June 2018

Tyler and the band played at the Glacier Graduation. It was a gorgeous graduation. The gym was all the way full. Could have used more seats in there!  My folks found a handicapped seat at the bottom of the gym. My mom is having her hip replaced shortly and isn't up for climbing stadium stairs. It was nice to have them here for Carter's big day.

 June - I'm seriously in awe of Carter. He has confronted many challenges in his life thus far and has come through them with determination and real courage. He has been an example to me of facing hard things straight on and landing on top. Graduating high school in the top ten percent of his class was icing on the cake. He is excited about his future. Heading on a mission, going to BYU. All good things. He got accepted into MSU with a scholarship but is turning it down to go the Y. Can't say I blame him really. There's no place quite like BYU.

Getting ready to head off for the walking bit of graduation. He is very very ready to be moving forward with his pathway. He's wearing the Hawaiian shirt because the band he's playing in is wearing them as their costuming choice. Carter found it at a thrift store and we had to sew in the sides as it was an XXL size. We made it small enough he can get away with it for the day.

Carter and his friend Mckenzie. She's a junior this year. Hard to leave good friends behind.

Of course the little sis has to try an steal candy from your candy leis.  

 Carter got these awards. He neglected to tell us there was an awards ceremony so we missed it. He also didn't show us these. I just came across them in his room. He graduated Magna Cum Laude, with honors and received a varsity letter in band. He also should have gotten the engineering rope but they wouldn't count his credits from his old high school. I didn't go in and make an issue. 

 Tylers last project of his Freshman year. He's growing up to quickly. Don't talk about it you'll make me cry. 

This is a tournament in Kalispell. Ally's had a great weekend. Her team has really jelled together and are a tough group of ladies. 

Sweet Peaks to celebrate a great day of soccer and graduating. Carter was off with his friends and didn't join us for our celebrating of him. Typical! 

 Tyler is sneaking a sip of my Dad's soda while he is doing his eye therapy. He had his eyes worked on. What happens in Kalispell stays in Kalispell... 

These girls made a clean sweep at this tournament. It was a good ending to their season. They've been beat up by the Canadians, tromped some poor Montanans and in the end came out on the top.

This is Ally trying to ice her legs between games. They play two days in a row and icing really helps them not be quite so sore for their second day of games. It was as cold as it looks! 

Summer was much looked forwarded to this year. The kids still have a strong draw toward Utah and their friends there. Ally and India were calling daily and planning their time together at BYU soccer camp. I feel sorry for any girls who have to play against these two formidable players. They both wore their old shock jerseys from the team they played together on. They had seriously the best week at soccer camp. They are planning on it again for next year. Ally still plans on playing soccer for BYU when she gets old enough. 

Rachael, Lydia, Christopher and Sonja came up for a visit. We had the best time!

The circus was in town while Sonja and crew were here. How could we not go and see the circus. Ally and Lydia wanted an elephant ride. Um...yes, twenty bucks is way cheaper than tickets to Thailand. They were thrilled. I kind of wanted to ride as well but there were lot of sweet little ones in line so I will have to do it in Thailand.

How does your garden grow? You can see the veggie box is well on its way. I took a risk and put the cold weather tomatoes out at Mother's day. They often get a freeze here after that day and suggest you wait until Fathers day. I was sick of watering them in the house and having the clutter everywhere. It paid off this year. We didn't ever get a late freeze. You can see in the background the tiny start of the grapevines. We are hoping for big things for the grapes this year. Last year I didn't get the idea for pruning until too late in the season. We are going to stay on top of it this year. I can't wait to see how things do. Everything lived through the winter so that was a win!

Sorry to include this gruesome photo but it really is telling about the sort of spring we've had! This spring has been the absolute worst for skunks. Jessie was sprayed at least four times. Once twice in the same week.  Byron is our hero and just keeps bathing her and bathing her and bathing her. It was impossible to keep her smelling good. This poor skunk was killed and not found for a few days. Byron has declared holy war on skunks and thistles. He actually thinks we should rename the place "Skunk and Thistle." Think it would bring in the customers?

I cannot tell you how proud I am of Carter for graduating from Seminary. I don't think I could do it. Early morning Seminary is a whole different level of commitment. He may have had to write four or five essays to make up for tardies but he did it and has the certificate to prove it. His teacher Wendy Taylor was incredible. The perfect personality for this class of seniors. Tough enough to keep them in line but so full of love. They all know she's there for them through thick and thin. Who loves you more than your early morning seminary teacher? Only your parents.

We were going to do a picnic and a hike to a little waterfall....couldn't find the waterfall. Too cold and windy for a picnic so eating in the cramped car. At least it's warm! We were on our way to the hot springs for the day so glad we made it to the warmth in the end.

Enjoying a dip in these naturally hot pools. They say this hot spring in Hot Spring, MT has the second highest quantity of minerals in the world. Beaten only by Baden, Baden in German. We all felt refreshed and well, slimy...very slippery water it is.

Took the crew to Whitefish Lake to play at the beach. It was just warm enough to enjoy a dip in the water. Since we were in Whitefish you know we also at at Amazing Crepes because well, they're amazing.

Hot dog roast at the river. Smores are always delicious as well.

Tyler is learning to drive everything lately. Testing out Stella. He did fairly well for a newby. We all love Stella! She is fun to drive.

Carter was the MC for youth conference. He did a great job. It think it's the first time he's been in charge of an event like this. It was cute watching him run his lines and practice pronouncing names. These things are so good for our kids. Skills like this are so useful to have. He also made the TEDx sign they used for their TED talks. He's been so busy with graduation- finished it just under the wire. It was delivered with wet paint. 

These canola fields are amazing!!! I LOVE the yellow against the blue skies. So pretty.

Another hike we tried to take. Jewel basin is apparently not accessible in June. Roads still covered in snow and ice. So, we turned around and looked around at the top. Headed to a Lake Cafe for lunch and hot chocolates.

The hiking is not open but the river doesn't have any ice on it. Our standards have lowered for acceptable water temperatures. Happy to have the boat out again.

While Ally and India were at soccer camp Tyler and Brian Arave went to EFY for the week. Brian hadn't seen temple square so we did a quick tour through on our way to my parents house. We went to the top of the Conference Center and had a look around at the inside. It is very impressive!

 Dropping these two off for a great week in Provo

 St. George's outdoor stage is pretty awesome. Bats flying through the air. Snuggled up in sweaters because it's not really that warm after the sun goes down. Shopping in their gift shop. Meeting sweet young actresses. Tuacahn Theater. We saw Matilda and Cinderella. They were fabulous! 

 We each brought a family name and took her from baptisms all the way through the endowment. It took most of the afternoon but was cool to get to do one person in one day. Something I haven't ever done before. Gorgeous day in the temple. 

Playing in St. George with my sisters while all of our kids are off at summer camps/working/visiting dad. This has never happened in the last 18 years and when we realized we would all be free the same week we planned a get-away. We hiked the Narrows in Zions National Park. I haven't ever done this before and it was beyond spectacular. The bottom mile is crowded with loads of people but if you keep going it empties out and you are hiking through a gorgeous slot canyon in relative privacy. We bought little river socks to keep our feet warm and could have hiked much further if we didn't have the sun setting to worry about. Given the chance I would do this hike again in an instant. Look closely, Sonja is celebrating her successful ascent up this waterfall. Trickier than it looks! 

 You didn't have to go through the water up to your chest, there was a walk around, but it's so much cooler if you do. All three of us loved this hike! 

 Ally and I are in love with Waffle Love. We can't drive by one while visiting Utah and not stop in. 

Picking up the boys from EFY. I got there right at the release time thinking they'd be ready to go. Actually, no- they all stayed together for another hour, talking, hugging, exchanging phone numbers, etc. These kids really bonded together and didn't want to leave to go back to the real world. It's great they get to be with other LDS kids and share in the joy of the gospel with them. Definitely sending Ty again next year. Money well spent. Also, he's committed to BYU now as well. It's idea to have them internally motivated to keep their grades up. 

We had a few minutes and met Kate and Luke a the Hogle Zoo. Their bird show is awesome. We enjoyed the reptile house the most. It's always the favorite even though it's so smelly. I used the same lion fountain as a kid. 

My parents got this cute labradoodle Belle. She and my dad are the best of friends. He really loves her and spoils her rotten. She knows she has him wrapped around her little paw. Couldn't be a luckier dog anywhere. 

 Highlight!!! We took Ally and India to the Salt Lake Temple together to do baptisms. It was both of their first times through. They were so excited to get to do this together. I'm glad Ally got to go to the Salt Lake Temple for her first trip as that is where I took my first trip. They have moved the entrance to the door on the West side near the pink wall. There's a guy in the suit standing there in the photo above. When I went there as a girl we entered on the East side and then walked what felt like two miles through these gold tiled hallways. I remember walking for ages and the anticipation building the entire time. 

We took Brian up to see the Christus and then we celebrated by eating lunch at the Garden Room on the top floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. 

Somehow Ally nearly got left behind on her first trip to the temple. My car broke down that morning so my mom dropped me and my car at the dealership; then she let me jump out on the way past temple square. Sonja was bringing the kids but didn't realize Ally was still at the house. When we got to the temple and found the boys, there was no Ally. My mom had made it back to her house by then and was able to bring Ally down to us. It all turned out but some days are harder than they need to be. 

 Went to the Salt Lake Art Fair with my folks. Ally bought this new little pink friend. We had loads of fun walking it around and interacting with the little kids. It is quite lifelike in it's movements and we had a few kids enchanted with it. One little boy gave it the softest hug you've ever seen. Darling. 

Heading back towards MT but we met Jason and Amber at the DQ just off the freeway. Amber is expecting a baby soon so it was fun to get to see her baby bump and chat with them. They are so excited and there is much anticipation for this cute little guy to join their family.

Gabby and India hitched a ride to MT with us. They didn't want to leave Ally yet so the party continues. Gabby is India's big sister. The three of them have loads of fun when they are together.

Byron and Carter have rigged up a system to clean out the nasty gutters. We are hoping to cut down the mosquito numbers if the gutters can drain better. They were hard at work while we were all off playing in Utah.

This baby duck, Daisy.....the story is Penny had it in her mouth when Ally spotted it. She managed to wriggle it free and thought it was dead. Suddenly it sprang back to life and Ally was shouting and screaming with delight. The girls wanted to keep it but I just thought if it could find it's Momma duck it would have a much better life. We put the dogs inside and the duckling back by the pond. We let it have the whole afternoon out there peeping it's little heart out. No mamma duck ever came back. I told Ally if she could find the duckling we could take it in. We let the dogs out again and wouldn't you know it, Penny shows up with this little duck in her mouth again. Ally again manages to convince Penny to hand it over and it is still alive. It's a duckling miracle. We brought in the bird cage and bought some duckling feed. Poor thing only lived two days before it dies. You wouldn't believe the tears these cute kids shed over this sweet duckling. Never has a duckling been loved more than this little one. Ally, India, Gabby and Max had a little funeral for the duck and then we sent it to rest in the trash can. Maybe I should have let them bury it but I just didn't want Penny to show up with it in her mouth again.

GNP -Tyler looking handsome and strong like a mountain

Ally waited to have her birthday party until India could be here and also she wanted to go boating. I should have gotten a better photo but India, Ally, Payzlee, Sophie, Adam and Gabby are enjoying a little pizza.

Goofy, laughing, smiling girls.

They love hiking through the snow. Tyler was smart enough to wear his Tevas. You'd think he'd never been on this hike before. Oh wait, he has.