Some Like it Hot

Some people do indeed, like it hot.  I would not be grouped with those people!  I tend to melt and pant when the temps are at their yearly high.  In addition to the sweltering weather, sometimes things get a bit rough at our home in the summer months.  The last couple have not been smooth sailing at all, so we tried to really stay busy as much as possible.  While This is the Place hasn't been the kids all time fav activity, it has helped with this goal.  We also planned a little getaway as soon as Dave's fiscal year at ADP wrapped up.  We hopped in the car 

and set out for Yosemite and Lake Tahoe! Our kids have reached the prime age for driving trips.  It also helps that technology keeps them busy for hours...or as long as they are charged! We drove near to Yosemite the first day and then got up and hit the park.

Yosemite was gorgeous and crowded.  It is a pretty congested canyon and valley-but we could see why.  The hikes were breathtaking.  We are so blessed to have such an incredible world!!  Harrison did pretty well but hit a definite wall where he started to break down.  As soon as we sat on the shuttle that takes you throughout Yosemite, he zonked out.  I finished up the last hike with the kids while Dave held him on a bench.  

Getting to the park had been tricky because we had a small window of when a certain mountain pass was open.  We got in line with a bunch of other travelers in their vehicles and made it through.  The ranger came up to each car to let us know there would be no stopping.  If anyone stopped, it would be an automatic $500 fine.  We thought we would be perfectly fine, everyone had a potty break, it was only 45 min, we would make it, right?  Well, of course not.  This little turkey

announced he had to go pee a good 15 min in.  I asked him to hold it but there was no way that 5 year old's bladder could.  So, i found myself holding an empty water bottle so he could relieve himself in there!  UGH!!!  He thought it was hilarious when we hit a bump and he splashed out for a second on my hand.  Gross.  I went to twist the lid on to make sure that didn't happen again, but of course, we had picked the one water bottle that had been chewed on and the opening was misshapen- no lid would fit!!  I held that bottle of urine till we could stop the car while everyone was laughing and hoping to hit a bump!!

Leaving the park was much more smooth, but we did leave in the evening and it was dark, so that wasn't the most brilliant idea through the canyons to Lake Tahoe.  When we woke the next morning, we were so excited to see this beautiful sight.  

The lake was a record cold temps, so we weren't planning on getting in much.  When we went to the shore, however, the frigid water didn't stop our kids from "wading" in.  They got pretty soaked.  The best part of the day was renting bikes and biking along the lakeside.  We all loved it and since Harrison still refuses to learn how to ride a bike, he sat in a little trailer and was pulled like a toddler, so he too enjoyed it!

We took a scenic hike that hovers over the highway and has spectacular views...

The beloved turquoise thermoflask was left at the top and that was quite a tragic event for one child pictured above, but we all decided we wouldn't be trekking back up to retrieve it.  So, sorry Lake Tahoe for not taking care of our belongings and 'leaving a trace.' 

The kids swam a bunch and had a great time at the resort. Here is Grant, Katelee and Harrison playing chicken.  I'm not sure if their tower got higher than 3 kids, hopefully it didn't.

We even participated in a Latin Dance class session there and an Amazing Race.  We shockingly were not the winners of the Amazing Race, despite what big fans we are of the actual tv show!  But, in our defense, the winners only had 2 players and we had to haul all 6 of us to each challenge.  

Tahoe (and Yosemite) was just what we needed.  We had a great time and really loved getting to see places we had never been before.  We let the kids get out and run across the salt flats on the way home.  It was cool and strange!

We came home from our trip in time for the Fourth of July because we just love celebrating it here!  While we were away, Russell and Lisa and their girls arrived into town, so they were at our house waiting for us when we got back.  It was so fun to visit with them! 

The firework show was a cold one this year.  We had to wait out quite a bit of rain for the first couple hours and found ourselves sitting in the car til it cleared up. 

But, the sun did come out!

We got some games in, some rides, some treats and fun!

We love this holiday, getting spend it with family and we love the USA!

The next week my sisters and I went out to see Huge Jackman.  

Yes, I spelled it HUGE, because that's what we call him.  He's that big.  It was a good night fo sho.

Katelee spent two weeks working her tail off at theatre boot camp.  She was so great in all her scenes.  We especially loved her in Xanadu.  Next time she should do it on roller skates, though.

We had a movie day seeing Toy Story 4...I maybe cried.  

We went to the float preview and had a great time with family getting balloons, face paint and going to see Lion King after.

We were especially happy to see Caleb and have him grace us with his presence.  

Most of Harrison's days start out with him asking Siri what the MLB scores are.  The other day he asked me if he could ask Siri a score.  When I told him no, he picked up my cell and said, "I heard yes."  He prints out logos and had me safety pin them to a shirt...that is not a real Braves shirt.  He is so MLB obsessed, our neighbors have even helped him start a baseball card collection.

 Everyday pretty much includes this...

He will smack the ball with the bat and yell, "That's what I call hitting."  And of course, every hit somehow results in a home run.  It is a perfect way to spend the warm evenings...but I'm not going to lie, hours and hours of pitching does tend to get old.  I would never make it in the major league!  ha!

Summer, here we come!

Because Grant had pioneer Trek and I knew we would want to fill our time doing good things this summer, I signed our family up to volunteer as pioneers at This is the Place Heritage Park.  Everyone seemed fairly ok with my proposition, until we had training and Dave discovered that we would be in costume.  I explained to him that he really wouldn't be joining us often, really only once maybe twice the entire season.  I thought it would be nice if he had pioneer attire to match his family's.  This is the response I got...

Lets just say that he wore it one time and let me take a picture but it never left the hanger again!  hahaha  Being a pioneer is not Dave's cup of tea and I'm trying to keep the little people upbeat about it.  Not sure it is getting rave reviews from the older two, but Brenna and Harrison love it! Harrison will sing out in his famous "Haka-lujah"  song when I tell him we are going.  He thinks he is saying Hallelujah correctly, but I love it so much I don't want to inform him of the actual pronunciation.  They have to check in at the school, have a lesson, then go on a task.  This year the task is centered around the railroad in commemoration of the Golden Spike.  As soon as they accomplish the task, they get a prize. 

 They then can earn a token for pony rides or panning for gold etc if they do a chore.  I love putting them to work wherever I am volunteering.  

Brenna also loves helping me give tours or share pioneer stories with guests.  Grant stays busy doing his apprenticeship in the Tinsmith shop

while Katelee does needlework for hours

...no blood loss for her, but there have been some minor burns by our tinsmith.  Grant refuses to let me say the name of our volunteer location and he gets really upset when I mention an upcoming shift.  I have bribed them with a treat or lunch after each visit, so at least there is deliciousness involved at some point.  Good or bad, memories are being made!! haha!

Grant was so busy in June with double camps-he went to Moab with the scouts and then the week after he went to EFY.  He loved loved loved EFY.  He made great friends and was not too thrilled to come home, so I guess that's a good sign.  

We took everyone else to the ART festival while Grant was away.  It's always a good time there-

authorization to paint on someone's walls, trying the instrument zoo, listening to unique musical acts, doing cool crafts.  Dave and I always look forward to it.  Katelee informed us that we are the only ones that like it, good thing we are forcing new experiences and culture on them!  She seems happy enough here...

Harry was NOT happy when these trippy puppet things came walking around making odd sounds. 

He found them to be the things of his nightmares and screamed bloody murder when we tried to get a picture.  Brenna was a good sport, at least! She must have taken the artistic heart back home with her because I came across her expressing her displeasure like this the other day: 

She pretty much could be a mime or clown with her storytelling makeup.  Brenna doesn't really need the extra suggestive coloring on her face-she makes it pretty obvious when she is upset! She was yelling at me not too long ago and her little brother turned to me and said, "mom, is she having a breakdown?"  He definitely is not one to talk, but summer can do that to a person...especially a mom!  

Katelee was super busy with a production at Kensington Theatre.  She was a Neverland Native in Peter Pan with her friend Emily. 

She was an awfully cute and intimidating native!

Katelee also had Beehive camp.  Because the older youth in our church are doing trek, girls camp was just with the Beehives.  She had a good time despite leaders forcing some sleep meds on all the little ladies who weren't asleep by 11-which was pretty much everyone.  I can't wait to experience camp with her next year-hopefully I will still be in YW and get to go!

And hello...BIG day at our house.  On June 28 Mr David McArthur turned 40!!!

We decorated the house, put up banners on our doors and garage...which maybe caused some paint damage.  Hey, it will always remind us of how much we love Dave! Grandma came over to babysit so I could surprise the birthday boy with a night out at a MAGIC SHOW!

We went to Mystique Dining where we had a 5 course meal and were entertained by a magician.  It was really impressive and such a fun way to celebrate our  main man!!!  Fourty never looked so good! 

May-cember

 Oh man, May the Fourth be with us because May is exhausting!!  A couple of years ago, a neighbor friend who has older kids than mine by 3-4 years told me May is the worst.  Now, I get it.  Something is going on everyday.  Although being busy is sometimes a blessing because sometimes it keeps us going and moving and minds off of fears that are not productive.  As Hagrid wisely said, "What's coming will come and we will face it when it does."  So, that was the mantra for this month, one day at a time.  

Games wrapped up for Grant and Harrison and Katelee. Katelee signed up for soccer and their poor team had no coach and was pretty much the girls who had never played and didn't already have an organized group.  They grew so much!!  They even won a game at the end.  You would have thought it was the world cup with how happy us fans were!

  Grant is adamant about never playing soccer ever again, and he missed his last game so I didn't get any pictures.  Lame.  Harrison thinks he won the Superbowl with the Ravens but is now itching to play baseball.  So, batter up!

He always asks me to print off coloring pages and he spends hours coloring, making teams etc.  Aaron Taylor made his life by giving him some baseball cards.  I still have some that he sent over to our house that I'm waiting for the opportune time to give Harrison...meaning as a bribe to get him to go to bed or be good!! Harrison is quite good at self entertaining, so good in fact, he often gets angry when a friend knocks, or someone tries to talk to him.  We were at family dinner and Jason was trying to talk to Harry.  Harrison responded with, "can you be quiet so I can play?"  Ha! 

There were so so many end of the year concerts, recitals-Brenna's dance

Katelee's voice-

Grant had choir, Brenna had an opera. 

 Wow, that was special! She was an arctic cat.  The third grade wrote their own music and lyrics and lets just say it was unforgettable.  They also had a wax museum.  I found this wax statue of Ballerina Anna Pavlova.  She just looked so familiar...

Brenna joined the four eyes club...kind of.  She has a punch card but not a full pass into the club yet.  She doesn't NEED glasses, but the doc suggested she have them for school so she can grab them if she ever feels like she has to squint at far away things.  

With all the end of the year presentations and activities, we had to keep the house going as well as make all of our appointments that were required.  It was hard work!  Harrison is a good helper, except when he finds a sports apparel section and he makes me wait while he tries on every hat until he finds one that 'suits him.'  We actually ran into a friend when this last one happened.  I tried to keep walking with him yelling, "mom, I think this one suits me."  Everyone around him was cracking up.  

Katelee had the best teacher this year.  She really gave her class so many opportunities to experience a lot.  Katelee joined the debate team and made it to state.  State was kind of a scary day 

with snooty opponents, but we are still so happy she tried it and were so proud of her and her partner, Camryn.

Mrs. Chang's daughter became the class/team mascot.  She is so good to tag along as her awesome mom supports the students.  Luckily we did have a couple of fun things to keep from going wacko.  Grant and I were supposed to go to School of Rock, but he got invited to a party and thought that sounded better!??!!!  What?

Dave filled in and had a great time, he thought it was one of his favorite shows.  I don't know how other people could possibly be more fun than Grant's own mother?!

I think I'm pretty cool, I mean, I take kids to ice cream, so that should earn me some points, right?

Harrison was the first to wrap up his educational year.  His graduation from Miss Amy's preschool was a bit tender for me-our last preschooler!

We have loved Miss Amy and I love having a preschooler!!!  Harrison had the best class this year.  I mean, he couldn't go wrong with his girlfriend in the class! This is the famous Aria, the one he gave the Valentine card to.  We will see how long the romance lasts as they go to separate schools!  haha!

We carpooled with Coco.  Coco and her little brother Thax loved having Harrison to ride with.  

Really, all the kids in his class are so funny, they kept me from balling in the program, I was laughing so hard.  Miss Amy asked them to say words that started with a letter.  The first letter she chose was 'B'  One kid raised his hand and said, "Ball" another kid says, "bouncy balls."  Harrison raised his hand and said, "Bear-a CUB bear, the Cubs are Bears."  Miss Amy said every time she would do this during preschool, he would have to think of a team that started with that letter.  Miss Amy moved on to the next letter in the program, by announcing 'M'  Little Preston raised his hand and said, "Butt."  Hahaha!  Miss Amy told him that did work for the letter B!  Now, could he think of a word that started with M?  Tyler had an answer.  He started sounding out M..."Mmmmm....Emmett."  We were all loving it.  Harrison ended the M question by answering, 'Mariners."

Love these preschool buddies!

Jack, Emmett, Harrison and Ty

Mr ADP even had a class to attend this month.  

He sent me his school photo and I told him it was like he had a cover shot.  I am not sure he enjoyed the enhancements I made to his photo, but Harrison and I sure did! 

The last weekend before school ended was of course Memorial Day! We love Memorial Day, especially, Harrison says when 'that guy' (Brett) brings his rockets.  We told Brett this and he was nice enough to let Harrison help with the launching.  

Best day of his life.  

We played at the park-which was surprising because it had been so rainy.

  We had our delicious breakfast, went to the mortuary for Grandpa's parents and then we added stopping by Grandpa and Grandma Passey's graves.  It was fun to hear grandma talk and share stories about her parents.  When I asked Grandpa to share something about his, he said, "they are dead."  So, there you go.  

Finishing up this year was extra emotional.  Many of Grant's friends are moving on to high school and more than half of his good friends that will still be in his grade got shifted to a different junior high.  We are just glad to have made it through 8th grade and hope 9th grade is a good one!!

Brenna had to say goodbye to Mrs Brooks.  She will be leaving the elementary school we attend to teach at a school closer to her home.  We get it, but we sure will miss her.  She was born to teach!

Katelee's final elementary year has been fantastic thanks to Mrs Chang.  She truly impacts all her students and we have been so lucky to have her.  

They have all the 6th graders walk the hall out the doors with their caps and everyone claps.  I was cheering for all the cute kids, but then I saw Katelee all teary and I just started crying...big surprise.  She and her friends were a mess.  

They are ready for junior high though, and I think great things are ahead for Katelee, and all these cute ladies.  

 Now, on to summer!!!!