Summer's Coming

Marty and I took a quick trip to Provo so he could pick up keys to his new apartment.

When we got back, Catherine was installing patio furniture for our Master Bedroom.

She and I sat outside on the new furniture for two hours catching up!

These boys took off on Senior trip -- road tripping to get there.

And Nick had friends over. They passed on the meatloaf I made (heated.. from Costco) 

and instead grilled burgers and ate outside.

Projects

I purchased silicon 

(which I discovered is a fancy, and intimidating,

name for glue with a higher endurance) 

and got a mirror ready for installation 

in the poolhouse bath.

Last week I used the drill 

to take apart a crate with an art delivery. 

So you could say 

I'm learning some new skills this summer.

Walking the New Pagosa Property

Pagosa to meet with the architects and builder to determine a building site.

These next photos were from our visit with our family just before closing.

The weather forecast looks so much more hopeful! I read an article that said we've had the 2nd wettest spring on record. Over 10 inches. More water this spring than all of last year!

Baptisms and Other Stuff

We all went and did baptisms this evening. I loved watching Chris baptize for the first time. 

I loved being together with my family in the temple. I loved taking names of family members. (Which are getting REALLY hard to find baptisms!) And we all loved Benihana afterwards.

Courtney passed her Quals!!! I don't have more info... just a very happy text from the afternoon.

You know Grandma has been here when the towels are fancy folded and even the rags are folded!

And who put the milk IN THE FREEZER?!

A Day Off

First we slept in. Until 9:30 a.m.
Then we rode. Thinking we'd go a quick 10 miles, but ended up doubling it, going all the way to Little Cottonwood Canyon.
We made brunch and did some chores.
I helped Chris clean his room and he played some new songs on his guitar.
We showered and got dressed for the day (it was 3:00 by now).
Nick played video games and watched TV. Marty probably did the same.
Dan worked on his Stake Conference talk and I read Hillbilly Elegy.
Then Dan napped and I lay on him for a pillow and finished my book.
Chris' friends came over and skateboarded. Later when I passed by his room, four of them were all laying in his bed side-by-side surfing their phones.
Dan and I made leftovers for dinner and ate outside.
Marty went swimming at Ethan's and walked over barefoot.
Nick's friend came over.
Dan and I took Kershaw for a walk and talked to Courtney about her weekend.
We sat on the couches at the poolhouse and talked to Courtney some more while Dan called Chris to finish cleaning up a few lingering things from Saturday night's party.
We made a plan to all go do baptisms tomorrow and everyone is on board.
Marty's friends came over to watch a Japanese anime "Spirited Away."
I blogged. Dan helped Courtney book tickets for a trip.
It's 10:30 and we're lying in bed winding down.
The End.

BBQ w/ Wingers

Wingers came up for a BBQ while mom was here.

Only a quick rain shower so we were able to enjoy the whole afternoon and evening outside.

Next week looks like more of the same. Will it ever warm up?

School's Out Parties

Finally some decent weather, so we invited Chris' friends families over for a BBQ. But we couldn't visit past 8:30 because Chris and "Sigma Uce" (they named their friend group) were having a party.

All these men have been like 2nd Dads to Chris. He admires them all so much.

It was a BIG party. I counted at least 200. Chris thinks at one time there were 300. 

They hung Sigma Uce banners, put out tiki torches and decorated with a Hawaiian theme. 

The boys started decorating while the parents were still eating and visiting. 

We love seeing how creative they are -- and they don't even use Pinterest! 

Beach balls in the pool, table covers with fringe, grass skirts, tiki torches. 

(as I write this, I can hear them all singing "School's Out" in Chris' room. 😂)

And about 11:00 p.m. we got a knock on the door. 

The police had arrived to shut it down because it was so loud. 

But they were super impressed there was no alcohol (and relieved).

ME Quals

While we were celebrating Chris' graduation day, Courtney was taking the 

biggest test of her educational career.

She's been studying for Quals for the whole year, but really hitting it hard 

this last month. She needs to pass to stay in the Engineering program.

Dan and I fasted for her on Wednesday. Carine made her dinner. Marty and Dan put her name on the temple prayer roll. Meggan, her roommate, also put her name on the prayer roll in NYC.

Michael has been giving her motivational notes for the last six weeks -- 

helping her through this super stressful time.

We've all been praying for her. 

The test began at 8:00 a.m. and didn't end until 5:00 p.m.

The department quietly brought in a catered lunch while the 9 candidates were all testing. 

She called us at 5:00 New York time to report the test was over and she felt really good about it!

Yay, Courtney! She finds out the results in about a week.

In other exciting news, we closed on a ranch in Pagosa Springs! 

It will be a few years before there's a house on the property to stay in, but we are so excited to continue the Pagosa legacy and to have more time to spend up there!

AND so our children can enjoy taking their families and friends just as we have!

First item of business, buy a jeep. Actually this is a Landcruiser MJ.

Apparently the Landcruiser/Jeep people are very particular about not calling it the wrong name!

Although it's going to be a hard habit to break not calling this vehicle that looks

very much like a Jeep, a Jeep. Especially in Pagosa when we talk about "the Jeep" a lot!

Class of 2019

We celebrated Chris' big day at the St. Regis for lunch.

I'd managed to get a bike ride in in the morning, but by afternoon the rain started.

In Deer Valley, it was snowing.

Dan and boys checking out the snow as we rode the funicular back from lunch.

Such weird weather for high school graduation!

Chris and friends drove the bus over to graduation. One last bus hurrah.

It had been snowing in the valley as well.

Chris and friends got to sit together. All wearing leis from the Gygi family.

We so love Olympus for getting the proceedings done in 90 minutes!

Chris gave his principal a big hug instead of simply shaking his hand.

He always cracks us up!

Making an appearance behind Chris and Marge is the hawk U of U mascot -- 

foreshadowing Chris' next education step in life!