August Happenings

 Maybe someday I'll do more than just a monthly recap.  But let's face it, these days I'm doing well just posting at all.  Trying hard to make sure at least some of the things get documented.

August kept us hopping, as usual.  We celebrated Kate and Sage.  Kate had her cute friends over.  Sage decided she wanted hair, eyebrows, and lashes done.  All in all, fairly low-key birthdays.  I will say I'm grateful every day for my girls.  I love talking to them and seeing their amazing personalities shine as they get older.  It's the best.

School started.  How is it that my youngest is in high school?!  And how can I have another senior?  I'm not ready for either of those things.  Zack came home from his internship, was here for 2 days, and left for school again.  Would have been nice to have him home more, just sayin.  Sage took a few days to adjust to high school (there were lots of naps) but now she's handling it like a champ.  Kate sometimes goes to school.  It seems like she has a lot of open classes.  So different than back in the olden days.

Race season started for mountain bike team.  This always makes our business like double because every other weekend we head somewhere to race.  It feels like a lot.  Good thing we enjoy it!  Sage is killing it this year and so far has moved up a couple of spots at every race.  I don't know how she does it.

As always I'll let the pictures do most of the story telling.

The preride of the race course in Manti was so so dusty.  And then I wrecked, which just added to the dust.  This picture does not adequately show how dusty I was.

Kate and our neighbor coached little kid mountain bikers for their job all summer.  They had some great stories.

Sage's birthday extravaganza

Sage made Kate a fancy lunch for her birthday

Kate's cute friends - Rachel, Presley, and Morgan

Scenic Jeep drive

Sage's birthday cheesecake

Sometimes we have lots of bikes on our car

Fun at the Manti pre-ride

Sage used her organizing skills to make a little bag that has everything in it she could possibly need at school.  She should sell them.

Freshman year!

Senior year!

Every once in a while Sage will ride with us

First race of the season

July Happenings

 We had some good fun in July.  Even though Zack had just left for his internship, he came home to hang out with us.  Jake was extra glad to have him along because he's starting to feel extra outnumbered with girls in our house.  We ended up heading to the Uintas for some camping.  We met up with some friends and had a great time.  It's beautiful there, as always.  It was good to get away and not have cell service!  We did a crazy hike up a mountain, fished, and relaxed.  It was wonderful.

On the 4th we continued our new tradition of going boating at Starvation Reservoir.  It's a great day to go because hardly anyone was there.  We were able to water ski until late in the day, which never happens.  We got home in time to eat some good food and enjoy the neighborhood fireworks.  There are so many people letting off fireworks it feels like we're in a war zone.  Gratefully, nothing started on fire.  We ended the night with the Memorial Hill fireworks.  All in all a good weekend, just no pics to document.

The girls went to girls camp.  Without me.  This was Kate's last year of girls camp and her first year of camp without me there.  Kind of crazy.  They got to go canyoneering up above Cedar.  They had a great time.  While Zack was home we celebrated his birthday.  Kind of weird not having him home on the actual day.  Jake's birthday was going to happen while we were in McCall, so we also celebrated that early.  These summer birthdays tend to not be home on their actual birthdays.

We went to McCall with all of the Spjute Family.  A great time was had by all.  The cousins loved playing together.  The adults loved talking, and playing.  It was a beautiful place.  We spent most of our time on the river with paddleboards and kayaks.  We attempted a slip-n-slide, but that was a fail.  Fun to watch though!  It was great to spend time together!

The road to where we camped was a true Jeep road.  But our trailer made it just fine!

Sometimes tress are across the road so we have to get chainsaws out to clear a path.

Zack wanted apple pie for his birthday dessert.  Random.

Jake's the only one who had cake this year.

We dropped Jake and Sage off to ride the rest of the way to the house.  They didn't quite make it, but they did manage 30 miles!

Everyone loves Beckett!

We went exploring on our bikes one evening.

Cousin fun!

The beautiful river where we played.

The usual line up in our chairs.  In the shade of course.

We waited in a long line for ice cream that wasn't that great.

Fun spot for jumping off a rock

Our latest project ripping up our driveway to fix the drainage problem.  There's a reason we've taken 8 years to do this.  It's not a fun project!

June Happenings

June was good.  Nice to be out of school and get into the swing of summer.  Zack ended up being home for most of June, which was a little frustrating for him but a nice surprise for us.  Kate continues to teach piano, and both of the girls got a job coaching younger kids in mountain biking.  I think they've enjoyed it for the most part (I'm sure they'd be quick to tell me it's not fun, it's a job...)

We started the summer off with sending the girls off to trek.  They had an overall good experience.  They would both say definitely type 2 fun.  They were sure dirty when they got home!  We started up mountain bike practices.  This year Sage is the only one on the team.  Kind of weird to just have one kid participating, but kind of nice too.  She's been biking up a storm and is turning into a good little rider.  

I got a job!  This was not planned.  Kind of fell into my lap, but I'm hoping it's a good thing.  I'll be working in same day surgery at the Park City Hospital.  Surgery means no nights, weekends, or holidays.  Once I get through training I'll be working prn, so I'm only required to work once every pay period.  I'm thinking I'll probably end up working once a week.  So far I'm really enjoying it.  I like the people I work with and it's been nice to use my nurse brain again.  Fingers crossed I don't regret this decision in a month.

And the big news of the month, really the year, is that we finally finished and moved into the office!!!  Hallelujah!  That just about killed us.  Really.  I would like to say that since it's been done everything's been much more calm and stress free.  Unfortunately, it seems like there were lots of things that quickly took it's place.  But we're still so happy to be moved in to a permanent location.  Yay!

Kate was obviously very excited...

I went with Kate and her friend Presley to Cedar and St George to tour SUU and Utah Tech.  Kate really liked Utah Tech.  I think she's seriously considering going there!

This year the team is doing 6 hour rides at each race location.  Basically you ride the course as many times as you can in six hours.  A great way to get to know the course really well.  The first one was at Eagle Mountain and Sage and I rode 40 miles.  Longest ride ever for both of us!

Sage did her first time trial.  She did great!

While we were at the time trial Kate made a cake for Jake to celebrate finishing the office.  Yay!  Also, Kate has dinner ready for us when we get home from practice at 8:30.  This has been life changing for me.

Hopefully the last time we move this table.

Jake in his fancy new office.