Canada Day

Today we finally managed to get the boat out onto the lake. It's been an especially busy year with teens, church callings & the like and we just haven't been able to get to a lot of the things that we usually do. It was nice to be together as a family on the lake for the first time this season and enjoy one another's company. It was also fun seeing the shift in bravery this year and watching the big boys get on the tube with their sister for some mildly crazy rides. Oliver enjoyed some knee boarding and some tubing as well. Fin was still wrestling with a sunburn from our last afternoon at the beach and came along (covered up) for the ride and a cold swim. The little ones mostly enjoyed eating snacks & jumping off the boat to swim around in their life jackets. All in all, a pretty epic day on the lake to celebrate Canada Day this year!

 

 

Farewell June

Today we bid farewell to June with an afternoon at the beach with friends! The older kids were out playing in the middle of the lake for majority of the afternoon while I kept an eye on the littles on the beach. They enjoyed boogie boarding, digging in the sand, and creating holes near the water with trenches nearby. It was a pretty hot afternoon, so I was grateful to have found some shade for our beach mat so that we could sit out of the sun for a few moments at a time. By the time the big kids made their way back to shore, they were famished and demolished all of the snacks in sight. We had stayed far longer than we had anticipated and needed to get home to make dinner. Everyone helped load up and it didn't take long before we were saying goodbye and heading home for showers and food.

In the Hall

Sundays are usually spent walking the halls with this stinker. 

He has a scream like no other and is not easily amused. 

The hallway is his happy place.

 

Sylvan Tournament

This weekend we were in Sylvan for a basketball tournament. It was nice being somewhat close to home because it meant we could just drive home after instead of staying in a hotel. The girls played pretty good! When Mike finished his canoe course, he was able to come with me to her evening game and we got to sit together and cheer her on. It was a busy couple of days and I am grateful to coaches and friends for the extra rides etc. It truly takes a village! The team also celebrated the end of the season with ice cream at The Big Moo. It was a fun, simple way to wrap up a few months of ball!

 

Seventeenth Anniversary

Today we celebrated our 17th anniversary with a morning at the temple! Afterwards we went for lunch together and then a brief shopping date for some Kayaks. It was nice to drive and catch up on life and reflect on the many changes and memories we've made! Happy anniversary my love!

 

 

Last Day of School

Today was the last day of school and also Grade 5 Grad! Everyone pretty much took the bus, except for Sawyer because he didn't want his teachers gift to get squished on the bus ride. 

We walked into the school together and then I found a seat for the Graduation assembly.

Finley is officially done with elementary school and off to the middle school next year! He is super excited about the band program and sports teams over there. We are super proud of his dedication to his studies and his efforts this year!

The afternoon brought more lawn mowing and this time Hyrum was the one to put Cooper to sleep on the mower. 

This lady can get her drivers next month and I am so not ready! I do enjoy being chauffeured around though!

 

Grade 8 Grad

This morning we drove in to the middle school awards ceremony and Grade 8 Grad. Thankfully the school were super coordinated this week and I will be able to make it to all of the assemblies and farewells that are happening at the end of the year!

Hyrum has grown and changed a lot this year (he's basically as tall as me now) and managed to keep his grades pretty high as well. He will be off to the highschool next year to enjoy grade 9 and all of the fun that it has to offer.

The evening brought us back to the soccer field! I don't often get to watch this guy play as I am always busy supervising miss Lily on the field or chasing Cooper at the park. It was fun to peek in on him during practice today! He sure loves soccer!

 

Sunday Walks

This morning I woke up feeling super tired and drained. I got everyone ready for church and we arrived early despite having to turn around to grab something forgotten. Joe lugged Cooper in, someone grabbed the diaper bag and Sawyer was the last one out of the van. As I slid the door shut, a sweet member who had just parked beside me rolled down her window and called out to me. I turned around and walked to her car and she said, "I just wanted to tell you that I think you're a really great mom!"

This sweet sister had no idea that as I knelt by my bedside that morning, tears soaked my comforter as I poured out my heart to Heavenly Father about my failings as a mother, my frustrations with my calling, the limitations imposed on me by others... But Heavenly Father must have whispered to her as she pulled into the parking lot that I needed the encouragement today, and I am so glad she listened!

After church Lily and I wandered up to the garden to snack on some haskaps and enjoy the sunshine! It was fun spending some time with her!

She's beautiful inside and out! Full of so much JOY!

Time keeps rushing by and the children get bigger each day. I've already hit sixteen weeks with this babe and I know it's going to go by in a blink. I am cherishing these tiny, joy filled moments!

Happy Sunday!

 

Ward Picnic

Today was the Crimson Lake picnic! It was a bit of a chilly day, but we still had a decent turnout. The youth all enjoyed playing jackpot in the greenspace together while the littles hung out at the park. We enjoyed good food and good conversation despite the chilly weather! Cooper enjoyed going down the slide a bazillion times and rocketing off the end into the sand. A lot of fun was had by all!