.

Liam loved the kid section until the giant bucket dumped water everywhere

Hallie was Eden's buddy

We pretty quickly were over the crowds and were hungry so we headed back for some lunch. The kids played in the splash pad and with the water guns while we got lunch going

And of coarse they wanted to "swim" in the hot tub. We tried to turn it down as cool as it would go since it was already so hot

This was my spot on the inside of the air conditioned house but still able to keep a close eye on them. I tried to read a book but I just don't know if that is something I enjoy. Needless to say I didn't make it very far into it.

That night we met up with my parents and Kimber to go out to Tuachan. We decided to do dinner so we didn't have to cook again. So we stopped at M Bettahs but the kids wanted Cafe Rio and they were in the same parking lot so we grabbed their food to go and headed to Mo Bettahs to meet the family. It's always so fun to see the kids together, They just pick up right where they left off. Playing games in the restaurant while the adults finished eating. Luckily we were the only ones in there.

Here's our group to see Mary Poppins. I was so glad we planned ahead and got tickets. In Feb they went on sale for buy one get one free so I sent out a text to both my family and Matt's and grabbed tickets. No one in Matt's family decided they wanted to come but I'm pretty sure some of them regretted it. 

I liked how we split up the tickets so we weren't all in one straight line. It worked out so well but it was SO hot! I took our cooling towels and every single one of them got used. We also bought slushies at intermission for everyone. We were hoping that as the sun went down it would cool off but it didn't. But the show was fantastic!

The show was longer than any of us had expected for a total of 3.5 hours! I was surprised the kids lasted as long and as well as they did after a couple days in the sun. On the ride back to the rental they couldn't stop talking about how amazing it was and how they wished they could go again.

On a totally different note Maddi picked up a kitten from a man giving them away at Walmart and thought she was going to take it home. Although she was pretending to forget that she isn't allowed to have pets so my mom called begging me to bring it home with us. After talking to Matt I agreed we would bring it home but it would be getting rehomed to someone near me. Surprisingly Milo seemed fine sharing his kennel with the kitty. And Im happy to report shortly after we got home the kitty went to a very nice family.

We had a great time but were very ready to escape the heat and head back tot he mountains. The ride home was pretty quiet at any given point someone was asleep...I guess thats a sign of a good trip. On the way home from trips like this after we have done all the work and are super tired I find myself reflecting on the trip. Im always so grateful to Matt for being a great balance for me, He is so helpful and just great. Im also super grateful for the job Matt has that allows him to take vacation and provides a living that allows us to do fun things like this.

St George-Part 2

 Friday morning we slept in a little and had breakfast by the time I checked my phone I realized that everyone had been at the pool for hours so once we were ready for the day we headed over to the pool. We found some of their cousins and we found some chairs to put our stuff on. We spent a couple hours there before heading back for a later lunch

One of the reasons we chose the rental we did was for the splash pad and we for sure got good use out of it.

It was very important to Joy to have a family themed night so she came up with Pirate Night. We started at our rental for games and then went over to the girls rental for dinner. Liam helped grandpa with the water balloons. 

Emy loved matching grandma

It was all fun and games until Joy turned it into making the adults walk the plank. I along with most of the other adults didn't think that was such a good idea since we had showered after swimming all day. I didn't even go to the pool...wasn't willing to risk getting thrown in. Chris was a good sport and let the kids push him in.

We stayed over at the sisters house later than expected, had a good time but were super grateful to come back to our quiet house with our own space. PS it has been super hot...like record breaking hot for St. George.