Carson & Monet Seegmiller

Wedding Day for Monet & Carson! 

Temple was in the morning,

lunch afterward at the Alpine Country Club.

Reception that evening at Sheree & Jared's.

So excited for the cute Seegmillers!

Rach is going to be a very stylin' granny when that time comes and she chops her locks!

To Emi, Love Reese (and Grandma)

Rachel and I ran a few errands with the kids today in preparation for Monet's wedding -- 

DSW for shoes, Old Navy for an outfit for Dylan. Barnes & Noble to let Rachel think in Old Navy without the kids begging her to leave.

We found some fun things for Emi who was coming tonight.

Reese was soooo excited!  She was the best little babysitter in Colorado last week, and can't wait to see Emi again.

While Dan and I were at Sheree's house helping set up with the Wingers and Michelle & Brent,

Reese got the presents all set up so Emi and Marty & Lizzie would see them when they arrived.

We'd intended to pick up Marty & Lizzie at the airport at 9:30, but

their flight got delayed twice and then cancelled!

We are so sad we won't see them this weekend! 

Ugh, flights this year have been fraught with uncertainty,

And the Denver airport is the worst!

On the bright side, Sheree and Jared's yard is soooo beautiful! 

It's going to be a gorgeous wedding venue!

Lagoon

Rachel, Dylan and Reese arrived last night!

A few weeks ago when Rach was planning her Utah trip, I said yes to Lagoon.

Any time with my younger nieces and nephews is a bonus, so I didn't want to miss out.

We weren't rushing out the door in the morning (happy day! I'm soo tired!), 

so I brought out the stair slide from a couple Christmases ago.

Honestly its a little fast with an abrupt ending.

Bumping down on your bum like we used to do as kids is probably more fun.

After a leisurely morning, we arrived at Lagoon around noon.

Dylan was dying to go on all the biggest rides and Reese, was right there with him.

We started with Wicked and I sat out Wild Mouse (because someone needed to hold the bags AND, I HATE the feeling of being thrown off the track. Later, Bekah and I went together and it confirmed my need to avoid this type of ride at all costs in the future.)

Bekah and girls met us an hour later as well as her sil, Marie with three of her kids.

The day was overcast and 78*, lines were short and we weren't in a rush.

The kids were thrilled to be with cousins and everyone had a friend or choice of aunt to ride with.

Several times, I got to be that aunt which made a day at the amusement park worth it!

Rachel, Dylan, Reese and Livy rode Cannibal three times while the rest of us watched the kids play games and win a plethora of stuffed animals.

By 8:00, we were able to go on anything with no lines.

We went on Colossus, then the kids kept going, running down the ramp when they got off the ride, around to the front and back on seven times over!

Then the same with Wild Mouse!

I've got such happy memories of times that we went round and round not having to wait in any lines, 

bragging about the number of rides in a row we were brave enough for.

Every kid needs days like that.

Showers for Elise & Monet

We had a bridal shower for Monet and baby shower for Elise today.

Michelle did the invitations and helped with food

and Bekah did the decorations.

So fun to have not only Bekah, but her three assistants on the team.

(Lucy, Livy and Jane)

They've got her design talent and are already so creative and such good helpers!

I wish I also took pics of the food table which turned out beautiful

(two egg & sausage casseroles, two veggie & egg casseroles,

fruit trays, cinnamon rolls and crumbl cookies.)

So fun to gather with the Winger side of the family 

and meet Carson's mom and sister too!

Sweet Centerpiece

Someone left these sweet little rocks on our porch.

They're the perfect complement to the simple flower 

arrangement someone else dropped by.

Debbie L. is in town and we got our book club back together for the night.

Only four of us were able to meet, but it was so fun 

catching up with old friends. We started meeting when Nick was one-year-old, 

clear up until Debbie moved and Covid shut us down. 

Outdoor Movie

Michael and Katie invited the family over to their home for an outdoor movie night.

We all are pretty impressed with our family that after spending five days together,

we're excited about getting together again!

They have the perfect yard because it's tiered so great seats for everyone,

and the perfect movie set-up. Plus Katie cooks a mean burger.

(Movie: Isle of Dogs -- which I've been dying to see.)

We got to see Charlie and Audrey who weren't able to come to the reunion,

so that was fun to give them a hug and share some love with them too.

On the way over, Dan and I came across a car accident just after it happened.

An older man, from one of the cars involved, was wandering through the busy intersection, 

clearly disoriented. Dan pulled over to help him. 

I went to the other car with three hysterical children and a sobbing young mom.

I was able to take the 7 and 8 year old and get them to the curb, put my arms around them and let them cry and talk all about what happened. Pretty soon the mom and her one-year-old were next to me and they needed hugs as well. Another couple found trail mix with M&M's which helped calm the toddler.

They were all traumatized and for a few minutes I got to be the person in the right place at the right time 

with skills that were helpful (calm, listening, validating, and old enough to feel like someone they could trust.) I kind of felt like it was a privilege.

Building 9

In between errands for Elise & Monet's showers next week, 

finalizing packing and moving Nick to BYU,

I had 24 hours beginning last night at 10:00 p.m. 

to submit an entry in the nycmidnight microfiction contest --

I was in the top 15 in my category (of 60 people -- so not a huge number)

and got to move ahead to the next round.

Genre: Historical Fiction. Action: getting handcuffed. Word: thought

My computer came with me on the drive to Provo and back.

Nick wanted his last dinner at home to be steak and veggies with just the three of us 

(Chris is still out of town).

We arrived at BYU around 7:00 along with lots of families helping their freshmen move in.

Everyone was happy, social and excited.

By the time we finished getting Nick unpacked,

Will and his family showed up. 

Then Ethan and the Pauls showed up (he lives just down the hall).

By then, Nick was ready for us to go and enjoy his new home with his friend.

Sooooo excited for you, Nick! 

(And I finished my 100-word historical fiction story just as we pulled into the garage,

 minutes before the deadline.)

Packing Day

Packing day with Nick.

I was so glad he wanted my help,

and also had to run "check for that item in the laundry room" once 

to sniffle and cry in private at the thought of saying goodbye to my cute boy living under our roof.

He's so sweet and calm. He's always happy to pitch in and really good at seeing what needs to be done and doing it. He doesn't mind hanging out with his parents and our family dinners of three are pretty regular because of it, which has been really nice. I will miss him.

It's also so strange to think we're empty nesters.

Chris is home this summer, so that will be a nice break-in period to being alone.

I'm also excited to spend more time with Dan and focus on my book. 

I think Kershaw looks a little sad too.

Look at this sweet note Chris left for Nick (along with the clothes he's borrowed

and a gift of a container of pre-workout:)

I was putting away some things in Nick's closet and caught a glimpse of 

his blanket and pillow on his shelf.

How has it been 18 years since he was born? 

Being a mom has been the best gift.

My kids are more amazing than I could have ever dreamed of. 

In fact, if I'd have known what a fantastic future I had waiting for me,

I think it would have made some difficult high school years much easier.

But I guess I wouldn't have learned about faith and hope and trust in such an acute way either.

I am grateful.

Hello Home

As we left Pagosa this morning, Bob & Rhonda arrived 

and will spend the next five days with Courtney & Michael.

I haven't been home in a loooong time. 

Except for an overnight between NYC and Pagosa, I haven't been home since June 3.

First item of business, change the therms from heat to cool.

Second, take down Nick's graduation decorations.

I didn't have much planned for today except to take a nap and maybe read. 

Give myself a day off.

Restoration Hardware delivered the new couch cushions I ordered,

and I was soooo excited to have fresh clean ones!

Unfortunately I ordered the wrong size, so there's a whole lot of $$ down the drain.

And now half the summer will be gone before the new ones arrive.

But Bekah called to see if she could bring the girls swimming

(she stayed in SLC after Pagosa because Monet and Carson's wedding is in a week),

and instead of stewing on my mistake,

we spent a lovely afternoon together at the pool.

Dan made everyone dinner and it turned out to be a perfect welcome home.