July 1- 7, 2024 Moments

First week of July - 

The kids enjoyed the little pool.  They were very creative in what they did to play and stay cool.

Kira made a hammock swing for her and her horsey.

Then Isak and Sofie got a hammock swing too.

We were invited to a neighborhood water party.  So we arrived in style.  :)

Trampoline, water balloons and more.

Noah had fun squirting everyone.  Haha!

The girls.

The boys

Everyone.

Amani and Kira 💜

We had a friend day.  Everyone picked a friend and had them over to play for a couple of hours.  Yes, it was crazy, but fun.

Noah and Dominick

Sofie and Brooklynn and her little sister Jaelynn.

Kira and Penny.

Isak and Joshua.

I painted my nails blue and the ring finger temp changing from white to pink.  So fun.  

This is my birthday - July 3rd.  I enjoyed a walk.

Then I asked everyone to come play pickleball with me.  I wanted to teach Nels how to play.  It was 90 degrees + outside, and 12 pm, but we went and had a good time!  I was still recovering from pneumonia.  So I didn't have the most energy.  But I loved being out on the courts and the kids were so kind to help me to do it.  

Nels learned the basics and I think he liked it.  Then we went to Costco for raspberries.  I made myself a chocolate cake.  The kids sang to me and I blew out candles.  Then we had popcorn and apples and relaxed.

Yep, I look tired.  But my cake was yummy, especially with the raspberries.  And I'm using my special bowl that my mom gave to me for my birthday last year.  💜

4th of July - 

I played and Sofie sang "My Country 'Tis of Thee."  

We didn't do too much.  At night we went in our driveway and watched fireworks all around the neighborhood.  360 degree view of all kinds of fireworks.   Pretty cool!

July 5th -

Kids had fun making slime or putty...

I made Rosemary Bread from the new Kneaders cookbook my mom gave to me.  It was delicious.  

We went to Blackman Community Center and played pickleball while the kids played on the playground.  It was great.  The kids liked the tire swing.  Kira liked it too much. She did it so much, got dizzy and threw up on the car ride home!  

Picnic for the kids, while Nels, Isak and I played pickleball.  Great setup.  

Up next: 

Our trip to Door County, WI!!
 

June Moments 2024

Last few days in June...here are a few moments:

Sofie dresses Samantha in clothes everyday.  I love watching her play with my childhood doll.  

Isak snuggled with me while I was sick.  We took a "cool" selfie. :)

We got our little pool out and the kids had a blast with it.

Isak went to boys camp with Nels.  Quite the adventures.  They got rained out on day/night 1.  So they came home for day 2 to dry off and regroup.  Then they went back for day 3 and 4.   Isak liked the hike, playing in the river and shooting the guns.

I'm glad they went and overall, had a good experience.  

We had the neighbors over for some summer fun!

Funny picture.

Slippery slide.

Noah spent a lot of time doing his snap circuits.  Sometimes Isak would join him.

I loved seeing Noah work so hard on it and show me what he created.

Driveway pickleball with the neighbors.

And we went on a family bike ride too.  :)  Or maybe it was just Nels and the kids...I can't remember.  But they sure look cute!

And that's the end of June!

Melissa's House, Jeremy's Pool and Driving Home

June 16, Sunday - 

Noah was up at 4 am in the morning.  I helped him and we went back to sleep.  Then up again at 7:30 a.m.  We got ready for church.  But then Noah threw up!  He was sick.  So I stayed home with him.  Melissa took the rest of the kids to church.   

Noah loves this Pooh bear at Melissa's house.  

Church goers. :)

I wasn't feeling that great either.  So Noah and I slept while they were at church.  We played three Star Wars games.  So Fun!

We had Ribs for Father's day dinner.  Then Lynzie, Melissa, Sofie, Noah and I walked to the local park.

It was a cool park!!

Poor Noah just ended up snuggling by me and we watched Sofie and Lynzie play.  He was so sick.  He tried to play, but ended up on my lap most of the time.  

Cotton on the trail home...

Kira made Karl an Uncle's Day card!  It was so cute with fun games she made up inside.  It was a nice Sunday.

June 17, Monday - 

Windy day.  We went to a really cool park.  

Noah took Pooh Bear with him.

Isak and I played pickleball, but it was SO windy!

We went back to Melissa's house and played and ate popsicles.

We played two games of Harry Potter.  We beat Voldemort!!  Yay!  Fun time!

We had meatballs and rice for dinner and hung out the rest of the night.

June 18, Tuesday -

Sadly, I felt so achy and tired.  My body just hurt!  But I tried to do all of the things.

We went to another park.  Kids played while I played pickleball with Nathan, Isak and Melissa.  It was fun, but I was so sick!  Nathan taught me how to do back spin.  Yay!  

Then we all went to Jeremy's pool from 2:30 - 5:30. 

Mandi and Brianna came!  So did Kari's family and Whitney.  We all talked while the kids played.

Cousin time!

Mason and Nathan.

Joey and Sadie

Khloe and Lynzie

Noah was pretty good at ax throwing.

Popsicles!

It was so fun to catch up with these beautiful women!

Isak and Kaden were fun to watch.

Fun popsicle.

Kira

The boys

The girls

We got to talk to Jeremy for a few minutes.  He measured Noah's height.  :)

After the pool, my sisters and I went to Costa Vida's.  I enjoyed our conversation.  And just like that, it was time to say good bye.  😢  Thanks family for coming and spending time with us!  We loved it!

June 19, Wednesday - 

We packed up and left 9 a.m.  We met Kari in Kaysville because we forgot a few things.  So we got another hug from her before heading back to Tennessee.  

We traveled 9 hours.  We stopped in Sonic for lunch at Rock Springs.  I think we've eaten at this Sonic a few times on our past road trips.  

We listened to a general conference talk, Mark of the Thief and I finished listening to The Cartographers.  I started listening to Essentialism and Ruby Red.  We ate dinner at Perkins in Cheyenne, WY.  Poor Noah coughed so much.  It was kind of embarrassing.  We definitely got looks.  😬

Isak loved his big breakfast that he ordered.

We stayed at Hampton Inn in Sidney, NE, Room 200.   We got settled and slept pretty well.

June 20, Thursday -

We got packed and ready.  This is what we look like leaving the hotel room with all of our stuffed animals.  Aunt Melissa let Noah keep Winnie the Pooh.  😀

We stopped at Walmart and stocked up on Dramamine and cough medicine for Noah.  Day 2 - we travelled 8 hours.  We left about 10 a.m.  We listened to a general conference talk.  Then we finished listening to Mark of the Thief together.  I continued listening to Essentialism and Ruby Red.  We arrived in Kansas City, MO at Home2 Suites and slept in Room 222.  I coughed all night.  :(  I was so sick.  

June 21,  Friday -

Day 3 - we traveled 9 hours.  We left the hotel at 9 a.m.  I checked the oil with the dipstick.  It was low.  We went to an auto shop.  Nels walked me through it.  I found and purchased the correct oil and the worker filled the car with the oil.  The oil for our trip was 15% then 10% and ended at 5%.  I'm so grateful we figured out how to put more oil in and eventually we made it home safe and sound!  

We listened to a general conference talk and some primary songs.  Then I listened to Namesake.  We got McDonald's at some point and ate it in the car.  We got home at 7:30 p.m.  Around 4 pm, Nels got fired from Mahle!  We were so surprised and mad.  No notice, no warning, just said today is your last day!  Crazy!!

It was also our 21st wedding anniversary.  Neither of us felt like celebrating.  😢  We got home and unpacked the car.  I was so sick and coughing a ton.  Later, I went to the doctor and learned that I had pneumonia.   What a way to end a trip and it took a good week to get back to normal.  I'm glad we went on our trip out west.  I wish the kids hadn't taken turns being sick, but I think we still had a great time overall!