We just got back from our weekend in St. George! This is our fourth year going down to St. George to watch the twins play in a beginning of the season tennis tournament. It was such fun! It's also, sadly, our last year! Those adorable twins are seniors and will be leaving high school. It's all so hard to take in! They played first varsity doubles this year and played some tough competition.

Beth, Ben, Kevin, and I drove down Thursday night. (Cali and Chey travelled, slept, and dined with the team.) We stayed at our favorite place, Sports Village. We had a nice condo that was close to the pool but also looked out over the desert valley. The first night Ben and I watched a movie. 

Friday we enjoyed relaxing at the condo until the first match at 10:30. They played at Tonaquint park. It was close and a lovely park! Beth and Ben explored dino land, played on the playground, walked, and rollerbladed. They watched a little tennis, too. Kevin and I watched some great tennis! They played again at 12:30. They lost their first match and won their second. We went back to the condo to swim and came back at 5:30 for their last match which they lost but was fun to watch! We went out to eat at Black Bear Diner afterwards then back to the condo for miniature golf before bed.

Beth tried the Papa Bear hot sauce!

Saturday we were up early for an 8am match. Grandma and Grandpa were up even earlier (4am!) to drive up from Las Vegas. It was so fun to see them! After the match, which the twins won, we took G&G back to our condo for some visiting in the air conditioning. We were back at the park by noon for the twins last match and we were joined by a great group of Gillespies: Maggie, Dylan, Nic, Emily, and Liz! So fun! The twins played crazy good in their last match! It was so fun to watch! It was close and they barely lost 8-6.

Afterwards, we said goodbye to the twins but went out to eat at Chuckarama with all the family that had stopped by! We even saw Becca for a minute. It was really fun.

Then we drove home! It was the twins birthday but we will celebrate for real on Sunday. I can't believe they are 17. I still feel such a rush of gratitude when I think of them. They continue to bring me so much joy.

So! Earlier in the week, Cali and Chey played at Wasatch on Tuesday (lost) and against Provo at home on Wednesday (won). They also went to the senior "throw colored chalk at each other" activity on Wednesday evening and topped it off by jumping into the reservoir!

Chey began her CNA training in earnest and will be wearing scrubs twice a week!

Bethany started cross country and is having much fun with her friends! She reports the team is much smaller this year since it's only 8th and 9th graders, and most of the 9th graders run with the high school team. She also is enjoying karate still and our YW activities where she has a fun group of friends.

Benjamin scared me to pieces Monday after school when he went to a friend's house and I couldn't find him! It's a long story, but let's just say, I'm so glad that when my children have disappear, they always have reappeared. So scary!! Sometimes you don't realize how deep those connections to your children go, until something like that pulls at it and threatens to rip at those roots! Love, love, love my kids!!