Deer Creek

August 11, 2016

An impromptu invitation took us to Deer Creek today.  The Pitt's have their Washington to Guam layover packed to the hilt and there is a hole in the schedule that they decided, last minute, to fill with a water-skiing trip.  We were able to join them (sans AJ, who took a quick trip to St. George with Grandma and Grandpa Castleberry).  It was quite blustery for a couple hours, but fun was still had by all! I was even able to get up on the waterskiis! We love spending time with family and today was no exception.  Thanks for the fun trip Grandma and Grandpa and Pitts Fam!

(Ash and Kyra, Me on Skiis, and Bj's windblown look)

Hot stuff

July 2016

When it's blistering hot and the only thing that makes sense is to do this:

Definition of summer

July 25, 2016

Have I mentioned how much we love having a pool in the family!?  The pool at Grandma and Grandpa's is such a fun respite.  The kids absolutely love spending endless summer hours there.  I don't know how many nights we have been the last ones to leave.  Bj and I have had a blast teaching impromptu lessons to our adorable nieces and nephews and love watching all the kids become more capable, confident swimmers.  They love going to visit regardless of the aquatic situation, but this is definitely a perk of condo living.  

Starvation Reservoir

July 11-15, 2016

It has been a while since we had a good water ski trip.  This one did not disappoint.  We had so much fun with BJ's family.  We have been looking forward to this trip since they announced it in the spring.  All of our kids were able to get up on something behind the boat.  AJ, got up on the wake board, knee board, and skiis.  Ash got up on the knee board, and the torpedo, and Carson, a little more water-shy than the rest, made us all proud when he bravely defeated the bobsked. We were there Monday through Friday and could have stayed another week.  Bj spent most of his time on the boat pulling skiers.  I spent a lot of time on the beach reading, visiting, and working on my tan.  I worked hard to get my school work done so I could enjoy the week.  I had to submit a couple assignments, but other than that, it was an actual vacation.  I hope we can take more lake trips in the future. 

Poetic Pool

Today is the day we say farewell,

to the pool we have come to know so well.

We splash, we float,

we eat chat and gloat,

It has us under its spell.

The sun is short'ning it's time with us.

Jack Frost is anxious to begin to discuss.

One jump one dive

before the good bye.

to complain is superfluous...

See ya next season!!!

Green thumb?

I kill just about everything I plant.  I wish I could blame it on the crappy Herriman soil but alas...It is I.  But not too long ago I was at Walmart (of all places) and these tiny, sad looking purple and white alyssum were looking at me with their dried up little faces pleading with me to take them home and water them (plus they were on sale...).  I planted them as soon as I got home and within a week they were multiplying and replenishing like I've never seen!  Shortly after that, Michelle begged me to take these rose bushes off her hands.  I reluctantly (seriously...I begged her to just keep them) took them and planted them as soon as I got home.  Following her pruning instructions, These pink heads slowly started to emerge and bring color to my path.  Directly behind the roses are volunteer Cannas that I planted 2 years ago.  Now the summer is coming to an end and I am kind of freaking out about the roses, and how to keep them alive for next year, but I am seeing a color change in my thumb.  It is no longer inky black, it is just black licorice...with a ting of green.  

Mmmmm....Black Licorice.  

Weather

Sometimes I just have to post pictures like this because when I look at them I remember how they made me feel.  I love low clouds, they are so mysterious, and it makes so many imaginings possible.  This is the view from my parent's new home.  Shortly after this picture was the most continuous lightning storm I have ever witnessed.  I ended up at my parent's house about 3 hours longer than planned, but it's always worth it.  

Cowabunga!

In my opinion, this place is way over rated.  After spending most of the summer at Grandma's pool, this place was unimaginative, and crowded.  The kids went down all the waterslides, floated around the lazy pool, and after two hours were ready to go.  At moms pool, we have to drag them away after 4 hours. 

weird. 

now we can say we have been there.

Grandpas work party

Grandpa works at Mercedes and was asked if he had any kids he wanted to invite to the company party... Feeling a little new, he didn't open the invitation to the whole family, but because we live so close to the party destination, cowabunga Bay,we got the invitation! Even though it was one of the rainiest days of the season, we still had a blast! We started with a delicious BBQ dinner, huddled under umbrellas avoiding lightening, then the rain slowed to a trickle and they opened up the water for playing and the kids were elated! Carson started off with a mighty bump on his head due to a running fall, but he toughened up and had a blast! We stayed until 9 then took our prizes, aj got a $10 iTunes gift card, ash got some chap stick, and cars got a captain America action figure. What a blast! Thanks Mercedez!

3 weeks of summer

Not a fan of the track schedule for the fact that you can't plan!
We just found out mid June that the kids (who got out of school July 1) start the new school year on July 26th! I will send them for their first day of school, but we may be taking some serious time off in august, reunions and vacations aren't going to be cancelled because the school system can't organize themselves early enough to give us notice.

Boo!

So... What did their summer consist of?

Fireworks & Sunshine
Bikes, bare-feet and laughs.
Movies, Books, Sparkelers
Slip-n-slide, And crafts.
Rainbows, friends, piano lessons,
Blackridge reservoir
kiddie pool, grandmas house
Kenecott on tour.
Splash pad, ice cream, sunset walks
Hiking local trails
S'mores cooked in a pizza box
Sprinkling salt on snails.
Cowboys at the rodeo
Late-nights with the Stars
Serenades, special guests
Pace's epic bars.
Oquirrh mountain's summer days
Have set behind her peaks
But do not fret
My little peeps,
It's back in seven weeks.