2024, June 10-16

We played on new toys, got inspired, and enjoyed time outdoors.

The e-bike Landon bought arrived on Tuesday. It came "95% assembled" and with a dead battery. After some assembly and a little consternation over how to get the battery to charge, we were able to get the bike up and running. Landon is thrilled and he has spent a lot of time with his new-found freedom of movement.  

Eliza is already counting the days until she can get her own device. 

We've noticed an unusual number of bumblebees this year in the neighborhood. They seem to have taken over from the yellow jackets, which seem to have moved elsewhere for the most part. 

On Wednesday evening, Hallie, Eliza, Marilyn, and Joanie went to see Amberley Snyder, whose story was dramatized in the movie Walk, Ride, Rodeo, (Netflix) at BUH, where she told her story and talked about her foundation. Eliza came away with a lot of deep thoughts. It was nice for Hallie and Eliza to talk about those things on the way home.

While the girls were out and Landon went riding with his biker friends, Mike and Fergus hung out together on the front porch. They were just chillin', so chill, in fact, that the neighborhood fox came running by within about 10 feet of them. 

Eliza caught bumblebees in another couple of photos. 

Here is Mike opening an early Father's Day present from Diamond and Caleb. They got items we can use on our trip to Japan next year. Fingers crossed that Mike lands a job before then and can get time off in June! 

On his bike ride and walk on Friday, Mike saw tons of cottonwood fluff along the Hobble Creek trail. He's pretty sure he and Landon are allergic. Also, it's possible that the flammable fluff may have added to the reasons for why a local house caught fire this week. The pictures don't do justice to how the fluff fell like snow when the wind picked up. 

Hallie heard about limited edition Star Wars-themed Oreo cookies and brought some home on Saturday. The parents had very few, as the kids devoured both packages between Saturday and Sunday.  

Kai came back and will be here for a few days before going back to Brittany's and then coming back for most of the rest of the summer. We're happy to have him here! Kai doesn't know it but he likes anime. 

Mike got some kite time in on Saturday. We had a lot of heat this week, but Saturday and Sunday cooled down a bit. We took advantage Saturday evening to have a picnic out on the lawn.

On Father's Day, we went to see Inside Out 2 at the movies before going over to Gma and Gpa M's for strawberry and angel food cake. After getting home, on her walk with Kai, Hallie chatted with one of our neighbors, and the neighbor's cat decided to introduce himself to the dog. No one got scratched or bit during the interaction. 

 

2024, June 3-9

We celebrated Art City Days and babysat Frankie while trying to beat the early summer heat.

Kai went home later in the week, but in the meantime he had a little big brother to hang out with. We don't think he got too jealous of the attention Frankie was getting.  

Kai knows we love him. He thought laying on top of the couch behind Hallie was a good idea. Funny dog.

Fergie just tolerates the situation. By late Sunday night, he was an only fur baby again. 

But in the meantime, Frankie got lots of love and attention. Frankie loved going to Bridle Up Hope and seeing the horses. Frankie has been a good companion to Landon at night while he is watching TV. Kai usually goes upstairs and finds his spot at the foot of our bed.

Eliza went to visit Murphy and her new foal over at the lot north of our house. 

While Mike was in Salt Lake continuing his College Board "special ops" job, Hallie got some help from the kids to clean up around the house.  

Mike has had fun doing this gig. One of his colleagues even made an AI-generated song about the group.

Mike joined Eliza and Hallie at the Art City Days carnival on Thursday. Eliza made the most of her rides pass. 

Friday morning, the hot air balloons were out. We don't usually go to the hot air balloon festivities, but it is fun to see them from away.

After looking around at several options, Landon got himself a new electric bike which he is eagerly waiting to arrive in the mail. He helped make space in the garage. Every day until it comes we will hear, "Is it here yet?" 

Hallie and Eliza took Eliza's old bike to the Provo Bike Collective. They also took Kai back to Brittany's and got the doggos pup cups at Dutch Bros. Frankie liked it a bit. On the Dutch Bros app you get a free drink for your birthday, so Hallie finally got around to redeeming her drink. 

Eliza had a late night Thursday, so she fell asleep during the day. She also did this on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. It is hard not being able to sleep well during the night. One advantage to homeschooling is we can adapt to her sleep needs.

Hallie enjoys getting pictures of the goofy rat-dog. Hallie likes to send them to Frankie's mom. We have always felt better when we have left our cat and someone shows us how he is doing.

On our walk with him Saturday morning, he caught up with a new-to-him friend in the neighborhood, Dolly. Hallie loves Dolly's hair on the top of her head. Dolly is a cockapoo. 

Later on, the humans went to the Art City Days Parade. Eliza walked with BUH as a flag bearer. Hallie had students in the parade, so it was fun to see them. On Thursday night she ran into quite a few students at the carnival. Her students love the class she works in, so it is always a pleasure to see them.  

Mike found more bees on his walk later in the day. Some neighbors have turned their whole front yard into a pollinator garden. The clover is a big draw for the local bumblebees. 

Frankie found a new favorite spot on the comfy chair near the window. 

He also likes to sit with the people (in this case, a sleeping Eliza). 

(Also, the cat was in the chair already, and he and Ferg aren't quite as cozy as Ferg and Kai have gotten to be.) 

Weather took a turn for the stormy in the afternoon, which meant no Sunday Social fire pit. Eliza got caught in it as she was moving plants with our neighbor. Never a dull moment!