Weston retiring from gymnastics

Why Weston is no longer in gymnastics...we have been getting that question a lot this summer. It's honestly hard to answer. Weston would tell you he was injured last December and it was hard to be competitive after that which forced an early retirement. But it's more layered than that. Gymnastics is an elite sport, it takes a great deal of discipline and strength, but with that comes a lot of self importance and individual competitiveness that can be toxic and we don't want for our son. Weston never enjoyed the competition aspect of it anyway, he just liked learning the skill and getting the exercise, so spending thousands of dollars on meet fees and traveling expenses didn't make any sense.

It has been a rather painful letting go for me but Weston is bearing it well. We are grateful for the time he did have in gym, loved watching him, and think it did good things for him. We tried to take the good with the bad but the costs for us outweighed the benefits.  He built endurance and we hope to channel that into some sports in high school he can enjoy for the next few years, and hopefully he can coach gymnastics sometime in the future because he really enjoys that. Hope this clears things up! 

July 2019

Lots of fun in July, and lots of work, and lots of limbo. I didn't take as many pictures as I usually do but I'm sure I took plenty. Savanna is in limbo waiting to go to Ecuador to volunteer at orphanages and still living at home, Fiora has been in limbo only working part time and not interested in any summer camps or continuing education (like reading a book or preparing for the ACT), Weston has been in limbo trying to start wrestling at PGHS but this month it was cancelled like 3 of the 4 weeks, but we fill up the time with fun with friends, family outings, relaxing, tennis/pickle ball or running, and taking care of the home and animals.
Fiora did enroll in a once a week horse class for July and August and, though she felt way older than everyone there, very much enjoyed riding. May have to find someone to lease a horse from for her sake. Weston got to volunteer at a day camp with his church friends and loved the opportunity to serve there, and he went to a Youth Conference with Jared at Timberlakes for three days that turned out really nice. Savanna has been giving violin lessons once a week and working two days a week nannying for Aaron and Amy and loving her nieces and nephew, and spending every spare minute with Joey. Jared is busier than ever in the summer so we are just grateful when we get his company, which he has made time for family on the holidays and weekends, and he tries to find time for fishing. I am working part time at LDSFS and helping watch my grandma Rappleye when I can. I got to stay with her a couple days on the 24th of July and enjoyed having a couple days to relax. I've had time to read a couple books and do some fun hikes and am grateful to live in Utah during the summer.
 We celebrated the fourth of July by driving to Brighton and hiking to Twin Lakes. It was such a beautiful hike, the kids were kind of elevation sick on the way up but once we got to the top and gave them food they were laughing and bantering together so amazingly it was a choice and rare experience! Nothing like fresh air and nature to bring out the best in us. Jared tried to fish but didn't catch anything. I slipped on some gravel and nearly cracked my elbow in half and bruised up my hand though, that hurt. Worth it though. We had my parents and Aunt Jeanie and Uncle Rick over for dinner and fireworks that evening. It was a great day!

Cool shot of me doing sparklers on the 4th

 Here are a few other fun things we participated in and did in July.

Savanna made me a henna tatoo representing my 4 children and hubby

Sun for Savanna, flower for fiora, music notes for weston, angel wings for Lillian, and heart for Jared

My dad celebrated his 65 birthday, we bought him steak

I bought my parents a little play house for grandkids, they love it!

Savanna, Weston, and I went to the Lindon pool to get some sun

Jared had a company party and got his staff into the Lindon pool then back to our place for JDawgs

I reorganized our home office and assembled a bed, and found all these pictures. It looks so much better in there now!

Made collages of all three of my kids whilst organizing

Heidi sent me this beauty of us as children! circa 1985

We took the kids up to spend the day at the cabin, and went Kayaking

In July this Jones lake was so full and beautiful!

Savanna and her boy Joey Jones

I love the sun!

Baby blessing for Luella Nielson, lunch at Holly's, love Penny's face

Fiora at her horse lesson at Schow's Ranchette

Sav bought herself tickets to the Miranda Sings show in SLC

Jared and I dropped her off then had a wonderful date at the Garden restaurant and Tab Choir concert

Unfortunately we got out 30 minutes after her and were gridlocked in traffic for 45 minutes so she was stuck at Kingsbury hall for an hour in the dark!

Heidi and Gabe got to enjoy the Sanctuary (Mountain Home)

They loved it! Too bad I didn't have the porch swing up yet

Took sky on a hike way up Battle Creek, so gorgeous!

Went way up took 2 hours round trip. Loved it!

  

Having fun at Titus and Jamin's 4th birthday party!

Best parents in the universe!

Visiting uncle Charles Rappleye and Uncle Lloyd on the 24th of July, while Jared was up with the kids at the Sanctuary