So Long Sweet Summer

Hello?

 I just keep finding more photos of this summer.  The summer is always a good time but there was something super special about this one.

 The weather in Eugene was scorching.  We figured out how to keep our place cool by opening the doors in the morning and then shutting everything.  It only worked when we didn't cook anything inside so our back porch became our kitchen.  efu n used an electric grill, which also led to several blown fuses, but one day we busted out the popcorn popper.  Everything is just a little better when you can do it outdoors.

 We spent a lot of hours "working."

 Our camping trip began okay and then the Oregon rain made its summer appearance.  After all the heat it was incredibly refreshing.  We drove all the way out there before we realized that we had forgotten the bag that had pretty much everything we needed to camp.  After a family vote we ended up deciding that we would have a great day on the coast and then drive home and make a tent in our front room.

 We hiked to Drift Creek Falls and went over the suspension bridge.  While we were crossing it was impossible not to imagine it falling and all of us hanging on like happens in every single movie that features a suspension bridge.  Our experience was a lot less dramatic and a lot more fun.

 Then we went to see the tide pools at Boiler Bay which were some of the best we have seen.

Just kind of a perfect moment

 I am not sure that all the kids slept well, but I am sure that I did, in my bed.

 I ordered a new cookbook from Barnes and Noble and I was just a dollar short of free shipping.  I ended up getting a bookmark to put me over the top.  When the box came it was pretty big, but way too light.  Inside all the packaging was the little bookmark.  This is what we have come to.  The book came a few days later.  Yay for free shipping.

 The Hero Up 5k was a highlight as it is every year.  We love that race so much.  It has become a great tradition for our family.

 A new thing that we decided to start this year is a back to school dinner.  We made everything all fancy by using nice dishes and setting the table. I once learned that you should never have dinner without some kind of centerpiece so Rocky gathered some flowers from outside.  I feel a little bit jealous that everybody gets to go to school except me and Ike.

 I felt pretty good about our summer bucket list.  The first one was for while we were in Utah and we did really well on getting everything but the Oregon one ended up with a little bit of unfinished business.

My Favorite Photo Ever

August in Eugene

 We spent the rest of the summer just chilling out in Eugene.  We did our free lunch at the high school, swimming lessons, and cross country camp.  We picked blackberries, rode our bikes around town, made ice cream and spent a lot of time together.  As always we had some pretty sad goodbyes, and the hardest was that Abbey, Tony and Penelope moved to DC.  Abbey has been such a great friend for so long and I already miss her so much.  The kids worked out their emotions by wrestling.

 Our apartment has been under construction for the entire summer and the thing that really makes it a drag isn't that the grass is all dead or that half of our common area is off limits, it is the port-o-potty right outside my window.

 We finally found time to use Rocky's chemistry set and you have never seen 3 more enthusiastic scientists.

 Everybody got super sick with high fevers which wasn't fun.  They all mostly survived, except Rosy,  according to her she basically died.  Luckily she is okay now but it was a rough ride, for all of us.

 Since we were all stuck inside we busted out the board games, Play-doh and every other thing we could find that would keep the peace.

 As soon as everyone was better it was back to playing outside.

 They did a lemonade stand to raise money for refugees.  I think they ended up pulling in $20.  They each drank about 12 cups of lemonade and had 47 trips to the bathroom so the fact that anyone was outside to collect money was kind of a miracle.

 I had a hard time getting anything done because I just really had to spend most of every day watching the Summer Olympics.  I mean, priorities, right?

 Laurie and I went on a run at night, on the trails and I regretted all the scary stories that I have ever read.  I felt like Anne of Green Gables running through the Haunted Woods.  Once I got used to the dark everything was okay and we had a good time.  On the way back home we saw a vampire.  I swear it is true!  Laurie says she doesn't remember seeing a vampire, but does have a recollection of running into a guy.  The only thing I can guess is that she just isn't as in tune with the world of horror and didn't recognize a creature of the night like I did.
Also we wore opposite outfits.  Lucky thing for us it was too dark for anyone to see the dorks.

 It only took me 8 years of living in Eugene to perfect my tie dying skills.

Yoga Night

Stolen and Gathered Photos From and of People I Love

The summer just flew by in a wave of joyful frolicking.  It went so fast that it seems like a blur and now all I have to help me remember how much fun we had.  Since I have an old school camera instead of a phone and I rarely have it with me I have to rely on photos that others graciously shared with me.

 Ike and Gray both celebrated their first birthdays by pulling out Grandma Jolley's Easter basket.  What could be cooler than hanging out together in the biggest basket they had ever seen?  Feliz put together the cutest photo shoot and the boys promptly got to work destroying it.

 We had a great celebration when Gavin and Claire were married.  It is always an awesome party when the Rigbys are all together.

 It was such a lovely day at the Salt Lake Temple and such a nice occasion.  I just love Claire so much and it has been amazing to see how happy she has made Gavin.

 I didn't get the photos of the kids at the reception but I am pretty sure that all three of my girls ate their weight in Dippin' Dots.

We headed to Pine Valley for the Isaacson family camp out, but didn't get their until after we stopped at Dick's Drive In.  In a summer full of fantastic moments this was one of the best.  So much greasy food eaten with people that I love so much. 

 The camping trip consisted of a visit to the local Fairy Garden, which I have been informed has been terminated, but it was fun that we got to see it before it was destroyed.

 I got to meet up with some of my high school buddies.  Between the five of us we have a whole herd of kids.

 I know we are true friends because even though it has been years since we have all been together it felt comfortable, like we had graduated yesterday.  I mean, I hope we are a little smarter, and mature, and I know we are definitely much older, but they are still true friends and I know I could count on them in a moment if I needed them.

Reunited and It Feels So Good

 We also had a blast at Lagoon.  I just love that place.

 The grandsons bonded over blocks.

 Ike is a pretty big fan of the Howard guys.

Not the best morning.