Summer has been Eclipsed

How fun of the sun to end summer with an eclipse! 

Miriam watched during her lunch break at school, Darin had training in Centerville this week so he came home for lunch to watch with us. 

We had prepared for the eclipse by visiting the Clark Planetarium and watching the Dome Theatre "Eclipse of the Sun" presentation.  It was so fun, but after watching the presentation Byron never quite got over the fact that we were only going to see 92% eclipse.  I told him this was a warm up for the next one that comes along.  Chile, I heard is the next spot so he will need to save his money.

92% was pretty spectacular if you ask me.

The last day of freedom for the boys and I was Tuesday. While Miriam was at school all day, we met Utah County friends at the new splash pad in Bluffdale.  A fun adventure for the boys to end their summer on, and I badly needed to be with friends this week....I have been living on the edge of sanity in my head for awhile now. I always need to process through my experiences to get rid of my anxieties. So grateful I have friends who love and support without judgement. Much needed outing....for all of us.

Wednesday...School is officially in session for the whole family. I love working at the school, but back to school fear and dread extends to the people who run the school as well as those who attend. I just had to take the advice I give to the kids....don't think about it too much, go into autopilot and show up.

We've had three days of early outs to start out the year.  I am a bit afraid about how exhausted I am from this 3 day, early out, week. Our mornings are so packed we have no margin for error.  I am up by 5:45 to get a tiny bit of exercise in before getting M ready and off, then getting the boys and I ready + get practicing done. I hope I can keep all the balls I am juggling up in the air but, honestly I am REALLY to-the-bone tired (haven't slept well all week) so we will just have to see how this year evolves and progresses.

Taking it one day at a time at this point (autopilot...just showing up...all that).

The good:
Miriam LOVES her new school so far.  Interesting classes, supportive teachers, good opportunities. The 15 min drive to and from seem to be been worth it (especially since Darin drives her to on his way to work hoo-rah!)

The boys have fun supportive teachers.  Soren has the same Chinese teacher he had in kindergarten....a very energetic innovative teacher he already knows. Byron's teachers in three days have won his heart.  All but one of his good friends were put in the other class, which was a blow on the first day, but the teachers have made that experience more than bearable. I am confident he will thrive and make some new friendships.

Gwen's Party

Gwen had a rockin' hoe down birthday party.

 The kids rode multiple times, but even Darin and I took a buck-off. There is only video of my ride.  A video that will never be posted due to the squeals and screams that began with the first movement of the bull.   I do believe that was my first go at bull riding.

We got to hang out with my parents plus J & J + Co. 

Cousins + never ending snow cones + bounce house + all kinds of bulls (bouncy and and mechanical) = a pretty great day.

Summer

Just found this photo on Darin's phone...love it, love that girl. 

We redeemed the birthday gift Soren and Miriam bought for Byron back in May.  A trip to Sea Quest!

I got a bit nervous when M held the snake...he was getting really squeezie.

THEN on to the big event.....swimming with sting rays and sharks! This is the big surprise Miriam and Soren had worked and planned for.

Miriam and I got "going to a new school pedicures"

A new school with uniforms.

3 days in and she is loving it! So far it's been a great decision.

Friday hike...just 2 of us on the zig zag trail.  Very long but we had a lot to discuss so it was a good trail to do this week. It seems Centerville has it's own "man in the mountain".

So many meetings and appointments for Miriam lately.  The boys have been good to go with the flow through it all, sometimes using my phone to entertain themselves. 

Home Sweet Home

Darin came home bearing gifts!

We just finished off the last of the chocolate, we have been enjoying it every night.

The kids and I did the Ogden Waterfall hike.

 We stopped by the Ogden farmers market and picked up some Crumb Brothers cheese bread along with fresh cilantro lime pesto.....so good with our garden tomatoes! 

 Miriam's Ballroom Intensive ended with a parent recital.  

She learned a cute salsa dance and met some kids who will be on the team with her next year.

Lisa and Emily stayed with us for a few days.  We LOVE having them visit.  We stayed up way too late every night but it's so hard to end our conversations!

Lisa treated Miriam and I to Grand America tea with Emily and Alicia.

We enjoyed great tea, delicious food and baby Parker.

We had "Craig Donuts" on Saturday and then got to celebrated Parker's 1/2 birthday.  

Alicia is the cutest hostess, and Parker is the most adorable baby so the party couldn't be anything but a success.

Weekend Trip to Carbon County

We were up early Saturday morning to made a trip to Scofield/Price for the weekend.  My parents were spending the weekend painting the new bathroom and laundry closet in the basement of the cabin.  It is always amazing to me what those two can accomplish.  

On our way to the cabin we stopped by our friend Diedre's family cabin. Our cabin is on the west side of the lake, hers is on the east so we pass right by it every time we go around the lake.  They spend almost every week/weekend up in Scofield so I was pretty positive they would be there.  They were so generous to let us play on their dock with kayaks and blow up tubes.  Miriam kayaked all the way across the lake with Diedre's boys Caleb and Peter.  So much fun with only one minor injury.  We invited them over to our cabin, but they were leaving the next day. So...next time.  I really think next summer I am only going to sign up for week long camps so that we can spend more time up there.

Miriam and I took an "internet hike" on Sunday morning because I thought Darin would be able to message me and the reception on the deck is spotty.  It worked! We shared photos of what each of us was doing. Here is our view:

I need to have him send me his photos so I can document his views.

After church Grandpa took us on a little jaunt to Fish Creek.  Sheep swarmed our cars on the way there.  We were seriously stuck in sheep....hard to go forward or back so dad just inched his truck forward a bit at a time and the sheep dispersed.  I was too overwhelmed by the sheep swarming to take a photo which was a bummer.

Top priority on my kids summer bucket list was to come to Price and go to the Wave Pool.  My kids LOVE that place! So we drove home via a 45 min detour to Price to spend almost an entire day at the pool.  It was worth it.  I got to work out with my sister Sarah (we hardly EVER get to spend time together) and then cousins met us at the pool.  Hazel and I rode some waves together.

Ending with this photo because it makes me laugh.  4 wheeler rides + horse visits.

Summertime

I promised the kids a break from chores this entire week.

I miss those chores...they bring such a rhythm to our days.  Alas a promise is a promise. 

We went hiking instead.  Although there are no photos, Miriam and I were there too.

kids tidied their rooms, while I thoroughly cleaned out the fridge.  

We went to buy honey from cousins and visit their bees. Lisa was so kind to show the boys inside the hives. 

Errands at Station Park....we were messaging with Darin along the way and sending random photos...

The boys and I hung out at the Apple Store while Miriam was at Ballet.

Ladies hike Friday - We found our way to Patsy's Mine (no thanks to google maps).  Such a fun hike that switch backs across the mountain, for sure a morning hike, the afternoon would be in the blazing sun.

We could see the flag the whole time so we decided to keep venturing on to the top.

So glad we did, the views were fantastic!