Summer Things

 We made it through the summer.  This shouldn't be a hard thing, but sometimes it is.  This summer didn't have any huge trips, but looking back we definitely had some fun!  Family BBQ's, a bike race, Stadium of Fire, Flaming Gorge, Bear Lake, rodeos, and of course mountain bike practices.  

This summer was hotter than normal.  Usually we have amazing, cool mornings here in Midway.  Not this year.  It about did me in.  Just the last couple days have finally been cool again and it's been glorious.  Also, our summers, and lives, just keep changing.  Gone are the days of kids everywhere and all day craziness.  This year felt especially quiet because Kate stayed in St George.  So it was just Jake and I with Sage.  Being the oldest I never experienced, or even thought about what it was like to be the youngest.  Turns out it's not super fun being the only one home.  Anyway, even though it was quieter than normal we still had fun.  And enjoyed the times when everyone was home.  Here are the pics to document the summer:

A family bbq with a hot dog bar!

Sage and I did touristy Midway things

Sage did a random bike race at SoHo.  She's amazing!

Kids came home for the 4th.  We visited the random pioneer museum down the street.

When they banned all fireworks, even Memorial Hill, I got Stadium of Fire tickets.  It was a good move.  We had a lot of fun and the fireworks were amazing!

Farmington Festival Days!  It's been years since we were at the parade!

Teenage craziness at the Ditto's after

It was real hot but fun to visit.

We love to see Kate when we go to St George!

We had to go down to finish some things on the house.  It was sooo hot.  But we worked hard and got them done!

And then we got to have the inaugural swim in the new pool!  It didn't disappoint.

Beautiful Flaming Gorge.  We went with the Mackay's for a few days and had great fun.  The weather was perfect.  We boated our guts out and had great fun!

Kate braided Zack's hair.  I have no words.

We had to celebrate Kate's birthday like a week early because that's when she was home.  

Kate had to take pics with this animal for school.  Elementary teachers do weird things.

This is Pfeifferhorn Peak.  Officially the hardest hike I've ever done.  Poor decisions were made and I found myself on this hike with Jake and Zack.  To say it was challenging is an understatement.  We had to scramble over rocks for a couple of hours.  And then hike straight up to the peak.  This pic does not do it justice.  I survived.  Barely.

We had some raccoon visitors.  Jake was happy to trap and kill one of them.

Senior year of my youngest.  How did we get here?!

Somehow Sage convinced us to take 14 of her friends to Bear Lake for her birthday.   I believe we should win for parents of the year.

Sage's last season of mountain biking.  Our only kid to do it every single year.  First race at Beaver Mountain.

She made it on the podium!  5th place!  

Flowers, Gardens, and A Wedding

Finishing things up before summer's over. First of all, I added a picture of the Alamo in my last post but failed to mention that Jake and I went to San Antonio. This was our fourth time in Texas. I definitely liked San Antonio better than the other places in Texas, but I still have to say that Texas just isn't my favorite place. It was pretty in it's own way, but I'll take my mountains any day. And the heat...can't do it. But fun to visit and see the sites.

May brought Mothers Day.  A bitter sweet day for sure, but I'm trying to lean into the sweet.  Jake listened to my not so subtle hints and finally got me a beautiful bouquet of flowers.  The kids all came home at my request, and because it's Mothers Day and I can request anything they also did work.  We spent all morning working hard to get the garden back in shape.  It was a lot.  But they were troopers and worked hard.  I'm grateful!  And for dinner they made me amazing homemade guac.  It was so good.  They know me well.  I loved having everyone home.  

I got in my first car accident.  I don't recommend it.  Gratefully no one was hurt.  Sadly, my car was totaled.  Days before we were supposed to trade it in for a new car.  But then we ended up getting a lot more from our insurance than we would have gotten from the dealer, so in a weird way it worked out.  I just hope the same can be said for the other driver. 

We ended the month with the wedding of my good friend Audrey's son.  My kids have grown up  with this family, so it was so fun to spend the day celebrating!  The day before a few of us gathered to put together some charcuterie cups and cut up fruit.  It was so fun to gather before the big day.  And I'm so grateful Audrey's done a wedding so she can help me some day.

At the wedding.  So glad Zack came!

Neighbor friends

Took a couple of months to get but glad it's here!

Went up to Strawberry one night for some fishing

We put 100 of these together for the wedding!

Delicious Mothers Day meal

Sage supported Sam at his lacrosse game in PC

Jake went on a fishing trip, so Sage and I went to the temple and then to her favorite place, Texas Roadhouse