Much Ado about Nothing--In the Park

 To keep Sarah busy this summer, I signed her up for a drama camp.  It was a whole month, in the park next to our house.  From 9:30-3:00 pm.  Score!  So much activity and fun!  

She really did love it.

And she was great as Leonardo, Hero's father.  She nailed her lines.  I wish I would have gotten a recording of her little monologue.  

It's such a fun play!

She really got close with the group.  They have a group chat that is blowing up her phone all the time now.  Only one goes to Einstein, but it'll be nice to have a new friend at school. 

Cancer...again.

 Monday, I woke up to go to my first day of teacher workshops for returning to school...and there were too many Marco Polos and messages for a normal Monday morning.  I immediately saw that the news wasn't good. Rachel--has brain cancer.  3 spots that they found when she had a migraine that just wouldn't go away.  It made the day feel so hard and surreal.  One of my coworkers saw me crying in the parking lot and came and prayed with me and my mom (who was on the phone).

I already feel so uncertain and unsettled trying to get ready for this school year.  (They are likely adding a remote option this week that will change class configurations, just as school starts. UGH...could mean a job change for me.)

Over the week, Rachel's treatment plan developed.  She has 3 spots in her brain. They are doing gamma knife radiation.  One treatment.  Then they will see what the next course of action will need to be.  

I guess the breast cancer already being in her lymph nodes...it was on the move.

They are in a better place to fight this this time around.  Brad was just hired as a VIP tour guide at Disney.  Rachel has disability insurance and a job that will give her all the leave she needs.

My mom flew out already.

They are optimistic and it helped me move forward through this week.  But prayers for Rachel appreciated.

She beat back cancer once--she can do it again! 

Happy 50th Anniversary Geneva & Brion

 Maren had the great idea of throwing a big anniversary celebration for Geneva and Brion...she wanted to invite all the "family" that have been the Norton family here in Shoreline for so many years.  With Covid on the rise again, and Brion's health being so iffy--it was a bit worrisome.  But since it was outdoors, and we were all vaccinated (except the kids I guess), we went for it.  And it was awesome.  It was intense...and a lot of work.  But it kept me from stewing about the upcoming school year, it brought great cousins to town, and we had a good time showing them how thankful we are for their 50 years of marriage!

It was as much of a surprise as we could pull off...I asked them a bunch of things about their wedding.  She gave me her dress a few weeks ago.  I had it cleaned and replaced the buttons.  The suit there is wearing Brion's tie from the wedding. 

The chauffeurs! 

The lights and plastic covering were Brett--he did a great job! 

The flower arrangements on the table were a replica of her actual bouquet--daisies and yellow roses.  (Plus some statice because my friend Whitney said I needed a contrasting color.) 

We also replicated their wedding cake, which was a spice cake with daisies. The amazing Victoria B. make the cupcakes and Maren and I got to help decorate them. Making the fondant daisies was pretty fun! 

The kids did a musical number that was---iffy.  They needed at least 3 more practices.  But cute. 

Maren wore her gold shoes in honor of the Golden Anniversary

Clark nailed the speech.  He quoted a scripture that he felt like described each parent.  Wow.  It was moving. 

The best part of the day was having all 6 kids together! 

And lots of the grandkids too. 

I'm so blessed to have married into such a fabulous family!

Latterday Saint Night @ Mariners!

 We decided to go to the Mariners game for the Mormon Night!  I was pretty exhausted (girls camp had ended just earlier in the afternoon).  But I love baseball.  And Derek took the night off from working the game to go with us.  Between tickets, the team store, and food, we spent almost what he would have made.  But it was worth it!

We left in the middle of the 7th, Mariners down by one.  We listened to the game on the radio on the way home and the Mariners hit 2 home runs, scoring 4 more runs!  So we finished watching at home while we snacked. I didn't get to bed on time, but it was a fun evening.

I think we will go to one more game at least before the season ends. It's fun that the kids all like baseball now too--since they have played it on Sunnyside! 

We got the cheap seats, since I knew I'd be really tired.  But they were still amazing! 

Girls Camp 2021

 We decided early on not to try to do a sleepover camp this year. Covid made it way to tricky last year (when we planned and replanned camp like 3 or 4 times.). So we just decided on day camp.  And still--we had to plan and replan.  Construction and closures were our biggest challenge.  But in the end, we ended up with a fun schedule.  We had lots of variety. Time for the spirit and time for fun.  

I'm proud of how it all came together.  

Highlights for me?  

I taught them partner tag...and at first they were confused by it...and whiny--it was hot.  But then the girls played it several times when there was down time. Joyfully.  That made me happy.

All the greeting activities worked out well.  Getting the girls mingling.

The clipboard schedule idea was great.  (I was the one who kept losing my clipboard though...)

Last minute decorations worked out great.  Loved them. I hope someone took pictures.  I'm going to try and get a google album together.

The relay race with the sponges was on a really hot afternoon.  So I said that the girls could dump the bucket they filled on their YCLs.  The YCLs handled it great.  The girls were super motivated and it was fun!  I love it when last minute inspiration creates a perfect pivot! 

Discovery park had me really nervous.  But it worked out so well.  The air quality was sketchy, so there was plenty of parking and we had the park almost totally to ourselves! It was perfect weather down there...and the girls really enjoyed the beach art. The hike up was hard...but it was mentioned in almost every testimony! 

I was exhausted every evening.  But it was worth it.  I only wish my girls could have been there the whole time.  They both missed Thursday morning (a great mental health lesson).  And Libby missed Saturday (service at the temple, testimony. meeting & ward time.)

I'm thankful for this chance to serve and use my talents.  It also always strengthens my testimony that God directs us as we seek to do his work!

Lake Easton Camping Trip

 We had an amazing 2 night camping trip to Lake Easton.  Maren, Emma and I planned to take all the kids when we reserved this site in February.  But drill (for Libby) and drama camp (for Sarah) meant it was just Jed, Rory, and Ben.  There was rain on the way there that had me super worried.  But the rest of the trip was gorgeous!  We didn't realize that we wouldn't be able to have campfires, but the propane stove worked just fine to cook the tinfoil dinners (popped out onto the skillet) and even for smores.

Lake Easton is stunningly beautiful.  

We tested out Maren's new kayak.  It was super fun! 

Lots of card games!  Maren is the Monopoly Deal champ.  She won every time. 

The weather was perfect...did I mention that? 

I really enjoyed kayaking.  We might need one of these! 

The playground was really fun at Lake Easton.  The campground had a fun playground too! 

The crew! 

The beach was decent sand...good enough to bury someone! (or 3 someones...)

I had hoped for more camping this summer.  But at least the trip we took was flawless! 

Nordies Forever

 If you've been following this blog for the last year and a half, you know that the Nordies--the Norton/Hardie family have been integral to surviving and even thriving during the pandemic.  And the last month has been tough--as we helped the Hardies launch in to a new life--in Arkansas.  We helped them pack.  We stored their stuff in our garage while their house was on the market.  They moved in for 10 days during that time.  It was a whirlwind.  I am so excited for their new adventure, but we are going to miss them so much! 

Last pic with the Nordie Kids. (Babushka Willow, haha)

Ben cried so much--he cried at bedtime every night for a week or so.  He got up early to go with me to the airport to drop them off and cried a bunch of the way home.  Sarah even cried, even though Libby did her best to push Sarah out of their games (and Sarah let that happen--retreating to chat with grown ups or go to her room...) It's so good to have good friends--and so hard to see them go! 

Libby was a little more aloof as they left.  She said she didn't want anyone to see her cry.  I know it was hard on her too.  She loved being the boss of this little group of friends.  The Hardies were the glue of the Sunnyside gang.  It'll be interesting to see if they still hang out over there. 

Gotta love photos taken by kids.  This was before Joe drove off with Marlo, the bunny and all the plants. 

I have never had the urge to visit Arkansas.  But now I'm sure I'll be going there!  I'm glad that school is soon to start so that we don't have time to dwell on missing the 2nd half of our family.  Thankful for Marco Polo, texting, and facetime. 

Happy Birthday Libby!

 Libby turned 14 on July 24th.  She ended up with a Utah celebration, a Norton celebration, and a big family dinner at Old Spaghetti Factory.  Her birthday was during Youth Conference, so they celebrated here there too.  It was a bit overwhelming...lots of big feelings.  But overall, she made it.

Her favorite gift was contacts.  It took her a few tries to be able to get them in.  But she is very determined.  It beats what she was doing which is flying blind (her eyes are super bad--but glasses really reduce the impact of awesome eye makeup, ya know?)

For the Utah birthday party she asked for empanadas and strawberry shortcake

I find so many random Libby pics in our camera roll.  This is one of my favorites.  

The Norton Party--back to the Ice Cream Sandwich Cake.  My favorite.  So easy. 

Libby with the Seattle grand-parental units. 

More Libby selfies

She's been enjoying drill...I think.  The getting up early isn't her favorite.  And the trying to make friends after missing the first 9 practices.  A little tricky. 

On her actual birthday, we got her donuts.  This is her favorite outfit right now.  Usually I make her put a shirt on when she leaves her room.  But I thought I'd capture this for posterity. 

Izzy came with us to the OSF dinner.  They have grown apart a bit (sadly--sob).  So that ended up a bit awkward.  

Then we all went on a little bike ride.  Libby tried to stay in first the whole time. That was awkward too.  Being 14 isn't easy I guess. 

Her comment that she has been telling everyone she's 14 already so it was a bit anticlimactic...I wish would be a guiding statement for her life...don't rush it.  Things come in time! Hold on friends.  The Zone defense challenge has never been more difficult.