Summer Wrap-Up

We had an extra long summer this year, and we packed every moment of it.

Stephen came out for a visit!  While he was here we planned a surprise party for Jill's 30th birthday.  We had it down at Huntington Beach with a bunch of friends.  Of course, you can never pull of a surprise party without a little bit of suspicion, but I think we did a pretty good job of truly surprising her.  We made her a little book where each family member wrote a list of 30 things they love about Jill--it was pretty awesome.  We had a great time celebrating how much we love her!

Grandma and Grandpa Brooks and Uncle Stephen took Andrew on a little overnight trip to see the caves in Ohio.  They went fishing, but it was boiling hot so that didn't last long.  Good things it was nice and cool (cold even!) in the caves.  Andrew loved it and had a great time.

It was so nice to have all of us together. We love it when Stephen can come out to visit us!

After Stephen left, we went blueberry picking for the first time.  Some of us could not stop picking the berries, even those who don't personally eat them.  We ended up with an obscene amount, but they freeze well!  We made some freezer jam and Leah made her first pie!

 Our ward organized a community service project.  We split up and went to homes of senior citizens in the area to do whatever service they needed done.  My mom and I were with the young women and we ended up at the home a a sweet lady, Mrs. Norris.  We helped her clean out a storage room and then cleared some branches and vines from the back of her house.  We had a great time.  The girls did a great job making work into something fun, and Mrs. Norris was so appreciative of our help.  It turned out to be quite a memorable experience for all of us.

We were so excited to have the Flemings come out to visit us!  The kids love being together.  They played endless games of Bang.  We also took the kids to the beach where they made a huge city out of sand.  We have been taking the cousins to the beach since before many of them were even born and they once again had a great time together.  We also ate a ton delicious food because we wanted them to experience our Cleveland favorites--Brown Bag Burger, Slyman's, and Mitchell's.  And of course we had to make pizza and wings!  It was so nice to have the cousins together again--for probably the last time for a while as Tyler and Zack will be heading off to college and missions next year.

Once the Flemings left, it was time to get serious about the end of summer.  We made a bucket list and were able to cross of pretty much all of it!

The girls and me on our 3-mile hike!

One last important event of the summer was Emma's purchase of a new flute.  It was a pretty pricey investment, and Emma is required to pay for half.  She was so happy the day it came in.  She called it her baby...and since the new Royal Prince had just been born, he became the flute's namesake.  We christened it George Alexander Louis, and Emma loves it.  She takes her flute playing seriously and is very talented.  We are hoping this new instrument will take her through college and beyond.

It really was a nice, long summer.  We enjoyed the extra time off school...and we were ready for the first day when it finally came!

Story of her life.

If it's summer, it means Brooke is in the Fairview Park Fine Arts and Theater Association's summer musical. This year she recruited Macey to try out with her. They both landed roles in "Shrek the Musical"...Brooke as the Mad Hatter and Macey as the White Rabbit.

The girls had a great time.  There is such a great group of kids and they all just form such strong friendships so fast.  I guess that's not surprising, considering there are 4-5 hour long rehearsals every night!

The production was fabulous.  Everyone gave it their all, worked through difficult situations, and came back stronger than ever for the final night.

Brooke was part of the number "Let Your Freak Flag Fly" which was just so appropriate for her.  It was great to see her let loose (like we never get to see that at home...) and have a ball dancing and singing on stage.

We were so grateful for all the family who can to support our stars!

This girls were attached at the hip all summer. 

Another great experience on the stage for our budding actress!

Top 10 reasons why the Historic Kirtland 5K might in fact be the happiest 5K on the planet.

1. It was free.

2. Macey ran with us!

3. Cast members from "This is Kirtland" were there to sing the National Anthem and cheer us on.

4. And then they actually said an opening prayer before the race started.

5. Stephen was in town and was willing to tag along to be our personal photographer.

6. This hill, although it looks harmless here, was a real killer.  But at the top we got to run around the Kirtland Temple.  And then we got to fly back down the hill.

7.  Emma and Leah won first and second place in their age division!

 

8. We did not, in fact, die from the extreme heat.

 

9. It inspired me to take the girls back out to Kirtland later to see the play.

10. We passed a McDonald's on the way there and a Burger King on the way home, which of course both had 50¢ cones, and of course we had to taste-test both.  

All because of the Historic Kirtland 5K.  Now THAT is happiness.

Bad, Bad News Bears

Once again, Andrew got the short end of the stick in the baseball team department.  It was like nothing I've ever seen.  The throwing, the fielding, the batting--or lack thereof--was mind-blowing.  And poor Andrew.  It was so frustrating for him.  He ended up playing catcher for most of the season.  He did a good job there, but wasn't his favorite.  Mostly it was a matter of endurance.  Enduring each play, each game, and the whole season.

We were grateful to have family and friends supporting Andrew.  His Primary teacher and her cute family came to see Andrew play and it ended up raining super hard.  Elyse loved cheering Andrew on!

Shockingly, there was no post-season for this team this year, but the boys still celebrated (that it was finally over?) at Mitchell's.

One of these days, I just know Andrew will get to play on a team that matches his skills.  Hopefully sooner than later...

I love to see the temple.

Glenn and I got to go down to the Columbus Temple with the youth in our ward.  This time was special because it was my first time going down with Brooke, my parents were there, and we had some family names.

When we were ready to leave, we discovered it was pouring down rain.  Inside the temple we had no idea the storm was raging outside.  I loved the symbolism--the temple can protect us from the storms of life as well.  We find peace and safety in temple attendance.

On the way home, we of course had to stop at HomeTown Buffet.  The kids all die over the orange chicken.  I keep telling myself this is NOT the real reason they like to go on temple trips...

Once again, it was such a privilege to be in the presence of these youth.  They never cease to amaze me.  Can't wait until Andrew gets to join us next time...

Fabulous 4th.

After an amazing barbeque with the family, we weren't sure if the weather was going to hold.  No one felt like sitting in the rain.  But since the Public Square concert earlier in the week was rained out, we all really wanted to see some fireworks.  So we decided to risk it.  The weather ended up being perfect, so different from the sweltering heat from last year.  The kids played football and frisbee, Callie kept us entertained with her dancing and then nearly got plowed over by some oblivious boys, and once the sun went down we broke out the glow sticks/necklaces/bracelets.  The city of Westlake always puts on a great fireworks show, and this year did not disappoint.  Another fun day celebrating our wonderful country!

Girls, girls, girls, that's all we see...

This year's girls camp was by far my favorite.  And it wasn't because we had perfect, cool, beautiful weather.  Because we didn't.  We had hot, humid, stormy weather.  It wasn't because the bugs completely left us alone.  Because they didn't.  They were everywhere, biting, stinging, nagging.

But there were so many reasons to love it.

I loved it because I saw someone with enormous obstacles in her life finally find a voice. 

I loved it because the girls all look so cute with their hair in braids.

 I loved it because I saw older girls setting examples for the younger ones. 

 I loved it because I saw new friendships form.  Fast.

I loved it because the girls got to make memories together.

 

I loved it because there were wonderful women there who helped nurture and teach my daughters.

I loved it because I gained a stronger testimony of the priesthood.

I loved it because I knew that, despite the huge storms and the texts from worried parents back home, we were safe.

 I loved it because the girls learned how to share their beliefs with others.

I loved it because the girls gained confidence in learning new skills.

I loved it because I got to be in a room where Joseph Smith received revelation from Jesus Christ, in a home he was dragged out of in the middle of the night, tarred and feathered, and then stood on the front step the next morning to preach a sermon. 

 

I loved it because Emma, Leah, and Becca were finally initiated as YCL's (youth camp leaders).

I loved it because I never tire of the beauty we see on the hike.

I loved it because all of my daughters were there with me.  And my sister.  And my sister-in-law.  And two of my nieces.  And my mom and other sister came up to visit.  We've never all been at girl's camp together.

I loved it because I saw beautiful, strong, virtuous young women learning, growing, working, laughing, and crying together.  There is such power in being with so many others who GET you, and I am so glad my daughters had that experience.  I know that we are daughters of God.  And at girl's camp, in spite (or maybe because) of the difficulties and trials, that's where you feel it most of all.