Swimming

We have enjoyed our swimming passes to the Provo Rec Center, and 7 peaks all summer long. The older boys have rode their bikes to and from 7 peaks with friends, using a bike lock and the home phone to call and ease mom's worries if needed.  The rec center has been great for the littles b/c the water is warmer and it's all self contained so I can keep track of them better. It's been great for picnics, playdates with friends, and we are melting of heat like we always did in AZ.

temple to temple run

A great tradition: running at 5 K temple to temple Run here in Provo! Besides the cost of the shirts, it was free and popular (18K people ran it). Jared ran with with Wes and Austin, Isaac on the scooter. I then ran it pushing the double stroller aka "train" while Levi was on the scooter. That thing was a beast weaving in and out of the crowds! But, we didn't stop the whole time and I definitely broke a sweat. Jared and I decided to WALK back to the original start point, Provo Temple, which just about did us over (pushing and encouraging our kids to keep going), all while just hot and sweaty and tired...but it made me think of our pioneers and it was special. We ran for Grandpa Raul Guzman, Gpa Lowe, Lizzy Christensen, Andrew Lowe, Gpa Wilson, and even Levi ran for Wrangler. 

Provo Peak 3rd ward campout

Our dear ward family chose the Cherry Hobble Creek Canyon for the ward campout this year. Less than 30 min drive allowed us to get right into the beautiful forest with wild fruit, streams, animals and cooler weather. We danced the Virginia Reel (baby in tow), set up tents, had dutch oven cooking, told stories around the campfire and had a great time. Ruby is beginning to test her limits with climbing out of the pack n play, wanting to follow brothers around everywhere and not sit down to eat (just graze and eat in my lap instead). Rex did great though, of course slept nursing on me, but the weather was nice and everyone else slept well and played with friends, so it was worth it! We were the last ones to leave the campground!

Austin in the ER

 Austin came crying to me in the middle of the night, complaining that his toe was on fire. This was after I had already been up with Rex and Ruby, so I was a tired and not wanting to give in to his "pain." But, I could feel how intense he was with his plea to help him, I saw how swollen and puffy his toenail was, we both started worrying that it could be more "serious" than just the toe (flesh eating bacteria b/c he was playing at the BYU duck pond the day before?) It was only 4am, I was up anyway, so we headed to the ER. Not only did he get some relief from his pain, but the on call ER Dr was my former SUU buddy Brady Cox! What a coincidence! Catching up with him was just as fun as helping Austin feel better. It was a nasty ingrown toenail, nothing more. We got the pus on video coming out of the cut that Dr Cox made, gave a hug good bye and got a donut on the way home. Most expensive ($1100) toe nail cut I've ever heard of! Grateful for medicaid that paid for all of it.

Boleys and Pearce visit

The stars aligned and somehow the Boley's and Pearce families were in town at the same time (missing the Ashtons by just two weeks!) So, we decided to meet up at Gpa Lowe's fav restaurant La Frontera (not world class) in Sandy. All the kids reunited, slowly warming up again, doing arm wrestling (some not getting off their phones, sad) and chowing on the chips and salsa. I was nervous wanting to look pretty and slim post baby for my girlfriends, but once I got there, I remembered that it didn't matter at all. We love each other for our personalities and felt just like old times joking together. So wonderful to have those connections!