MAY TOP TEN
1 - John won a 'major award' at work, which involved some extra money and some nice recognition. He was hoping for a leg lamp.
2 - We celebrated our 36th anniversary on May 4th. And we did NOTHING to celebrate! It was a busy Saturday and we just couldn't muster up the interest in fighting crowds to eat out. I guess the romance is gone!!! :-)
3 - We gave our Sunday School class General Conference journals, and have been giving them challenges to study a particular talk, then journal it. Sometimes we provide treats for those who did the challenge. We love this calling and these kids. They are amazing!
4 - Ian went to Yellowstone twice to shoot pictures, which we have really enjoyed seeing. Especially his photos of bears. He saw so much wildlife. I think early Spring, before all the crowds arrive, is a great time to visit the park.
5 - I drove to Fresno to help Emily after she had the tube inserted into her gall bladder. I made the trip out in 2 days because I'd been sick and couldn't muster up the energy to do it in one. She bounced back quickly so I was only gone a week. It was fun to be there and help out, and especially to see Addie in her own environment.
6 - I had a Great Adventure driving home! The GPS sent me on the north route (instead of through Las Vegas) and I decided just to go with it since I'd always wanted to go the north route. Turns out it was the shortest route home - in actual miles- but in time, it was the longest because it took me back to Yosemite then up over Tioga Pass (which is a stunningly beautiful 40 mile road that took over an hour to navigate), across Nevada via Tonopah and Ely, then from Wendover home. Lots of rain storms. I listened to a good book (Light Between Oceans, which was outstanding!) but sometimes the rain was pounding the car so hard that I couldn't even hear the book's narrator and had to turn it off. It was a wild 14 hour ride home, but I was really proud of doing something brave all by myself!
View on Tioga Pass
8 - Robins build a nest on top of a ladder that was on our deck! John moved the ladder (bird poop on the new deck floor wasn't going to happen) to the other side of the deck, and they abandoned the nest, sadly. On a happy note, they built it instead in the maple tree right by our deck, and had at least one baby when John last looked!
9 - At the end of the month, I headed back to Fresno, this time with Heidi. It was nice to have company on the drive. We helped pack things for Emily such as Addie's toys, and the computer room. Heidi did a lot of entertaining of Addie (she brought a TON of toys and activities, bless her!) while Emily and I worked. We got a lot done without little helping hands!
10 - We left Fresno on May 30th in two cars. I drove mine and Heidi rode with Emily and Addie. This was a good way to get Emily's car to Utah without her having to make the trip alone. We stayed overnight at the Sunset Station hotel and casino in Henderson. When I checked in they told me we'd been upgraded to suites! We stopped in the room Heidi and I were staying in, and were impressed with the size and amenities. It wasn't until bedtime that Emily took Addie to the room next door. She came right back and said, "We've been slumming in your room." Her room was REALLY an upgrade!! Floor to ceiling windows, tiled foyer, little kitchen with wrap-around bar, comfy sitting room, two bathrooms!! And that room cost $24.99, $5 cheaper than the other room!! Gotta love Las Vegas!
On the way north we stopped at Annette's for the family get-together for Bryce and Amy. Annette did a fabulous spread, as always. It was nice to stop and visit awhile. John and Ian came from work, so we were actually all accounted for!
Heidi took Mom to her house that night rather than having her travel 90 minutes to ours as we'd planned. It was much easier on Mom. Thank you again, Heidi!
JUNE TOP TEN
1 - Bryce and Amy's wedding! It's such a privilege to attend a family wedding. Theirs was so lovely and we were thrilled to welcome Amy into the family. We hung around for photos then headed toward the canyon for the reception. Everyone was hungry so we decided to stop at Bruges, the new location in Sugarhouse. What decadence! Belgian waffles and frites. Yes please!
We got to Solitude and made the walk to the reception site. The whole area was beautiful, and still cool out. The reception was so nice, every detail done so well. Annette really took care of the decor and it showed. The appetizers were amazing!! Fun to once again be with family. Amy and Bryce just glowed with happiness. It was a delight to share in their special day.
2 - Then we started settling in to our New Normal with a 3 year old in the house! She no longer naps, so it makes for a long day! But we have loved having them here, and being part of Addie's life on such a grand scale. She has boundless energy and imagination. So much fun!
3 - Mom drove out from Iowa with the Bakers, who picked her up as they passed through from Indiana. Annette and I traded off days with her, as usual. While I had her here we went to Rainbow Gardens for lunch, which we normally do during the holiday season. So it was much quieter and less fun without the decorated windows and Christmas in every corner! We drove through the canyon on the way home. We visited the British store for fish and chips the next day, and stocked up on our favorite British treats. Annette met us at Bruges the next day for lunch, if you can call a waffle with ice cream and strawberries lunch! We saw Elder Didier there, a former member of the Seventy who is from Belgium. Goodbyes to Mom as she headed off with Annette, then home to my busy busy house!
4 - John put our temple recommends in his shirt pocket (his, mine, Emily's) ... then later tossed the shirt in the wash. FORTUNATELY my new HE washer only cleaned them. Last time this happened, the day Emily was receiving her endowment, my recommend was in shreds. They didn't even come out of the plastic covers this time!! Whew!!
5 - As the weather got nicer, John cleaned the deck of the accumulated boxes that had ended up there, bought nice deck chairs, and we finally could enjoy our covered deck. There are no stairs down to the yard (pros and cons to that) so Addie is safe and secure in a giant 'play pen'!!
6 - Emily got Addie a water table for the deck, so we've spent some fun time out there while she plays in the water. Her easel was also moved out there. Emily draws the alphabet and Addie traces the letters with water. She loves doing that! It has been so nice having that extra area that expands the house even more.
7 - Two weeks ago I supported Emily as she tackled potty training. It only took 3 days before Addie had it down! She was really ready. She has an occasional accident but usually only when she is outside with John and forgets all about it.
8 - Gathered with family again for Marianne's shower at Stephanie's house in Lehi. Once again, Annette outdid herself with an amazing spread!!! Everything was laid out so beautifully that no one wanted to start eating anything and spoil the display!! Yummy when we finally did though!! Marianne got some great gifts - she's really ready for bathtime now!! Thanks again Stephanie for hosting, and Annette for the great eats!
9 - Jacob finished up in Fresno on the 21st, finished loading the Pod, which was picked up the 22nd, then he drove through the night and got here on Sunday. Addie was over the moon to see Daddy again. They had thought he would have the last week of June free for family things, but it turned out he had orientation all week. At least he got paid!
We're adjusting to the new New Normal!! The kitchen is Grand Central Station in the evening since most everyone eats something different! We're managing though. And it helps that Addie's messes get cleaned up each evening so we start the day fresh and tidy.
10 - Yesterday the men tackled a big project: cleaning out the garage of accumulation, some ours, some theirs. A load went to the dump, another to DI. It's much tidier now. Jacob wanted to move the treadmill out of the computer room, which was a planned project, just not for yesterday. But he was determined, so John removed the arms, and they maneuvered it to the garage. John put it back together and plugged it in. He wants to use it. The computer room feels so much bigger now! I'm close to done with emptying it, then I'll start the re-do.
I guess this could be #11 but bears mentioning: John has officially lost over 50 lbs! So proud of him, and jealous too!! His diet: most days he only eats dinner. So he goes more than 20 hours every day w/o food. And he's gone vegetarian too. But he's managed to lose all this while still getting to eat his chocolate every night!!
Hope you are all enjoying summer! Stay cool!
John & Kathi
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