Timothy enjoys making little films. For the school Reflections contest he decided to show what it was like to explore the Secret Garden at Spring Lake. The theme of Reflections this year is “The Magic of a Moment.” The music he chose is from the 1993 soundtrack from The Secret Garden.
I think his little film is charming and it captures a really beautiful afternoon.
Timothy is such a sweetheart.
We finally remembered to take a photo at a BYU football game. My mom is the BYU student who makes these tickets in the student section possible. Richard has gone to every game and I go to the night games with him and we call it a date. For Saturday games, Richard takes one or two of our boys with him. It’s a little bit tricky to go to games when there is so much to do on the weekends, but we couldn’t pass up this opportunity. My mom graduates soon and we’re savoring life here. It’s the right thing to do.
This guy is about to turn 13 years old.
Richard’s family gathered at our house this weekend for a meal. We decided to serve birthday cake for dessert.
May all your dreams come true!
The familiar back-to-school feeling with its gold-toned memories and crisp air is all around us. I can’t keep my eyes off the mountains above our house. The red maples have been brilliant for a few weeks, but this weekend, the aspen trees erupted into bright yellow color. My autumn heart is satisfied and happy.
Over the weekend we opened up our bed and breakfast to some cousins. Some of our activities included playing with Legos, Styrofoam, cars, planes, remote controlled vehicles, board games, markers, Sparky, Polly Pockets, and Ellos. We played basketball, painted the girls’ nails, gave jeep rides, slid down the banister, watched Scooby Doo, and invited my aunt and her family to join us for dinner. Nine house guests at once made me smile. That’s the total we would accumulate in 2 or 3 years in Arizona.
Another benefit from living in Utah is we can tag along on family gatherings without having to buy a plane ticket or take time off from work. Richard goes to Fish Creek faithfully… probably once a year, but it has always meant that he leaves our family behind.
Well, not this year. The kids and I were able to go this weekend. I have been to Fish Creek a few times before, but Mark and Timothy had never been. It’s pretty much a land of enchantment. Let me tell you what I mean.
Fish Creek is the only place in the universe where we ride in the back of a pickup truck. I told Mark that it’s the only place he will ever be allowed to do this, even after he becomes an adult. Some rules just have to remain eternal or I won’t be able to sleep at night.
Fish Creek is the only place in which we use the pronunciation, “crick”.
Fish Creek (are you saying “crick” in your mind?) is the only place where I loosen up enough to ride a motorcycle.
Fish Creek is a place where you fit 16 people and two dogs in a pickup truck. You eat fried chicken, cheese curds from Beaver, eggs from the Russ and Nancy farm, and licorice in all its varieties.
It’s history, it’s cousins, it’s dirt roads and mining cabins, leaves changing color, big sky and peace. We had a great time.
And here is the outtake of the day:
Here’s a closeup of the best part. I call it “Sparky’s worldview.”
We enjoyed some family time to celebrate Paige’s Sweet 16. Everyone signed a book for Paige and she received many thoughtful gifts. We filled the house with people who love her. Aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, parents, and grandparents were all there to cheer as she reached this milestone.
For entertainment, we gave house tours and the girl cousins tried on Paige’s ballet costumes. The boy cousins played in the moving boxes.
Paige’s license will be delayed a bit because of our move, but at least somebody can drive around in our yard. These are some of Paige’s cousins. Too cute.
Here we sit restfully right by the sea,
Some of us building, digging and finding,
and some of us reading and thinking.
There are a lot of smiles.
Onlookers abound,
Grandpa is beaming.
If we could hear these crabs talk, I’m sure they’d be screaming.
(This is not supposed to be a poem, but I couldn’t help myself.)
The bikers are out in great number,
While a wave dashes all their hard work back to sea.
A pirate was seen on the grounds of the temple!
We paused and enjoyed the peace we found there.
The tide pools were teeming with critters and squishies.
The ocean seems to gulp down the sun in just minutes.
Richard makes everything better. Amen.
Good night and thanks for reading our blog.
Today after work, Grandpa took the boys on a walk in a creek up in the canyon. They took some pictures so we could all feel a little bit jealous.
We had a great Independence Day.
The sellers accepted the offer we made on their house in Utah. Here is a sneak peak of what it looks like. I’ll post more pictures when it’s really ours.
We went to the annual Troop 54 breakfast and visited with old friends. We went to the parade, Spring Lake, looked at new lambs, ate fried cookie dough and cheesecake, participated in Tank Wars, and watched the fireworks from Fox field with a pile of little kids.
Here are some photos of the kids playing at the frog pond at Spring Lake.
Daniel has a mouse in that container. Mark’s smile is so charming.
My sister’s kids are so cute.
Grandpa and his namesake enjoy some time in the shade. It was hot!
It was such a fun family day. It makes me happy that we will live so close to our people. My kids love their cousins.
The other night Timothy and I weeded my parents’ garden. It awakened all kinds of old memories for me and hopefully created sweet remembrances for him.
We filled two five-gallon buckets with weeds.
The boys helped Grandpa paint the fence. There was no Tom Sawyer trying to sell the idea. They just loved it. Those are my boys.