Insult to Injury - The Hostas

My beautiful, heathy, thriving hostas that looked like this a month ago,

but then were pummeled by large and incessant hail,

looked enough like a tossed salad to passing deer to entice him/her/them over for lunch.

{Sigh}

Summer Swim

We made it through the first couple of summer swim meets.  We have one more this Saturday, then miss the next two (for Girls Camp and our EFY trip to UT), then we're back in time for Prelims, Championships, and All-Stars.

At the first meet, Shi handily won every event she was entered in, improving her times from last year.

Way to go, girlie!

Mar attended the meet, but spent most of her time playing games on her ipod.  We've decided to pull her from participating this year, since by the time she gets her cast off, she would only be able to swim Prelims.  She moved up an age level this year, which would also make it difficult to qualify for Championships, especially without a solid season of practice under her belt.

Such a bummer!

Shilo also moved up an age level this year.  She definitely has had an advantage in the summer swim leagues because her birthday is mid-June.  The cut-off date for age level advancement is June 1st, so last year she swam in the 13-14 age group, even though she was 15 for the better part of the season.  This year she is swimming in the 15-18 age category, which tends to be a bit more competitive.  At the meet this past Saturday, Shi had some serious competition.  She knew by the seed times going into it that she probably wouldn't win the events she was swimming in against a {fast} girl on the other team.  She was right.  HOWEVER... she finished only .6 second behind her in the 200 Free, improving her own time by nearly 9 seconds.  

Overall, Shi swam great considering she had to leave the meet early to go to the Rec Center to test for the lifeguard position she had applied for, which, of course, she was stressed about, also resulting in last-minute event editing by the coach allowing Shi to swim as many events as possible before having to leave.  She won the 100 Back just before heading out to the Rec Center, where she handily passed the tests and is now officially employed.  Yay!  It had to be an exhausting day for her.

Mar attended the meet again (amazing considering we had to be up at 5:45 on a Saturday morning), in support of Shi and the team.  What a gal.

          

Father's Day

Pictorial and brief commentary:

Bill does NOT sleep in.  He was up, dressed, and ready for church while we scrambled around making him breakfast.  In our PJs.  Which is why you will NOT see morning pics of us.

The girls got up early without complaint to help with the breakfast preparations.  I love it when they all help!  Shi made the chocolate chip pancakes and helped Mar finish her poster; Lex made the eggs and set the table; Mar designed and executed the celebratory poster.

After church, and AFTER after-church appointments and phone calls, we convinced Bill that it was time to change his clothes and relax.  We enjoyed our super easy dinner of leftovers from a BBQ the day before (E for effort on breakfast, though), and Bill opened his made-with-love gifts from the fam.

Mauri had been fretting about finding time to make a craft for him.  I'll admit, I dragged my feet a bit as she tossed around a myriad of ideas.  She would need the hot glue gun and some craft sticks.  And time.  She was super stressed about time.  Luckily, Bill had after-church stuff that left her just enough time to bring her vision to life.  

I was impressed with her result... and so was Bill.  She wrote him a sweet note that tied everything together (which the rest of us were not allowed to read).

Mar is a rock collector, so rarely does a gift-giving event go by that doesn't include a special rock or two that she has found.  Bill's bottom nightstand drawer is full of rocks, a testament to what a great dad he really is... treasuring the gift as much as the giver does.  Mar gave a couple of cool crystals, too.

I stamped out a Father's Keyring... kind of like a Mother's Ring... with the kids' names and birthdays, Shi added the phrase, U R THE BEST.  (I'm getting better at wielding a big hammer and metal stamping.  Woot, woot.)  I like a man who jingles when he walks.

We played some Bocce.

Then we had homemade shaved ice (we were able to squeeze grind out just enough, since our ice shaver - a Father's Day gift from years ago - is on the brink) with homemade ice cream while Bill received phone calls from the marrieds, and we made phone calls to our Dads.

The older girls wrote on Bill's FB wall in lieu of cards (so... up-to-date).  Lex put together this cute collage that went along with hers.  I'm pretty sure it brought tears to his eyes.

I concur:  He is the best.

The Day After XVI

The day after her birthday, Shi had a drive test scheduled.  If she passed, she would be an official license-bearing Colorado driver.

She was S-T-R-E-S-S-E-D out, and couldn't wait until she was parked and out of the car at the completion of the test.

I was a little stressed, too, since the LAST thing I want to do is go back to the DMV.  I was there just the week prior renewing my 3-months-expired license.  (The bank kindly pointed that out to me.)

 I'm waiting.  And Pinteresting a bit.

 Still waiting.

Finally Shi walked in with the tester who turned to me and said, "She did great."

Phew.

As we were waiting for Shi to get her picture taken, I told her that she had a message on her phone, and that she should listen to it even though it was an unnamed caller, since she had put in some applications for employment over the past few weeks.  It was the Rec Center -- calling to schedule an interview for a lifeguard position that evening.  Shilo started STRESSING all over again.

As we drove to the interview (I was in the moral-supportive role and would just wait in the car), she mentioned how stressful the day had been, but once she was through the interview, she could decompress.  Nope.

The job is hers AFTER she re-tests in the backboard test, brick test, and CPR... since it's been 3 whole months since her American Red Cross certification in life saving (good for 2 years).
She would test on Saturday.

She's maintaining a steady stress level, but I've told her to look at the bright side.

She got a drivers license AND a job the day after she turned 16.

As mi mamita would say, that's better than a sharp stick in the eye.

B TRU - YC 2012

Our ward's Youth Conference was held at the beginning of the week.  Since I have an in with the Bishop, I went up on the first day as an unofficial participant, observer, and picture taker.  I would have loved to stay for the whole thing, but Mar and the dogs needed me at home.

Here's a quick pictorial review.

The "before" picture.

Tent set-up was part of an Amazing Race competition.  Nice.

Another leg of the Amazing Race... a puzzle competition.  Cheyenne was the master.

Lex and Hailey's team needed some encouragement, but managed to squeak out a 5th place finish.  It didn't help that it was windy, the table was uneven, and their puzzle pieces were bent, but they did it.  Yee-haw!

The Cheese-ball Challenge.

Washing off in the lake afterwards.

The Oreo Face-off.

Every good YC needs a hike to a waterfall for a devotional.

McKenna, Shi and Megan. 

Bishop Rick.  I mean Bishopric.

(When Cheyenne's family was investigating the Church, her cute mom asked me one Sunday, "I know there's Bishop Lyman... and I know that Bill and Bro. Dalby serve with him...  but who is Bishop Rick??")

Bill telling some really REALLY old jokes.  I think most of the youth got a kick out of it.

The side of the trailer made a perfect screen for sharing a few Mormon Messages.

Bill had asked me to help him come up with some kind of small handout to go with the fireside the first evening.  Something cheap, but cool.  He must think I'm a miracle worker.  Or an inspiration magnet.  I am neither, but I am a true believer in tender mercies. 

We came up with these little keychains,

50 sets, hand-stamped by Bill (I was NOT good with the hammer).

 (Be True, Stand Firm, Shine On.)

I headed back home late that evening, so Bill took over the picture-taking duty.
(Which politely means that there were fewer pictures taken.  I think I might have to make picture taking at Church events an official position... and invite myself more often.)

Great speakers with inspiring messages (so I'm told)...

a ropes course...

watercraft...

scenic hikes...

and a message from the Stake Pres.

The "after" picture.

(Some of those expressions are golden.)

Bill said it was great.  The girls said it was great.
YC success.
A huge thank you to the leaders and youth who planned, prepared, and executed!

"Seek heavenly guidance one day at a time.  Life by the yard is hard; by the inch it's a cinch.  Each of us can BE TRUE for just one day - and then one more and then one more after that - until we've lived a lifetime guided by the Spirit, a lifetime close to the Lord, a lifetime of good deeds and righteousness."

- President Thomas S. Monson

Aging Gracefully

So I'm not exactly going backwards, I'm skipping around a bit.  

I can't mention one birthday without mentioning another, it just wouldn't seem fair.  Because of the busy-ness around here, and because, perhaps, once you are married and officially out of the house it is no longer viewed as your mother's responsibility to plan, create, and provide the celebration (it certainly doesn't mean she doesn't love you like the dickens), Taylor's birthday last Saturday was quietly celebrated via cell phone towers and memories shared amongst his parents and siblings.  

At least on our end.

Taylor worked a nice long shift until 10:30pm... welcome to adulthood, son :-)

I would have liked to post something sentimental and sweet, but, as all bloggers know and pretend not to, posting takes time.  And those endearing, tender, thoughtful posts take even more.  Time to sit, reflect, and write is becoming more of a rarity, so I have to take whatever time I find and do the best I can with what I have.

In retro-celebration, I thought I would post a few recent pics I have of the eldest child-of-my-womb, fruit of my loins (Biblical descriptions are the best, don't you think?  So... descriptive), aging ever-so-gracefully.

 He was in desperate need of a trim when he came to visit for Lex's graduation.  I don't believe he'd had a haircut since his wedding... 5 months earlier.  Oh my.  I couldn't wait to get my hands scissors on him.

 That's better ;-)

We loved having him and Lynnea here for a few days, even if they were packed full of long graduation-related ceremonies.

Taylor loves to ham it up for pictures.  I keep telling him that someday he'll regret that nearly every picture of him is silly... he doesn't seem to believe me.  Besides, who am I to say?  Maybe he'll be glad he pulled a crazy face or a quirky pose every time a camera turned in his direction. 

(So sweet.  I love Lynnea's hand on his waist, and his on her arm.  Ahhhh... young love.)

Tay and Dakota.  Double bacon cheese.

Happy Birthday week, Tay!

We love you!!