2021, July 19-25

Summer heat and haze led to some dramatic skies. We had visits from more cousins and outdoor adventures. 

We went to the Springville farmers market for some dinner with our neighbors al fresco. 

Mike joined our neighbor Matt and a few other neighbors at TopGolf. Mike didn't play so well, but he had fun. 

On Wednesday, the kids and their cousins and Uncle Shad and Aunt Carly once again took to the Provo River. This trip did  not end quite as dramatically as it did several weeks ago, but I am not sure Eliza and Landon will be going down the river again anytime soon.

Notice something about the tree in this image?  We only noticed once we heard a voice coming from the tree.

Yup. Eliza found herself close to the top of it. However, this was a bit of an issue because a storm was coming. She quickly climbed down. 

Mike installed a storm door with a roll-down built-in screen. We look forward to using it for a long time. Hallie is so happy to have our new door. Our magnetic screen did OK for a while, but we knew it wouldn't last forever.

The storm rolled in, causing flooding to our neighbors to our south. We just got lots of wind and rain. 

On Friday, Hallie and Eliza went to horseback riding. Fortunately, the storms that day shifted east. 

On Saturday, we joined uncles, aunts, grands, and cousins at Tibble Fork Reservoir in American Fork Canyon.

All the activity over the week must have worn the boy out. This is him "watching" the Olympics men's gymnastics qualifiers Sunday morning. 

The cat seems to have felt similarly inclined. 

2021, July 12-18

We keep trucking through the summer. 

The kids continue adjusting to changes at the gym. Eliza is on the right with the short hair. This last week her team changed again a bit and she has been working hard!

Eliza did Mom's hair earlier in the week with a teeny tiny curling iron. Good thing mom didn't have any place to go that night.

She also is teaching Fergus new tricks using cat treats. 

Lily celebrated her birthday. Such a cutie pie! Lily is on the right posing with our cute friend Katie who turned 5 in May. Hallie is always greeted with hugs by these two in the morning when she gets to the gym.

Hallie got some fancy new Vans. Hallie says her memory is not the greatest but doesn't remember owning a pair of Vans so this is a fun little treat.

More practice toward the end of the week. 

Mike took Eliza to horseback riding on Thursday. We got a respite from the heat that evening and were treated to fiery skies. 

On Friday, while Hallie went to get her hair done, Mike took Eliza and Lily over to Grandpa Dutch's farm to feed the goats, pigs, and chickens. Friday night Hallie went out with her neighborhood friends to Joe Banditos to celebrate a birthday.

Doesn't Hallie look beautiful? 

Saturday morning Hallie went out Saturday morning to Hruska's Kolaches in Provo for some yummy treats, and of course she brought back plenty to share with the family. The ladies in the fun white convertible Mustang drove through Dutch Bros. and then ate some of the goodness on the lawn of the Provo Temple. What a beautiful way to start the day.

On Saturday we had a boys' gym party at the Provo Rec Center in the early afternoon followed by a trip down to Nephi for the 87th Annual Ute Stampede Rodeo. Yee haw! Earlier in the day Landon tried to get other people to take his ticket but Hallie wouldn't let him give it away. While we were watching the Rodeo Landon said to Hallie that he was enjoying himself. Funny teenager.

No pictures to summarize Sunday, but it was a relaxing day and the night ended with Hallie and the kids outside in our neighbors driveway. Anyone is welcome, and it is a fun way to get to know the new neighbors who keep moving in. We were told in the neighborhood in the last 6 months there have been 11 new families. It is so hard to keep up, but it's nothing a little drink and cookies won't fix.