Easiest school day of the year

It has begun...

9th

6th

4th

1st

They were up and ready ahead of schedule.  They were so on time that they had a chance to take the obligatory "1st day of school photo."  Caleb made it to school in the nick of time.  The others were so early they had time to find friends and talk.  That will not happen again for quite a while.  But they made it.  Caleb and Haley came home bubbling over with good things to say about school.  Peter and William, they were less than impressed with the first day of school.  

And so it begins....

Live life to the fullest, or at least try

More time on the water.  I have so many photos of the fishing and having time playing on the boat.  SO MANY.  

 Fishing!  They loved catching the fish, they did not love it when one of the fish swallowed that hook too deep and it died.  There were some tears, we are catch and release people.

 We ventured out to the island.  Super fun and super long to get out there.  We only have 4 kayaks.  We found out that I, Diedre, am not too heavy or large to fit on a youth kayak.  Bonus! However, with only 4 kayaks and 5 people (Rob was not with us yet) we had to tow one person on the tube.  William was the sweet kid to say he would ride on the tube while I towed him across.  We hooked a rope between me and William.  I rowed while he kicked.  He got tired, we were slower but we made it!

 We found a pretty ok place to park the kayaks/tube and have a picnic while they explored a tiny bit.  I believe it was right after this photo that I got stung by a bee (only a tiny sting) and things got chaotic after that.  We packed up to head back across.  Haley was tired.  Haley tipped. But Peter calmed her down (which I account to part of that "Lake Magic").  And we made it back to the truck.  Fun times and to be remembered.

Lots and lots and lots of photos of knee boarding.  We FINALLY got the boat up at the lake.  So, the kids could all go for rides and play around on the water, more than just jumping and kayaking.  Peter got up the bravery to try knee boarding, and after a few tries he got up and was crossing the wake like a champion.  He was so proud of himself and so happy.

 William also mastered knee boarding.  He loved to do hops on the knee board and loved crossing the wake.  He almost got down the trick of turning around on the knee board.  He got so tired, but would go any chance he got.

 Caleb got up on the water skis!!!

 He also loved the knee board.

 JUMPING!  So glad our dock got fixed so these kids could enjoy the lake.  And look at that view!  No better place on the planet!

We were crazy enough to take the chance to get our family photo taken at the lake.  An awesome neighbor of ours took this photo.  Not too shabby.  

 Saying goodbye to our lake.  Several of the kids were very tender and emotional upon leaving this morning.  These kids have grown up at this lake.  Spent their summers coming up with games together, exploring, watching wildlife up close and getting wet!  It is where they smile longer, play together better and have gained a greater appreciation for what really matters.  We love this place and will miss it until next summer, but I think they made the most of their time there.

Wacky Week

The week before school starts has been deemed "Wacky Week" by our family.  One last effort to have fun together before the alarm clock sounds and homework looms.  I worked hard to come up with fun activities for this week.  Some worked, some failed, some were half successes, some did not happen because that is just how life works.  

 The week started with A LOT OF ERRANDS to get ready to go back to the cabin.  24 hours home, just enough time to get fresh laundry, store visit, school shoe shopping with Grandpa Terry, more groceries, library, tired mom and finally a trip to get fries and a milk shake.

I checked out a bunch of "fractured fairy tales" from the library and the kids had a blast reading all of them.

 B day: wear blue, black or brown (in Haley's case she opted for yellow).   Also eat foods starting with B.

 punch Balloons on B day

 Bubble machine

 One day they tried new foods.  Some were tasty some were those weird jelly beans from Harry Potter.  Some kids got the raw end of the deal....William mainly got the gross ones.

 Some kids got lucky, Peter really did not mind the grass clippings jelly bean.

 Shaving cream war.  This was the half successful.  Some kids liked it, some kids got mad, some kids got it all over, some kids were fast and got very little.

 Caleb loved it.

Decorating crazy mini cakes (aka twinkles).  Some tried to eat their "creation" after it was done, others were more wise.
Wacky Week day by day: Eat under table

• wacky books
• B day (B foods, B colored clothes)
• White War (shaving cream fight)
• Try something new
• G day (g foods, g colored clothes)
• Crazy mini cakes
• Wacky Wonky Dinner (ALWAYS a success! The kids all love this)
• Monday or Tuesday we will have a water war!!!!  

Lake Magic

You know this is coming, summer is near an end and I have more photos to post about a loved and treasured lake..... so sit back and get ready.  One of the things I love about the cabin is that my kids (sometimes) get along better.  They wake up in the morning and start a game with each other or read a book or go to the lake, instead of bugging be about screen time.  They go explore, together.  It is kinda magical how it works.

 Peter loved catching minnows this year.  The water stayed so high the whole summer so there were hundreds of minnows everywhere.  And Peter was the master.  He could catch so many, plus the random dragon fly nymph or tiny crawdad.  It was great!

 Kinda cool when you see a badger close to the cabin.  Do not worry, we kept our distance and only saw it once. It looked like a large carpet digging in the dirt the first time we saw it.

 THIS IS LAKE MAGIC!  Kids playing together, sun glistening off the very full lake, peaceful and beautiful!

 Also magical, these three sat so still waiting for the minnows to come swim by their feet.

Another magical moment- Peter, William and Haley all played together for over an hour!  Now that is some time well spent, that does not happen often.

He is home; with an UPDATE

Trek is done, phew!  Glad that is over.  I think my prayers were only 70% efficient.  Others say differently.  As you recall, Caleb started Trek off with his shoes feeling tight.  I do not know how many times I prayed for his feet and shoes and everything else about him, that he would be ok.  We went and picked him up today.  He came home tired, with tired and hurt feet and a head cold.  I will not go into details, but he did get two blisters, and from accounts of others Caleb was basically required to take a ride in the hand cart the last day for a bit.  But the good news:  he said the food was terrific, the hoe down was super fun and he is glad he went.  I am so glad he is home!

UPDATE:::

So fun little "adventure" after Caleb came home.  While we were waiting for him to come home, William showed me a rash that he had found on his belly and arms this morning.  Hmmmmm?? We watched it, waited... and by the time Caleb came home the rash was on William's neck and face and back.  Not bad, no itching, no fever, not even red.  Just small bumps that were annoying to feel.  Well, when Caleb came home with major head cold and ear pressure I made a doctors appointment for both of them.  And may I say, being able to squeeze in a doctors appointment in the same day and not having to wait a week to get it is awesome!!!!  Thank you pediatricians!  So, adventure: We get to the doctor, William does not have a fever, Caleb does.  Doctor looks at William and is surprised that he does not have a sore throat or anything because the rash is telling him William has strep. Great!  The doctor takes a culture and says we will know soon.  In the meantime I have him look at Caleb's ear.  Yup, did not take more than 30 seconds for the doctor to tell me Caleb has an ear infection!  Gets home from Trek.  Hurt feet, exhausted, head cold and an ear infection; tough kid.  Doctor writes up the first Rx for the pink stuff.  5 minutes later he comes in and writes up the second Rx for William, yes; William has strep.  Good times, good times.  Lets just keep it there and no one else get sick.  Or at least we will try.

Trek - 2017

 Well, we sent him off to Trek this morning.  I really hope he was ready.  All summer we have tried to prepare.  Summer gym helped.  Hikes, walks at the cabin, wearing the shoes and testing them out.  We had the pioneer story all ready and the gear packed......

This morning he woke up with not too many problems.  Got dressed, came into the kitchen and said, my shoes feel tight, my toes hurt a bit, I am going to loosen the laces.  ARGH!!!!!!!  Seriously????  The morning of and his shoes might be too small.  Miles and miles and MILES of walking and now I am worried about his shoes and feet and hydration and ugh.....I cannot tell you how many prayers I have said for him since he left.  I have lost count.  Every time I think about him.  He loosened the laces and said his feet felt better.  All I can hope and pray is that those feet stay healthy, he stays hydrated and Father in Heaven watches over him and takes care of him.  Plus that he feels the spirit and the strength of the Lord through this.  PLUS, that he receives the spiritual strength to face this next school year with confidence and to be closer to our Savior.  Did I mention his feet?  I really hope all of his pre-preparations will give him blessings now.  We love him and cannot wait for him to come back Saturday.

Hits and Misses on the Summer Bucket List

Sometimes things work out like you want them to, other times it just does not happen.

 For example, this hike.  Dimond Fork Hot Springs.  I read up on it.  "Not to be missed," "Such a beautiful hike!"  The photos looked awesome.  I wanted to go.  However, it was quite a drive from home.  Closer to the cabin than home, so we went on our way to the cabin.  Putting this hike in numbers:  90% of the time 4 out of 5 of us were all grumpy, tired or cranky.  12% of the hike Haley needed to be carried, it was a REALLY LONG HIKE, not expected.  80% of the hike was very pretty.  The trail up was dense with trees, a small river and ground cover.  100% of us were SO DANG GLAD to see our truck at the end of the hike.   5% of me was glad that I pushed and nudged my kids to go on the hike, that means that this hike was 95% not worth it.  Such a bummer.

 We got to the hot springs and Haley and William enjoyed getting in.

 Caleb and Peter were done.  The hike looked nothing like the photos on the hiking trials site.  That was the biggest let down.

 The hike really did have beautiful views, like this log they all climbed on to take that great sibling photo.  20 seconds after I took this photo 75% of the people in this photo were grumpy with each other. UGH, you cannot win them all.

 A WIN!!!  Haley wanted to make a watermelon fruit basket.  We did it, and it was tasty and fun to look at.

 A WIN!!!  Fishing.  Cool photo eh?  This is William, trying way late into the night to catch one of those fish.  Caleb was the only one to do so, and that made William sad but Caleb very happy.  Ah well, we still have a few more days to try.

One more WIN.  These three went to the Real Salt Lake game with Rob.  They were all able to go on the field and do certain things before the game.  William was a bench warmer and sat in the seats the players do while they warmed up.  Haley was lucky enough to be in the tunnel for the "high 5" line as the players came out on the field.  And all 3 of them got to run on the field for the Parade of Kings.  Super fun evening for all of them.