It has been a good summer. We were very busy. I was in charge of doing pioneer games for Champions 115th birthday party on july 4th (representing the lds church). We had Mary and Liam take laddy in the parade with a sign that said "Champion is a doggone good place to grow up in." I pulled a little handcart like wagon with Lizzy and Russell in it and Selman walked beside it. Elva walked with the library float as she worked at the summer reading program this summer. Caeleb had just finished FSY that first week of summer and should have been in the pool float but just watched the parade with Chris. The missionaries helped with the activites. Not alot of people came to our pioneer games at the church but we did the best we could.
Elva went to FSY the second week of summer. We went camping in Granum for 2 nights for Camellia and my birthday. They have a fun little swimming pond. And I golfed for the first time at the golf course on my birthday. I suck but Chris is pretty good.
I took Liam to pick up Elva from FSY on the Saturday and I took them downtown stampeding (Liam did the hat stomp and Elva and I did my favorite square dancing) and then to Calaway park till 7:00. It was a blast.
Elva did her Bronze cross course in Claresholm and so she volunteered at the pool in August and Caeleb worked alot as a junior lifeguard all summer from June weekends to Aug 28th (the last day).
We went to the zoo several times. Once with Kurt and his German girlfriend Julia. I scratch my head at that one. He lives in Germany with her and travels the world now. They came to visit us on the farm and I put her on Eva to lead her around. But Eva is now lame and we can't really ride her (only had someone on her twice this summer). It is sad to see animals get older.
I went to Hawaii with my friend Lindsey from July 17 to the 24th. It was on her bucket list. We left on the Friday at 1:00 pm and got to Honolulu at 8:30 that night (after a stop in Vancover) and stayed in a hotel by the airport. There was a fun oldies rock band playing at the hotel which was fun to hear. We had a traditional rice, egg and sausage breakfast, went swimming and then to the car rental place across the street where I rented a fun little red car. We stopped quickly by Pearl Harbour and then drove the 1.5 hour drive up island to Laie. We spent 1:00 pm to 8:30 pm at the polynesian cultural center where they called us ohana (family), showed us around to the 5 "islands" (Tonga, Samoa, Figi, Hawaii, New Zelean and Tahiti), attended a delicious luau (with fresh pork, fish and fruit) and an amazing evening show. It was fascinating learning about the polynesian islands.
We stayed 4 nights in a yurt at a glamping campground 5 minutes from the temple.
Sunday, we attended a Samoan ward at 1100 where the songs and some of the thoughts were in Samoan. Then we swam at the beach, went to other beaches and travelled further up island to eat at some food trucks.
Monday, we went to the pinapple plantation 1.5 hours further up island. We discovered some other beaches as well. The plantation was great, like a heritage park. We rode the train, walked around the grounds and through the maze, learned about pineapples and ate a fresh dole whip (I actually like the disneyland one better as it is less fruit and more cream - I like creamy). We went to the polynesian center in the afternoon as well.
Tuesday, (we ate all our breakfasts at Mcdonalds) we went to the 8:00 am session at the temple. Then we went to some beaches again. There was an amazing turtle beach up island. And then to the polynesian center for one last afternoon of learning. I had a shaved ice and fresh coconut to drink from. And I had a delicious fresh raw tuna and rice supper at a restaurant there.
Wednesday, we left about 7:30 to make it to Honolulu for a glass bottom boat ride where we saw more turtles and fish. No dolphins though. We went to the aquarium next and saw a seal but not too much to see there. Then we went on a hike to a waterfall. It started right in the hills of Honolulu. We went shopping downtown Honolulu and to Wakiki beach. I guess 70000 or so people go there a day. It was busy but the water was clear, warm and beautiful. Alot of surfers were there. We had a 4:00 supper at cheesecake Cafe, dropped off the car at 6:00 and left on the 1000 pm flight to Vancouver. We arrived in Vancouver at 6:00 am and arrived to Calgary at 1:00 pm. I was at work the next day.
What an amazing little trip! I spent $4000 (it is not cheap there and I paid for the car rental -$650 and the hotel and yurt). Food and souvenirs were expensive too but it was worth it.
Chris and Mary flew to Victoria on Tuesday July 28 to Aug 6th (I dropped them off at the airport at 5:30 am before heading to work in Claresholm for 7:00 and Elva had her bronze cross class that day as well so she came with me). Chris and Mary had their own little daddy daughter adventures including fireworks at Buchart gardens, the minature museum and botanical beach. The kids and I picked them up Thursday a little after 9:00 pm and we stayed in a cheap NE calgary hotel so that we could go to the zoo for a few hours the next morning before Caeleb and Elva worked at the zoo at 1:30 and I went to work in Claresholm at 3:00. (we want to get as much zoo in befor January as we have passes this year).
I worked 17 shifts in July and 18.5 shifts in August. I probably only spent 2 days at home on the farm without going anywhere. I do some pretty crazy things with my schedule such as swimming by myself after work the last pool day on a Friday 2 on the 28th (the kids had swam earlier that day), then driving to lethbridge to go to supper with a couple of friends, then visiting Rachel and Wendy on Rachel's beautiful deck and getting home at midnight, then driving some of the kids to the Nelsons on the Saturday morning so Caeleb could attend a party Sterling was putting on, then driving to Claresholm for an evening shift, then back to the Nelsons for the night arriving at 1245 am, then up at 7:00 am to get the kids to church in Champion by 1000. We also went to Evelyn's baptism at a river near the Nelsons on August 8th after we helped Wendy and her boys move into their new lethbridge home that morning.
Other things we did this summer were painting the porch, camping at Little Bow August 17 to 19th (kids had their bikes to ride around and that was fun-the lake was nice for swimming in too), taking Lindsey to her cardiac surgeon appointment August 19th in Calgary and then to Lethbridge after that for a Luau with the Watters family. I did a talk in Church in July. We swam as much as we could at the Champion pool. And I did water aerobics as many Monday and Wednesdays as I could fit in. Mom and Camellia joined me at few times as well.
Life is busy but I need to enjoy the busy as I might not always have the stamina I have now. One day I will miss it. I am sure of that. I just need to make sure that I am not so busy that I go insane. I do feel like my mental health is being affected by my new job as I am so busy. I want to feel like my new job is a calling in my life, and I think perhaps Heavely Father wants it for me, but it is stressful. It was hard that I was doing all the working this summer while Chris was home. I really struggled with that. I am doing my best to keep my head above water and I pray I will make the right decisions for my family and myself.
Back to school is in 2 days (Sept 8th). I hope my kids have a wonderful year! I think they are ready to go back and I am excited for all the adventures that are in store for them in life.
