June 30th 2023

Wow I can't believe we got home just last night. I feel like we have been home for days. Today was filled with unpacking and doing laundry. But this morning I took Cam in to get his permit. However, the first time in, Cam failed his vision test so we had to drive home and get his glasses the he has really never worn. Interestingly, The kid after us failed his vision test also. Then Cam got a 70 on his first try and a 76 on his second. He needed an 80 to pass. He could only take it twice in one day so we scheduled another appointment for Monday at 9:50. Then we went to target to pick out something for his birthday. He chose a Nintendo gift card. I mowed the lawn and then we all went to Firehouse pizza for dinner. The boys ate 2 cookie Monsters as well as they each had their own regular fhazookie. Darren went to Striders to watch him open his mission call, he got called to Bolivia. Then I picked him up and we are watching transformers for movie night while Lance is in Malad for his second to last shift.

 June 26th-29th

We spent the last few days at the Horse Creek Delta  house on the McKenzie river. This place is so beautiful. I would love to spend a whole summer here. The mild weather, the shady trees and the sound of the river make it so peaceful here. We had a campfire every night and roasted s'mores. Tuesday we rafted the river and it was beautiful but frigid. I was still shivering after a long hot shower. Cam's birthday was Thursday and we just had time to eat breakfast and pack up. He spent 12 hours of his birthday in the car. Poor guy. Josh got very car sick and we had to stop to get him some fresh air. We almost stopped for the night in Boise because he was so sick but he was able to fall asleep and lance kept driving. We left McKenzie river at 10:24 am and arrived home at 10:22 pm. That was a lot of driving for one day.

 June 24th 2023

Today the boys barely woke up in time for us to check out of our room. Well actually Josh woke up early and we went out and walked on the beach for a while. It turned out to be a sunny beautiful day. We went to Honeyman State park and kayaked at Cleawox lake. There was a very steep sandy hill and the boys went up and down it several times running as fast as they could. Everyone except Cordon layed on the blankets and relaxed for a while. Cordon does not like to get Sandy so he would not sit in the sand. After that we went to get pizza at Abbys Legendary pizza. Then we drove north on 101 and stopped and hiked Hobbit trail to the beach. It was a beautiful trail and gorgeous at the beach. Then we headed over to Corvallis where we got dinner and milkshakes at Burgerville. Then we checked into the Residence Inn in Salem. We miss our spacious suite at the Driftwood Shores. 

United we Sand

 June 23rd, 2023

Today was a sleep in day. The boys all slept at least until 10:30 and some later than that. Then we headed out to the dunes to start our 12;00 rental of 4 wheelers.  It was a great day. Almost 50 degrees, very little wind and no rain; you can't ask for than that on the coast. It was a fun day. Then we came back to the hotel and did puzzles bananagrams and movies. 

20 years will bust your Steak and chops

 June 21st 2023

This is our 20 year anniversary. Wow that starts to sound like a long time. To celebrate we went to dance lessons and then out to dinner at Spencers Steak and Chops last night. It was pretty good food. I was happy. We had to celebrate yesterday because today we are leaving for Oregon. As soon as Darren gets home from Canada!  They had to drive from Kalispell MT and when Darren got home from being in the car for 10 hours he didn't even turn off the car. We unloaded his stuff and reloaded the van with our stuff and immediately took off again. We didn't get on the road until 6pm so we just drove to Boise with a stop in Twin Falls to get dinner at Red Robin. I fit into my wedding dress 20 years later. (size 2). It took Josh and Cord to help zip.

June 22 2023

Driving Day. We left Boise about 9am so Lance would have enough cell service for his hospice meeting call. Cell service cut out just minutes after his call ended. We stopped in Burns for Tim Tams then we stopped in Bend Long enough to get Cam some McDonalds. Then a quick pit stop at Wickiup Junction to go pee and get the best Marionberry turnover that anyone ever had. Then gassed up in Eugene and we didn't stop until we got to the Driftwood Shores resort in Florence. The boys love it here and already don't want to leave. The view from our room in amazing and we have a 3 bedroom suite so there is plenty of room for all of us.

Mo's for dinner. Yummy!

Just waiting for Darren get back from Canada

The fun part of the trip. Darren has been in the car for 25 hours in two days

Wickiup junction marionberry turnover

Our view from our hotel suite. beautiful but so windy.

Bridge in Florence

Sunset

No pics today

 June 15th, 2023

Thursday, Malad Day. I had bunco tonight. It was fun. It was at a house in Jacobs mill. Cordon had London over to watch a movie. Josh and Cam need something to do.

June 16th

Today I drove down to Provo to see Lance and keep him company while he is down there working. We went to dinner at my fav - pizzeria 712 - of course I got the short ribs and the poached pear salad and the we went to Bookers in Provo for ice cream afterwards. It was yummy

Take me out to the ball game

 June 14th 2023

Kind of a lazy day. I mowed the lawn and it looks much better. The weather has been crazy and stormy here. We did some hot tubbing.  We had our last baseball game of the season. Josh had an amazing catch at home plate. He is a really good catcher.

Lifes a party, and some other things

 June 7th, 2023

Well we had the RS party at our house today. The weather was all over the place. 20 min. of heavy winds had us running inside to make our ice-cream sundaes.  Luckily it calmed down and everyone went outside to swim and hot tub. The party lasted until about 9:30 when the hot tub finally shorted out and the jets quit working. I can't ever figure that thing out.  The boys were all gone at Josh's baseball game. It was Darrens last coaching of the year. He did a good job with the team. The whole family really put in a team effort and always showed up with no complaints. Makes my momma heart happy.

June 8th, 2023

We are doing Camerons birthday celebration. I picked him and his friends up from Tennis at 10 am and then we went straight to Top golf in SLC. Then we headed to Park City and checked into our hotel. The boys have basically been on their own since we checked in. I have my own room and they have their own room. I hope they are getting along. Cam can be grumpy when he is tired. We will be here until Saturday.

June 9-13th

Ive been slacking on my updates. Park City was fun and we had a great meal at Sammy's Bistro. Cam has started Tennis, Darren left on his boys trip to Canada. I forgot to set the e brake on the civic and it rolled down the hill and into a tree. I was lucky enough to look out the window just in time to watch the whole thing happen. Josh has been working the Lazer printer and making some cool things.

the relaxi cab or relaxi taxi- driving all day

June 6th, 2023

Cam got us up early because he started Tennis today. Then he was wiped out after that. Then I made the boys go to costco with me to stock up on food. We are going through food like crazy. Then I drove Cam and his friend to one theatre to see Spiderverse and then Drove Josh to another theatre so see the same movie with his friends. Darren worked today reffing and they got called off because of rain but still got paid. Lance finished fixing the pavers and they look very good. My neck and back have still been killing me. We had a couple of good downpours today so I couldn't mow the lawn. 

 

Ahchooo Bless you!

June 5th, 2023

Document of a sneeze

all better now.

this morning we made waffles. Thats always a great way to start the day.

We cleaned a bunch of stuff out of the garage and took it down to the shed.

Then we had our last baseball game where we would all be there to help coach. I will miss the next one because we are hosting the RS pool party.

Then Darren is leaving on his trip. IT was a great game. We tied 7-7

I have had so much fun coaching as a family.

Now we are going to roast some smores.

 

ill drive an hour for some good BBQ

 June 4th, 2023

Um what happened yesterday. The days are already blurring together this summer. Well let me rack my brain, Oh yes it was Sunday. Lance was in Malad and it was Stake Conference. It had all the makings of a free Sunday without any obligation.  Well, my conscience got the better of me and I got up and went to Stake conference broadcast at our church building, BUT my ADD kicked in, the kids in the building were loud and screaming and I had a tweak in my neck from sleeping on it wrong. So I made my exit 45 min. into the session. Im impressed I made it that long. 

Then we drove up to Malad to have lunch with Lance. We went to the outdoor BBQ place and it was just as good as ever. Then we walked over to the new dessert place in Malad and had Coco nut mango tart and gelato.

We came home and I just rested the day away because I was hoping my sore neck would get better.

It was time to update the family photo

Some of my favorites from our recent family photo session.

                                    Cordon just had to be a little punk, and Darren
 

when I say I do

 Ok so as of right now we have no audience actively checking our blog. So I feel free to post these videos.

Last  month  Lance and I performed a country waltz for our Dance studio. His parents were kind enough o come and watch. This is the best we have performed together and it was really fun to go all out and dress up for it. 20 years after our first dance at our wedding we can now really dance together to a love song.

A little bit tired and a little bit productive

 June 3, 2023

I slept horrible in the hotel last night. I think it was a combination of the steroids I took for my allergies, it was to hot and the bed was way to hard for my liking. I feel like an old person that needs the circumstances just so in order to get a good nights sleep. Nonetheless, I was up early so I could pack up the room and go get Cordon from ACT camp. I need to see if he has any picks from the week. We stopped to get Chic-fil-A breakfast on the way home. I thought these boys would be exhausted after a long week but they were ready to go. Josh has been out and about with friends all day and let me just say that I love that he has a phone now. I no longer need to wonder/worry where he is or if he is safe.

Darren worked early this morning a came home smelling like food. He is a good hard worker and excellent work habits. I think we have finally figured out a good schedule for his classes for next year.

The rest of the day was spent doing laundry from the week and cleaning up the house. I may have taken a cat nap fully clothed outside by the pool in the sunshine. Felt so good.

Now Im doing the usual hang out by myself while all the kids are out with friends and Lance is at work. Wanting to go to sleep but I know they will need rides later.

Darren is at a movie with friends, Cordon is at Monster Bounce, Cam is gaming with friends and Josh is house hopping to whatever houses will take that crazy bunch of kids.

Mama gets some special treatment

 June 1, 2023

Well a busy day getting stuff done. I had a Physical Therapy appointment then a massage. My back has been killing me lately. They actually fit me in for a facial as well which was double my pleasure. I will have to do that more often. Then I drove down to Provo to deliver a calculator and pencils to Cordon for his ACT test and to check on Cam. While in Provo, I went to my favorite restaurant, Pizzeria 712 and the food was sooooo delicious, I just want to eat there everyday. I had a basil limeade and fresh made pita and hummus to start, then I had the braised beef short ribs with polenta and to end off with the salted chocolate pudding with a shortbread stick. oh wow, it was heavenly.  Then I drove home and josh and i were going to make ssmores but realized we had no Mallows. I really need to go grocery shopping. Our food intake skyrockets in the summer.

I think I look like my mom in this pic.

June 2, 2023

Friday

Another day another drive. It was a good day though. I headed back down to Provo and first stopped and got my hair done up, that always feels good to have a fresh hair style for the next few days. I saw a cute boutique next door and got a cute jumper outfit. Then I stocked up on our favorites from the Crust Club, BBQ mac and cheese, Chicken pot pie, and raspberry and lemon cheesecake babies. Then I headed over to the Springhill Suites and they upgraded me to the premier room with a great view of Mt Timpanogas. Then I went over to BYU (FSY)to talk to Cam and turns out he had already turned in his keys and packed up so we checked him out a night  early and there was a major summer downpour while we were doing that. We went to get some food and then went shopping to get him some new shorts and shoes for tennis and got him stocked up on soap and deodorant. Must haves for these teenage boys. Meanwhile, at home Lance took Josh to pick up his very first phone. Now I won't have to be his secretary anymore. And last but not least I made Cam go to the Arthur Murray Friday night dance party with me. He just played on his phone while I changed partners a few different dances. It was pretty fun. We drove back down to provo went to bed. The bed was super uncomfortable and I had a horrible sleep.