Not sure if we are packing enough in

We have really been packing in the activities this June trying to take advantage of every minute of free time during nice weather months in Utah. Evenings are often spent on the porch or deck enjoying the pink sky and the warm temperatures. Smoothies are made often. Jared shot the squawking blue jays with a bb gun and they must have perished for they are no longer tormenting our cat or us, which they have been for three summers now. He's getting back to his Montana "red neck" roots. ha ha.

Continuing with my goal to have a hike a week, we purchased Timpanogos Cave tour tickets and hiked up the mountain to see this national monument last week. Weston sprained his toe in gymnastics the day before and wasn't up for hiking, so we took Aislyn McIntyre (Savanna's BFF) and had a great time. Beautiful weather and amazing private tour, no one else was at the 8:30 AM tour time but us!

 

Savanna was invited by Aislyn to go boating which she thoroughly enjoyed. She got eaten alive by mosquitoes though and was in some discomfort for a few days with huge swollen bites on her legs and back and arms.

Sav falling off the boat tube

So Weston had a birthday, he turned 11 on Sunday the 14th, and just like it is squeezed into this post it was squeezed into our summer activities. He had a 11 year old father son camp out that weekend so we had limited time for reveling. Weston wanted to go to "Avengers Age of Ultron" and Zupas for his birthday, so I made sure to get that in. His cousins Kayden and Trevan came with him even though they had already seen it. The theater was packed full of people wanting to see Jurassic World. We are a little behind, maybe some other time!

 On Sunday his birthday he ordered waffles for breakfast and opened his presents, a 4X4 rubiks cube and an electric scooter. This is to help him get around our hills to scouts and piano and friend's houses more easily and independently, and he loves it! (The girls can ride bikes they need exercise, Weston exercises more than a human needs to.) We had Grandma and Grandpa Barrett for dinner (Wes wanted homemade pizza, he likes the high carb meals) and they gave him some cash and sang happy birthday to him. We love our Weston!

Savanna continues to babysit/nanny for Shawna, tutor Nyla Hansen, and have violin and voice lessons and summer sewing class. Fiora had an adventure last week, she went to an all day Space Camp with her friends and loved it.  The girls have been packed full with things to do, but this week we scrambled to get them off to girls camp so all that is on pause. It has been quiet around here without them. We got to babysit Nyla Hansen overnight for 24 hours while her parents were out of town. She was such a sweet and cute little three year old wandering around the house. She wanted Weston to rock her to sleep that night, it was so cute!

Weston continues with his much gymnastics and has not been loving every minute of it, but he has been brave and goes nonetheless. He sprained his toe, then he got some major rips this week on his hand--like scary big I was worried he'd need stitches at first--and so we let him opt to not go to practice yesterday to let them heal. Its been a bit much for him going every day. But he is learning some new skills, and he copes with it by taking his scooter on a ride. Instead of gym I took him on a hike to the G, just him and me, the girls  at girls camp missed this hike. It was glorious! I love that I have the stamina to do all these hikes this year.

That behind us is what the G is made of.

Summer work and fun

 We gave Weston the choice to continue with gymnastics or try other things, because starting this June he was pushed up to the 7-10 level group, his coaches trying to push him to compete at level eight this next winter, which means 4 1/2 hour practice every week day, which is quite a lot for anyone to work out. Weston gave it some thought and chose to continue doing gymnastics, and survived his first week ok and said he only got sore muscles the first couple days. So he is continuing to develop his rockin muscles and gym skills.
Weston earned his Aarow of Light award in cub scouts. He will be a boy scout after next Sunday because he is turning 11, so we are proud that he completed his cub scouts requirements.

 Fiora graduated from 6th grade and wanted a nice dress for the 6th grade dance. She was going to settle for a skirt we had here, but thought we could try the DI (Savers actually) to see if there were any nice dresses for cheap. We found a nice blue dress that fit her well for only $12. She looked very pretty and was very happy.
Fiora has a group of friends she is close with from her 5th and 6th grade ALL class, they are doing some weekly activities and skills classes together this summer, and they had lots of "end of school" parties together. Fiora is a little worried that her friend dynamics are going to change in junior high, she really loves Norah, Kimee, Jordan, Amanda, and Jaquelyn.

 Savanna has been working hard this summer as a nanny for Justin and Shawna Schauers and a tutor for Nyla Hansen (3 year old girl in our ward with Down's syndrome). She is hardly ever home in fact and I often feel bad for leaving Fiora here while I go to work with Weston and gym and Savanna at "work" all the time. Savanna is trying to earn money for a phone and is certainly working hard toward her goal. She is also fun to keep company with while Jared fishes at Deer Creek.

I spent a good part of the first week of summer staying with my Grandma Rappleye while my parents went camping at the grand canyon. It was her birthday June 1, she turned 94, and I was so thrilled to be able to spend part of the day with her. She received lots of love and gifts from her numerous and worthy posterity, and was in a delightful mood all day, and kept saying how nice it was that I would keep her company on her birthday. The Terry's had her for half the day and threw a nice party in the canyons for her. She felt very loved. My kids spent a lot of the next day with her while I went to work and loved playing "apples to apples" with her. They also said grandma played solitaire for 4 hours and kept telling them that was one of her favorite games. Ha! Didn't know that. She still loves crossword puzzles, we did that while driving here and there. Glad you are still with us grandma!

I am trying to keep up with the kids' schedules and my schedule. I feel somewhat like the personal secretary and taxi driver for three busy children. I may have over done the summer scheduling, because I've accidentally double and even triple booked myself and the kids jobs/classes/camps/workshops over top of trying to play and have fun this summer as well. Jared has decided this summer he wants to get out of town which usually he is too busy for other summers, so that has thrown me for a bit of a loop, and I've had to pull my hair out trying to make things work. I'm hoping things will settle down. I like taking advantage of summer time but I also like enjoying the summer, and being overwhelmed by schedules is not my idea of fun.
One of my ideas of enjoying the summer is a weekly hike. Savanna was working and Weston had a primary activity Saturday, so I took Fiora and we picked up Kollin and Krystal in Provo and hiked the Y. Fiora said she had a great time even though going up was a bit hard. It was a beautiful day and I was very thankful for my life out there in the green mountains with a cool breeze and blue skies.

 Jared decreed that Weston would not get any more legos for his birthday. "He has too many and he can play with what he has." Jared doesn't appreciate the collector mind Weston has. So I went downstairs and played with Weston's legos, and he joined me though I feel like he was thinking I was "doing it wrong". We had an epic battle with all his bad guys on one side and the good guys on the other side. Weston is selling some more lego sets so he can earn the money himself to buy new legos. I'm going to post pictures of them because I want to remember these legos, he is selling a couple of my very favorites and "first evers" that I gave him.

Memorial day and Heather's 37th Birthday

Katy Sue Searcy, age 7 months 7 days, same age as Lillian when she died

The Barrett family all met at the Orem cemetery to honor those who have passed on. Katy Sue Searcy was wearing Lillian's outfit we gave her and she was just exactly the age Lillian was when she passed away (7 months 7 days), so that was a special and amazing moment. Also while we were at my cousin Taylor Dickerson's mother's grave, Taylor just happened to call me (he lives in Oklahoma and we talk but once a year!) That was strange and amazing. Heidi gave me orange Lilly's for my birthday and put them on Lillian's grave.We also visited Grandma Sandy's gave and gave her patriotic pinwheels. It was a special memorial day.

Afterwards we went to our house to celebrate my birthday.

Here was the family text exchange inviting all to the event:
Me: Memorial day 4:00 meet at Orem cemetery, then convene at Schauers, big fire pit, bring your own tinfoil dinner, badminton net will be up.
Mom: I am excited to be there :)
Dad: What can I get you for your present. Let me know if you want a bow or a game or a doll etc
Me: your presence is my present
Grant: Yeah--either a crossbow or a compound bow
Dad: OK its the women's 10 lb yellow petty cross hair bower
Me: I've always wanted one of those but pricey
Dad: Walmart baby
Krystal: Well ok then we will bring a arrow

Well, my parents found me a toy bow and arrow to give me for my present, ha ha! And a nice gift card to go with it. The weather was perfect. My whole family (minus Kynsie on a mission) was present, and all were so kind as to give me some gifts and sing the birthday cantata for me. My sister Karli Sue wrote a poem for me, and I didn't read it out loud (partly because it was a little chaotic and I would have had to shout) partly because I didn't feel I deserved it, she was very generous with her praise, as is typical with angel Karli Sue. She also gave me a cute laurel leaf head band I feel crowned with love whenever I wear it.

Seeing the trees laugh
Or watching flowers bloom
Resembles the feeling
Of her walking in  the room

Her kindness soars over all--
With words, she heals souls
With action, she lifts burdens
With love, hearts become whole

Though weary she pushes on
Trials have known no end
Still her head is high
And stands against the wind

The one I look up to
The one who keeps us together
She is mighty and magnificent
She is my sister, Heather

by Karli Sue Searcy

On my actual birthday, though it was a regular work day, everything went well and smoothly and when that happens I feel heaven has orchestrated the day. I experienced much joy in all areas of my life's work--writing, therapy, piano lessons, marriage and parenting--the kids cleaned the house while I was at work and I got to go one of my favorite restaurants for lunch (La Jolla Grove) with Jared. It was wonderful! I feel very blessed, happy, and grateful.

Weston's work ethic and other stuff

Weston though he is busy with gymnastics practices all week still finds time to earn more money than both the girls put together doing extra chores. One Saturday morning he didn't have gym, and he wanted to earn $20, which is quite a lot of chores, but I outlined what he had to do to get that much money, and he got right to work. He worked until I finally called him inside because we had to go somewhere, which was in the afternoon sometime, and I realized he had been working for 5 hours on house and yard work. What kid does that?! I think all his gym training has created in him a strong work ethic and endurance. He sold some of his old legos in addition to chores in order to earn money to buy a new lego set which he did in about 3 weeks. He has already purchased and built it, and he said it was totally worth the $80.
Weston had a successful "mini marathon" at the school's field day, running a 6 minute 41 second mile and coming in 1st of all the 5th graders and 20 somethingth place (4th, 5th, and 6th graders all ran it). Fiora ran that race too, and we were proud that she ran the whole thing and didn't walk once, about a 9 minute mile.

 

Savanna had her final orchestra concert for 8th grade and surprised us with a little solo during the "Hobbit" theme song. She did great! Here are some pictures of Fiora at her play last week. She did a lovely job playing Camille. It was fun to see my girls perform.

Maybe Weston just gets his work ethic from me and Jared. We have been working hard this month! I haven't a proper garden plot, but I've been creative this year to find niches and corners and make room for planter pots and patches so I can grow things. Instead of lifting weights I shovel weeds and rocks! I love being outside working, it's sometimes the most happy and peaceful part of my day. Fiora likes growing things too and she helps me and gets excited about little sprouts.
 Here is a picture of me and Heidi that I loved! I showed her my garden while she was here last sunday and she was totally interested in it, ha ha.

Savanna's 14

Savanna had a birthday last week and was very celebrated. Jared and I both wanted her to have a special day, and we may have gone a bit overboard this year, she got two special days. The Saturday before her birthday, I took her shopping for some clothes because the girl is very picky about clothes and wears the same three outfits and washes them and wears them again because they are the only ones that are cool enough for her to fit in and cute enough for her body she is a little self conscious about. (She was pretty hungry after our 4 hour shopping excursion so I got her some chicken alfredo but we forgot the fork and she had to make a spoon out of a toilet paper roll, it seemed like a good idea until we took a picture then it looked weird.) Her friend Aislyn Macintyre "kidnapped" her after that and took her to IKEA just because she had never been and wanted to experience it, which was nice of them. 

That evening was her "friend party." This girl always wants a big friend party on her birthday even though I'm more of a family party kind of mom, this year I let her plan a party for her friends that included having a chalk throwing at the park. I wasn't keen about that idea but I was liking the thought of letting her invite as many people as she wanted because it would be outside at the park, she always wants to invite tons of people and I don't want them in my house. I even drove to Spanish Fork to pick up 30 bags of 100 ounce colorful powdered chalk. Alas, the rain poured all day (Mississippi style) and into the evening. Instead of canceling the party as I suggested, Savanna tried to reconvene at our house and I found myself with many 14 year olds in my living room. They were not liking the idea of hanging out there I guess, because some started walking to the park despite the cold rain and Jared had to make a plan B quick so we drove soggy them in 2 shifts down to kneaders and let them buy a treat. Savanna was disappointed, and tried her best to shake it off and enjoy the kneaders hang out instead, and Jared and I tried to put on a happy face while kicking ourselves for not having a better plan B for inclement weather.

 

Some reason the boys and girls all segregated themselves.

Caitlin and Aislyn, her two favorites stayed after the party to hang out

 On her actual birthday, though I was already burned out of celebrating it, I made her her breakfast request of grilled salmon and mashed potatoes. She had me wrap the presents (clothes from day before) so she had gifts to open. I invited all the Barretts over that evening for dinner so she could be more celebrated. That was the most joyful part of the whole birthday for me, and I hope Savanna thought so too, so I can convince her to "just have a family party" next year. :)

Savanna was very grateful for everything. She wrote us this note on the white board after we went to bed. We love you Savanna and are grateful you are in our family. What a fun outgoing cute friendly personality you have it's no wonder you want to share it with all your peers. You can plan the chalk throwing another day!