Staying Busy

 Since we've been home from Utah, the kids have wanted to spend more time on the screen than ever.  Every waking minute from morning until night, all three have their devices in front of their faces.  So, I've tried to give them plenty to occupy their time.  We have our chore jar from which they're required to choose several each day, our list of daily summer school assignments, piano practice, and a million backyard games, including new soccer goals and a new ball.  I've also planned lots of fun activities to keep the kids out of the house.  Christian also has soccer.  Bella also has art and saxophone classes.  Benjamin also has band practice and mowing jobs. They all have church activities.

This water table is Peter's birthday present.  He doesn't turn 2 for another week, but I saw no reason to delay giving it to him since he doesn't understand birthdays and we're not having a party anyway.  He's loved playing in it and it's been fun for others to join him at it.  I thought it would eliminate his desire to constantly play with the water dispenser in the fridge, but it hasn't.  We still have a lake in our kitchen on a daily basis.  This kid just loves water.

We got a summer membership to the Rec Center and I've been taking full advantage.  One evening this week I dragged the whole family to the rock climbing wall.  Everyone complained but ended up having a great time.  I was too busy with Peter to get any pictures except this one of Bella coming back down.  The rope ladder was her favorite part.

Christian is often a good sport about coming to the playground with me and Peter.  I love having his help and his company.  This day two day camps came to the park at the same time and he was completely overwhelmed, so he spent most of the time in the car with his rubik's cube, but he did come out from time to time to play with Peter.  I was amazed Peter did as well as he did.  His social anxiety has really gone away since we spent so much time with the family in Utah.  It's wonderful to see. He smiles, engages with people, waves, and isn't nervous when others run around in his space.  He's come so far in such a short time.

Kelly bought a float for pulling behind a speedboat to use at scout camp and we decided to test it on the lake as a floating island.  It was amazing.  We climbed on and jumped off, ate snacks on it, and had a great time.  It was really fun for Peter to have a safe place to rest too.  However, he really was happiest in the water.  Benjamin was there too, but he was the photographer.

We've also repeatedly invited friends to the trampoline park with us and have made the most of our month pass.  Peter loved playing with Benjamin the most today.  It's fun to have a tall big brother who can make you feel like you're flying on the trampoline.  He would take him from one block, bounce him once on the tramp, and then fly him over to the next block again and again.  Peter loved it.

Next week the older two kids have week long church camps so that'll be good for them.  Christian and I will likely head to the zoo and the rec center during the week.  We'll see how 

A Few More Utah Pictures

Jill sent me the pictures she took during our trip and I want to post some of them here. She had pictures of trips I didn't have, such as Lagoon (she's a rockstar for taking 8 kids to Lagoon alone), the party at Kyler's, swimming at Julia's, and more motorcycling and boating because I stayed behind.  I'm much more of a running/biking person than a speedboat/motorcycle person.  I love looking at all the pictures of the kids having so much fun with cousins.  They all get along so well.  It's so wonderful to see.  She even got one of me paddle boarding!  Proof I did it!  Jill was the only one around at the time to verify. :)

Roadtrip to Utah

 Covid put a stop to our trips to Utah, but finally this summer we were able to make the trip again.  It's always a long and arduous journey, made even longer this time by Peter.  He was great on the way there, but he'd definitely had enough by the time we drove home.  Those 27 hours were too much for all of us and he showed his displeasure with long hours of crying.  We survived, though, and it was worth it.  It never ceases to amaze me how the kid can go years without seeing cousins and then as soon as they get together, they pick up as if no time has passed.  I sooo wish all the cousins lived closer!  This trip we rock climbed, played in rivers, motorcycled, boated, paddle boarded, swam, played on Kyler's giant slip-and-slide, hiked, played soccer on my old cross-country course, rode the new train system from Bountiful to Salt Lake City and around downtown, visited Temple Square to see all the construction on the temple, made lots of visits to friends and family, went to outdoor concerts, visited the wildlife nature preserve where my mom volunteers, and went to a family reunion where we met a whole new set of family members we never knew existed!  That was so fun.  Can't wait to spend more time with all my new cousins that I just met!  Utah is beautiful, but we all agreed that other than proximity to family, we'd chose Michigan over Utah every time.  It felt good to be home and the weather this past week has been amazing!  High 70s and not too humid.  So pleasant after the sweltering 100s we had in Utah the whole time we were there.

This week we've been enjoying the weather by spending lots of time outside.  Look at this kid walking up the slide without help!  He's getting so big.

We also went to Defy, an indoor trampoline park with some friends. Their dad is going through chemo so I offered to take the kids for a fun day of jumping and pizza at our favorite pizza place.  The kids all had a great time, especially Peter.  He loves trampolines!  No fear.