For those of you who have seen "Marley and Me" you will remember that Owen Wilson plays a columnist. At one point in the movie he sums up many months of his life in news reporting column form. I liked it. Soooo here we go:
June. Volunteered for 3rd grade Luau. Wondered WHY they would have a luau when there was no budget for it. Signed up under "Balloons". Found out I was the only who signed up for balloons. Woke up sicker than a dog the day the balloons were to be at the school. Gathered all the balloons from Matt's party that were still hanging in the dining room and put them in a bag. Filled another bag with balloons from Mallerie's room that were left over from her surprise party. Hobbled to the school and dropped them in the gym with a note. Marveled to myself, "What are the odds that I would have two trash bags full of balloons today already blown up?" Thanked my stars that mother-in-law Donna was staying with us so I could crash into bed.
Next week took Katrina and Mallerie to the Bocanegra's in Orem for Rachel's surprise party. Thought to myself, "They should hang onto the balloons just in case." Had a few hours to kill with four kids. Went to "HOP" at the dollar theatre. Noted that unless it was at the animated parts Callie had no interest. Then she'd shout, "I LOVE this candy movie!" Felt ripped off at the price of popcorn but remembered I got into the move at .75 a pop for HOP. Pro-rated it and realized it was still a pretty cheap afternoon. Busted a move after picking up the girls to be a Grayson's baseball game at 5. Glad I had thought ahead and had his hat and shirt in the car. Felt frustrated that HE WOULDN'T GET OUT OF THE CAR when I had timed it just right. Aruged with him before driving home. Vowed to myself, 'No more sports for Gray till he's older.' Took Graham to his game at 6. Noted how different the boys are as Graham jumped out of the car smiling.
Next night sat through Mallerie's second baseball game. Wished it had been a warmer June. Had big plans of sitting at the ball park on summer nights. Realized I had worn a jacket and been miserable nearly every time. Licked the dust off my teeth after a violent wind storm at the baseball diamond.
Sat through two more little League games that week. Realized Gray was just having a bad day since he played no problem at his next game. Sat Mallerie's next game out.
Sat on a blanket at Farmer's Market. Watched from the hill top at the crowds and band. Didn't want to budge. Matt wondered if I was going to walk around. I wasn't. My flip flop broke. Darn. It was a good thing I wasn't walking around. Appreciated that finally the end of June it was WARM so at least I could be in flip flops.
Rang in the fourth of July season with Matt and the two youngest at the patriotic service in Provo. Teared up at footage from Pearl Harbor. Reminded myself how blessed I am to be an American. Lost Callie on the way out. Found her standing outside with a stubborn expression on her face.
Went to Sandy that week to help pack up Sadie and family for their new adventures in Elko. Admired how loving her ward friends are. Headed back to Heber. Knew I should fall asleep but chose to watch TV. Had a hard time waking up. Picked up Mommy in Lindon, headed back to Sandy. Got on the road to Elko. Hated the violent wind. Kept my hands white knuckled on the wheel. Saw a blown over semi, gripped the wheel tighter. Made it to Elko. Marveled at new ward members helping strangers. Got a horrible text from a ward member in Heber. Felt sick that one of the priests in our ward had drowned in Deer Creek. Remembered seeing this boy going into the lake that very morning on my way down the canyon. Couldn't concentrate on anything else the rest of the day. Tried to get a hold of Matt in Oregon. Finally did. Said he already knew and had been in the Portland Temple praying. Knew hard times were ahead for the ward. Got on the road the next day. Pulled in to a sullen neighborhood.
Woke up sick again the next day. Felt frustrated my body can't handle anything more than playing patty cake. Went with Matt to an appointment in Salt Lake. Knew I couldn't make it down the canyon. Asked Matt to pull over. It was too late. Stuck my head out the window. Splattered the side of his car as we turned onto 2-15. Was useless at the appointment. Should have stayed home. Picked up Mallerie and her friend in Sandy. Heard about her fun week at Oakcrest Camp on the way home. Wasn't much for company. Felt terrible I couldn't support the Franco family at the viewing that night. Matt gave them my best. Wanted to do something to help them. Watched Matt take over our extra freezer from the garage for the abundance of food they had been given. Sat through the funeral the next day. Watched in awe as so many high school students randomly went up to sing "Families Can Be Together Forever." Wondered why such an incredible youth would be taken so young. Put my trust in the Lord and felt better.
Switched gears at my family gathering that night. Enjoyed being with extended family on granny's front lawn in Provo. Realized I have never missed a year of being on that lawn. Loved every minute of it. Wished someone would trim the tree next door so we could see the firewords without having to scrunch on the edge of the lawn. Probably won't get my wish. Drove home late and tired with 9 am church the next day. Emotional Fast and Testimony meeting on Sunday.
That night Mallerie asked me if she could bring a friend to the hot air balloon launch in Provo the next day. Wasn't sure I was even going to go. Decided YES.
Got on the road by 6:30 am the next morning with Ava, Mallerie, and Madi. Drove past the balloons. Concluded it wasn't ideal weather for them to launch. Decided it wasn't worth the bother to find parking. Decided to go to the parade instead. Stopped at the red light on Bulldog and Canyon. Saw runners start going by. Realized this was the start of the 10k. Knew it would take a while. Turned off the car. Pulled out my Freedom Fest Magazine. Gasped that 5,000 runners were expected to participate. Knew I would be waiting a while. A police officer apologized at my window. Told him, "It's better than running!" He agreed and walked off chuckling. Told the girls they may as well walk to the parade route. Decided on a meeting place. Was able to move forward as the runners thinned. Wondered where to park. Found open lots at BYU. Read "Faculty Only" signs. Scared me enough to press on. Parked at the Wilkinson Center. Bought bagels and cream cheese at the Creamery on Ninth. Walked 25 minutes through campus to the parade route. Enjoyed the glorious morning. Knew the walk back wouldn't be as glorious. Went to the meeting spot. Didn't see the girls. Walked down QUITE a ways before finding them with front row seats. Thought it was ironic I would be sitting there when I hadn't even planned on being at the parade. Watched as the PRE-parade was barely starting. Texted Matt pictures later of Dave Rose, Orin Hatch, and Storm Troopers. Wondered if he would enjoy being there. Decided, 'No he wouldn't'. Felt the sun getting warmer. Had seen enough. Made the long hot walk back to the car. Mallerie offered to carry the back pack with water. Got inside the air conditioned Wilkinson Center. Used the bathroom and rested. Realized the zipper was broken on the back pack and MY CAR KEYS WERE GONE. Mallerie and Madi ran off to look. Called Matt on the cell. He had a SPARE. Waited and waited while the girls retraced steps. Finally got on with our day. Hit the Provo Craft fair, Colonial Days, and "African Cats" at the dollar theatre before ending at Freedom Days in Orem. Bought nearly an entire pan of applesauce cake slice by slice for a quarter. Came home to watch the Hudson River fireworks display on TV. Was IMPRESSED.
Had the Goulding girls out from Elko for "Deathly Hallows Part 2" premier. Took them to the midnight showing. Picked them up at 2:30 am. The girls thanked me for waiting up. Enlightened them, "I didn't wait up." Saw the movie the next night with Matt. Sat with two other couples from our ward. Loved the show! Woke everyone up Saturday morning to clean the church. Pic nic in the canyon for lunch. Hiked the falls. Took Grayson on the trail. Wished I hadn't. The trail was washed away after a harsh winter. Clung to vines as we made our way. Grayson in tears. Couldn't get him to the falls. Cousins and strangers helped him back down. Went down the face of the falls with some of the other girls. Wondered why I was doing this. Not as easy as it looks. Wished I had prayed with Gray.
Cleaned Dexter and Dexter. Rested that evening at the Miss Wasatch Pageant in Heber with the girls. The girls laughed at the MC. Not in a good way. Sunday dinner in Lindon at my parents. Great weekend.
Overhauled my basement storage room. Filled the van with stuff for DI. Took Goulding girls to my moms for she and Lindsey to drive back to Elko. Took advantage of Lindsey's unlocked van while whe was gone and put some 'treasures' inside. Fell in love with a vintage storage trunk at DI. Realized it also filled the back of my van. Laughed that the 'special' worker blatantly asked why I would buy it. Kept it to myself when Matt asked the cost. Am still keeping it to myself.
Continuted Fair Days celebrations with the boys the next weekend at the Demolition Derby. Acted like a know-it-all since I went last year and Matt didn't. Frustrated that most the excitement happened while Matt was at the concessions stand with the boys. Watched a car flip over, caught a football. Wished I wasn't standing there by myself! Enjoyed Fair Days the week ahead. Met Matt at the Party in the Park. Babies were too fussy during the talent show. Got to thinking of my quiet house at home. Said, "I'm outta here." Took the babies home and put them to bed. Had some quiet time till Jon brought Adren and Matt came home with the kids. Met Eliza next day at the pool party. Ate Wendy's under the crab apple tree out front. Talked Eliza into going with me to Enrichment that night. Listened to the Grocery Guru. Confirmed in my mind that two newspaper subscriptions is sufficient. Took the younger kids to the Carnival on Thursday along with Adren and Kate. Got into it a little with the ride worker. Told him the rides were going too long. Grayson threw up. "Twelve minutes is tooooo long!" Kate and Ava in tears getting off the ride. Went home to rest. Came back in the evening. Asked Kate at the end of the week what she could tell her parents about her stay with us. Stifled a laugh at, "Well...I'll HAVE to tell them about the scary fair ride." Knew of course she would.
Drove in a caravan through the beautiful Wasatch Mountains to Brighton camp to pick up Mallerie and a van full of Beehives. Wondered why I have never gone that way before. Realized it took only 30 minutes to get over the mountain.
Stood in for Laurie and Hank with Jamie and dropped Sam(Elder Wasson)off at the MTC. Got choked up at the spirit surrounding the MTC. Wished him well. Ate more Wendy's. Fullfulled a promise to Graham by going to the Dinosaur Museum. Couldn't coordinate with Eliza to meet there. Came on back to Heber.
Celebrated Katrina's braces coming off on Aug 18th. Felt like the High School wanted all of my money at school registration. Didn't fall for any of it. Activity Card? "No thanks." Year book? "No thanks." Pictures? "See ya!!!"
Realized how different I am with Back-to-School now than 10 years ago. Ava had to remind me when hers was. Asked her, "Do you want to go that?" Noted Grays teacher seemed as burned out as me. Warned Matt before leaving to Mallerie's registration, "Don't fall for those fees!"
Celebrated the first day of school in Highland with ChyAyn out from New York. Stopped on the way to feed me and the babies. Fell in love with Orange Leaf self-serve yogurt bar. Visited with Chy for a few hours. LOVED seeing her again. Had to get home for the kids. Took a "short cut" through the Alpine Loop down through Cascade Springs. Missed the kids getting home but enjoyed my drive through the mountains with sleeping babies.
Said good-bye to summer by attending Swiss Days in Midway Labor Day weekend. Went with Matt and the four youngest on Friday night. Katrina was too busy. Mallerie was working a booth. Scarfed a hamburger. Ditched Matt and the boys. Was able to do serious shopping with Ava. Ran around holding hands and giggling. Felt the first chill of fall in the air at sun set. Nibbled on Kettle Korn on the way home. Decided to go BACK with Ava and Mallerie the next day. Couldn't BELIEVE the Saturday crowds. Boiled in the heat but stayed four hours. Waited in traffic back to Heber. Got changed, made it to Provo to enjoy Kei and Ademir's special night. Marveled at their hard work. Took home two cousins for a sleepover. Hit Days market for a roast. Made a MEAN pot roast the next day that took five hours. Told Matt, "It was no trouble at all."
Spent Labor day visiting with the Orem Bocangra's swapping kids back. Matt and Mark grilled. Adults went to Park City and saw "The Help." Really enjoyed it. Got home said good bye to them and hello to reality. Reminded Matt we had forgotten to clean Dexter and Dexter. Bid him goodbye and put the put the kids down. Smiled at the fact it was a school night.
