Happy Birthday Libby!

 I can't believe Libby is 17.  It's been a year.  Such a good year.  Basically from the time she got out of the hospital last year, and finished her partial hospitalization program right around her birthday--she's been doing so well.  It's been so fun to be her mom.  One reason is the great med cocktail--brain chemistry needs to get in balance!  Also we had to switch her ADHD meds partway through the year and that made things unexpectedly even better.  

During the school year she rocked swimming (lots of PRs) and wrestling.  She did well enough academically and found a love for pottery that helped motivate her to go to school when she'd have preferred to stay in bed.  Don't we all need something like that?  

She's been working this summer, nannying for Jed & Rory.  She's loved it, loved earning money and helping them have fun (making slime, going swimming, etc.)  She's gotten up on time without help most days. She's remembered her meds a few days.  (Still a work in progress.)

Her boyfriend continues to be adorable.  He bought her a pottery wheel on FB marketplace for her birthday.  I decorated the "studio" that is now set up in our cellar.  It's a hot mess down there.  But it's out of the way.  She's working on a way to fire the clay (deciding between trying to haul it to Woodinville or getting a fire and glaze membership somewhere local.) 

She's really becoming an adult and I admire her so much for what she's doing with her life.  Love that Libby so much!

Cookie dough ice cream, what else? 

I had her design her own logo, then put it on the sign and apron.  

There's an opening into the crawl space behind that "curtain."  I was so happy to find the fabric with flowers that almost exactly match her logo (kinda hard to tell from the pics--but trust me). 

Dad got her the carhart coveralls for her birthday.  

She's already made so many things!  She's really quite good! 

I got a few random pics in my camera roll of what was supposed to be her birthday party at the pool.  It was on the day of Grandpa's funeral, so she still went with her friends and swam, but we all stayed here.  She didn't get a group pic, but about 7 or 8 friends joined her for swimming, pizza and strawberry shortcake.  (She and I don't agree on swimsuit modesty standards, but I'm choosing my battles.) 

Center Circle 2024

 I love being involved in Center Circle Wrestling Camp.  This year we had over 20 SW Wrestlers participate.  (I should know the exact numbers, but I was over the store and not registration...)

I think we ended up with 280 wrestlers.  It was so fun! 

Ben's crew.  Two incoming freshmen and the others are going into 8th like Ben. 

SW girls!  We had 8 girls who ended up making it to camp.  Fun bunch!  

One of the SW dual teams.  Ben lost all his matches, but learned a lot. 

Laundry day!  We did about 140 loads.  I was SO thankful Clark came down to help.  Couldn't have done it without him. 

Haha.  Yes, I had to go get lunch at Safeway--and eat it while swapping loads. 

I helped keep score for most of the girls duals.  Super fun to see the girls wrestle.  Sarah won one (I think?--maybe more) and Libby lost her first 2 and then won the rest (she came in heavy and got bumped up to wrestle 122 lbers.  These two sisters proved to be pretty tough!) She took 2nd in the top/bottom comp and 1st in the takedown tournament. 

My store "security" team.  Haha.  Lots of SW kids spent their breaks hanging in the store.  Loved that. 

Sarah working the new technique. 

Libby drilling with her partner. 

Ben and Noah

Come and get it!  We sold most of our inventory, including several extra cases of Gatorade that we bought from Walmart.  We even made a bit of money on laundry this year if you don't count the laundry bags we didn't use this year that we can roll over the next year. 

Overall it was exhausting.  Up until after 11 (store closes at lights out--we sell a lot of late night snacks) and I was up at 5ish every day.  But I do love the job.  We take home part of the camp profits.  We did pretty well this year.  We gave counselors free snacks, laundry and pizza.  So that cut into profits.  But we like to keep our counselors happy so people want to work for our camp. 

An Unexpected Salmon Trip & Remembering Uncle Jerry

 We got to Utah on Sunday and I dropped Sarah off at BYU for her camp on Monday.  I got to spend the day with my favorite mission companion. Ben loves spending time with her kids, so it was a win/win.  

Then Tuesday we did a Bubble day with cousins (love love love standing outside in the warm sun with my feet in the cool water.  I could have stayed all day.)

Then Wednesday we headed up to Salmon to celebrate the life of my Uncle Jerry.  He died suddenly on the same day that Derek's dad passed away at the age of 80.  He was a very unique guy.  Creative, inventive, fun, and yeah--strange.  But I LOVE his kids and I love being in Salmon.  I'm so glad we got to take Rachel's kids with us, because she loved Salmon even more than I do.

We (Ben and I) got a great Airbnb with Dave, the Cottle kids and my parents. We played at Myrna's house (kid paradise) with all the 2nd cousins until way too late both nights we were there.  If  I could have added anything to my busy summer, it would have been a Salmon trip--so while it was for a somber reason--it was super fun.  

Sarah had a great time at her writer's camp.  She spent a lot of the ride home writing.   

Bubble Day! 

Devin got a little too aggressive on the "court" and I had to bench him for a bit.  But he had a great day at the pool. He and Ben spent a bunch of time on the indoor diving boards.  No pics because I didn't want to leave the sun. 

I did pop in to get some pics of these cuties

Couldn't get them both looking...

James was struggling with his goggles.  So we developed a routine.  I'd hold them while he pulled his hair off his face.  Then he'd hold the google to his face while I pulled the strap over his head.  He'd go under like crazy for a bit.  Then he'd take a break and we'd put the goggles on together again.  It was fun to work together with him. 

Salmon time!  They are still in the process of a major remodel, but it's looking really nice. 

Train drivers! 

Boys on the train. 

Both boys fed the neighbor's horse. 

Randomly on the street in Salmon. 

Some of Jerry's beloved junk.  There was SO MUCH.  Before he was even in the ground Myrna and kids had already taken several dump runs. 

My favorite thing I found among the junk. 

Cousin time! 

Wes was giving us the tour of the property.  I love it up there so much.  It's beautiful.  (Also, got to hang out with my ex-boyfriend Spencer...he's the last one I dated before Derek.  He seems really happy--and I'm happy too...so we both chose wisely to go our separate ways.) 

Randall Camping Trip 2024

On July 5th, Sarah, Ben, Uncle Davey and I headed to Hagerman ID to meet up with all of the Randalls for a camping extravaganza.  Everyone but Emily made it.  It was super fun.  (So much better than last year when we ended up not being able to camp due to tent trailer failure.)  We also paddled (and rode in rafts) to Blue Heart--a super cool spring in a cove off the Snake River (I think...).  It was incredible.  I paddled on my paddle board down river with Devin (Ben abandoned me and joined Sarah).  And then back up river by myself.  I was pretty proud of my rowing effort (and of Ben & Sarah's).  It was HOT--but the water felt awesome.  The water in Blue Heart was COLD!  Sarah did a 2 minute plunge.  Ben also got all in.  We ate awesome food (Nick used his portable smoker and my parents did Dutch Oven.)  We tested out our new tent and found out that it is really waterproof--even from sprinklers popping up under the tent itself.  Not a single leak.  I love the new tent (although I really miss the D door on our old one.)  Happy to get another chance to use it in a couple of weeks.