2023, June 26 - July 2

We have all sorts of fun stuff going on, some of it involving ukuleles, some involving rental cars, and some involving outdoor lounge chairs. 

Eliza started taking ukulele lessons at BUH, shifting back from the violin that she thought she might like. She's learning how to play chords. Eliza took lessons several years ago and really enjoyed it.

Mike had an early start to his day, going from plasma donation to getting another car rental while we tried another shop to see what to do about the Sorento to going up to work and back. By the evening after his bike ride, he was tuckered out. Good thing Fergus was there to keep him company. 

We got Kai back unexpectedly for a few extra days. While he is crate trained, he's not a big fan. Here he is wanting into (or out of) someone's room. He much prefers to be with people. 

Fergus is master of his domain. 

Kai very much likes to play fetch. We have taken to sitting out in the front yard and tossing the ball to him until he tires out. 

Here's the Instagram capture of Eliza with her BUH music class. 

Kai definitely likes to cuddle up. He trapped Hallie on the couch, both of them lying down lengthwise. 

Having the dog means having to take him on a potty walk at least a couple of times a day. Good thing he has friends in the neighborhood. Here he is with Sophie. 

We received some good news about the Sorento on Monday, a repair done on Tuesday that cost substantially less than the engine and transmission replacement we thought we might have to do. After we took the rental car back on Wednesday and before getting the Sorento, we took Eliza to BUH and then took a walk around Bartholomew Park before going to the car shop. We saw this brood of ducks as we circled the pond. 

We had more afternoon time during the week. The mild spring weather has persisted through the end of the month. The only problem is that the mosquitoes really like the weather too. Here is Charlie, another neighborhood dog. 

On Thursday, Hallie got a couple of zero-gravity chairs so we could sit out front more comfortably. Notice who is sitting in the chairs though. 

We had a pretty sunset that evening. Due to the mosquitoes, Mike thought it was best viewed indoors. 

On Friday morning, Eliza learned barrel racing at Guide 'N' Gallop. She also got to help out with the horses and goats. 

In the afternoon, Eliza had a BUH class in flower arranging. She managed through, injured finger and all. 

The boys seem to tolerate each other. Note the ever-present ball under Kai. He loves that ball. 

In the late afternoon/early evening, we saw some jets fly over the house (probably a lead-in for Saturday's Stadium of Fire). We missed taking a picture but did catch a couple of ducks who got spooked into flight. 

On Saturday morning before taking Eliza's flower arrangement to Gma M, Hallie took Eliza to the urgent care to deal with her finger. The doctor poked a hole in the nail with a heated metal tool and then wrapped it all up. Eliza was quite the sport about it. Eliza had hurt her finger while working at Guide 'N' Gallop. Somehow only Eliza really knows how her finger got between a rock and some metal.

While at Gma and Gpa's, the girls saw a doe with a couple of young fawns. 

Mike held the fort with the boys, who seemed content to sleep. 

He even caught Ferg blepping. 

Here is the flower arrangement Eliza made on Friday on BUH's Instagram. 

Later in the day on Saturday, Hallie, Mike, and Eliza went to the grand opening of Chip Cookies in Spanish Fork. The cookies were warm and fresh and soft without being doughy. 

Landon has decided he likes the zero-gravity chair so much it should be an indoor lounger. 

Mike concurs, at least in principle. 

Eliza woke up early on Sunday, said hi to Dad as she went out to enjoy the cool air, and fell asleep on the outside lounger. We saw her there as we took Kai for his walk. 

On the walk, we noticed the sunflowers in bloom and the corn at Jaker's starting to grow. 

These join the thistles, which are now easing past their prime and getting ready to shed. 

By the time we got back, Eliza was still asleep but had changed positions. 

Mike has gone on bike rides pretty much every day since the beginning of May, exploring the area north of our house. Today he rode over ten miles, getting to the Provo city limits and back. Outside of the ADT offices, he came across this herd of goats. So much eye candy and interesting things to see when you go off the beaten path!  

Eliza wanted Dad to take a picture of her cozying up to Ferg. 

With Mike's work schedule changing significantly, Hallie has become the professional Uber driver for the family and seems to be tired a bit more than usual. But it is keeping her busy nonetheless. We will see what this week holds for this very busy family.