Summer So Far

Oh, what a summer it has been! The month of June we mostly stuck around home besides a couple of camps for the kids, but now we are entering July we will be traveling quite a bit!

Some fun happenings so far this summer: 

• Cate played a summer basketball league with her high school team. Two practices a week, and a two round robin games both Tuesday and Thursday. It was delightful watching her game improve so much. Also seeing her bond with her teammates was incredibly sweet.
• On the topic of Cate, every morning she met up with the Cross Country team for summer runs. She is starting out the season in a pretty good spot, pacing her 80% miles at 6:50 minutes. Her highlight was running with some choir friends and singing “Carol of the Bells” in harmonies, ha!
• Johnny and William have spent plenty of time with their friends, the Cummings, who are back in town for the summer. Lots of swimming, Fortnite and silliness; all with Matthew in tow.
• Johnny kayaked the Rogue River with John one afternoon.
• Cate went on a daddy/daughter date with John and they practiced driving for a long time.
• Johnny went to Deacons camp. He rafted the Rogue, did some Axe throwing, pulled some pranks, went on hikes, and went to the temple.
• Every Wednesday, we pick up Johnny’s friend, Lucas and head to do baptisms at the temple.
• Matthew and William participated in football camp.
• I’ve made a goal to play a game with Matthew every day this summer, which is his favorite past time.
• Library runs!
• John and I motorcycled through the Applegate, and met up with our friends the Nevilles, for pizza. 
• Emma is in heaven toddling after her siblings all day long. 
• John has donated two cars in the charity and is currently working on a bus that was donated, hoping to sell it to raise some funds to fix donated cars. 
• John has been interviewing for foreign details to different countries for the year.
• Cate and I got to go to Girls Camp together. It was such an amazing experience to share! I love connecting with women from the stake.
• John took the boys and their friends to mill creek falls. 
• Spencer and Katelyn came to visit with cute baby James.
• The Cummings had a summer bash with inflatables and snow cones!
• We’ve made lots and lots of cookie batches. 
• John and I have been doing morning runs together.
• William gave his first sacrament meeting talk. 
• Our Venezuelan friends came and made arepas with us one Sunday. John was in heaven.
• The kids have gone boating a few times with youth groups and friends. 
• Matthew’s friend, Brooks got baptized!
• We went and played on the River and jumped off boulders into a watering hole, then picnicked with friends. 

All in all, it has been such a fun and packed summer and I have really enjoyed spending more time together as a family. I love seeing my kids together and we spend a lot of time laughing and talking and it definitely fills my bucket!