New Family Photos

 Since the boys were getting baptized this year I wanted to take some baptismal pictures for their announcement and such.  I decided it was also a good opportunity to get a good family photo shoot in.  My new office wanted family pictures to hang in my exam rooms, so I thought they ought to be professionally done.  We had my friend Ashley Scott take them, and she did a fabulous job.  I love this one, but Derek thinks it is cheesy.

Then, with all the pictures taken I swapped out the old pictures of my toddler kids in our hallway for the new baptismal shots and the one Liv had taken by Carly Pendleton for her baptism and the new family photo.

A Post About Summer

We had a lot of fun this summer despite this weird COVID pandemic. Here’s all the neighborhood kids sitting all social distanced in the Riley backyard. 

 Tori Valenzuela had a birthday and invited all the kids over to jump on the bounce house. 

 Chris Clark had a Disney themed backyard bday, so I made Mickey macaroons. 

 D and I took both kayaks down the river with the kids. 

Then, we had a picnic dinner afterwards.

 The boys took swim lessons with Aubrey again because they didn’t make the swim team with Liv (although that was comical to watch them try out). 

 Liv had swim meets that we attended. She swims slow as molasses, but had fun.

 We threw multiple back yard hose parties. 

 The kids put on a play of Zootopia and invited all the neighborhood kids to come watch complete with tickets. 

For Camden's costume, he literally glued leaves to his face.

 Jon took the boys and I mountain biking multiple times. It was tradition to jump in the river for a cool off. 

 One time Liv came too. Mountain biking is not her strong suit. We made Chinese dumplings from scratch one day. 

 The kids all had fun helping me make them, and then we invited the Whitmers over to join us to eat them (they brought hot and sour soup). 

 We had to borrow Blake’s old car that is actually Grandpa’s while our car was in the shop getting a new transmission and as a thank you the kids washed the car for Grandpa. 

 We went only to the Scera pool once to swim for fun this summer then I decided perhaps masses of people at public pools was a crowd to avoid during a pandemic.  This is the post swim pizza party.

 I entertained the kids indoors with melty beads, plaster stepping stones, and melted crayon over candle art. 

 The boys found a slug climbing up a window one day and can still be found on top of each other most of the time.

Olivia turns 10!

Olivia had a great birthday this year.  At first we tried to tell her we didn't think a birthday party was a good idea with all this COVID stuff going on and she burst into hard core hysterics.  So then we decided perhaps we could swing an outdoor birthday?  She wanted to throw a Zac Efron Birthday Party and I said absolutely not!  So then she settled on a Greatest Showman carnival type birthday instead and just asked all her friends to give her Zac Efron paraphernalia. 

 Wren totally came through with this awful Zac Efron pillow that Olivia loves.  

We set up fun little carnival game stations around the back yard where you won prizes and allowed her to invite a few friends.  There was a ball toss and if you got in the jar you won a box of swedish fish.

  All girls made these cute sparkly headbands with a fluffy pink feather and we set up a photo booth. 

 We had a rub on tattoo booth and my friend Kassie came and did face painting. They shot nerf guns at stacked cups, we had a bean bag toss, we let them throw glow stick bracelets on 2L bottles like a ring toss and then they kept the glow bracelets to wear during them movie.  Other prizes included animal crackers, and stick on mustaches or unibrows (or both) whichever suits your fancy. 

We served corndogs and Papa John's pizza, and lemonade.  

There was also popcorn, circus peanuts, circus cookies, cotton candy.  And instead of a traditional cake Olivia asked for a cheesecake.  

 Then, when it got dark we set up an outdoor movie screen and they all watched the Greatest Showman.  

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A Post About Me

For my birthday this year despite my telling him it was unnecessary, Dad sent me out another inflatable kayak. We made it’s first voyage down the Provo river with the Thorsteds and a little double date. 

 Becky and I got to see Ashley Valgardson this summer. We met up for lunch. That was fantastic. 

 I cut open the webspace between my finger on a broken canning jar while canning peaches. Luckily, I convinced a neighbor to stitch up my finger. It healed really well. 

 I mistakenly threw my wedding ring into the laundry with my scrubs at the hospital, but miraculously my main ring was found however it came back to me quite bent out of shape! The wedding band never was found. So I got another wedding band just plain and had it welded to my original wedding ring. 

 I’m currently serving as the 1st counselor in YW which is busy with constant activity planning, but has been fun. Annie and I still love to get out for hikes when we can both find a day off together. 

 And at the beginning of September I started a new job with Mountain Peaks Family Practice which is literally less than a 5 minute walk from my house. It has been fabulous. I love all the people and have really enjoyed being back in Family Practice.

Babi and Papou Come up for a Visit

 Babi and Papou braved the COVID risks and decided they wanted to make a trip up to our house near Liv's birthday.  Babi has decided that for this year year would like to take each grandkid out on a one-on-one date with her for her birthday.  Olivia decided she wanted to go to her favorite Itto sushi place at the University Mall. 

 Babi first took her to Claire's to buy some earrings and then they had their sushi lunch.  While here Babi made drop donuts with the kids. 

 This is becoming and expected tradition every time they see Babi.  Carter still really loves his Papou and can often be found by his side.

  Papou is the best and fixed all sorts of drawers and cabinets and put in a new sink faucet that doesn't drip for us!

Lake Powell Trip 2020

 Chase's last trip request before leaving for his mission was one more trip to Lake Powell and Steph and Jon were kind enough to invite our family to come with them.  The kids love Lake Powell trips and this was a good one complete with the Davidson drag, cliff jumping, knee boarding, and spending time with all the people my kids love in a beautiful place. 

All 3 kids got up on water skis.  Derek spent quite a bit of time in the water with the boys helping them finally master getting up on skis.  

Then, just to accomplish something new Liv decided to give a go to wakeboarding for the first time and got up on that as well.  She was so fun she kept switching which foot was forward with ease.  I even got a chance to do a little wake boarding.  Happy to say despite old age and knee surgery, I still got it.  Every single person gave the water weenie a try even Steph, Jon, and Derek. 

 Lots of great times this trip on the water weenie.  We had dinner one night at our favorite Mexican place. 

 One day we had a swim at the hotel pool.  

Chase swam with the kids for a bit and then D and I got in and we had family swim time too.  We had the whole pool to our own little family's self.  Sunday we did a Come Follow Me Lesson in the car while driving to Kanab.  We at lunch a Chinese restaurant all the kids (and Chase) at one table and the adults at another (due to COVID rules on party sizes).  Then we checked out the Little Hollywood western movie sets which were kinda fun. 

 

While we were waiting for Jon to bring the car down the launch rack on our last day all the kids and Chase jumped into the lake one last time since Chase wouldn't see this lake for another 2 years.