Ben Summer Update

For some reason I didn't do a Ben summer update when I wrote the girls'.  

Ben just got back from YM camp.  He had a great time.  He's also been doing lots of fishing and swimming at Logboom Park with Jack.  He's been chatting with a girl from FSY (she lives an hour or so away.) 

He had back to back to back camps this summer--he was busy, but very happy. (FSY, Reunion, Youth Conference, Wrestling Camp)

Tomorrow he starts football and driver's ed.

He helped clean out the pod at Grammy's house.  

Fish! 

The bouncy house party at Aunt Maren's

Spiderman! 

Young Men's camp

Lake Easton Camping Trip 2026

 I was heartbroken when I realized that the Lake Easton camping trip overlapped with the drive to drop off Libby.  But we headed up early on Thursday so I some lake time on Thursday and a bit on Friday before I had to come home and finish packing Libby up (hard to pack in a sling.) 

The weather was just about perfect.  I see from the photos that everyone continued to have a great time after I left.

Ben got his permit while we were there.  Sadly I didn't download it and now we need to go in and get a printout (or we'll get a photo version.) 

Had a great time chatting with Harlow.  Harlow and I became the giardia twins after both engaging in high risk behavior.  They ate a chip that fell in the water.  My cup tipped over and my straw got in the water.  Oops.  (Luckily we both came out okay--at least I did.) 

These boys are all so old! I just saw in my FB from when we first did this campout 6 years ago.  They are so big now. 

My meals worked out great.  Hot dogs, beans, veggies, and chips the first night with elephant ears for dessert.  Boiled omelets & hash browns for breakfast.  The nice thing was super easy cleanup.  Which was important so I could make my exit to drive Libby.  

It is for sure the weekend of summer I usually relax.  Will I be okay without it?  I hope so...

Iowa or Bust Round 2

 This year getting Libby off to school had several more challenges than last year.  

The first was that after showing that she didn't make good decisions about driving, we wouldn't be taking her car.

2nd, she had surgery so she couldn't drive.

3rd, her move in was the day before girls camp.  Oh boy.

So, I found a plane ticket that could get me out in the evening on Aug 10, so I could move her in and get back for camp.  I rented a van.  Then I realized that me doing 26 hours of driving over 2 days was not going to work. Thankfully when I realized the issue, Derek hadn't filled his weekend with OT yet, AND the plane ticket for him to come home with me was reasonable.  

So it became a 3 person roadtrip to Iowa.

We stayed in Centerville Utah on the first night.  Sadly my parents were still in Africa. 

We stayed in Omaha at my cousin Stephanie's house the next night (total blast to crash the cousin sleepover.)

Then we did what maybe was the fastest move-in + Target trip ever.  She was all set, including meeting her coach by 3:15 pm so we could hit the airport.  

The flights home went smoothly enough (the final leg through SLC was 20 min delayed, but that wasn't too bad considering).

Sarah picked us up so I could finish the girls camp packing and be ready to head out at 8:00 am.

Not ideal, but so thankful that it went well.  

Libby's new dorm set up is really awesome.  She has 3 freshman teammates as roommates.  Hopefully they don't mind a mess.  Or maybe she'll turn over a new leaf? 

She starts school tomorrow.  Yay for a new year.  It's a much bigger school than last year (would be hard not to be bigger.)   So lots of new things to navigate.  Excited for her (a little jealous honestly.  I loved college.) 

3 full Target carts since she needed some stuff for a bathroom this year too. 

Fun with new 2nd cousins. 

My favorite sign on the road trip. 

Derek and I read two Harlan Coben books.  (Actually we have like 2 hours left of one book...we need to hang out this week and listen!) 

Sarah Summer Update

 Sarah has had such a whirlwind of a summer so far.  She was so glad to have a week at home! 

She is dog sitting, and had a bit of a snafu on the first day and the dogs wet in the kitchen of the house.  It took her several days of going 3 times a day and doing a lot of cleaning to get them to stop doing that.  Good life lesson.  If you are late to let the dogs out, it's a lot of work to retrain them!

She also has had a great time with friends. 

Sarah's first ballot!  She gets to vote now since she'll be 18 by the Nov election.

Can 3 people stand on a paddleboard? 

Also some shopping.  Wowza. She spent 1/2 of her money from Lake Wenatchee in one shopping trip. 

And, I helped her clean her room.  After being SO busy, it had gotten a little out of hand.  She tried to box me out...but I got in. (I've had some practice helping resistant people with cleaning lately.) I didn't get a pic of the final product.  But we even got her earrings sorted and in a new container. 

Happy Birthday Libby

 

Libby finished her Intensive Outpatient program for mental health on her birthday after a Starbucks breakfast sandwich .

She tried out some lashes--lovely.  

She asked me to make spaghetti for her birthday.  Sarah made her bread.  We had a fun little dinner.  They watched Descendents 2 and I went to bed.  HBD! 

On Saturday Libby had a friend party.  I got to meet some of the people she's been spending time with this summer.  They were all really nice.  They played lots of rounds of scum and a fun game of blank slate.  

One of her friends had a birthday on Saturday.  HBD Anthony! 

President Babou

The New Planters

 

High hopes and a mental plan

Finished product

Derek helping

I had to buy the final scrubs of flowers at the store because it took me so long.  So we'll see if they plump out.  No zinnias left.