Fat Cats, Moonbeam Cookies, Comedy Night, Ritas

James left to Paraguay on June 24th around midnight. Marshall took him to the airport. I was sad but excited for him. I was fighting anxiety because one thing from Jenna's accident is that I've been fighting anxiety that something bad is going to happen to one of my kids this summer. I have been overly anxious, more than normal. I know it is normal to worry about your kids but I have been worried beyond the normal. So I had to take a step back and just keep my mind busy and distracted. Especially for the first 12 hours after he left until he met up with his HXP group. So on Wednesday we went to Fat Cats. We did mini golf with our Get Out Pass.

Then we had to get Moonbeam cookies because Lynnlee is a Benson Boone fan. He released a new album and one of the songs talks about Moonbeam ice cream. It is a made up thing he came up with. Crumbl collaborated and made a Moonbeam cookie.

I didn't have it of course since I'm GF but they all said it was really good!

Then we went to Cook Family park and the kids played on the pump track and in the splash pad.

That night we went to Comedy Night for Lehi Round Up week. Comedy Sports always puts on a great show! We love going every year!

I needed to do homework after. Marshall and the Minis went and helped Betsy with her dryer vent and then they went to Rita's. Yum!!!

Father's Day in Heber

We celebrated Father's Day with my family. I'm so grateful my dad is here with us to celebrate! It's been a rough year but he has worked hard and been resilient! I made this little tribute to him on my social media.

It was a chilly celebration. A cold front came in and we all needed jackets. 

Sid and Brandon were in town and the cousins had a blast playing Vorteball.

We gave my dad an outdoor skiball game and it was so fun to try out!

Drew has grown a lot in the last year!!! 

It was such a fun night eating yummy food, hanging out and enjoying time together!

Week of Summer: Lynnlee's braces off, temple, clinical pool, Bees game, etc.

The third week of June was full of many fun activities and it would be too difficult to post each one separate so they are grouped into one post. 

I had my second clinical. I was late to my first clinical so I left extra early for my second clinical. I got there an hour early but I would rather have it that way than to be late. I got some homework done while I waited. I love clinical so much! We practice assessments on each other. I loved getting to know my classmates better. I love my professor so much! She is the nicest and so understanding and kind. 

Kade was invited to a Bees game with some teammates. We aren't really a baseball family but he had fun hanging out with friends.

Sienna was invited to go to the pool with her friend Flora. She had the best time. 

I had my weekly temple appointment and it was for Initiatories. I talked Kade and Lynnlee into going with me. Tag and Sienna went to Clear Creek day camp for two days so they were gone. I would have felt bad leaving them at home. So we went to the Orem Temple. Kade and Lynnlee did baptisms and I did Initiatories and then we met back up after. It made me so happy!

I heard about Bismark Donuts in Orem. They are 100% gluten free there. They don't even offer regular donuts. They were SO yummy! The fry them fresh once you order them. Mmmm!

James is one busy teenager with cross country every morning at 7:00am. He is usually up late so he takes a nap once he gets home from running. I took this because Chewie mirrored James and took a nap with him in the same position. Haha!

I'm not sure why I took this but it was in the week of pictures so I decided to add it.

Kade and his friend had the craziest idea to play in the kiddie pool on the porch?!! I thought my kids were too old for shenanigans like this. You just never know what ideas Kade will come up with.

Lynnlee had her braces on for three years!!! The day finally came when she got them off. We thought this day would never come. 

Her teeth look great! She doesn't have white marks so that is amazing! She was missing a few adult teeth so her baby teeth were pulled and the gaps were closed. Now you can't even tell.

Marshall had a temple reservation for the Deacons. Only Jackson and Kade could go so Marshall took Jackson's sister Hannah (Lynnlee's best friend) and Lynnlee too. 

That was the same week I took them to do baptisms so Lynnlee and Kade went twice that week. Good job kids!

Father's Day

Marshall and I went on a date Saturday night before Father's Day. We went to a Japanese restaurant so that was fun since Marshall served in Japan and loves Japanese food. I even found some gluten free options and they even brought out a gluten free soy sauce so that was awesome. 

Sunday morning we had German pancakes.

We went to Grandpa and Grandma Lowry's for dinner. It was fun playing games after dinner. 

Then the kids went out to take pictures and try random poses that they saw on social media. Here is the most random poses they came up with.

Marshall is the best dad and a great example for our kids. He works hard every day and cares so much about each of us. He is good at helping everyone be their best and doing the important things. He will take them to the temple, fishing, biking, movies, and any other fun and worthwhile event.

Kimball Family Reunion: This is the Place

Marshall took James, Kade, Tag, and Sienna to the Kimball Family Reunion. Elder Cook was there and they got to meet him. They also enjoyed the rest of the activities at This is the Place. (Lynnlee and I went to Jenna's funeral)

Sienna to Sadie's pool

Sienna was invited to Sadie's grandparent's pool. I went for the first hour to make sure the girls were good. Sadie's mom was there too so we had a nice chat while the girls swam. It was a beautiful pool in Alpine. It was surrounded by trees.

Mall Scavenger Hunt

We enjoy a mall Scavenger hunt in the summer. Last time we went to University Place Mall. This time we went to the outlets in Lehi. Sienna and I were buddies. Lynnlee brought Eden. James was on his own. Kade and Hayden were partners. We all had our list and had 45 minutes to take pictures of everything. It was tricky!

I offered a $10 prize value to the winners, $5 to 2nd place and $3 to 3rd place. Last place didn't get anything. Some of the prize options were a caramel apple from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, smoothies from Jamba, Chick-Fil-A, pretzels from Auntie Anne's, etc. We never get pretzels from the mall even though everyone always wants one. We also don't get anything from the chocolate factory so I thought for sure someone would choose that for their prize. Kade's team won 1st, Lynnlee's team won 2nd, and Sienna and I took 3rd. James came in last. In the end everyone wanted Chick-Fil-A. So everyone got varying amounts. Kade and Hayden got full meals, Lynnlee and Eden got shakes, and Sienna and I got ice cream. James paid for his own :)

Mission Impossible

We went to Mission Impossible on discount Tuesday. James was at FSY but we had tickets for everyone else. Tag ended up going to Blake's grandma's for the week so he missed out. Hayden came in his place.

Orem Summerfest

We were sad about missing Lehi Round Up days so we decided to go to Oremfest. We felt really grateful because we went on a whim and found a close parking spot to the park with the booths. We had about a half hour to walk around and shop. Then we drove to the area near the start of the parade. Again, we were just winging it. We happened to go down a street where we got to park right next to the parade where a police woman was blocking off the road. Then we were able to set up chairs right in front to the police car which was front row seats for the parade. We were facing the sun but we didn't care because we were just happy to have a spot at the parade. The kids got tons of candy and freebies since we were near the start of the parade. 

Sienna really liked this hat and she was so torn on if she should buy it or not. In the end she didn't buy it but we got this cute picture of it.

Bridal Veil

The boys are getting ready for their backpacking trip to Wind Rivers. They hiked to Bridal Veil and another waterfall.

Orem Temple with Katelyn

Katelyn is going to Vietnam on her mission! We had the opportunity to go with her to the temple. It was a beautiful day and everything went well. It was the first time my dad has gone to the temple since he had a stroke so it was a big deal and very exciting to be there with him and my mom!

Sienna's Sewing Camp

Sienna participated in sewing camp with London and Scarlet. They made a messenger bag, apron, purse, hand sanitizer holder, and chapstick holder. It is such a fun camp and her projects turned out so cute! She chose to make everything out of the fabric with yellow rubber duckies.