Saint George Trip

We took a last minute trip down to Saint George for the weekend. We wanted to test out our new car on a longer drive. We stayed two nights and had one day of exploring. We went to Snow Canyon and walked around on the petrified sand dunes. It was really cool and very pretty. Then we went swimming in the hotel pool and watched some BYU football. A fun little getaway which I think we should do more often.

New car

At some point, it's just not worth putting any more money into an old car to have it fixed. We said goodbye to our 2006 Toyota Sienna and hello to a 2018 Toyota Highlander. It's such a better car! It's amazing how much car technology can change in 12 years. I'm loving driving it around. I'm a bit paranoid about messing it up. But if I just take care of it like my dad takes care of cars, then it will all be alright. I will just ask myself "what would mike do?" Here's to many times parking "on the end and in the shade."

First Day of School

Mason 7th grade (junior high)

Ellie 5th grade

Cassidy 3rd grade

Cooper!

Cooper got to stay with us for a week. The kids LOVED it!

Another backpacking trip

A few weeks ago, Mason went on his second backpacking trip. This time he went for a two night trip up in the Uintas. He came home dirty and tired, but this one seemed a bit more fun for him. He's got a good group of boys and leaders to do this challenging stuff with.

Cassidy's first soccer tournament

Cassidy is playing soccer for a Utah Storm Club Team (#10). Her team had their very first tournament a few weeks ago. It was their first time playing together as a team, and they did so good! Cassidy played mostly defense, but was still able to score a goal. They won some games, and lost some, but they made it to the championship game. They played so hard  and ended up winning the championship game! They each got to come home with a champions medal. Pretty cool way to start the soccer season!

Backpacking Trip

Last weekend, Mason went on his first backpacking trip. He and the boys from our ward, with some leaders, backpacked up Maple Mountain. It was about 5 miles up the first day, then 5 miles back down the next. Mason said it was the hardest thing he's ever done. It wasn't fun, but I'm so glad Mason did it. He was worried about it beforehand, but now he knows he can do it. I'm proud of him for doing something so hard.

This is the only picture that was sent to me of him on the trip. Yes, he's roasting a peanut butter and jelly sandwich

State Swim Meet

Last week Ellie went to the Utah State Longcourse Swim Meet. She earned a state qualifying time in 7 events, but was limited to swimming only 6. She did amazing! Over 4 days she swam 6 individual events and 3 relays. She dropped time in every race. She got 7th place overall in 100 fly and 13th place overall in 50 fly. Her Medley Relay came in 4th place. She almost placed in the finals in the  200 free, coming in 17th place. She swam so hard!

100 M Free: dropped 4 seconds
200 M IM: dropped 10 seconds
100 M Fly: dropped 11 seconds
200 M Free: dropped 1 second
50 M Free: dropped 1 second
50 M Fly: dropped 6 seconds

We also met Summer Sanders while we were at the meet (former USA Olympic swimmer). I was watching a race and started small talk with the lady next to me, only to realize I was talking to Summer Sanders! She knew a girl on Ellie's relay team and talked to them about their race and gave them all high fives. She is a super sweet lady and it was crazy to see her just as a normal person at the swim meet. I was curious why she was there, and after some internet research, we found out she lives in Park City and her 2 kids swim for Park City Swim Club. So, she was there watching her kids swim just like the rest of us.

Ellie, Macie, Avery, Kate

200 Medley Relay

Mason's State Baseball Tournament

Good group of boys!

Cassidy got her ears pierced!

July 4

Stadium of Fire with One Republic