Random highlights--Summer 2022

 We did a HUGE family vacation at the end of the summer this year...but before that, we did have a little bit of fun:

Summer went to her first AD camp

I learned to paint

We got to hold baby animals

School ended

I had a visitor I hadn't seen in over 20 years

We swam at the pool...and our backyard pool too

We went to a Sounders game--and had great seats!

A Plane Crashed practically in our backyard

We went to the lake

Kya finally came home

We did family photos

We sat around many fires

Clayton came to visit

And watched beautiful sunsets--from our own backyard

Nothing Holding Me Back

Now that Canada has lifted Covid test requirements, I finally feel like I don't have to miss everything anymore!  I feel so incredibly grateful.

I got to take a solo trip up to Canada to see Janae and Alaina in their school musical, Matilda.  It was just amazing and I am so glad I got to see it!  

The next night was Amanda's graduation from BYU party!  I got to see some of Ted's family who I haven't seen in probably 20 years.  It was so fun to celebrate Amanda.

Ginny and I actually got to meet up for our dinner dates that we haven't done in 3 years!  We were worried the restaurant we used to meet out was out of business, but it was still there.

Then we got to take Kya up for a trip to see her cousins--and the rest of us got to go too:)

The Leavitts even drove down and met us half way so they could meet Kya's boyfriend, Clayton.

And finally I got to drive up to celebrate my mom's 75th birthday.

I love my family.  I am so grateful that I can be more a part of their lives again.

VISITORS FROM CANADA

 Our first visitors from Canada since before the pandemic is reason enough to celebrate!!

Another reason to celebrate, Tina's actual birthday:)  

We celebrated Tina's birthday with a BBQ and the most delicious black forest cake I've ever had (from Hillcrest Bakery where I had the best cream filled donut I've ever had too)

We had a warm and cozy bonfire...where we all piled to one side to avoid the smoke:)

We went Kayaking at Bothell Landing.  

The workers were so accommodating when I called to schedule a group 3 times the size they usually rented to.  I was so grateful because it turned out to be so much fun.

We then took them to one of our favorite beaches (Waverly) on Lake Washington.

Mod Pizza for 11?  Why not?  Tyson was sad to miss this!

And we snuck in a quick drive to the temple, even though it was cold and windy.

We also got a babysitter for Summer and took the whole clan to see Elvis!  

It was spectacular!!

And we even managed a trip to the zoo.

Oh and we couldn't miss Cafe Rio even though we weren't super hungry yet haha...oh and did I mention we went to Crumbl Cookies after?  Yikes we will never eat again!!!

So much fun!!  Can't wait for our next visitors:)

I Guess I'm just not that Fancy

 Every year on my birthday (for the past several years), I get my nails done.  And by "nails" I don't just mean my toes (which I get done periodically through the year), but my fingernails too!!!  I don't usually get my fingernails painted because it seems to only last a few day before getting chipped...but on my birthday, I do it anyways!  

But this year, when my birthday rolled around, my fingernails were so short I thought they would look silly painted.  After a few minutes of disappointment, Jordan suggested we go get acrylic nails.  I had never had acrylics, and had always wanted to, so I took the plunge.  And guess what?  I absolutely LOVED them!!  I said multiple times, "I am going to have to keep these forever".

Well fast forward 3 month...my nails are short, paper thin, and still haven't recovered.  What happened you ask?  Well, here you go:

1.  I had to go in to get them filled way too often.  The nails would look pretty flawless for about 2 weeks.  After that, it was just waiting until I couldn't stand how bad they looked and broke down and went back in.  I don't want to go to the nail salon every 2-3 weeks...who has time for that?!  And the last time I got them filled, I didn't even like the way they were done.

2.  They were too expensive.  Along with having to go fill them so often, you had to pay every time...and tip...and it wasn't cheap.

3.  There were some things you just couldn't do with acrylic nails.  I couldn't put on my necklace or earrings.  I couldn't open a can.  I couldn't pick out something between my teeth (haha)...and the list goes on.

4.  They hurt!  I had no idea how much it could hurt to get your nails filled.  There were multiple times when they were just sanding my nails and it started burning so bad I had to pull my hand away.  AND don't get me started on how much it hurt to take them off.  As the lady was prying off nail after nail, I vowed to never do this again!!!

So I now have the nails of a little boy...and I'm not one bit sad about it...although I probably won't be taking as many pictures of them.

3 years in the Making

 It has been THREE YEARS since Summer was able to have a "friends" birthday party!  That's a long time for someone who is only turning 8!!  

Even though this party didn't turn out exactly as I had hoped (the reptile guy couldn't make it and the weather was rainy), I was so excited Summer finally got to have some friends over to celebrate:) 

Love this sassy little girl of mine

She wanted a "snake themed" party, but there is only so much I could do when the reptile guy was unavailable.  But she most definitely had a snake cake topper (and a snake "hunt") 

The kids were obsessed with attacking Tyson haha...he ended up hiding in the bathroom at some point;)

Here's hoping we can do friends birthdays from here on out...or maybe we shouldn't hope that haha!

Oh Snap

Easter 2022 will go down in history as the year the Eater Bunny was "unveiled"!!  

Summer is 7.  For a couple years now, she has had a lot of questions about Santa Clause, the Tooth Fairy and {gulp} the Easter Bunny.

The day started as usual...with Easter Baskets and an egg hunt.

We went for a walk in the beautiful sunny weather.

Jordan and Phoebe drove up to join us.

We had a nice meal together (Mike was still in isolation with Covid so he had to eat upstairs)...even a last minute dessert.

It wasn't until I tried to get the kids together for a photo that my cover was blown:  All the kids had received sandals in their Easter baskets and I wanted them to wear them in the photo.  All I said was "I bought those shoes for you to wear on Easter"  Summer's face once she heard me was priceless...I actually saw the gears turning in her head.  Then she said, "Oh Snap!"  We all had a good laugh and Summer continued to call me "Easter Bunny" for the rest of the day:)  Hopefully nobody else in her class at school still believed, because she told everyone the "truth" she had discovered haha.

(Here's a picture with the shoes that caused all the trouble)

Fifty and Fabulous

Lisa turned FIFTY!!!  

How is that possible?!

  

Whether we can believe it or not, it happened!

 

We had so much fun planning and executing her "1970s" birthday extravaganza:)

Complete with:

Decorations

I knew I wanted to make a collage of pictures of Lisa as soon as we decided to do a party.  It was so fun to go through so many pictures from years past.  Life is truly a beautiful thing!!

And look how fantastic this banner is!  So fun to picture what life was like back in the 70s:)

Costumes

Sheri brought an entire trunk full of 1970s themed dress up clothes--so amazing.  The kids had a lot of fun trying them on...some were more cooperative than others haha.

(Not sure how "70s" Summer is, but she was happy)

The boys were surprisingly great sports;)  Tyler gets an A+

Games

I came up with a trivia game all about Lisa.  It was such fun brainstorming for questions.  Jason won (by a hair) and proved to know Lisa the best...well, besides the one who came up with the questions;)  I also had a 1970s "Name that Tune" game ready, but we didn't get a chance to play it.

Cake

We felt like turning 50 called for splurging on the cake!  We ordered lemon raspberry from Afterthoughts and it was so so good.

And lots of laughs:)

I am so grateful to have grown up with such a loving, caring, generous "big" sister.  I know she would do anything for me, and I her.  Love you Lisa!  So glad you were born all those many, many, many years ago;)

And then there were four...

 I'm not sure if it's because I already have one kid moved out, or because last time she left I missed her so much, but Jordan moved to Seattle and I don't like it!!  This business of raising kids and then sending them off on their own is rough.  But, I am excited for Jordan to be closer to school (UW) and friends...and to be living with a bunch of kids her own age...who are much more fun than us! 

So good luck Jordan!!  Thanks for picking a school that's only 30 minutes away;)