Fall Colors!

After the morning session of conference, we met up with Jared's family and went up American Fork canyon to see the fall colors. 

We split up with Jared and Maxine and she hitched a ride back to her car in Lehi and we continued down Provo canyon because I wanted to see the Provo City Center Temple. It was lovely but so busy. Everyone else decided to drive up the canyon too. That road is too narrow and what should've taken an hour took like 3. 

Oh well. Still a nice day.

Eagle Mountain Mountain Bike Race

Eagle Mountain was a great race but it was WINDY! Maxine drove down from Logan to hang with us. I gave her bad directions and she got to the race venue on this bad dirt road. She ended up driving through the race finish. Oh man. The worst. But after we got over that, we had a fun time.

Maxine making the magic happen with her artwork.

Trying to get everyone's bike to the venue is sometimes a bit of a trick.

Juliet loves this shot. I'm not quite sure if it's from this race but I'm going to leave it here.

I think Merril was a sweep at this race but who knows. Sometimes pictures get all jumbled up.

The kids raced well but like I said, it was windy and dusty!

We had dust everywhere when we were done.

At the end of the day, Merril and I were helping at the finish and it was bad.

We had to resort to creative ways to keep the dust out of our eyes.

Good times but I really wanted a shower after that.

Sister Wengler

It's surprising how many of Maxine's missionary companions are around Provo, UT. Maxine found Sister Wengler, I mean Emma, and they spent a weekend together! Yay! Maxine loves her!

 

Merril And The Girls At Lake Powell

Lake Powell time with Shawn and all his toys!

This year, Merril was able to take the girls.

Juliet tried her hand at wake surfing and Merril took some cool video. She said it was cold. Fair. It's the end of the season and it was night.

Awesome memories were made.

Maxine's making memories up at USU. It was a white out game.

I went on a nice evening hike up behind our house. Perfect weather.

Perfect Fall

Juliet had mountain bike practice up at wire mesa. It was lovely weather and she needed to do homework so I drove and then did a little hike. The last time I went to wire mesa, a girl crashed and I walked for 1 minute and then helped to pick cactus spines out of her. 

My girls and I also went to the St George temple open house. I keep going any chance I can get. I can't wait for that Temple to open.

 And here's Mark doing awesome Mark things. Jack was taking the pictures but it's hard to take a picture of yourself when you're doing a jump so I don't have any of him. 

 

Lovesac Party!

Shawn invited a few of us to a LoveSac party in Salt Lake. It was for employees but it's fun to have some friends there too. I was the only wife who was able to go. It was 90s themed. 

Merril wasn't feeling very well. He found a lovesac and a cover and spent a large part of the night in the hallway. Poor guy. Then we drove back home.

I Want that Skeleton

We had a fire in the back yard. It's not that interesting except Juliet and I had just washed our hair and didn't want it to smell like smoke. We tied garbage bags on our heads. 

She wasn't thrilled about having her picture taken.

You see these $30 skeletons? I thought that was a brilliant price and I wanted one. Bad. I want it for Halloween, even though Halloween is still mega far away.

I totally bought it! I predict they will sell out quickly. They are about the size of Mikayla. 5 feet.

 

Cedar City Race!

Leighna came to cheer Jack on. I should've been better at getting her to right places to watch. Sorry Leighna!

Jack rocked it!

Juliet has been racing so well this season but had a little bump into another rider and she crashed. She didn't get hurt but her derailleur did. She was pretty sad. She DNF. 

We'll see how much time she can make up in the next races because she wants to go to state.

Maxine didn't come home for Labor Day and hung out with her new friend Karalee Bundy. Karalee's from Oklahoma and definitely wasn't going home for the weekend.

Peach Daysssss

I finally did the thing I've wanted to do forever: I entered a quilt at peach days! I love this America quilt. Look at my face. I'm clearly excited! I've got my crazy eyes on. I even made a few dollars from winning a blue ribbon.

Mikayla wanted a peach days shirt.

Merril and his band performed at peach days. Last year it was so hot and it was a lot colder this year. Still fun. Onto the mountain bike race!

Maxine Starting University

Utah State University does a nice job. They've had photographers out taking pictures at beginning of the year events and Maxine has taken advantage of them. 

First day of school: August 28th, 2023.

Night adventures on the quad. There was an adventure that couples could kiss at a certain time at a certain spot. She didn't have anyone to kiss and the people lining up were already in couples. As she was hanging around waiting, the announcer said they needed someone for a lone boy to kiss. Maxine volunteered and kissed a total stranger that night. Crazy girl. I love her spirit though. Have fun!

Regular Life Again

With the kids back in school, I went to the temple. I made a really last minute appointment and there was only 1 seat. I took it, sorry Merril. He said he was busy anyway.

I took the kids to eat chicken at Ernie's, the gas station. They have surprisingly good chicken.

Mikayla is so excited to get her cello for orchestra. I actually ended up getting her two cellos so she doesn't have to drag it back and forth.

And Merril went on a dirt bike ride!

 

HOCO 2023

Jack went with Leighna and Juliet went with Anthony. I took pictures of Juliet's group and got so many cute ones. That's the bonus of taking pictures for the group. Pigeon toes! The group looked at me funny when I said do pigeon toes but I think it turned out so cute!

They looked at my funny when I said to take a selfie and I was going to take a picture of them. It's my favorite!

I didn't take Jack's pictures and somehow, this is the only one I got. Still beautiful! But it's in my basement. Fun times!