Weekend and to now

Frankie and I made her YW birthday treat to pass on and then saturday night we went to the Darrow’s to play games with them and the Wiests. 

We had ice cream and cupcakes we brought and I took 2 pictures. Alecia had a few whole group games and then we broke off into smaller groups. It’s always fun to get together. 

Sunday was one of the best I’ve had in a long time. Church was lovely and then we all worked together to make dinner for the missionaries. Sister Biira’s first time having pulled pork sandwiches. 🤗 They played a fun game with us that Delaney figured out, and we FaceTimed the bigs and babies. Just before sunset we drove to Solomon’s Island and had a family walk around. It was so very lovely. 

Monday was a working day. With our trip next week and then summer drawing to a close soon after that, I want to leave a clean house, so I divided up all the jobs and we’re working together each day to tackle them. It’s my favorite way to clean and so far it’s going swimmingly. 

On Tuesday had an her annual allergy appointment in Waldorf, so since we were headed that way anyway we left early and went to the mall and then to see Superman and I was able to use my free birthday popcorn and drink coupons. We all liked the movie and the popcorn was A+. 

Adi’s appointment was quick and we drove straight to the lab to get her bloodwork done. On our way home we picked up Frankie’s physical form and popped into Food Lion for taco Tuesday supplies, and then Frankie and I made tacos and cilantro lime rice for dinner. 

We ended the day with pool time and a movie and have I mentioned how much I love summer?

We ❤️ Summer

We’ve had the stormiest summer. I love a stormy summer night so I was stoked. 

This was crazy, someone came to our door one day to let me know they would be digging in our yard. I was like, can I say no, and he was like, no, it’s right of way, so that was that. I came home to a giant trencher on the grass too. Wild. 

On Tuesday morning I drove the jolly green up to the stake center and kissed the girls goodbye for youth conference. Adi had said she really didn’t want her family to be in one of the vans, so naturally, she came to let me know that her family was in the van. She came around to it, but it was kind of a bummer. Also, I sent her this. 🤣

There was a group of us that helped load the busses and then I chatted with Patrea for a long time and she stayed with me as we locked the building after everyone left. Delaney had a week of dance intensive and she loved it. It was just from 9-12, but they worked hard and she was sore every day. 

And how about this, put back exactly right, huh? 

I went walking with Alecia one morning while D was at ballet. Delaney is such an easy only child. We never run out of things to talk about. I made her do a BJ’s run with me one day and we loved this ugly chenille love seat! She wants it for her bed! It was v comfy. 

I caught up on some of my summer tasks that have been left undone by our summer playing. This achievement happened. Go me. 💪🏻 

On the 17th this little cutie turned 6 months old. Can’t wait to see him next week! He’s getting so big!

That day on my way to pick kids up from youth conference I stopped at Wells Fargo to close one of dad’s accounts I was on. As I waited I started to think about the last time I was there, which was with my dad, and so naturally I started crying. 🤣 The banker was very sweet and understanding. My life is so different now than when my dad lived here, I have so much more time and I just wish he could still be here. It’s such a bummer. I miss him. 

I was asked to go to the church early to make sure it was open before everyone arrived, but Natalie texted that they were good to open it, so i ran some errands before picking the girls up. I loved hearing all about their adventure! And someone had this cute license plate at the church. 

Adi especially just wanted to stay home for the weekend. So we did. We played games and went to the pool and slept in. This cute memory popped up. 

As of today, no blogging today, but actual today we have 4 more weeks of summer and I am savoring every last second. 

Home again

We had another early flight and with returning a rental and all that jazz, we found ourselves awake at 4:30 again. We hugged out McCombs, who were also heading out early and everything went smoothly. Returned our little Versa no problem and waited for our airport shuttle. 

Adi loved checking out the SLC airport. It’s always fun seeing things in person that you’ve seen often online. 

Waiting, waiting. 

Our flights were full again, darn it, but we always sat together and everything was smooth and easy. 

Emergency row ladies for flight number 2! The flight attendant was very thorough and checked to make sure Adi was over 15, which was kind of funny because she thought she was hot stuff that the flight attendant on our other emergency exit flight didn’t check her age. 🤣

My time home has been slow’ish and summery. The girls have things, but I haven’t really. We go to the pool every day but Sunday. Usually Delaney, Matt, and I. Sometimes just Delaney and I. And one time I went by myself and did some laps and came home. I used to not like the pool all that much, but I realized it’s because I was managing littles, making sure they were safe and then after drying and showering and changing everyone. It was a lot. Not that I didn’t like it, but I couldn’t imagine going to the pool by myself because I spent so many hours there with babes. But going with only bigs is a whole new free world and I love getting exercise at the pool. 

The last cabinet finally came in and hooray, it’s the right size! And also, boo because the side plate wood thingy is still the wrong size. It’s ok, I’m going to get a nice little discount on my cabinet project so that makes it sort of better that it will be 8 months before they get every cabinet right. I hope at least.  

Family game night on Sunday before the start of another fun filled summer week!

Utah - day 7

I woke up early Friday and went for a run down by the river and downtown. 

It was really pretty. 

Adi beat me at skipbo (again) and we got brekkie and headed out. 

We had seen this army surplus store on our way into rexburg and she offhandedly mentioned it going and coming, so we got off the freeway, turned around and checked it out. 

She’s so weird. 🤣 

She got rope and Australian licorice and was happy as a clam. 

We performed baptisms at the pretty Pocatello temple up on the hill. 



We had planned to go out on jet skis with Mc’s, but Laura and Kt were leaving the next day and it go to be too much, so we found another escape room on our way home and did better, but not perfect at it. We are getting pretty good, and for just 2 people, I am proud of how we did.

We chatted with the lady there for a long time. 

We got all packed up and I kept Laura company while she packed. We had a nice dinner and games and just like that it was bedtime for all us early risers. 

Utah - day 6

Thursday was a beautiful morning in Idaho Falls. I got to the temple early and spent some time outside writing in my journal and then had to hustle a bit for my 8:00 session. 

I popped into the loo right before and as I was going into the stall I did a double take and sure enough - Lindsay Edwards. Such a coincidence!

Anyways, it was a v cool old temple with murals and all. I loved it. 

I went back and had brekkie with Adi and then we headed up to rexburg. First stop, the temple, obvi. 

We did baptisms and then drove about 3 miles down the same street to the site of the new rexburg temple - the Teton River Temple. 

It took forever to find parking, but we made it and then we hit a snafu. We had a little misunderstanding so she went on the golf cart tour on her own. I know she’s anxious about graduating and I’m anxious about helping her navigate and it was just a small blip in an overall wonderful week. I often tell my kids I’ve given them the gift of an imperfect mother that will always apologize and always try. 

I scored a free swig drink so we got that and then hit the Taco Bus and it was as delicious as I remembered. 

Adi found an escape room we thought would be fun, and right next door was a crystal and rock shop that also sells loads of tiaras. 

We did manage to complete the room, but we got extra time and several hints. 

I’m still proud of us. Most of the hints were like half hints because we already had a good idea. 

Cosette told us this potato chocolate milk was better than The Creamery’s, so we grabbed one and Adi got an ice cream, then it was back to our hotel for a game night. 

Adi put me through the wringer with skipbo! It was fun! At sunset we walked the riverwalk. 

The temples right there and so beautiful. 

One of the things I love about blogging is reliving life and I really loved this special week with Adi. Tough times and all.

Utah - day 5

Layton temple Wednesday morning! I tiredly miscalculated my time so I was late but I did manage to finish my initiatories. 

Every morning I read the Book of Mormon in the celestial room and it was such a good start to my day. 

A 17 minute drive away (17!!!) is the Syracuse temple. Both of these are new since last time I visited. Laura has three temples within 30 minutes! I die!

Laura met me in Syracuse and we did an endowment session. 

We went home and changed and headed right to a fun little Indian restaurant to meet Shelly and Christina for lunch. We went around the table and caught up on our families and lives and the food was delicious and I miss these ladies!!!!

We stretched our lunch as long as we could and I’d have loved if it was hours longer. Anyways, I dropped Laura off and picked up Adi and off we went for the next phase of our trip. 

Rexburg bound!

Adi being the only child was able to get a Maverick milkshake whenever she wanted. We ❤️ Maverick. It’s one of my top 3 gas stations, #2 I think. 

I was *so* tired by the time we got to our hotel. I had also been backed up so had a large glass of Laura’s home canned grape juice and my tummy was a little upset. We relaxed in our room for a bit, went swimming, and popped over to Walmart to buy a game to play in our room. We made it an early and quiet night which was perfect since we’d been running so much.