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. 

Our Gorgeous Garden

 This year I set a goal to garden every day this summer (that I'm home).  Just a few minutes at least.  Sometimes I do up to thirty.  And, I got lucky with one of my flower purchase...Carnival Zinnias.  As big as my dahlias.  Wow.  

I also really really wanted to buy some planters for outside our house.  I couldn't find what I wanted.  So I did some dreaming and Ben and Derek both helped be build them.  Not idea for marital harmony (when Derek's been working so much OT).  But they look awesome. I hope they will hold up.  I maybe should have done a bit more planning.  

Anyway, I just want to sit on the front porch or on the back patio and gaze at the flowers.  (So of course then I immediately go out of town to wrestling camp.) 

This is my Rachel wisteria up on the arbor.  It bloomed this year for the first time. 

I planted this front bed for the first time like this.  Not getting quite enough sun.  But I like it. 

Is there such a thing as too many hydrangeas?

Front porch basket

Little flower bed

Big side bed.  Impatients.  And a hydrangea about to really pop up there.

This is the crowning jewel triangle.  There are two more dahlias behind the purple one about to go. 

It's all looking so good. 

Fehlberg Official Photos

 

What a fun crew

Geneva and all six kids

Geneva and grandkids and greatgrands

Geneva and her brothers (one didn't make it and one has passed away since the last reunion.) 

1st cousins

Fehlberg Family Reunion 2026

 This year it was the Geneva Norton clan's turn to plan the Fehlberg Family Reunion.  We spent a long time looking for locations that could fit 60+ that included catering.  We finally found a gem in Ariel WA, near Mount St. Helens.  (Anderson Lodge) We had a pretty good time putting the reunion together, Anne Marie and I (with our husbands) doing our teacher thing and planning like crazy.  It was hard to move things forward and help everyone feel included, especially those who live farther away.  I'm not sure we did a great job with this, but we planned a pretty fun 3 days.  (Delegation is never my strong suit.) 

By the time it got closer, I just wanted to chuck everything and put my head under a pillow as Libby needed to have her surgery during the reunion.  But Derek took one for the team and missed 2/3 of the reunion to take her in and be with her the first day after surgery.  (She came through it, and some friends from the ward helped with the last overnight before we get home today.  It's been hard not being with my girl, but I pretty much needed to be here for the way I planned things.)

As soon as I arrived and saw the magic of everyone connecting, reconnecting, and new friends being made among the cousins and second cousins, all the work seemed worth it.  

We had absolutely spectacular weather.  The lake day was beautiful--just right.

The Ape Caves is such a cool hike.  I did the "medium" hike rather than the easy.  I'd give it more of a "hard" rating.  Super rocky--basically bouldering the whole hike.  But it wasn't too long.  And it's always more fun when you're catching up with people you love.

We tried to honor both Grandma Mary (painting day) and Grandpa Seig (hike and farmer minute to win it games--which were not the most awesome--but they were okay).  I gave out "blue ribbons" as a nod to the Fehlberg days of raising animals for the Wyoming fair.  The kids (and adults) loved getting the ribbons.  I gave them out for all kinds of random things (best bed head, being on my quilling crew --I created some new quilling converts, etc.)

I ended up being the one who ran the activities, made the announcements, moved people along.  But you know--that is just how I am.  I also won a game of Rummikub.  So exciting times.  People are just waking up and starting to get rolling--we have to be out of the lodge by 10:00 am.  

The reunion ended with a bang (literally--serious thunder).  I hope our tent sleepers are okay! 

Libby got to come for the first afternoon before she went home for surgery.  

Big bubbles were a last minute addition--I forgot I had all the stuff.  Huge hit. Should have brought twice the stuff. 

Playing with the littles was a highlight

Brett taking a photo of me taking a photo

Sarah getting into a water battle

Sarah killing the karaoke

The karaoke was amazing.  Kids and adults (mostly kids) loved it. 

After Ape Cave exit.  We made it out of the dark! 

June Part 2 & Happy 4th

Everyone's been going in different directions, but I'll try to sum up.

Ben & Derek had a good time at football camp.  Ben got a bit of playing time.   

The next morning I dropped Ben off at Lake Wenatchee to work in the camp store.  Sarah had already been there for a few days.  They had a fun time--especially during their off duty adventures, hiking, swimming, etc. 

Hike day

Leavenworth maybe? 

I also had a fun hike day--checking out the Franklin Falls hike with my 5th grade teaching partner Ellie.  It's a great hike. We're going to kick off girls camp with a hike on day 1! 

Libby went and helped out at Summer Duals.  (She spent the week grounded and getting rolling with her Intensive Outpatient Therapy, so she was glad to get out.)   She also used it as a chance to try wrestling a bit to decide if she should get the surgery recommended by the shoulder doctor.  She decided yes--she should have the surgery.  So we're all scheduled for July 14th, hoping for a cancellation on July 10th so Derek doesn't have to miss the family reunion to be with her. (Not all that hopeful--but you know--wishing?)

Derek worked the Pride parade and saw his favorite pride celebrants. 

I spent a weekend going deep on Geneva's house.  Leanne came into town and was a huge help.  We got so much cleaned out of the upstairs bedroom so it could be painted and prepped for carpet. 

More hiking

Not sure about this...but okay. Fun times. 

Geneva had water damage in the back wall.  So goodbye wall.  They'll put in the new wall this week. 

Sarah and Ben did a swim competition this week. 

Ben really wanted to make this flag jello to take to the 4th of July when they got home.  We worked on it together--it was pretty fun, but people didn't really chow it down.  Not a lot of Jello eaters at the party. 

Happy 4th!  Ben and I went to Maren's house.  Sarah was on her flight to Scotland, Libby went to Richmond Beach with friends, and Derek was working.  Pretty typical!  Happy 4th! 

Sarah getting ready for Scotland flight with choir friends.