Summer Mode

We are in full summer mode these days, and I have to admit that it's been pretty great.  My kids deserve high fives for how great they've been.  We started day one into our summer routine, and I think that's helped.  Every day they're required to clean rooms, practice, clean their zone, and do some school work before they can play.  It's not so much that its overwhelming, but enough to give them good direction.  As far as play goes, they've been doing pretty well.  I haven't heard very many complaints of boredom.  I've actually been impressed at how good they've been at keeping themselves busy.  Probably because they know they'll feel my wrath if they complain;)

June has been a busy month.  Zack started everything off with a week at his first scout camp.  A whole week!  It was so weird not having him here, and we missed him, but he had a great time.  His scout leader is most excellent and he's with a good group of boys.  He got to swim in water that was freezing cold.  I dare you to ask him about it;)  And he was the only boy who could figure out enough to pass off his wood carving merit badge.  Guess all that work with Jake paid off.  He of course didn't shower once the whole week and couldn't figure out why we thought that was so gross.  I have to say that boys this age are like a whole different species.

Kate started summer break off by getting pneumonia.  Poor girl.  She was pretty sick for a couple of weeks.  We got her feeling better just in time to go to grandma's house for the week for a sewing class.  She is loving sewing and sewing up a storm now at home.  She gets so mad that I'm of no help whatsoever.  My mom would be proud:)  Too bad she's not here to teach Kate.  She would love it.

Sage is busy all day long with one project or another.  I think one of her favorite things to do with friends is organize.  Not sure what her friends think about this, but she sure loves it!  She did a few days at dance camp and is taking tumbling all summer.  She's fully planning on being a famous dancer (she's very specific that she'll be famous, not just a dancer), so she's doing everything she can to make that happen.

In the middle of all of that we've gone to Lagoon a couple of times (the kids love it but I feel like I've been hit by a truck by the time we leave), hiked, biked (we're trying to mountain bike once a week as a family), and of course worked in the yard.  Because summer would not be summer without yard work.

Sage on the carousel at Lagoon

We went for a rid eon the Heber Creeper.  Zack was so excited as usual

We finally got Greg to come up for a mountain bike ride.  We got to hang out with Sofie and Heidi while they road.  I think we got the better deal;)

Sofie is trying to see over the bars

Bridal Veil Falls.  I've never seen the Provo River so fast and high

My new favorite saying:)

Ledgefork Camping

We have officially survived the first week of summer.  It was a good week, yet I keep finding myself thinking, "we're still in the first week?"  We started the summer off on a good note I think. The night the kids got out of school we had neighborhood night games at our house.  Our yard actually works really well for that.  The kids loved it, so I'm sure we'll do it again.  On Monday we went to Lagoon with our neighbors.  The kids love it, the adults try not to die.  We learned things that will help improve our experience later in the summer.  We also jumped right in to our summer routine.  Nothing huge, but the kids have to get their rooms clean, zone done, practicing, and school work done before they can play with friends.  This helps make sure we're still somewhat productive but also leaves us plenty of time for fun.  Mostly, it helps me keep my sanity.

On Thursday afternoon we headed up above Smith and Morehouse to camp.  It was great fun as usual.  I'm learning through the years that the only way to get Jake to stop working is to take him somewhere he can't work (no cell service).  So I've started planning more little trips to help us all get away.  Jake isn't sure how he feels about it, but I'm sure he'll come around.  We were able to relax, play games, fish, and enjoy some delicious s'mores.  Oh yeah, we brought our laser tag guns and those were a great success.  I think we may need to get a couple more.  Anyway, I've decided this summer is going to be amazing.  And I think its definitely started off that way!

Beautiful Smith and Morehouse

Crazy Sage

Fishing fun

First trip on the raft this year

Moab!

I bet the most frequent title I've used in all my years of blogging is 'Moab'.  Our family loves Moab, so its probably not going to stop.  Anyway, I'm still playing catch up from the great computer switch of 2017.  At the beginning of the month we took a quick trip to Moab.  After some stress with finding a campsite, life was good.  Like all campgrounds and state parks, it seems that Moab is getting more and more crowded.  It's kind of frustrating, but adapt or die right?  So I'm learning to think ahead and make reservations in advance.  Saves lots and lots of stress.

A brief synopsis of the trip:  Jake and Zack road Porcupine Rim together on a super hot day.  Definitely not my idea of fun, but they liked it.  While they were riding the girls and I went to a park and then I took them swimming at the rec center.  Once we reunited with the boys we found this awesome stream that you could play in and it didn't even involve any hiking!  On Saturday we headed out to Dead Horse Point for some mountain biking. That is such a beautiful place!  The girls were hesitant when they started on their bikes, but by the end they were loving it and doing a great job!  We did some 4-wheeling on the way back to camp.  Jake let Sage sit on his lap and steer, so she thought she was super cool.  We of course did campfires and roasted lots of marshmallows.  I love camping in Moab because its like a big playground.  The kids can just wander around and explore right at our campsite.  Its the best.

I have to add one funny story about Sage for posterity.  She was being a goof ball one night by the campfire.  We said, "How old are you?"  "29"  "What's your favorite thing to do?"  "Mushy kissing.  I love mushy kissing."  What?!  This girl is going to give us a serious run for our money.  In totally different ways than her siblings because of course you can't just figure out one kid and then have it down.  That would be way too easy...

Quick break from biking to look at the scenery

Gemini Bridges.  There is a huge drop off on either side of where we're standing

Go Sage!

Beautiful Dead Horse Point

Catch up!

I'm finally, finally posting again.  Our desktop died, so we had to get a new computer.  It's been taking forever to get everything transferred over and working right.  I'm still not done, but I think I've figured out the pictures so I can at least do something.  So much has happened that I think I'm just going to upload a bunch of pictures with short descriptions.  I would just like to add though, that May is such a crazy month!  So full of recitals, school programs, field trips, etc, etc.  I feel like we're running with our heads cut off all the time.  I guess maybe it works that way so we're really ready for summer.  Anyway, enjoy the bajillion pics.

Easter fun.  I let Sage put candy in all the eggs because I'm such a good mom

Baby chicks for Easter!  We got 8 because usually a few die.  Well, 6 weeks later we still have all 8.  Eggs anyone?

We got a croquet set for Easter so we had to play.  I remember playing this when I was a kid.

Kate took a sewing class and made this.  She gets so mad when I can't help her sew.  This is when she needs her grandma 

We finished our patio!  So much work, but we love it!

Our first time enjoying the fire pit.  We'll be using this a lot!

Jake ordered a huge gas kit, because that's what men do

Zack graduated from his social skills class at BYU!  We're proud of him because it wasn't easy!

Sage had her second grade program.  Look at those dimples!

Apparently Sage really thought we were going to leave her in the chicken coop

Bless Zack for building everything we buy.  We would be lost without him.

For FHE we got all the bikes ready to go for the summer

I went on a field trip with Kate to a Bees game.  I thought I was going to die of heat, but other than that it was great!;)

Eating pancakes with sugar in honor of Linz.  The kids were so excited.

Redneck style fun.  Jake is the favorite uncle because of all of his fun toys.  He loves it.

Cousin redneck fun!

Cutest dancer ever!!

She loves showing sass

Her BFF

You can kind of see Kate playing the violin.  She gets to skip 6th grade orchestra and go straight to 7th grade!