Favorite things about summer:

-getting to ride my bike EVERYWHERE (or to be more literal: to aerobics MWF, to Wal-Mart, the library every Wed, to VT appts., RS activities, to the dentist, to Nate and Stacey's, to the park, and just around)--it took a few weeks to really get hot, so we've really capitalized!

-Children's piano recital: HUGE improvement from last year since we've changed teachers, and the children are still loving music

-Emily's Tumbling Recital—okay the recital (esp. @ $6/ticket) was something like torture for 2 hours, but we LOVED watching Emily and her whole class has really improved, and she was tickled pink about having an “outfit” and special hairdo assignment, and (unbelievably to her) MAKE-UP!

-Camping trips!!--we finally went last weekend, and since it coincided w/ our weekend to help G&G Duncan w/ yardwork, etc., we chose American Fork Canyon. Unfortunately, we got there too late to get a campsite, and saved ourselves $16 doing “dispersed” camping (code word for “NO FACILITIES”). I was a little reluctant (Emily was really reluctant), but it was only for one night, and after ALL that preparation, we didn't have many other options. We were so fortunate to find a spot at all, thanks to a couple deciding to move down a hill just as we were driving by and could take their original spot. We hung tarps for our “privvy”, scouted for firewood many times, and LOVED the gorgeous trail right next to us (where I even got to see a huge doe—just 20 ft away or so)--I can never get used to those Aspens up in the mountains like that—they are beautiful! We had a late supper of dutch oven shepherd pie & watermelon, made s'mores, all stayed up together since Lucy would only scream in her crib by this point. Fell asleep (intermittently) between the children in my clothes and contacts while Brian tried out the new air mattress, just grateful Lucy stopped crying when I held her. Woke very early and jogged up the trail about a mile to warm up, then gathered firewood on the way back to warm everyone else up, cooked pancakes and sausage for breakfast while the early risers started in on yogurt. We cleaned up and broke camp, and were down the canyon by 9:30! We had a good visit w/ G&G Duncan, then came home and cleaned everything up until we crashed in bed!

-Time w/ Family!-had Nate's family over the day after his birthday and the Saturday before Father's Day for a dinner, and then enjoyed Dad &Kathy Thursday night, where Dad helped us stretch Brent's carpet (now dried from the rain) back into place. We had them both to dinner w/ G&G Duncan this past Sunday since they were up for a cousin's farewell. Also took a little day trip up to visit G&G Mildenhall in Perry, stopping for lunch w/ Brian on the way.