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. 

2022, June 27-July 3

And just like that, the year is halfway past. We geared up for Independence Day, and Diamond and Caleb came out for a visit!

Provo holds several events leading up to the Fourth of July, including a hot air balloon launch that Mike could see from his classroom window.  

Eliza enjoyed some outdoor time riding with Echo on Monday. 

Mike took Prime up to his office to play with the other LEGO there. 

Hallie and Eliza spent the day getting errands taken care of before Caleb and Diamond came to visit. Some of those errands included voting and getting the car detailed. While the car was being taken care of, the girls walked to Apollo Burger, and this is what it looks like when you scarf down a burger! Eliza really enjoyed the whole thing! 

Outside the doctor's office, a family of swallows has made a nest. We love seeing their status every week when we go. Eliza thinks they are all very squished in there.

On Tuesday night, Bold Gymnastics held a recognition dinner for the boys' team. This is the Optional Team. Landon had a hard time looking up, so we may not have gotten a picture of him enjoying the moment. It is hard to fathom that nine short years ago we looked up to the boys that are his level now. Now, those boys that he looked up to are graduating or have graduated university. River Bridge Event Center was a beautiful spot to have the banquet.

Eliza's reading teacher gave her these fun socks at the end of her summer session. We're grateful for all her and her teacher's hard work! Thank you, Ms. Price.

Eliza has been a super help up at USAGW-AF. Chloe and Eliza are showing off the clothes pin mermaid doll they made. Last week was Mermaid and Pirate week.

Mike got some sunglasses from his co-worker Bryan and decided to show them off to Hallie. Eliza had a choice comment that he has yet to hear about the look. Hallie said Eliza just laughed.

A couple of Mike's friends made art trades. 

(This one Mike bought a few weeks back, and it came in the mail this week.)

Fergus generally sits on the boys' laps, so Eliza was delighted when he chose to disrupt her. 

When Mike went on his morning walk on Thursday, he heard some rustling along the edge of Hobble Creek on the other side of the fence. It was a random pony walking along a trail by the stream. 

Here's Mike's banner up flying. 

Eliza had another pleasant outdoor ride with the coming of some late afternoon showers. 

Canada Day Friday meant standing on guard for the Great White North. 

It also meant food trucks. Eliza enjoys these outings, and Mike enjoys getting sneak candids of her and Landon when they're not looking. By Friday we are all usually a bit tired. This Friday was no different, and it had been really hot. The three of us were quite excited to be waiting for our Icy Mountain shaved ice.

Landon missed out on shaved ice due to work. Speaking of work, here he is sprucing up his and Eliza's bathroom (Mom took the candid this time). He sure was trying very hard to get out of doing the work.

Diamond and Caleb arrived on Saturday morning. On our way to get them, we stopped by the Salt Lake Farmers Market. Hallie has been really wanting to go to this Farmers Market, and she is so happy they went. There was a fun butterfly tent. Hallie even got a little temporary tattoo to match her coworkers from Mermaids and Pirate Summer Camp. Jen Seely is an awesome artist from Utah, and we always love seeing her booth.

 

Eliza and our neighbor Lily took some impromptu time for a sprinkler run. 

 

Mike took pics of the local ponies in some golden hour sun. 

In the evening Eliza and Hallie went to Eliza's friend's house where fireworks were the theme of the evening. 

Eliza was a big fan of the fireworks. Eliza got to help set up the fireworks and got to light a few of them.

Hallie, not so much. 

They set off a bunch of them! Here's the leftovers. Eliza really enjoys hanging out with her friend Dayton and his family. We are grateful for his family and their friendship.

Fergus tolerated Eliza making him wear the wee hat she got the night before. 

Eliza and Hallie made a patriotic craft at Michael's Crafts.

 Here he is in a more dignified pose guarding his favorite "go fetch" toy. 

And here are Diamond and Caleb! We're so happy to have them here.