Month: July 2022

I promised Lydia and Mary a trip to Build-a-Bear based on some good behavior about a month ago. Today it was time for me to deliver. When we arrived at Build-a-Bear, we noticed that it closed early due to staffing shortages. Instead, Lily was satisfied to go to Claire’s.

Clarissa loved Claire’s with every fiber of her being. For ten minutes she ran around excitedly saying things like, “I want this Tiara! No wait, I want to find the thing I love the very most!” “Look at this Elsa braid! No wait, I want to find the thing I love the very most!” etc etc. She was absolutely in heaven. She had such a hard time picking her “thing she loved the very most” that she even switched out her selection when I was in line to pay. She eventually settled on a kit containing fairy wings, a wand and a tiara. She was over the moon and wore her wings immediately after purchase. They broke ten minutes later while waiting for Lily to pick us up, and she cried. When I said we would return them, she ran with great energy back to Claire’s. I was exhausted and trailed her a good 30 paces calling out to her where to turn (she had no idea where she was going).

She then picked out a different set of wings and a wand that she loved even more. It was sooooooo cute.

Lily cleaned the car while we had our adventure. Thank you Lily!

Today Lily and the kids had a really fun play-date with Sarah and her kids.

I was in the office today for QBRs with my team. I loved having everyone together! I’m really high on my team right now. I think they will do great things this year, and they are super fun to hang out with. After our QBRs, we all went to Smoking Apple and then we went paintballing.

The group was mixed on desire to paintball, but most of the group stayed for it. Most people ended up having a really good time, and everyone got a good laugh when Ryan (who suggested paintball) got hit in the privates really hard with a paintball at the end. He reacted very dramatically (he was in a lot of pain) and everyone felt very sorry for him, but we were also laughing our heads off. It’s great to have a good belly-laugh!

We had the most wonderful picnic for dinner with Carly and Nathaniel Hall at Big Springs park. We haven’t seen them in a very long time (maybe since before we moved) and we instantly connected like old times. We love them so much and we were astounded to see their daughter Olivia do a double-back hand-spring.

Today Lily and the kids met up with Amy and her kids at Antelope island and had a really great time. Here are some pictures from their day-trip:

After their super-fun day, they went to Nielson’s Froze Custard (now a family favorite!)

I was up very late working, but we were able to get out of the house by around 9:30 or 10. We got to the North Shore around 1:30 (and stopped for Del Taco and then shakes on the way).

The weather was perfect. It was unreal how many people were there at North Beach, but found a spot. The sand was amazing and the water was the perfect temperature. The whole experience was divine.

Lydia and Mary had a lot of fun stalking me in the water.

Of course Ammon made friends and played with them!

Some other highlights were when I led Mary around in the boat, floating on stars next to Lily, sitting in chairs with Lily soaking it all in, eating avocado and pbj crackers and other fun snacks and listening to “All the Light You Cannot See” to prepare us for France.

It was a hefty day trip that took it out of me and Lily, but we agreed it was worth it.

I was up late working, but we managed to get out the door around 8:15. Amazingly, we made it by 10:00 and got to see the train “Jupiter” arrive. Anthony and Malika arrived with their kids about the time that we did. We were SO happy to see them. They are in town from Switzerland.

After we watched the train arrive, the kids worked in their Junior Ranger books while the grown-ups chatted.

At 10:45, we saw the reenactment of the ceremony for when the East and West railroad track-lines were brought together.

Afterwards, we all went to the Spiral Jetty, the most famous piece of art in Utah.

After seeing the spiral, we went to the lake, which was a half-mile hike because the water is so low. When the lake is more full, the water would be all around the jetty.

Afterwards, we all went to Nielson’s Frozen Custard in Bountiful. It was delicious, although it was very hot outside when we ate our refreshments.

We then went home and Lily and I napped. I then stayed up past 2 working.

Today Lily, Lydia and Mary repeated the Primrose Point hike with Amy, Emerson and Isabel. Here are the pictures!

I had hours of meetings in the morning and mid-day (mostly my leadership quarterly business review) and then I rested and worked on my to-do items until very late. Work is exceptionally heavy right now and stressful because my team is not performing well.

I was in New York this week for a customer meeting with Shake Shack. The meeting went very well (it was yesterday). I tried to line up some more meetings for today, but did not get any so I worked from the SAP Hudson Yards office. It was a really neat experience to be there.

Back at home Lily took Lydia and Mary on a long outing together. Lydia and Mary were so disappointed about coming back from camp early (just too hard to manage Ammon and Clarissa alone at camp), and Lily wanted to make it up to them. Lily said they had an amazing time and it felt like their Chicago trip.

They also visited Georgia!

Today was another glorious day at the Community of Christ reunion. After breakfast, we attended an adult session of church while the kids had kid’s classes. The adult class was all about the vibrant discussion within the community of Christ right now about non-violence. It was a beautiful lesson about how the Community of Christ includes everyone in the direction of the church and about the current emphasis on discussing non-violence which is so important in today’s society.

The kids had a cool craft where they decorated bottles for their orange soda.

Then we had the main church meeting where we sang, had communion and listened to a sermon about taking action, and believing we can make a positive difference in the world (as opposed to being like the John Maher song that says we are waiting on the world to change).

Lunch was a delicious variety of Mexican food (all the food has been fantastic) and afterwards we had KP duty. It was so fun to do my part along side Lily, Lydia, Mary and other wonderful people (Ammon and Clarissa were off playing). I had a flashback to when I was the dish-boy at Gepetto’s and that made it extra fun for me.

After lunch was swim-time (super fun!) and then we hung out until after dinner just talking with people and loving everyone’s company. The kids wanted to stay soooooo badly, but I had a trip to New York the next day so we had to get me home. But Lily also enjoyed her time so much that she told the kids she would go back Monday, so we left the sleeping bags and some other things in the cabins with Lily planning to return with the kids. We have loved Reunion!!

I went to bed after midnight last night because I was working, but we woke early to meet Courtney on 800 N just after 7:30. Lily and I got as much rest as we could so once we got up, it was a mad dash to get everyone in the car, and no one had breakfast.

But the hike was so so so beautiful. Courtney took us to Primrose point and the kids all did very well (I did carry Clarissa a bunch, but she walked almost the whole way back). The whole loop was just under 4 miles. It was a bit mentally exhausting coaxing Clarissa along, but honestly, I loved every minute of it (and Clarissa is seriously so cute). The rest of the kids were truly great hikers.

We got some neat footage of a butterfly just before getting to the overlook.

The overlook was breathtaking, and the grandeur reminded us of being in Glacier.

On the way back we loved the sound and sight of the Aspen leaves quaking in the wind.

We also met a furry friend!

Also, the mountain flowers were breathtaking.

After the hike, Courtney showed us Icebox springs where you can drink mountain spring water that is coming right out of the ground. It was delicious!

Basil loved it too!

We are so grateful to Courtney for taking us on such a wonderful adventure!!

Because everyone hiked on an empty stomach, we treated everyone extra nice for lunch. We went to cafe Rio and then got Menchies. Yum! Menchies is one of my all-time favorite deserts. I love designing my desert just the way I like it 🙂

Then Lily and I went home. I quickly packed everything for the Community of Christ Reunion, and then we jumped in the car and headed to Camp Red Cliffe (up Ogden Canyon). We got Cup Bob to eat on the way.

Immediately when we arrived, there was the most beautiful Spirit. We stayed up talking with people until 10 PM. We met and became friends (or closer friends) with so many beautiful people, including one lady who was just divorced by her husband a few days ago (because she left the church). The bond and the spirit there was so strong. I love that community so much and I know it is my home. The kids all found friends to play with and played so happily while all the adults talked.