I know it's not officially or technically summer, but it's summer break for sure. While we haven't done a ton, I still feel like we've been really busy thus far! We have a bit of a reprieve this week, and then have a crazy next 3 weeks following that (well for Emmy and I because we have YW camp one week - after that the whole fam will have a fun week at Mack's Inn/Yellowstone and then camps for the kids at OFY (boys) and BYU gym camp (girls)0. Bring it on!
The girls are busy with hanging out with friends, gymnastics, and Lucy just started softball. The boys are busy with work (Jonas at the pool and Miles at Crash Burger) and school work for Miles. Jonas and Emmy have lawns to mow each week. Ben's busy with his calling, work, on-call, drill weekends, etc. I am busy with a little bit of work and lots of driving and managing the household operations.
However, the most exciting thing of our summer so far was our trip to Littleton. Miles and Jonas hadn't seen their Maxwell family for almost 2 years. It had been almost 1 1/2 years for Ben. A bonus for us was that Ben's sister Debbie was there and that made it extra-awesome. It was a quick trip - we arrived in Littleton a little after midnight on Friday/Saturday (we had to wait for Jonas to get off work) and then left Sunday at 1:00. But it was worth it.
On Saturday we went on a hike with Debbie to . . . Maxwell falls! Ha, cool. It was a nice, little hike and great to get outdoors. Bella was embarrassing as she tried to bite all the other dogs. Sheesh. Brigham just did his typical thing of sniffing the other dogs - yet pulling us to make sure he was always in the lead.
Here are a few pictures from the hike:
The Ben Maxwell family at Maxwell falls. (There were bigger falls down below . . . we just didn't get any pictures!)
Brigham loving his birthday day hike! Yep, this guy turned 6!
Ben and Debbie.
That afternoon our kids went and swam where their cousin, Nicholas, works. Nicholas works at the snack shop - so cool. It was a hot day and so it was perfect for swimming. Jonas was glad he didn't have to yell at any kids. :)
That evening we had dinner at Ben's house with his parents, of course, and Debbie, and then Joe and Brittany and Nicholas came as well. It was so good to be with them all!
We sang "Happy Birthday" and Brigham scarfed down his cupcake. (Bella had a mini-one. :) )
Then Sunday was pretty much church . . . Our Sunday school lesson was taught by Ben's favorite (I'm guessing on that) seminary teacher - Brother Okoren and it was awesome. Our three eldest were taught by one of Ben's very favorite non-family person: President Mel Sabey (the father of the amazing Sabey clan . . . past bishop and stake president to Ben as well). They had a wonderful lesson and told us all about it. We got some nice pictures before we headed back home:
I love this one!
All of us with Ben's parents.
Two girls and Grandma Diana. :)
Ben and his lovely parents.
This one was taken at their church. Fun, fun!
One last one with our Sunday crew. :)
Then it was back to real life . . . And summer isn't quite summer without a lemonade stand . . . Lucy and a friend did one and made the most ever - $80 total, so $40 each!!!
How cute are they?! Lemonade stands really restore my hope in humanity. :)
This past weekend, Ben went to Utah for his drill weekend (leaving on Thursday) and took up the girls and Reese (Emmy's best friend). It sounds like they are all having a great time - my mom took the girls to the mall, Costco, thrift shopping, swimming, etc. Plus, they are watching a bunch of movies that my sister gets to pay for, ha. Ben has had a pretty good time, too, I think. The drill weekend was a little disrupted due to a shooting-ban because of fire danger.
The boys and I have spent our time at work and mowing lawns - oh and checking out a new (but older) car that Miles is going to buy . . .
