'The Great Outdoors' Adventures

 We spent a lot of time enjoying nature in July. We had a couple nights for a family camp out, and when I saw "we" I really mean Katelee, Brenna and Harrison camped out.  The other 3 members of our family-me included- went up for some food and fun, but slept at home and enjoyed the amenities a house has to offer. Shannon is the nicest and always provides the fun for my kiddos.

There was no stopping in for a comfy mattress during girls camp, but that's just the way it is supposed to be, right?  This was our first official camp in this ward since the boundary alignment, so bonding was our goal-mission accomplished! 

It was a fun and spiritual few days-full of crafts, a rain gutter regatta, devotionals, lip syncs, card games, 

tenting, eating and serving.  

I loved spending time with the young women, these leaders and especially Miss Katelee.  

Our theme was 'small and simple things.'  It is so cool to remember how these little memories and events in life shape us and help us focus or refocus on what matters and who we want to be.  

At the end of July, it was Grant's turn to experience AFY.  He signed up for a location an hour or so south of us- Payson Lakes.  This location didn't offer some of the high adventure activities that Moab gave to Katelee, but it worked better with Grant's schedule because he took a Lake Powell trip with buddies in June (when Moab was happening).  While Payson didn't have the high heat Moab gave Katelee, the Payson camp did give Grant some thunderstorms that helped him get very close to some group members...very close-as in taking shelter from lightning in the bathroom as a group for 3 hours.  And that's what these church camps are for again- bonding...mission accomplished here as well, ha!  Grant experienced connections with his first EFY and has kept in touch with some of the friends from that group.  The craziest thing was when Grant and one of those friends realized they were registered for the same week and location this year!  This girl flew in from Egypt and accidentally registered for this week, but it was fun for Grant to see her again.  We actually met up with this gal the morning of drop off, had breakfast with her and her mom and Grant headed up the canyon with them.  I took zero pictures, but I know Grant has some in a cloud somewhere.  

While he was gone, the kids wanted to visit cousins in AZ, so Dave dropped them off there.  All the kids gone for the week??  What should we do?  We should go to Maine, of course.  While it would have felt like a vacation just staying home sans kids, we thought we wanted to beat the heat and get out of town.  We've always wanted to go to Maine and so why not then?!  We ate lobster rolls galore, found lots and lots of lighthouses

hiked through Acadia National Park...

which was totally breathtaking...highly recommend

and explored various beaches.  Yes, Dave is in long sleeves and full-length pants- he is determined to never experience a sunburn the rest of his life, so he takes his skin coverage very seriously.  This was actually in Acadia, so we were hiking a lot.  

We saw incredible flowers and trees.  The coastline was dreamy.  It was so magical, in fact, that David now thinks we need to live there later in life.  I am not sure this will come to fruition, but he keeps plugging it.  Regardless of whether it becomes a residence for us, Maine has a piece of Dave's heart.  Ha! 

With the summer racing by, and school fast approaching, we decided to skip town one last time.  We collected the children from Arizona, had a couple days to pack again and jumped in the van to see Blake and company in Coeur d'Alene.  

Blake's coworker took us boating on the lake and it was a blast.  

Caleb got a couple wave runners for us and we rode those all afternoon as people tubed.  The most exciting part of the day might have been when Caleb had Brenna and Harrison on the wave runner and was being so slow and careful that his turns weren't fast enough and they flipped the wave runner.  Harrison was hesitant to ride it in the first place, so we were sure the flipping caused trauma, but he was a good sport and we were all laughing afterwards. He got in the tube still, so he did not develop a fear of water sports in general.  

Brenna, hands down, won best expressions award.  We were dying at the way her mouth became rubber and her eyes popped out of her head.  Speaking of eyes popping out of heads, Harrison was introduced to Pee Wee's Big Adventure-Large Marge is now one of Harry's most feared fictional characters.  So, between flipping in water and screaming at Large Marge, Harrison might have lasting nightmares.  But we had some good entertainment.

We had big dreams of accomplishing the Hiawatha trail with no melt downs and we did pretty well, but we will need to tackle that again to pull off our goal.  Harrison did not like it when he was not in the front of the line and he and I had to have some chats.  Grace had an injury when she slid and fell off her bike, Caleb was overrun by rodents (like literally, chipmunks and squirrels were all over him) but it was still so fun.  We absolutely love that bike trail.  

We ate at a lovely brunch location on the river-Le Peeps.  

It really is a beautiful part of the country.  Idaho did not get the same endorsement as Maine did from Dave, as far as potential home locations, but we still loved it.  This year the smoke has been sooooo bad from wildfires.  We were just so grateful to get away and be able to see mountains, sky etc  We are so ready for the air to clear and the temp to come down.  Bring on fall very soon! 

Swinging into Summer as the School Year Rounds into Home

We made it!  We made it through a whole year of pandemic education.  Bless the teachers and everyone who helped it happen!  Here is a pic of Brenna with her 5th grade teacher at Field Day...

luckily, Katelee was able to finish off her 8th grade with a brand new smile-

Braces off for this gal!  It was such a quick braces experience-on and off in 11 months.  The other people in the family probably won't be as lucky.  Grant sure wasn't.  It really was the ideal year to be a metal mouth-half the time, her face had to be covered in a mask anyway!

Spring sports bled into summer, Dave went to a Jazz game with his friend Dave

 and biggest news in sports- the Phillies took the little league championship!  

Harrison was sooo lucky to get on this team.  His coaches were great, the teammates were fun and impressive athletes.  We missed draft day so it was just by luck this red headed got to wear the red jersey.  

He is planning on playing football instead of baseball next year.  Now, I am not naturally a baseball fan, but it sure grew on me.  It mostly was because our little guy is still the most fun player to observe, but I actually got into the games.  While football may be more exciting...I have an aversion to my child being tackled or concussed, so we see what will happen.  For this year, we loved saying GO PHILLIES!

We were so anxious to put our Lagoon season passes to use again this summer.  We loved spending so much time there last year; however, this June was blisteringly hot.  This momma doesn't do Lagoon and walking around the asphalt to burn by bottom on rides.  We don't go above 84...so we only have gone once.  I just can't do it. 

Thank heavens for Rattlesnake Rapids-even if it left me sloshy and soggy britches for half a day.  I ams sure we will spend lots of fun days "here, at Lagoon."    

Back to the unseasonably warm June I mentioned...it was so hot...and we had to send our cute Katelee off to Moab for AFY.  She was a little hesitant not knowing anyone and I was anxious with the above 100 degree heat they would be frolicking in, but it turned out amazingly!!  She can't wait to do it again.  She met amazing friends, really got to know some of them, well, one of them...wink, wink.  She had a blast biking, hiking, rappelling, dancing, white water rafting, singing and building her faith.  We love she got to experience it.  

I picked her up and she was crying saying goodbye...so I was crying.  But, anyway, yay for AFY!

We sure have missed church programs and camps with the covid restrictions and we were over the moon that we got to plan and execute Youth Conference this year!!  We had an Olympic theme to pump us up for the world wide sporting event coming up.  The youth were split into teams (designated by color and bandana) 

and they competed and worked together as we camped and bonded. 

 

Katelee was on the blue team, Grant the red.  I don't know why Cameron was wearing Grant's bandana, he was on a different team, maybe so we could all have a more glorious view of Grant in his box braids.  I told him he looked exactly like Darla from Finding Nemo...I mean, its like his twin.  

We capped it off with a float down the Provo river-which was hilarious and freezing.  It was a (nearly) perfect Youth Conference.  It was so fun to be there with my oldest two kiddos-making those memories.  

We came home just in time for the fourth of July celebrations 

(like this sweaty parade- we got some free froyo coupons, so it was worth it)

I love our city during the summer- they put on the parade (that I try to not go to, usually due to the melty conditions), they host a Rodeo- we channeled our inner cow folk and cheered on the riders 

 and they have the best firework show.  We love having Paige and her family, Shannon and Grandma join us every year.  Grant had to work but he only had a few more shifts left  at his beloved Iceberg.  He would not refer to it as that, but we think it has been a great place of employment.  On to Target to check people out and grab those carts! Let's hope for a family discount, eh?

Brenna, Harrison and I visited the master fry maker on his last day and he gave us the royal treatment.

We spent some time in the mountains

 to beat the heat with some awesome cousins from AZ.

Brandon and Malia brought their family to stay with us and everyone had a blast.  We were hoping Sloane would love Dave as much as she did during spring break, but she has since changed her tune for him.  We will win her over next time! 

These two buds are only 3 weeks apart, so they have a lot of fun together!  Good thing Harry gets to visit Jack in July and they can spend even more time hanging.  

I love when my people want to spend time with me...sure it may have been because there were cousins or more exciting company, but I like to tell myself it was an opportunity to be with me they didn't want to pass up!  Ha!  Yea right, I know they are very busy with their social and work lives so I take every minute I can get.  

 

Braving new Territory

April and beginning of May brought us some new experiences.  We ventured out beyond our typical routine and had some fun adventures.  Brenna did her very first solo competition.  This means she got to dance a whole routine on stage at the competitions all by herself.  She worked one on one with a choreographer and killed it.    

The group dances at competitions are always a hoot,especially when your team is dressed up like mad scientists.   

Brenna also started a new dance technique- Ballet on Pointe shoes.  I can not fathom dancing on my tippy toes, but for a little ballerina like Brenna, it was a big day when she was fitted for them.  

Grant had a few new adventures- the top of which was exploring the Big Apple with his old man.  

We decided that when the kids have their sweet 16 birthday, they could choose a location for a one on one long weekend.  Grant decided he would like to explore New York City.  The trip had to be postponed from February until travel restrictions allowed, but just a few months later, they hit it up.  

They made it to Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, the 9/11 Memorial and museum, the Empire State building, pretty much all the essential tourist stops that you can fit in one long weekend. 

Every trip with David McArthur has a huge focus on the culinary aspect, so, of course, the fellas dined luxuriously and deliciously. 

I am sure the highlight for both of them was spending quality time together...as well as the store of tennis shoes.  Grant is a bit Nike obsessed and they happened upon a mecca of sneakers.  Dave said it was like stepping into heaven for our son.  

We are so glad they were able to pull the trip off! 

We have been so happy that we can meet as a youth group for activities.  We are still feeling like a new ward, so anytime we get to mingle is a good opportunity.  The oldest boys and girls class went thrift shopping and had to pick out something for someone else to wear.  Grant's outfit of choice (by one of his YM leaders) was this stunning evening gown.  

It was his first time wearing a formal dress...and hopefully the last.  Luckily, someone picked a pajama set for me, so I didn't have to deal with squeezing into my gown like Grant....it was so funny, though. 

Katelee has recently taken up a new sport-lacrosse.  We will see how she likes playing! 

Harrison started baseball.  While it isn't entirely new, he only played one season of coach pitch a couple of years ago, so we still felt like he was a rookie.  He is so lucky to be on the Phillies team.  They are so fun to watch and doing so well!

In true Harrison fashion, he entertained the entire crowd every game-from his pointing to me when he was going up to bat or running in, jumping for joy at each out his team got while in outfield, attempting to slide-while not really having any technique for it and just diving.  It has been pure joy watching him take up the sport...especially in moments like this when he got to stand in the pitcher's position...

I mean, safety first, of course.  Hahaha! 

It is just great that there are so many new adventures awaiting us in life.  There are so many people to meet, activities to try, traits to develop.  We are grateful for the routine and comfort of our everyday life, but novel experiences really add growth and spice to life.  New teeth (and wiggly teeth and gappy tooth smiles) are slightly frightening...but something I have come to accept, I mean we have no choice.  

I love that Easter celebrates the new every year.  It helps us reflect on being new people, not just seeking out the new entertainments.   We colored eggs, 

hid them around the yard and listened to a wonderful General Conference.  

Easter dinner 

we spent some moments discussing Christ and his Resurrection and how we become new through Him (also designing plates in to rabbit faces, apparently.)  Life doesn't have to be the same, we don't have to be the same.  That one of the greatest gifts.  

Spring has Sprung...and so have some Shingles

Finally out of quarantine, feeling hopeful with the fresh air, little flowers starting to burst, we started out the month of March.  I had been subbing and spent a day at the junior high in a PE class.  I have been strictly instructed to accept no jobs that would include Katelee and/or Grant's classes, so once I got the clearance, I hung out with some of Katelee's friends and got my sweat on with some neighborhood kids.  Things didn't go so well in one of the classes- those teenage boys did not appreciate me taking them out of the hand ball game and I believe retaliation came later to our house in the form of an egging...it was so bad!  Ok, so I really don't know if those unhappy students were the culprits-we first assumed it had to be someone mad at Grant (he had broken up with his girlfriend that week) but when our neighbors looked at their security cameras, it was definitely a group of youngins. Now our house has some permanent egg markings, but the good news is that the sulfur smell has finally disapated.

Anyway, I was so tired after subbing.  I started feeling really drained-walking up the stairs nearly required a brief lay down.  Soon after, I noticed a very tender rash on my side/rib cage.  I called my mom to ask how my dad's shingles looked, sent her a picture and sure enough I had been hit.  I had just had my second dose of the covid vaccine the week before and we are fairly certain the immune suppression and introduction of the protein triggered my chicken pox virus.  Shingles deserve no jingles.  

They are so exhausting!  Brian was in town for a visit, which was nice so he talked to me about the inner problems, the need to rest and I spent a few weeks really drained.  My horse pills helped and I mostly have recovered.  There are phantom pains like needles in my lungs, but hey, I can walk around and not fall to the ground in fatigue, so yay for that.  My family was so sweet and supportive- I got lots of texts and calls.  My favorite text was actually between my mom and Blake.  It read this, exactly.  "You are so welcome!" (a response to something before)...continued..."Love you! Kara has shingles."  No other elaboration, no explanation but really, none needed.

Luckily, I kept those painful bumps covered and only direct contact could be contagious, so the family still had a good month!  Dave took the older three for a ski/snowboard day.  They loved it.  It is yet to be determined if Harrison will get up the gumption to join them someday...he is pretty sure he will fall off of the mountain.  

After last year, there was no way we were letting Katelee's birthday get away from us.  We had barely been put on lockdown with Covid all over when her 13th birthday came around.  For fourteen, we had dinner,

 

presents (which included a new hairstyle- highlights and all)

lunch with dad and of course, cake.  

Our little Irish lassie is soooo great!  She has lots of friends and she likes to spend lots and lots of time with the lots of friends that she has!  Lagoon is getting ready to open, so she is postponing her friend gathering till the middle of April when the weather warms up and we can take them to Lagoon (drop them off, of course, she didn't invite me ;)  and then we will treat them to treats and dinner.  Katelee is sensitive and fun and smart as a whip.  She is a light and we love her so so much.  

Grant also had a big day in March- PROM!  He asked a friend from the swim team- Carlie.   

It was so fun to see him in a group with some of the neighborhood boys he has grown up with (Easton, Cameron, Cade Van Leeuwen.

They all looked dapper and adorable and so old!  It is crazy to think Grant is a prom man now.  Of course, he is not yet old enough to drive his date (or any other friends) so he didn't get to drive.  He isn't quite the old fellow he feels like he is.  Good thing Cameron is old enough, he could chauffer Grant and his date around.

They had such a great time!  

A lot of the boys in the group were from the swim team.  Grant had such a fun season.  We got to go to the end of the year banquet and honor all those great swimmers- especially those who got better, set records or were graduating.  Grant earned a few "prestigious" awards- "Participant Award" and "Energy Drink Award" Ha!  Not everyone could get school records.  At the end of the presentation, the girl who had the honor of being the "banana man" got up and had to talk about her job.  Being the "Banana Man" means the person who hypes everyone up-yes they bring bananas-but their focus is fun and building up the team.  She got to choose who the next Banana person would be and lo and behold, she chose Grant.  

We are so honored to have a Banana Man Son.  Grant really has had a great experience being on the team and we are so impressed that he is able to get up at 4:15am and get to practice.  I am pretty certain that would be a deal breaker for me with any team.  These kids are awesome!

The end of March we decided to hit the road for Spring Break and head to Arizona.  We haven't seen our down south family for too long.  We stopped in Las Vegas on the way.  We spread the kids all over when we got there- a couple at Brent and Kimberly's, a couple at Brandon and Malia's and we stayed with Russell and Lisa.  

Number one on our list was to spend some time with Grandma and Grandpa.  

Mission Accomplished!! 

Everyone met up for dinner when we got there.  Anna came to town too- so we had even more family to see! The boys spent some time at breakfast, the adult ladies went to lunch, Dave and the older three tried out an Escape Room at Alcatraz...which Max solved for everyone.  

It is just always good to see everyone.  Even Sloane was happy we were there!  Actually, she wasn't happy to see anyone but Dave.  For some reason, she was all about her Uncle David.  It was a mystery to us all! 

Our visit coincided with Carl's birthday so we got to sing to the birthday boy.  

Everyone gathered for a little get together- of course there were party hats.  

Carl is pretty much the greatest ever.  We are thankful for every year he is on this planet!  Here's to 83!  (I think that I have his age right!)

Six of the  McArthur 8 were able to be there.  While they missed Amy and Serena, it is a big day to be able to have that much McArthur blood in one room!  

We attempted a cool kid/teenage photo shoot that just looked wrong on us over 25!!  HA!  But it did have us laughing- and asking for help to roll us off the ground. 

After we had to say goodbye, we decided to spend some more time in Nevada.  We stopped at the Hoover Dam.  There were no tours going on, but it was pretty cool to see...and hot...so hot.  

We thought we'd take in some LV sights- we tried to swim at the pool 

of our resort, but you had to make reservations and they had limited capacity.  So we were able to do that for a whole 15 min.  Plus, there were legit mask police walking around...even while at the pool, if the mask was not on, you were out.  We tried to go to the M&M store and it had a line down the street, no thank you-not worth waiting for in the heat.  Every one had to be spread out, so people couldn't just go in.  We did make it to the Hershey's store, so yay!

We saw some scantily clad ladies with big feather headdresses and Brenna turned to me proposing the idea that maybe she should do that when she gets older.  She claimed we always tell her she needs attention and that would get it!  She was spot on there, attention getter- maybe not the kind we want to encourage.  Good thing she was joking...or was she?

Buffets were not up yet, so we had to splurge on the BlackTap shakes instead.  They are always a treat to the eye! 

Truthfully, we decided we'd had our lifetime fill of Las Vegas.  After we had been home a couple of days, Harrison was getting out of the shower.  He had yet to put on a shirt, and he just had on his little undies.  He gave himself a little wedgie so his little cheeks were hanging out.  He started this swaying walk around his room and turned to me saying, "Look, I'm a girl from Las Vegas."  Yea, I think he's had his fair share of the city.  

We got home just in time for Easter, but these little kiddos practiced their bunny hop while altogether.  

It was a much needed break, especially after the shingles and an egging...thankfully there is no PTSD and we can still color eggs and eat the chocolate ones.  I am just going to second guess my ability to discipline middle schoolers at PE.