June

June has been the light at the end of the tunnel since December. It started off with Trek, which turned out great. We had Sunday to regroup, then Matthew left super early the next day for a WIP trip in Washington DC. The rest of us left later that day for Utah. We enjoyed a quick and simple night camping in Monticello on our way there, then spent the second week of the month working full time with Grandma Naomi on final preparations for Sarah’s wedding, which turned out lovely. Matthew flew in to SLC the night before the wedding, and the day after the wedding we headed back home, stopping in Blanding for a quick over-nighter at Ralph’s. The third weekend of the month was the Father/Son camp out, which exceeded expectations, and the final weekend was spent camping and fishing at Eagle Nest with friends. In between busy weekends, Matthew put in ten hour days at work. The boys did swim team, and we frequented park lunch nearly every day we were in town. We went to the library once a week and had regular play dates with friends. It was a busy month and most days I hardly knew whether I was coming or going, but we had an almost ridiculous amount of fun and everything we worked so hard over the last several months to prepare for turned out wonderfully. 

Mercy has loved helping out in the kitchen whenever possible. She's also loved interacting with Isabella, Susan's baby. She is such a little mother and already loves everything about homemaking (except, not so much the cleaning up part, but who really loves that bit?)

The boys really wanted BeyBlades (spinning tops that battle each other). In lieu of the real thing, they made their own out of Lego's and built a stadium out of cardboard. They ended up earning some real ones, but I thought their own creations were much cooler.

Matthew fixed the AC in the Highlander

Mission Prep:

I was really dedicated to my calorie counting and step goals in May, and was pleased with where I was going into June. I didn’t set any fitness goals for the weeks of trek and the wedding, then we were focused on fun and camping. I ended up not thinking about it much, and by the end of the month I had just about gained back all the weight I had lost. I’m feeling rather disappointed and discouraged. With all the traveling we’ve been doing, it’s been hard to keep on track with regular scripture study. I did alright personally, but we struggled as a family to keep up with Come Follow Me. Matthew and I went to the Temple together one evening, which was lovely. While we were there I prayed to know what was next for me, now that Trek and the wedding were over. I felt overwhelmingly that my biggest responsibility right now is to be a deliberate mother and help the kids have a great rest of the summer. After focusing on Macarons for so long, I'm definitely up for some dedicated mothering!

Meals:

Pizza

Burger King

Crepes and sausage

Turkey enchiladas

Sous vide salmon and roasted vegetables

Breakfast burritos

Vegetable stir fry

Grilled cheese sandwiches

Sausage and black bean quesadillas

Sausages in buns

Pan fried trout

White cheddar macaroni and cheese