This week started with Memorial Day! Sarah had no school so she stayed until Monday night. To use our time well, we decided to go to one of our favorite spots as a family--Payson Lakes. We brought a picnic lunch and the canoe and the fishing rods. Beth was the only one to catch a fish (go Bethany!), but not everyone got a chance before the thunder-clouds rolled in. We still had a great time and enjoyed being together in a beautiful place. Sarah and Megan got their last hugs in before Meg leaves on her mission and then we had to say goodbye (for a little while) to Sarah. She got back safely to Rexburg that night.

Tuesday was our first real day of summer vacation. Cali and Chey had a tennis camp Tuesday through Thursday from 8 to 1 each day and I needed to drive them both ways on Tuesday because Chey had a dentist appointment at 1. Beth and Ben had karate and Cali and Chey went to the pool after the camp. Meg and Mariah went hiking and I also went to the store (in a separate trip) to get them some things for that. They were also working on the road that goes up the hill to our house that day. I figure I passed them at least 12 times. It was a crazy day for me and my van! Everyone had a fun day, though. Meg and Mariah went almost 12 miles on their hike and summited a mountain (though they're not sure which one!)

The rest of the week wasn't quite so crazy! Cali and Chey had a good time at their camp and feel like they learned a lot and improved significantly. Yay! Five hours of tennis a day can really wipe a kid out, though, let me tell you! They also managed to go back to the pool at the new Springville Rec center (we have our summer passes!) a couple more times and meet their friends for tennis a couple of times, too!

Beth and Ben played with friends and had karate. They've also gone to the new pool a few times! Such fun! They need to earn tickets for screen time this summer and have a workbook to do every morning and are expected to practice their instruments and write in their journals. They've been doing really well on it.

Mariah continues to have basketball open gyms twice a week. She also had a basketball tournament this weekend at UVU. She played two games Friday and three on Saturday. They won all but two of them. I brought all the kids to watch her last game on Saturday and we had great fun cheering her on!

Savannah had work throughout the week, but also went to a couple YSA activities and to the movies with her friends to watch Solo which wasn't as bad as she had feared it would be!

We had an open house for Megan on Wednesday night! She wanted to roast marshmallows and have s'mores. So we did! A bunch of people from our old ward came up and her close friends, too. It was a fun night. She remains in high spirits and is super-fun to be around. Cali finished Pride and Prejudice for her summer reading (it took her a long time she said--three days--and she meant it). So, Cali and Meg and I had to re-watch the BBC Pride and Prejudice this weekend!

Saturday morning was the annual Art City Days Nestle 5K run! We initially thought everyone would be here for it, but since Ben got baptized last weekend, Sarah couldn't come down again. Also, Kevin had to be in Texas to teach for IITAP. He was very sad to miss it (Sarah maybe not so much! Ha ha!). Still, we all had a good time. Mariah came in first for all of us and placed second in her age category. Go Mariah! Then came Cheyenne, Calianne, Megan, Savannah, Bethany, Benjamin, and Mom! Spread out by several minutes, of course. It was a beautiful day: sunny and cool. We sat through the raffle drawings afterward and got two frisbies, a Bass Shop gift certificate, a jacket, and a toddler water table. Fun times!

Mariah and her friends take 1st, 2nd, and 3rd!