Flag Quilt

It's almost Independence Day. Church selfie!

Last year at the Laub Ranch, Aunt Lynnette made a beautiful quilt to auction off. I took a picture of it because I thought it was amazing! I kept thinking I wanted to make one but I put it off until a week and a half before Independence Day. 😖 Merril was out of town for the weekend and so I decided there was no time like the present. 

I sewed and cut all weekend. I ignored my children and the house for 3 days. 

But I banged out that quilt with a week left until the 4th of July! And I love it! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! 😍It's between a twin and throw quilt size. 

 

Glacier Vacation Race and Canada Adventure

Off they go again to the vacation race at Glacier! 

After the work was done, they rented some scooters to go play.

This is Calgary Tower in Canada.

I love glacial lakes. They are so pretty! This is Lake Louise I believe.

Maxine became pen pals from Instagram with a Canadian gal named Tamara, Tam for short. They finally met in person!

So pretty!

Juliet turns 16!

 Juliet is finally turning 16! Sorry for the summer birthday chickita! 

 

She had to wait 3 extra days to get her license! Her birthday fell on a Saturday, so the DMV wasn't open. But we couldn't get it on Monday because of Juneteenth, Monday June 19th. The DMV still wasn't open. She had to wait clear until Tuesday the 20th. She's happy in this picture but she was not happy when we found out about this. She's a good driver and Merril found a good deal on a Honda Civic.

It needed work, of course, but she got a great deal on it. It ended getting an engine swap in the garage and I replaced the quarter glass on the back door because it had been broken into. It should be a good little car for her.

Lemondade Stand!

Children persist in wanting to do a lemonade stand. It was hot.

We all stopped by to get some. In the end, I think they were frustrated they didn't make more money. It was in the $20s for both of them. I guess they wanted a bunch more. 

Free Frazil Friday! In June, Maverick has been giving away free Frazils every Friday in June. We've been taking advantage of just such a promotion. :)

Yellowstone Vacation Race

Merril was able to get Maxine a job with vacation races. It's a great opportunity for them to hang out together and see some sights! They are at Yellowstone NP.

Also, Maxine was able to hook up with Sister Bullard! Sorry, I don't know any of their first names. They'll always be Sister so and so to me.

Campbell Get Together in William, AZ

Janet Campbell's 70th birthday called for a celebration in Williams, AZ. Merril and Maxine were working a vacation race in Yellowstone so they couldn't come. Jack and Juliet were at youth conference. That left me, Mark, and Mikayla as the only ones who could go. On the way down, Tim and Abigail needed a ride down so they came with us. I was in charge and wasn't in a hurry so we stopped frequently. Tim said it was the best road trip he's ever been on. Wahoo, go me!

We caught the train from Williams, AZ to the grand canyon.

We hiked around the edge. It was a nice day.

We went to Bearizona too. It's an outdoor zoo of North American animals. Mikayla and I both helped in an animal show. She's decided she wants to live and work there someday as an animal trainer. Lol.

Maxine couldn't wait to get out into the wilderness after her mission. Merril is coming through for her.

Juliet's Summer Job

A cookie place, resembling Crumbl Cookies, opened near the Walmart by our house. Juliet decided she wanted a summer job and applied and was accepted. It's called Nom Nom Cookies! She's so cute going to her first day at work!

Speaking of cute, Mikayla thought that her bearded dragon looked adorable and took my phone to take some pictures.

I can't believe how much she loves that lizard! She's always carrying Sandy around. And when we left Sandy for a week to go to Hawaii, she didn't die because apparently lizards are fine to leave for a week at a time. Crazy! 

Fun with Maxine!

Maxine's enjoying being home and she's been spending time with the kids. She took Mikayla to lunch at Costa Vida.

She and Juliet went to the temple.

Visiting old friends! Yay! She's living her best life. 

Adventures After Hawaii: The Queen Mary

After Hawaii, Merril arranged to bring a car back from Long Beach and because we're the worst, we stayed in Long Beach and sent off our children at 10 p.m. to drive home from L.A. Alone, all night long.

This is the story from Jack: Maxine drove out of southern California for an hour. Jack was asleep. Juliet drove for another hour and they got to an exit before Baker, CA and there was a huge traffic jam. Traffic was stopped and they were getting pulled off the road and and told to park and wait. Juliet pulled off and a cop waved her to a road on the right, so Juliet turned right. Then the cop freaked out and yelled, "NOOO! Do NOT turn that way! No right turn, you're not supposed to go down to the left." Juliet had her window down and said, "You said to turn right!" He apologized and said it had been a long night. Juliet was frazzled from getting yelled at by the cop so Jack took over driving. They were supposed to park and wait until the freeway reopened. Jack wasn't having it. He went on Google maps and found a dirt road that went 3 miles North and then connected with Route 66 and went East for 7 miles and then reconnected with the freeway on the other end of Baker, on the other side of the closure. They went around and the dirt road was fine for the Expedition. They got back on the paved road and drove through town and got gas. Mikayla wants it known that it was a sketchy gas station. Then, Jack got on the freeway and got them all home. I'm glad they made it safe. I'm sure it will be one of those adventures that binds them together but yikes. I know, I know, children used to do way harder things and this makes them stronger but I still struggle with it.

Merril and I didn't stay at just any hotel, we stayed on the boat, The Queen Mary. It's an old British ship that's been converted into a hotel.

It had a lot of the feel of the Titanic. It's about the same age. 

We were lucky, I guess it's been under renovation for a while and just reopened. It was a fun little adventure. I'm glad the children didn't die. I'm glad they banded together and took care of each other. That makes me happy. 💓

I want you to note my water bottle. This is the last time a picture is taken with it. I have no idea where is went. So long, I've been missing you!