Boys' Trip to Vegas and Lagoon Day!

I wasn't there for most of these pictures, so you'll have to enjoy them without the benefit of my narration. Memorial Day weekend, Scott and his brothers took a road trip to Vegas to see one of Ryan's favorite bands, Blink 182. At the last minute, Scott talked them into staying and seeing Paul Simon on Sunday evening and then driving through the night to get home for Lagoon Day. They did it! Way to Seize the Day, boys!

Scott was watching a documentary or something on the Lincoln Center and how it was designed, and sending me pictures. He is the coolest.

I had to remind Scott hos cute I was while he was gone. Ha ha. I think that was right before I lost my glasses. Hmm.

He was reading this at the pool, determined to relax and not end up wandering the Strip.

They ate good food, stayed in a nice place and saw two good concerts.

I was a little worried about the guys driving through the night, but I was also tired. So I turned off my phone and went to sleep. They did, indeed, make it home at about 6 am. Scott took a nap, and then it was time to go to Lagoon! We told the kids that if they earned $50, they could get a season pass. Ptolemy, always excited and enthused about everything, literally ran outside that day and sold lemonade. He made over thirty dollars!! People were just pulling over and handing him money! He ended up earning even more with subsequent ventures, but Tziporah only made ten dollars. I mean, she's six. Xanthe had birthday money. Vilina didn't want to earn money. I decided that, since Freestone had ballet anyway, I would sit out Lagoon Day and we could use that extra fifty bucks to buy Tziporah's season pass. I felt kinda left out, but it was also secretly nice to have the day to work at my store and get caught up. And I spent Lagoon Day Eve with the family, so I was all caught up. Scott had a blast with the kids. Considering that the guys drove through the night, they were all good sports and had a fun day.

Araceli works at PV Photos, Truman Carver's old time photo shop in Pioneer Village. A random assortment of Dopp and Taylor cousins got this funny photo.

Clint's sister Angie

Meanwhile, Freestone

The girls and their photo poses are hilarious.

It rained. I dropped off jackets to the fam. Araceli and her friends met me at the front gate to get them, bless their hearts. Araceli's friends are always part of things. She is so social, always surrounded by people.

Another successful Lagoon Day, and a Vegas trip for extra credit!

May Stuff

It’s true. I get a little freaked out when summer is coming. This is how that manifested itself this time. It’s like trying to prepare for a tsunami. You can do things, but you’re no match for that wall of water. I’m terrified. My friend Tiffany reminded me that summer is my favorite time, a fact I always forget. That is true, but this summer will be our maddest yet. Vilina, Sofia, (!!!!) Rhys, Mac, (dancers) Frank and who know who else will be coming and going. Freestone has four ballet intensives. He and I will be in Cincinnati most of July. The kids have Lagoon and Cherry Hill passes, and we have trips for various reasons to Bear Lake, San Francisco, Denver, Nashville, two cross-country drives, Jackson Hole and Rexburg. And the music store. I’ll stop there. I’m already overwhelmed with the logistics. I’m sure it will be an epic summer. It just takes a superhuman amount of planning.

Freestone had a date to the BW Choreographic Festival. He’s such a good kid, it doesn’t seem like a big deal when he asks us to drive him to North Ogden to hang out with a girl or get him some $50 tickets to the ballet. (That he paid for.)

Tziporah was my music store model, showing my Instagram followers how kids want to look at screens all summer when they should really be taking ukulele classes. She is so darn adorable! Kindergarten is officially my favorite age. I just try to soak it all in. I love having her around! She's so cut I can hardly stand it. I just listen to her little voice and try to remember every detail.

6th grade Lagoon Day. Xanthe is so responsible, I forget to parent her sometimes. She is turning out to be such a wonderful teen. She loved 6th grade Lagoon Day. She even went back later that night with Izzy.

This happens in our kitchen at night. Weird craziness. Freestone demonstrating a distorted version of Czardas, one of his recital pieces.

Acro yoga with Don Carlos

Abby’s farewell! Ruby gave her this journal, made by Lexie, for her mission. I wish Ruby could have been here for the farewell.

Abby is going to Argentina, so she and Ruby will be able to speak Spanish together. Abby gave a brilliant talk. She is an incredible person, and we’re lucky to have her in our lives.

Emily Major got her call the next day. Melbourne, Australia!

Golda, Abby, Kara Frazier, Olivia Perry, Emily Major and Melanie Cottle

After Abby's farewell, I ran to our church to play in Relief Society. Funny story: Ruby's mission posted a video this week of some of the Spanish-speaking sisters singing I Know That My Redeemer Lives. It made me miss Ruby! On Saturday, a woman came into the store looking for some music she could give her grandson for his mission. She sat down at the piano and started playing, and it was I Know the My Redeemer Lives. It reminded me of Ruby, and tears were just springing out of my eyeI had to pull myself together befoer she saw me. I thought of it as a little message just for me that God knew I was missing Ruby.  Sunday morning, I got a text saying, "Thanks for ding this." Uh oh! I had forgotten that I had told the teacher I would play...I Know that My Redeemer Lives! Ha ha. All week, God was hitting me over the head trying to remind me that I was supposed to play in church, and I was oblivious Ha ha. The whole RS got a kick out of it when I told them the story.

After church, we celebrated Abe’s birthday and Bill’s 56th anniversary of practicing law. He is a warrior. My dad does everything with absolute integrity. I'm proud of him.

Coco knows how to relate to Araceli.

Love these two!

Happy 9th birthday, Abe! We're so lucky to have Abe as a good friend to Ptolemy.

Iver is quite possibly the happiest, sweetest baby ever.

Sunday night, Scott and I escaped to The Ranch. It’s heavenly to be able to get some mental space. When we got in the car, Scott said, “OK. What do you want to talk about? What DON’T you want to talk about?” It’s hard to get a chance to talk at home. We’re both busy running businesses, and there is ALWAYS a kid or ten around. 6 am, 11 pm, always. We got up to the Ranch so early, around 5, that we were restless by 8:30 and drove into town for a burger at Wasatch Brew Pub on Main Street. We are pitiful at relaxing. Or maybe just so good at it, that we do it quickly and move on to the next thing, which, if that means a great burger, how can we lose?

Monday, Tziporah passed her kindergarten end of level testing. I’m assuming.

Freestone’s art assignment was to paint a rock to represent himself. Yep, it's the end of the school year. We're all just hanging on by a thread. Actually, I haven't really noticed the end-of-year vibes. I guess I just have my head down trying to get endless lists of things done while looking around once in awhile to take in the beautiful life I have been given.