I've spent a lot of time this summer on my front porch, watching the bees and flowers and mountains and listening to my "orphaned" children on the other side of the door while I read, or write, or talk to Leslie on the phone, or sip my milkshake. It's been good for everyone's sanity. We got a cushioned glider to put on the porch as well, since it is so pleasant in the shade (when it's less than 100 degrees outside) and Macy has taken full advantage of the new spot. She has finally become a true bookworm. Rosie likes to take paintbrushes and a cup of water out on the porch and "paint" the cement, or our bare feet.
It's a little turtle they saved from the walking path.
Leslie got to literally help this sweet sister into the waters of baptism. We got to "attend". Very memorable.
Leslie and her new companion, Sister Boles.
She's being The Y. For if you've ever asked yourself, "Why am I here? Where did I come from? What happens next?" Also because she found out she got accepted to BYU. I sent her a video of me singing and cheering to the fight song to celebrate the news but only the beginning screen shot came through. (It's probably for the best that I hadn't hit record.) She figured it out.
Cancer free day came and went without me remembering, but this was around that time, so I'll call this my two years cancer free picture. Feeling great, and I get to graduate to checkups with my onco only every six months. My hair is just long enough for the wind to blow into my mouth while I'm trying to eat BBQ, so that's a fun sensory reminder to count my blessings.
Rosie calls this her umbrella.
I've thought about this picture many times the last couple months. Maybe this is why I'm hanging out on the front porch--to see what's comin'!
Yeah, looks like trouble to me.
One of our first "dining in" double dates in a long time. This is Mark's loan partner, Autumn, who lives in Iowa but took a little detour trip to Colorado and Utah when all the riots began. It was our first time meeting her and her hubby John in person. It has definitely been a blessing for Mark's company to be able to work with stellar people without being tied to one location or at the office.
And this was probably on a Sunday...don't get the wrong idea.
New fave summer dessert. Angel food cake sauteed with butter, frozen berries, and Rollos. On the front porch.
Rosie says she is a pufferfish.
I took a virtual tour of the "Meditations on Belief" exhibit from the International Art Competition at the Church History Museum in SLC. I'd already seen it a couple times in person, once with the girls. The above piece was one Leslie thought was particularly clever, so I had to send her the reminder of it. If you can't tell from the small print, the tree rings on the skirt are made up of journal entries, particularly through periods of growth and challenge. I totally recommend viewing the gallery--so nice to read the comments without someone tugging on my arm.
Speaking of dresses, this one had a day where she was obsessed with getting married, and while in the car was extremely upset that we weren't taking her to the "castle" for her wedding. I told her that the temples are closed--that only made her cry harder. I hear ya, baby. We finally calmed her down by playing dress up.
One day while the older boys were out with their Dad in the wild, we got REALLY wild. It was cool that we could reserve a spot at the zoo--so nice to be there without the crowds, and for the arrows to tell us which way to walk so we didn't argue about where we were going. We did miss the reptile house, though.
Bridal Veil falls was a little too crowded for comfort, so we stood there for the obligatory photo and high-tailed it outta there. I don't know, at my age the mask can only improve my looks, maybe.
The boys have been spending a lot of time near the back porch. With Mark's extra home time they have decided to become grill masters. It's so funny to hear them talk shop or see them all gathered around Mark's phone, watching YouTube grilling tips. Tonight will be our second time grilling pizza, including a Caprese from the grape tomatoes and basil in our garden, so we are excited. They also did an overnighter with Mark in Moab in place of the High Adventure scout camp. It was their first time on a razor and they loved it. Recently the boys have also had a goal of learning more about business and earning a few bucks, so Mark and his expert friend Zach have been introducing them to the wonderful world of trading cards (and ebay), something Mark used to love but hasn't picked up for many years. Now besides watching their grilling videos they are researching specific players and teams. Mark took them to a local trading shop this weekend and they about died. I'm so happy that they are having such a good time together, even outside of baseball season.
The Moab overnighter was in conjunction with Cooper's birthday. We now have officially three teenagers (19, 14, 13) and one who might as well be. Good thing Leslie is on her mission, ha, or we might not be able to handle it!
This was funny. He asked for his old favorite kind of football along with flags, but he has grown so much the football finally felt teeny to him.
This was also funny. He got a card in the mail with no return address. We thought it was something for his birthday, but actually he had won the Jr High's Hoe Down contest (they had to make up a song and perform it Hoe Down style, about Covid-19).
Boston's biker gang again. This trip gave him a little trouble, see below.
Ew, Boston! Actually, Luke is just making a face for Mark. We stopped by his new office on our Mommy/Son lunch to check out the construction progress. Hopefully they can move in soon--it's like a 3 minute commute.
There was some confusion about which sites were actually open, and these guys had a pretty funny scare when the cops spent a long time with some campers not far from where they were. They thought I'd be bailing them out of jail.
Cooper is my pancake man. Can't finish a chicken patty sandwich but he can choke down those flapjacks.
This was a fun birthday rental. Mark says he will take me next time.
Dead Horse Point, maybe?
It must've been a good ride.
I believe this is a celebratory Home Run shakes picture. They had to make this stop a few times in the season. I feel bad that we never got a picture with Luke, who was on the Royals (often playing at the same time as the Cubs, at a different park, so I was mostly with Luke).
We also made a special trip to Payson (see Grandma Frances's Peteetneet school?) for pizza on my Grandpa's birthday. Fat Jack's.
Coop did a lot of catching this season.
Boston waiting for his turn at bat.
Check out that blue Remarkable banner on the left! So fun.
Coming into third.
Luke, attending his spring Urban Fishing Class at Spanish Fork Res that got pushed into the short baseball season because of Corona. Every Tuesday we'd either do the game first and then fish, or vice versa. So here he is in his baseball uniform. It was fun to have the Spanish Fork grandpa farmers helping all these cute little boys with their bait and releasing the fish.
Boston played first base. He looks a little bored here, but he had a lot of outs during the season.
Our cousin Tate finally completed his mission to Romania. He was lucky to not have to come home early for quarantine.
Going to the pool is so much better with extra helpers for the littles.
We also were very lucky to be able to squeeze in a family reunion in Montana between baseball games. Aunt Brooke and Uncle Jared hosted at a lodge at Lake Blaine. Very fun to let the cousins play together, especially Rosie and Brielle, who haven't really been old enough before.
I couldn't resist taking a picture with my Grandpa Heagy with our matching hats.
Some of the highlights for me were the tube rides with the ladies, especially Mom, who was being a little dramatic, much to our enjoyment. Her face below is just priceless.
It was fun being on a private lake so the teenagers could drive the Jet Ski.
Brielle's face is so expressive. Cracks me up. They were gathering pine cones.
Grandma said she has never in her life tried a Little Debbie Cupcake. I say Little Debbie ain't got nothin' on Beverly.
Tub of monkeys, right there. Plus the chlorine was good disinfectant.
Luke got to try out Jett's motorbike. Heavy rain and all, the boys loved the wheels.
Luke is 4th from the left.
Here is what we did for Happy Treason Day, July 4th! We went to the lake. The beach was rather muddy but the waves were fun. The fireworks on the driveway and the Hamilton musical that night were also fun, minus the swears (from the musical, not the fireworks, luckily). We still have King George's song stuck in our heads.
How many great-grandparents get to have their picture taken with their currently serving missionary? How cool to get to talk to Leslie with the extended family.
I guess these are out of order, but here is the few east from the lodge.
On the way home from Montana we spent the night near the gorgeous Idaho Falls temple and did the river walk with the kids to see the falls.
Get it? A snake bench for the Snake River.
We also took the kids on their annual camping trip, this time past Mayfield, UT at Twin Lake campground. I have about 17 mosquito bites. Good thing Mark remembered that we hadn't actually packed the tent before we got past the Ephraim Walmart. Or the skewers.
The kids had a great time running around and playing hide & seek during sunset. Rosie brought her toy flashlight--it was super cute. We also enjoyed the hoot owl that serenaded us for a long time in the middle of the night.
This was a steal-Mom's-phone selfie, but I liked it because Leslie makes this face, too.
Here are some recent videos of us for your viewing enjoyment, from toothless Jingle Bells, to baseball, to Ninja, to Boston's drill trick, to Rosie's Wedding Wishes.
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