2021, June 21-27

Mike started summer term; Hallie, Eliza, and Grandma saw a concert, and then Hallie and Eliza took a road trip to see members of Eliza's birth family; and Landon saw a scary movie (among other things). Summer 2021 seems far more normal than summer 2020. 

 

The girls got matching twin trucker hats from Moab. A lot of fun was had in the quick trip.

We finally received some rain this week, and while Eliza was at horseback riding Hallie could see the rainbow through the shed she was hiding out in until the rain subsided.

Hallie, Eliza, and Lily had quite a crazy busy morning on Friday, but after the running around subsided the three headed to Lehi Round Up Days. Lily got her first face painting, Eliza got her first henna tattoo, and smiles were had by both.

Mike received some new Mandalorian-themed Brick Headz from Diamond and Caleb for Father's Day, and he made them hang out together with the others he has in his office.

Fergus is the master of the blep. He wasn't quite sure why there was an orange dome in our front yard Saturday night. If he only knew how hard Eliza has worked at gymnastics these last three weeks. At the beginning of the summer, Hallie sat down with the kids to work on gymnastic goals. They have never done this before, but Hallie thought that both kids were old enough now to try this. One of the rewards Eliza picked was to have a campfire and to sleep in the tent. It has been so hot here recently that it finally cooled down enough to give her, her reward.

Both Mike and Eliza have taken interest in photographing nature. It has been fun to see what they come home with when they have gone out on an adventure. Here we see a couple of honey bees pollinating the yellow zucchini in the garden. 

2021, June 14-20

We ended the week with an official summer start, but Mother Nature gave us a preview of the scorcher of a summer that is sure to come. 

Fergus has spent more time indoors. The heat is even getting to him. 

(Prompted in part by the heat and in part by friends) Eliza opted to cut her long locks and go for a cooler look for the summer. 

The thistles are pretty. 

The lady who did fancy cotton candy last year was in the neighborhood again, and Eliza got not one, but two creations. Sugar rush much?

For our date day, Mike and Hallie went to the university bookstore (in part) to run some errands. We found some snazzy stickers for our water bottles.

And socks for the cousins.

We celebrated Coach Megan's birthday with cupcakes at the gym. 

Of course there were plenty more to share once we got home! 

Mike decided to channel his inner Groucho Marx. Seriously, though, have you seen the photos of celebrities without eyebrows? Mike has felt a bit like that now that his facial hair has started going gray in earnest. So, he tried an experiment. 

This may be a one-time thing. Youth is wasted on the young. 

He took Eliza to horseback riding while Hallie had a birthday girls' night out doing blacksmithing and ice cream with friends. 

Saturday involved people and cats trapped in boxes of different types (in this case, Eliza having fun hiding in Grandma's dryer. 

The cat found a mailbox trap. 

We had a Father's Day out on Saturday, starting with a trip to the LEGO Store, where we found these outstanding minifigs. 

We then went for an early dinner at the Melting Pot in Salt Lake. This was the kids' first fondue experience, and they were thoroughly impressed.

Father's Day dawned with delicious gifts, including gourmet peanut butters from Diamond and Caleb. Nom nom nom!

Eliza checked in on the robins nest, and instead of eggs, she found four lively chicks! 

The bees are going to town on the flowering plants. Mike has discovered that something in the air is seriously triggering his allergies. 

Speaking of bees, here's one Grandma Dorey crocheted now residing in Mike's office. We went up to the university to see how his new office looks with everything moved in. All is very cozy!