2022, August 15-21

School has begun. Before starting, we decided to have a last little bit of fun in Salt Lake (tied to a doctor's appointment for the boy). 

We drove up Monday night to Salt Lake, where we stayed at the Little America Hotel. For dinner, we went to Hires Big H. Landon ordered a double chili cheeseburger with chili cheese fries. He may have overdone it on the chili. He said, "I didn't know it was going to look like soup!"

Later in the evening (because somehow Hollow-Legged Boy got hungry again), we went back out for ice cream at Cloud Ninth Creamery. We got a little bit of everything: Dole whip, gelato, and ice cream! Landon repeatedly said how much he liked the ice cream and was a bit surprised at how much he liked the ice cream. Come on, Landon! Give your mom some credit. She knows where the good stuff resides.

We stayed in a somewhat dated room at the hotel. These bathroom fixtures had their charm, despite (because of?) their vintage. The whole room had a 1960s vibe.   

The kids enjoyed time at the pool in the evening, and while Landon went to the doctor in the morning, Eliza got in a second dip. 

After Hallie and Landon got back from the doctor, we had a late breakfast at The Coffee Shop at the hotel and then returned home to take care of the rest of the day's errands. 

Eliza enjoyed some riding time in the afternoon. This horse is Rue. Creekside had a Rue. Rue was the first horse she rode at Creekside, so it is fitting her first horse she is to ride at Guide N Gallop is Rue too.

This is a fairly typical scene: Fergus loves a lap, whether on the couch or in a bed. 

Landon took both of these pictures. Thanks, boy. 

Wednesday, the first day of the new school year, dawned sunny and warm. 

Look at these happy young scholars! Landon finally was willing to take a picture this year. He was amused at the fact that Eliza is in 6th grade and that he is in 9th grade. Something about how the numbers would show up in the picture. . . .

Some of Eliza's school work consisted of practical math as she helped Mom roast veggies, make salsa, and bake cookies. We had orange chicken and chow mein noodles along with oatmeal chocolate chip raisin cookies for dessert. Our CSA box provided us with almost everything for salsa this week. Thanks, Tagge's Farm Box!

Landon continues honing his art. This is the piece Landon started when we all played Nailed It! art edition last week.

We found this worm above the lady who was taking our order at Sodalicious. 

On Friday, Eliza and our neighbor Lincoln went to the skate park. Eliza had been begging Hallie all week to take her to the skate park, but it has been really hot, and Hallie didn't think that was a good idea with it being so hot. 

On Saturday, Hallie got some individual time after she dropped Landon off at work. She took advantage and did a little dining and shopping. 

Hallie first tried Dippy's out of their backyard in Orem. After several years, they were able to make a food truck a reality. Hallie was number three in line and got a free Dippy and a free Horchata.

This cute shop named Harmony on Center Street in Provo has always been a place Hallie has wanted to go. When Hallie realized she had a bit of extra time before picking up Landon, she made a quick U-turn and headed in to see what the shop offered. Hallie will definitely come back. Great service and great items!

The Provo Farmers Market had a great purchase that Hallie used for the rest of her purchases.

Later in the day, she took Eliza out to buy some Western gear. Eliza has decided that she wants to try out Western-style riding now that she is familiar with English style. Of course Eliza wanted to buy it all, but we are trying a bit of restraint and talked about not buying things at the first place we see,  researching what you like and want, and so on. It is hard to digest and understand that sometimes, but we keep trying.

Landon had woken up on Saturday not feeling super hot. We tested him for Covid (negative) before sending him to work. On Sunday, we let him sleep in and convalesce. In the afternoon, the rest of us went over to Grandma and Grandpa M.'s for some supper. Eliza took some more pictures. Very artistic of her.

 

On the way home, we caught sight of a rainbow that we followed all the way to Springville. 

Eliza took inspiration from that to draw one of her own! If you look closely into the picture you will see the rainbow we followed home in the top of the picture.