Summer at Home

When we got back from Utah, we settled into summertime.  One thing on the kids' Summer Fun List was to go to Kidspace in Pasadena.  We hadn't been in years, and it was great.  Kinda like an expensive version of a normal American backyard.
   

  

Wiley's feet got all torn up by foxtails while we were in Utah, so I finally had to take him in to the vet to get them cleaned out.  Pitiful.
  

That night we went to Dodger Stadium.  We could barely see the game from where we sat, but I don't think the kids would have paid attention anyway.  They did love the fireworks at the end, though!
  

These were just goofy pictures.
  

Ryan got all nostalgic and decided to subscribe to the Sunday paper (two of them), mainly just to get the comics.  The kids enjoyed it while it lasted, but Ryan decided after the one-month trial that it was a waste.  Nothing else was getting read, and it went straight into the recycling bin.
    

In Mid-July I accepted a call to be the Primary President for our ward.  I'd known about it since June, but everybody was out of town that month.  I was so stressed about the calling, I decided to buy myself a fish.  I reasoned that it would remind me to be peaceful and serene.  I'm not sure why I thought that, but I do like the fish!  The Primary President thing has actually been pretty cool so far, other than the overwhelming to-do list.  I'm enjoying working with other adults again, while still getting to teach the kids.
    

Pax the Fish

Connor, Elise, and Evan did another two weeks of Spanish Camp this year.  I really like this camp, and I think the kids learned a fair amount, but we might try something less time-consuming next summer.  It felt like all of July was taken up by camps.
   

Connor's class studied Spain

Another "Fun List" requirement was to go to Magic Mountain.  In the past, Magic Mountain was either way too hot, or too cold.  This time, it was cloudy for about half an hour, then broke into a monster rainstorm for the rest of the afternoon.  Evan hid out in the ball room, but Corinne didn't think rain was a reason to stop going on rides.  Elise was a really good sport to accompany her.
   

  

The very next day, with more rain coming down, the kids decided to try swimming in it.  They had such a good time, we invited friends over to do it, too.
  

  
Our beach attendance this summer was pitiful.  I think we went only once, except for the camping trip we did at the beginning of September.  They liked it that one time, though.
   

The Special Olympics was in Los Angeles this year.  I didn't know when scheduling the older kids' camps that there would be a conflict, so they didn't end up coming.  Ryan got off work early one day, though, and we took the little ones to see weight lifting, rollerskating, handball, bocce ball, table tennis, and badminton.  It was really neat to feel the atmosphere of love and support at all of the events.  Evan managed to win a water bottle at a ping-pong display!
  

Connor and Elise each got to pick a specialty camp to attend this year.  Elise chose an arts camp that taught cooking, dance, art history, and all sorts of visual art, including making these "sound suits" for their last-day performance.  I guess they're inspired by the work of Nick Cave.  If you want to watch some weird performance art, I highly recommend looking it up.
   

Sound Suits

Corinne and Evan wanted to try it on after the show.

   
Connor decided to do the same video game programming camp he did last year.  Ryan attended his awards ceremony at the end of the week, while I was busy watching Elise's show.
  

"Designer Award" for cutting off Mario's head....

   
This came inside our house, so I was happy to get it out without hurting it.  Dragonflies are awesome.
   

Aspen Grove

In mid-June, we went up to Aspen Grove in Utah for our fourth time at Family Camp.  I scanned our family photo this time, and also snagged the one from 2011 (our second time there.)  It's fun to see them side-by-side!

  

Sunday was pretty chill.  At Aspen Grove, Sunday means church in the morning, family quiet time, picture-taking, meals, and an evening devotional (for the grown-ups) and movie-night (for the kids.)  Ryan and I skipped the third hour of church, and were able to have a really nice walk/chat near the river together.
   

Throwing Rocks

Corinne took this.  Hooray for the cafeteria!

Hide and Seek

Corinne took a bunch more pictures at the devotional.

She was in love with this cougar statue.

 
That evening, there was even a moose running around camp.
  

The other days were filled with classes, crafts, hikes, and activities.  Frontier Night is always my kids' favorite.  I was excited when finally, after three years of fear, I completed the ropes course!  It wasn't that bad.  No pictures of me, though.
      

 

  

Tomahawk Ryan

  

 

Ice-Cream Sandwich Eating Contest

  

One day, all the adults in our group drove down to the Provo River and rented inflatable double-kayaks.  I've never been so close to murdering my husband, but I guess it was fun.  Afterwards, we went into Provo itself and sugared up at Swig.  Pink cookies and Dirty Doctor Pepper are pretty much the best thing in the world!
    

We can't leave Aspen Grove without painted ceramics.  Elise did a dolphin, Connor a jet, and Evan a round pot, which he marked with a question mark stamp since he didn't know what he was going to put in it.
   

  
Our room was basically the same as the other times.  It was nice having rooms on the same floor as all our friends - we were able to stay up every night talking and playing games without neglecting our sleeping kids too much.  I learned to play Mormon bridge!
  

The final night included the end-of-week shows by all the kids' groups.  They were super cute, of course.  The family dance afterwards was great.  Corinne and Evan were superstars.
    

Evan (Left Side)

Elise and Sarah

Connor (Left Side)

     

After checking out on the last morning, we drove up the canyon and stopped at Cascade Springs.  I can remember my grandparents taking me here, so it was neat to see my kids just as impressed as was.
   

VH "Family Reunion"

         

Cecropia Moth  It was as big as Elise's hand!

We were next able to spend a few days visiting with my family.  Saturday night we met the Murrays in West Jordan for an authentic drive-in experience.  The movie was Inside Out, which was actually pretty great!  It helped that all my kids stayed in their pickup truck the whole time.
    

On Sunday afternoon, we took Grandma Cloe on a drive up the Nebo Loop.  We stopped at all the scenic overlooks, and even took an hour or so at Payson Lakes.  Despite growing up here, I don't think I'd ever seen all this!
  

Ryan flew home for work, but I got to stay a few more days.  We jumped rope, watched thunderstorms, and played with Grandma and Grandpa.
  

  
On our last day, the third of July, Kelli wanted to take my older kids to see the Candy Bomber drop stuff at a park in Orem.  It was about a million degrees, so Kyle and I volunteered to babysit the little ones at home.  I guess it was not a great experience, although I can't say I was surprised.  There were way too many people, virtually no candy, and all the kids got lost.  We appeased them all with store-bought candy when they got back.
      

Treasure Hunters

We drove home on July Fourth, arriving in time to watch fireworks from the church parking lot with Ryan.  Connor had been feeling depressed, saying that he regretted all the time he spent playing video games and watching TV, when he should have been spending time with his extended family.  He was so remorseful about it, I promised him we'd come back for another visit before summer ended.  Sweet kid.