Last week of Summer

Eclipse viewing

We didn't get to drive to SC to see totality. It was kind of a bummer. Noah was sick and I just didn't feel good about leaving him home for the day while the rest of us went. Seeing the eclipse  still fun. We ended up driving quickly north and west of home as clouds came in and a thunderstorm over our house. We watched first from a cemetery in Madison and then from the Wal Mart parking lot in Mebane when clouds covered the cemetery view too. Cool stuff! Krispy Kreme had chocolate glazed donuts to celebrate the eclipse. They actually were gross, way too sweet, but fun to get on our adventure! We did decide that in 2024 we are all going to drive to Ohio to see totality ;) Boys will be 17 so maybe we actually will. I really, really want to see totality!

 

Last picture is of Luke fishing at the Dogett's pond. We met Jane at the Farmer's Market and she said the kids are welcome to fish, have to have an adult which is kind of a bummer. I totally would let him go by himself if they would. He has only caught little bass so far, but Jane told us there are huge ones in there, also big catfish. I guess someone in the family used to stock it regularly and you are supposed to take over a 100 lbs of fish out every year! So we told her we would start bringing home what we catch, even the little stuff to feed to the chickens. Luke ordered a new pole online and was excited about trying it out. It got caught in a bush and broke in 2 places, was a huge bummer. We are going to see if the company will let him return it, not sure since it was user error.

He and I were at the last Farmer's Market yesterday morning. We have sold almost all of the honey we were hoping to! One of the organizers of the market and another farmer found out that Luke was there trying to make enough for a new pole, they are both local men from here in Summerfield. It was a super slow day, not many customers at all. At the end of the morning as we were packing up they called Luke over and gave him $15 each and said that a boy needs a fishing pole. I thanked them, as did Luke, lots of times. So many good people in the world. I wanted to tell them no, one is a fire fighter and one a farmer, both with young families. I think they are probably less financially secure then we are, but felt like we should just accept gratefully. I did tell them Luke had been praying to make enough and in "Southern speak"thanked them for being Godly men. When this world seems so crazy and out of control with hatred and anger, I want to remember how full our world is with good men and women who love and serve and create peace and love in their lives with the Savior's teachings.

Girls Camp

 Maxie B's was before camp! Every time the Cobia's come back to visit I remember just how much I ADORE them and it makes me miss them all over again. Starting at the left is Mariah, Alena (the only pic I have seen of this child where she is not making a weird face is the family picture hanging on the Cobia's wall, cracks me up!) Sophie, Grace, Nicky, Leslie & Noelle. Jen was not quite back with her cake yet. The Cobia/Hardy Maxie B's date has become a tradition.  If I remember right this was only the 2nd day the girls had been back from Saudi Arabia and they were freaking out about how good the cake was ;)

It was soo hot. I think it is my last Girl's Camp for a while - the heat was hard for me this year. Probably because we had AC in the cabins and going into the cool air periodically does not acclimate  you to the horrid, muggy heat when you are outside! Seriously - mid 90 degree temps with humidity in the 80's-90's also. Now I'll stop complaining - because Girls Camp is awesome and I did have fun. Our ward was camping by ourselves this year and I loved it. The girls bonded from spending so much time together - fun stuff, spiritual stuff, silly stuff. 

I can't believe that Grace & Sophie are 2nd year campers already. I was in charge of the 1st year girls - we had fun. When our trail cleaning/marking was done during service time I took them down to the Haw River to play. Most of them had not been in a river before and were nervous about snakes, etc. It was funny to me because these 6 girls were so loud, I'm sure any wild life within 5 miles of us had left long before we got there!

 

Sophie, Mariah, Grace & Echo Ide

I am so glad to get a picture of Echo with the girls, even if it is a funny one. What a blessing she has been to Grace and Sophie! She has reached out and included them from their first day in YW. She is fun and smart and relaxed and has a strong testimony. She is going to be missed!

Farmer's Market & stuff...

The kid's first farmers market. They did so well - sold almost everything we brought!

This picture of the boys we used to advertise on Facebook to come to the Farmer's Market. This year for the first time I planted flowers in a 4 foot strip right in the middle of the garden. It has been SO amazing to see them grow so well. The sunflowers are enormous! And beautiful, and I have fallen in love with Black Eyed Susans. They grow really well here and I didn't know! Most of the flowers are perennials. I ordered some lavender plants that were developed for the south.  Lavender do not like humidity at all - they are doing so well! Will bloom next year.

Sophie got braces this week. I think she looks so much older in them! The salt water pool at girl's camp turned her lavender hair blueish gray - she like it.

Happy 4th of July

 We drove to Mt. Airy for the 4th again this year and watched the parade in exactly the same spot as last year! I love the store behind us, each of the 2 times I have been there I have found something unique and fun to buy that was inexpensive. Small town 4th of July is just fun. It is a little over an hour to drive, but so relaxed and low key. The parade is full of antique tractors and cars, politicians, military, kids groups, etc. My favorite is the family that dances down the road in the parade. I guess each year they have a huge family reunion in Mt. Airy. They all wear matching T-shirts and dance to cool music. Even the Grandmas and Grandpas boogie a little here and there - it's fun.

Mt. Airy is the birthplace and hometown of Andy Griffith. Mayberry was based on it. We cracked up at this water! Luke planned all week to make a dessert for the 4th. Such an awesome kid!

A few more Utah pictures...

Utah Trip 2017

While the kids stayed with Craig and Dessa, Jason and I went to Park City for a work event. Jason had lots of meetings, I had lots of time hiking. It was amazing and so rejuvenating. I added the picture below only because it was the first afternoon and I took off above our hotel. So, so amazing. The hotel was deluxe, nicer then I have ever stayed in. Jason and I ate good food, hiked and hiked and drove over Guardsman's pass several times.

 

 
After Park City we all went to Soldier Creek to the Hardy cabin. The first few days with the Hardy family were cold, it even snowed a few times!

 

 I love this picture of Craig and Dessa with all of their Grandkids!

 The girls and I went down to Provo one day. We went to the Bean Museum with the Kroebers and Fairbanks. It was more fun then Grace & Sophie expected. Ice cream cones from the BYU Creamery were a hit too. The girls and I went to the art museum and then to Cafe Rio for lunch. Linds and Heather and their kids were still there! The Smiths then all gathered at the cabin. Weather warmed up. Fishing did not get better. We went on an amazing hike along the Strawberry River.

 Mom and Dad, Polly, Hardy's, Mortenson's - Kate and Anna, Pikes, Kroebers and Fairbanks all at the cabin! It was crazy and fun and a lot of Smiths running around!

This is Grace's dress Briella is wearing. It has been passed down through many cousins. I think it has survived from only being worn on Sundays occasionally. Makes me smile!

Cousins. There is something special about cousins. I love this picture, and all these crazy boys!

Bayden, Kenan, Talus, Elijah, Issac, Noah & Luke

Happy 13th Birthday Grace & Sophie

It is hard to believe my girls are 13! I'm only a month late on posting this....Sophie's outfit cracks me up, I think she said to just take pics from the waist up...I love that you can see Grace's dimple so well. We had fun making these unicorn cakes. If you don't look really closely they are a huge success!

I had to add a few random pictures from this year. I have been so inconsistent about blogging I have a lot of them!

The day we got new chicks. I love that my 13 year old girls are still so captivated by them. 

This is Bella. She is Sophie's favorite chick and got carried around a lot on her shoulder. Sophie made diapers out of socks from a video she saw online. When the chicks were older Bella got pecked badly by the other chickens. I was in Utah, Sophie nursed her back to health in the garage. Bella is still missing feathers on the back of her head and neck but is finally doing ok being with the other chickens. Poultry hospital in the garage is stinky....happy she is better!

 
  The girls got roped into being line officials at one of the boys football games this fall. They were forced to pay attention and finally learned how the game works, mostly. The head official from the Y was super patient with them. The most unlikely football officials ever!

 May 4th, 2017

May the Fourth be with you...