Summer Shenanigans

I feel like a tsunami came crashing into my life 2 months ago and I'm trying to come up for air. Between school and COVID and produce in my garden and a Primary program and planning for a vacation and tennis matches . . . I'm ready for that vacation. 

Last year we really took precautions with COVID and school. This year has been a whole 'nother story. We've had so many staff out and with a lack of substitutes, we start pulling from wherever we can. Which means I have often had no lunch breaks or planning time because my aids have been pulled out of my class to attend somewhere else. I've had students gone A LOT!! It's pretty typical for me to have 4 or 5 students gone every day. I'm beginning to wonder if last year's "online" Friday (which we really a 3-day weekend) got parents used to missing school. I feel the weekend now begins Wednesday afternoon which is our short day.

AND on top of all that the state threw all K-3 teachers into a 2-year program revolving around reading. We have been required every week to finish one course of our FIRST 8-week module (there are 8 modules total). This includes reading the book, watching the course online (this is no sit-and-do-something-else-while-it-plays), and then practicing it in the classroom. It takes me anywhere from 1.5 to 3 hours a week of outside school time to complete. AND if I don't? Well, there's a good chance I won't have a job if I want to teach K-3. I was very excited to be apart of this training; teaching reading is my passion; I just didn't know how intensive it would be. I feel for teachers who have too much going on outside of school to keep up. I've literally been thrown back into school but without my say-so this time.

Now for a massive catch-up.

Swim Lessons for Alex: He missed last year due to COVID and I really wanted him to be a better swimmer. I signed him up for some private lessons and I couldn't believe how far he came with his comfort in the water.

Girls Hawaii Trip: We had planned this for last year to coincide with Angie's 40th birthday, but, like so many other plans, those got waylaid because of COVID. Even still, I had to get a negative COVID test and wear a mask on the plane despite being fully vaccinated. This trip was so much fun. There just isn't a better way to create stronger relationships than living and eating with people for a few days. It gives you time for some deep talks and bonding. I also learned something about myself. I have always thought the best vacation would be a beach and a book. Well, it came true with this vacation and I was done with the beach after about 3 hours. I am more of a mountain girl with her hammock and a book.

We hiked and shopped and boogeyboarded. We even rooted on our Utah Jazz from afar watching their playoff games while eating out or in our room. We visited Grandma Julie's old stomping grounds from the time she spent 6 months attending BYU-Hawaii and living with my Uncle Johnny.

Gardening: My summer gardening theme comes from a hymn, "Today while the sun shines, work with a will." With our ongoing drought and high temperatures and water shortages, I've been rethinking my grass and how to cut grass out. This has been the summer of new planting beds and moving sprinkler heads. We also had 20 yards of compost delivered. I've slowly been working that into my beds. I got about half done before the school crazy hit. We also had Erik move some dirt for us since he had access to one of those nifty machines. He even let Alex try it out. Tyler has been the president of the Tooele County Master Gardeners Association, a role he kind of got thrown into. Sadly, USU who is tied to the association has decided it's time to split ways. They have disbanded and so this tight group of gardeners is trying to figure out ways to keep their activities and funding going. Tyler is to be the last presidente.

Alex: Alex had a birthday party for his 11th. He also has started a YouTube channel with Ian called The Cousins where they make little videos with the help of Erik showing him how to edit the videos. Their latest video involved Tanner and Logan, his other cousins, and can be viewed here.

Tennis and Pickleball Tournaments: Erik signed up for his real tennis tournament. He also plays tennis several times a week. He started school at USU and is loving it. He's joined the club team up there and keeps winning all his matches. He spent the summer working for Beehive Broadband and hanging with friends, painting a lot of the time.

Pickleball: Alex and I played pickleball just about every morning at the new courts in Stansbury. I managed to beat him once. For Ty's birthday we got a net for our sport court and our own racquets (we always used Erik's).

Uintahs: The plan was to backpack this year. But with rain forecasted and not being able to make fires (there's that drought again), we chose to make it a day hike. We hiked and fished and got caught in a downpour on our way out.

Ears Pierced: Ash got her ears pierced and went to girls camp. She pretty much worked her entire summer and played a little tennis and hung out with friends.

Races: Tyler has been running for over a year now and is up to 5 miles. Yay for him! We entered two races: 4th of July and 24th of July. Erik ran the Temple to Temple race with us (24th) and about killed himself proving to his dad that he could beat a certain time. The kid doesn't run and his legs began to cramp badly when he finished. But he did it! Under 20. Alex scootered his way through with cousins.

Family Reunion: We hosted a family reunion for my mom and her sisters. COVID was on the rise so we weren't sure who was coming, but it turned out to be better than expected. I saw cousins I haven't seen for quite awhile.

Ollie Time: Ollie got to hang with us for a few days this summer.

Nate: And lastly, Nate. Nate is doing well. I did finally get some photos. He's been in downtown Denver being a trainer and district leader. He tells me that it took him 8 months to figure out what being a missionary was all about and now he just can't get enough of it. He hit his year mark and will be home next year. Australia is pretty much out of the picture, but he says he wouldn't want to start all over again figuring out a new area. And his mission president has played a big part in his life up to this point. We sure miss that boy!