2022, July 4-10

We enjoyed having Diamond and Caleb over for the week, but another guest arrived that none of us wanted to see. 

July 4th started sunny and warm. 

The cat found another trap. 

The kids played a fun card game while Hallie napped and Mike made bacon for the evening's burgers.

While at Gma and Gpa M.'s, the kids had fun with a few outdoor activities. It was somewhat cooler up there than down home. 

On his walk the following morning, Mike saw evidence of where some of the big displays we saw came from. Even with public fireworks shows, people here really do seem to love blowing hundreds (if not thousands?) of dollars on their fireworks. 

We've got some fragrant trees with the girls hard at work finding their nectar. 

Caleb helped Mike figure out an issue with the dryer Hallie encountered Tuesday morning. Caleb had been feeling a bit under the weather, and we thought it might be a Fergus allergy. After Mike cleaned out the dryer ducts (hello, dust!), he started feeling not so great and thought the lint might have sparked something. 

Lazy Tuesday vibes.

Mike's latest (and perhaps last for a long time) LEGO set arrived on Tuesday. We didn't really have time (or energy) to get to work on it. 

Wednesday morning Mike woke feeling some of what he felt on Tuesday, but a bit worse. He thought to take a COVID test. It read negative, so he taught class. In retrospect, he should have worn a mask, but the allergy meds took away the symptoms. That said, by day's end, he suspected that Caleb's ailment and his did not come from a cat or a dryer.

Sure enough, when he tested the following day, he "won" the COVID lottery. Joy. He now knows with certainty that his mystery ailments from February 2020 were in fact COVID. So frustrating! Caleb and Diamond tested too, and he was positive. Grr. 

Innocent Fergus slumbers soundly. Isn't he adorable? 

Despite our illness, we had things to do! Among those things was photos on Thursday done by the amazing Coach Allison at the Utah State Hospital after Landon got off work. Look at these beautiful young people! 

(This is just a mama selfie, but Dad can never get enough hottie mama pics.)

Diamond and Caleb had to go home on Friday (Caleb masked and medicated). We are so grateful they came to visit! 

Mike took some time to build his set on Friday and Saturday. The Saturn V is no small set. He should have thought to set it next to the Titanic prior to taking it up to the office. 

On Saturday, Hallie tested herself for COVID, and she also came back positive. On Sunday, Caleb indicated that Diamond was showing symptoms. Grr. This is not the gift we want to keep on giving. 

Eliza knows how to enjoy the outdoors like perhaps no one else in the family. She is at home in the sun. 

On Sunday, she decided to ride her bike alone (hmm) up around some familiar grounds (for her) before her bike gave out. Fortunately, she had her Gabb watch, so she could call for Dad to come to the rescue. Mike is both worried and impressed with her toughness. She could use better judgement, but she is resourceful when it counts. 

Hallie officiated (socially distanced and outdoors) at her second wedding. She is learning a lot about the informal vibe of local nuptials. 

Here we see Landon trying to hide a smile and a laugh. He is such a handsome boy, but he doesn't see it. Coupled with being a moody teen, we have to work hard to find those moments when he lets his guard down and lets himself shine.