Highlights Week 24

 Matthew visited Valencia ward on Sunday morning. We spent the afternoon/evening at the Bishop Brown's eating food, playing games, and chatting.

Monday morning was a bit hectic. Hyrum had a bracket break off over the weekend and I was able to get him in to get it fixed, but the appointment was last minute and I was already at the gym, so I had to grab Hyrum from swimming, stop by the house for a shirt, then get to the orthodontist office in less than half an hour. We made it though, and the rest of the day was pretty chill. Grandma started her Japanese class for the summer, so she was online for a couple hours in the morning, then we spent a couple hours playing board games, and took her to the airport mid-afternoon. We really loved having her here and missed her as soon as she was gone.

The rest of the week was very normal: swim team, gym, goals, video games, and bowling. The youth had a water games activity at a nearby park on Thursday, and the boys contributed by bringing a cooler full of water. Matthew and worked on filming a video on the chainmail ring cutter, and on Friday evening we went over to the Brown's for an open house celebrating Kari and Keowyn's graduation and Kyle's return home from his mission.

After 78 days of zero precipitation, it finally rained on Friday! And boy did it rain! The kids have slept outside on the trampoline or hammocks every night since school got out, and didn't want to break their streak, so Matthew kindly set up a tent on the back porch for them.

The kids swam in their one obligatory swim meet of the summer this morning. They each came in last in pretty much all of their races, but they've all improved so much. Hyrum especially has really gotten better, but he's just so much smaller than everyone else in his age group. We were genuinely proud of each of them for going out of their comfort zones and really trying their best.

The kids and I went over to the Brown's this evening for Haley's birthday party. I helped Sterling with a painting activity while Matthew was at the leadership session of Stake Conference, then Matthew came and helped with dinner and presents while I went home and listened virtually to the adult session. It was really good (both the party and stake conference) and we were happy to be able to participate to some degree in both.

And here's a cute little Mama and baby that Mercy made out of clay: