26 May 2024
VOLUME 12 – NUMBER 557
Brooke, Ellie, Braden, Charlie on vacation
A few weeks back we decided that I should take a few days off work for us to go on a little family trip to Charleston, South Carolina. We had heard that it’s a fun place to visit. we don’t usually take too many vacation trips. Most of all our vacations over the last four years have actually been to Utah to visit family.
While the trip was fun, and it was nice to not have to work, we were reminded why vacations are more challenging with two kids under five. The girls did mostly good, but it was a lot of driving, the hotel room wasn’t very big for the two nights we were there, and we missed the comfort and familiarity of home.
Charlie and Ellie
We got to walk around the city and go to the beach, but that beach trip didn’t last long. About 30 minutes after arriving, Ellie told us she needed to go to the bathroom—not the kind you can just walk out in the ocean to take care of! The trip was filled with things like that where we didn’t end up staying long at any of the places we went.
However, on the way to Charleston, we stopped by a very scenic outdoor chapel I had seen on social media. It’s called Pretty Place Chapel and as you’re sitting in the pews, you get to look out at a beautiful, vast landscape of the surrounding hills.
It was a little out of the way to get there, but we’re very glad we made the stop. Such a beautiful place to admire God’s creations and think about Jesus.
Ellie and Charlie at Pretty Place Chapel
All I’m really going to say about seeing Spider-Man this week is that Gloria ended up going with us to see Spider-Man Homecoming, and like usual, we had a lot of fun.
We also had Isaac’s birthday party this week, and we also enjoyed that. We did the usual games that we play at the church, like Murder in the Dark and other favorites.
Another random thing we did this week is to have some fun with some extra red solo cups. We built a pyramid, which somehow ended up turning into a war where we kept throwing cups at each other. It was crazy, but fun. Just a fun memory that I thought I’d squeeze into my article this week.
Braden and Brooke at Pretty Place Chapel
Well, with the 5th Ward young mens river trip coming up this summer (even through we’re going back to the 2nd Ward, we agreed to still go on a river trip with the 5th Ward young men), we had another monthly training and prep activity.
For this weeks activity with the young men, we brought one of our rafts to aunt Amy's pool, and showed them how to set it up, showed them the basics of paddling, and let them practice a little. I believe that we were successful in showing them the process of setting up the raft, and I think that the young men had a lot of fun doing it.
After we all practiced rafting for a little, we also had some fun in the pool. We played water basketball with each other. In my opinion, it was a really good activity. I can't wait for the river trip, and we have a lot more stuff to go over until then, but I think that we can actually do this.
Emma and Mateo caring for Mattias
For some reason, Mateo and Emma have been obsessed with Matti and his safety, so it freaked them out when he was on oxygen, and they never wanted to leave him alone.
Late one night, when we were babysitting him, Emma just slept next to him the whole time, and was the best little momma.
Mac also graduated from kindergarten this week!
Mackay with kindergarten diploma
This week I groomed Mary and Eddie’s dog Juno it was really hard because he had a lot of mats in his fur. It was really hard to brush him and get them out, so I bathed him and then dried him and then I started to shave him down.
It took me seven hours to finish him, but in the end he looked really good. I am glad that I accomplished that. It was tough because of all of his mats but when he was finished he looked so good!
Isaac also had a birthday party this week, and we played crazy ball and Murder in the Dark. It was pretty intense, but it was so fun and the group we had was good. Afterwards we talked, and then we all went home. I had a fun time a the party.
Dogs resting
This is one of the last preparation activities that we have with the 5th Ward before we actually leave for the river in July. For this activity, Isaac, Monte, and I (mainly Isaac) taught the young men how to set up a raft properly, and take it down in an organized manner.
After that we put the raft in the pool and had the boys practice paddling to get a feel for how the raft works.
I'm pretty sure that the young men are gonna be prepared for this river trip, and I'm positive they had a good time at this activity, playing in the pool. Thank you, Aunt Amy for letting us use your pool! You're the best!
Kai and Owen sleeping
This week has been a little busy for me. On Monday Monte, Hazel, Aiden, Kade and I went to go see Spider-Man Homecoming. I had fun time going to the theater.
On Wednesday, Veidi and I went to visit Edie Myer, who is very old and doesn’t get out much any more. It’s always so nice talking to her. After a while, we left and took their dogs Juno and Pal so we could get them groomed. It took a long few hours to get Juno done, but now he looks nice.
On Thursday we had a campfire in the backyard and it was fun roasting hotdogs and s’mores. Friday Isaac had a birthday party. It turned out really fun, and we had a fun group who came.
Family cooking hot dogs in backyard
On Saturday I got to hangout with Riley and his family. We went to visit this great grandpa’s house one last time before they tear it down. After being there for a few hours, we went to his grandparents house to help unload a few things, and we had a few snacks.
After we went back to Riley’s house and ate, and then we played a few games. After a while we went shopping.
At around 5:30pm, we went to Riley’s mom's parents’ house to have a family dinner. I got to me his aunts, an uncle, and his little cousins. I had a fun time playing with his cousins on the trampoline.
Charlie on vacation
This week was a young mens activity at Aunt Amy's were we prepped for the river trip. We started off by having everyone set up one of the rafts we brought, and seeing how everything was done, so that people had at least a glimpse of what they were dealing with.
Then after that we had everyone get in the pool and practice paddling and back paddling, and then we just chilled around, and swam. I also played pickleball with Ethan, Caleb, and Kai. I had a really fun time, especially playing pickleball.
Ellie on vacation
Dad is planning a river trip with the young men in the Spanish ward, and they have done different activities for the preparation for the river trip, because none of the 5th Ward young men have any experience with rafting.
I wasn't going to go to the activity, since I am not going on the river trip. I was going to stay with Mom, Quinn, Joana, Veidi, and me.
I ended up going to the activity even though I wasn't going on the river trip, and afterwards, all of us children got to swim in Aunt Amys pool.
Joanna with Christian (Ezra)
Mom / Jenny
Last week we were able to meet up with Jovita at the Taylorsville Temple open house. It was great to see her again, and also to see her three little children. You might remember that her oldest child at home is Christian, who lived with us for almost a year (we called him Ezra since we already had a Christian at home).
When I found out that Jovita has a schedule conflict, and was having trouble finding someone to watch her children, I happily offered to watch them, so we got to have them in our home for several hours this week.
It was so nice to have them here, and I especially enjoyed spending time with Ezra again!
Esperanza and Armando
Before Jenny and I were dating, I once stopped by her apartment to visit her and my sisters, who were her roommates.
While I was there, I saw a drawing of a horse. I thought it was from my sister, Amber, who was earning a fine arts degree in illustration—a vastly superior artist than I was.
Thinking it was Amber’s, and that she would never take seriously any of my criticism of her drawings, for some unexplainable reason, I poked fun at the drawing. To my horror, I immediately discovered that it was not my sister’s drawing, but Jenny’s.
Family roasting hot dogs in backyard
Of all the mistakes I have made over the years—comments that I could take back, this one is at or near the top of the list. My hasty, loud-mouthed comment was unkind and hurtful. To this day I have never seen Jenny draw horses again.
For some reason, I recently had a strong impression to apologize to Jenny for that hasty and unkind comment made more than 30 years ago. In a way, I felt like this apology would also be for all of the other foolish and hasty comments I have made over the years that have been unkind to my wife.
So I found a painting that I really liked of a woman on a horse. This week I framed it, and gave it to Jenny. When I presented it to her in front of my children at home, I retold this story in the hopes that my folly would also be a lesson to them about how we should be so careful with the words we use, especially with those we love!
Jenny, I am so sorry. I hope that someday you draw horses again!
Picture Dad gifted to Mom