I worked from home today and caught this cute scene:
Twice per week (Tuesday and Thursday) Lily has a Clarissa day. That is to say a day when I’m working and the other kids are all at school. Lily has been really throwing herself into giving Clarissa attention on those days. They play together, practice numbers together, read together (Clarissa is progressing) and just be with each other. I can tell these days mean so much to both of them. When I put Clarissa down at night on a Clarissa-mommy day, I’ve noticed she’s likely to cry for Lily and want “mommy” to put her down. Lily also recently told me Clarissa makes her smile every day.
We were in full swing today with our home routines and very busy. I had a big day at work and Lily pushed things forward on the house (mopping, cleaning, laundry etc) and got in a big workout. Lily picked up the kids from school, took them to tennis and then brought them home and fed them. That’s about when I finished work, and then I cleaned the kitchen, bathed Clarissa and put her down and worked with Ammon and put him down. All of that was while Lily and the kids made tremendous progress working on their instruments for I think about three hours. It was a very productive day for all of us. Mary even helped Ammon with his worksheets!
Because I forgot to bring the cereal, Ammon and Jamie fed us breakfast again. They are so kind! Then we just sat around and connected for an hour or so while the kids played. That was one of my favorite parts of the trip. Ammon and Jamie are so fun to connect to. We connected over politics, religion, life/spiritual journeys, family, climate change and possible future locations to live. While we were feeling socially nourished, the kids were having tons of fun together and even built their own home as you can see below:
We then drove home and finished All the Light You Cannot See shortly before we got back to Orem. First we washed Basil and then Lily and I groomed him for a long time (Lily did the hard part). We also unpacked, and Lily worked with the kids on music and Neil Giles came over to give Clarissa ice cream for her birthday. Then Lily and I were so tired, we went to bed early, which was amazing. What a wonderful weekend!
Today we had the most incredible day at Fish Lake and it was soooo fun to share it with our friends Ammon, Jamie and their four kids. We are also grateful that they were so prepared! I joked that I forgot a dozen things, and they always had the things that we were missing. They also made us a hot yummy burrito breakfast in the morning! While we were eating breakfast, the kids built a teeter totter. Quite ingenious! Eventually someone fell off and cried, but it was fun until then.
After breakfast, we all went boating. Weather was perfect, which was especially nice because we were quite cold at night.
We boated to the shallow water across the lake and put in our anchor right on the edge of all the water plants. Within 15 or 20 minutes, people started catching fish. Then we just kept catching and catching. Each of the 8 kids caught a fish and we were delighted at the success. Everyone had a really great time.
Ammon and Clarissa helped me steer the boat back to shore.
Then we had a picnic and it was so delicious. Lily prepared turkey sandwiches on french baguette bread and they were to die for. Then we all hiked on the Doctor Creek Trail, and it was gorgeous. It was a wonderfully immersive aspen experience.
On the trail, we found a treehouse someone had built. We allowed the kids to climb with supervision and that was fun.
Back at camp, I cooked Lily’s tin foil dinners, and they were heavenly. For desert we had banana boats and s’mores and those were also amazing.
Today was so full of fun activities and Jamie, Ammon and their kids were a constant delight to be around. Yay for friends and camping!
Today I focused on wrapping up work while Lily prepared for camping at Fish Lake. 4:15, I was helping with the efforts and we left around 6:30 I think. We met Ammon, Jamie and their family at the campsite and they were so nice to help us set up our tent since we got in late in the dark. While preparing Lily listened to podcasts including one about the Doctrine and Covenants (Mormon Stories) and one about the Great Salt Lake (scientists are now weeping because of the situation).
I took the day off today so that Lily and I could have a date together. Honestly, we don’t go out “just us” enough, and so it was such a treat to spend the day with Lily.
On the ride up I talked a lot about the lengthy Jordan Peterson lecture I had just listened to. Our first stop was a wonderful restaurant called Harvest, where Lily and I got brunch.
I loved my muesli so much I got a second one!
Weather was perfect, and afterwards, we walked around and ended up at the Park City museum. We learned all about the mining history of Park City, which was fascinating. We also had a discussion about the role we want religion to play in our family’s lives and that was productive.
Then we went swimming which was a highlight for me. Their rec center was $30 (or more) per person, and the person at the register said he just could bring himself to charge us that so we got in for $12 each. Thanks!
Lily and I got in a great swim workout outside. It was soooo nice to swim together and just enjoy the water, the weather and the company together. Lily and I are both trying to get more in shape and it was fun to pursue that goal together.
Then we had about 30 minutes before it was time to go. We then stopped into Meredith’s shop and talked to the shop keeper. I noticed a jean jacket Meredith wore on the show selling for over $1,900. Also, Lily almost bought a hat.
Then we stopped into an art gallery that had the most amazing photography either Lily or I have seen. It is a couple that works together and they use film cameras and don’t doctor their pictures. The color and detail is absolutely stunning. Here is their web page.
I wasn’t sure if it really was the best photography ever or if Lily and I were just caught up in the moment, so we stopped into another photography gallery. The photos were great, but not near on the same level as the McMillan gallery, so that solidified it. We LOVE McMillann photography.
Then we drove back while listening to Trevor Noah, picked the kids up from school, and talk to our dear friend Amy while the kids had tennis lessons and played together.
In the evening, we had a family movie night and watched Inside Out together which was so wonderful.
What a great day! I loved all my time with my sweetheart and kids! After all of my and Lily’s pushing on the house together (to get it clean and organized), it was so fun to all have a fun day together. I am totally in love and grateful for this beautiful wife, my kids, and this life.
I ended work early to help my dad and Suzanne move. As always, it was really nice to see them. Lily continues to work insanely hard with her exercise, the kids and the home.
Today I was blessed to go on a long bike-ride with my great friend Daniel Olsen. He’s way more in shape than me, so I feel like he’s very patient to have me along. We went over 40 miles, and I was completely gassed by the end. I then dropped off some bikes at the bike shop to address yesterday’s challenges (especially with Mary having to use a bike that was too small) and went home.
Back at home, Lily and I focused hard on organizing again. Lily has completely caught a vision, and she has been energized and highly productive. It’s hard to keep up with her. I help her with the projects, but she’s been cranking on moving her vision forward even when I’m not there helping. Today we focused on deep organizing the piano room (including the closets), the entry way close, and the kitchen. It was so satisfying and everything feels so much more functional now.
Here is something Lydia made that we loved so much, but we just didn’t really know when or how we would use it. We took a picture to remember it. Also, Lily and I both showered Lydia with comments today. She is growing up to be so beautiful, but more importantly, she has a complete heart of gold. She entertains siblings, says kind words to people, forgives when we are stressed and short with her and just overall exudes love. She’s also so profoundly intelligent, introspective, and sweet. Lydia, we love you!
Today was such a fun day. Lily continued working hard on the house while I assembled Clarissa’s new bike trailer and loaded all the bikes for our outing. Then we all went to Park City!
It just so happened that Park City was having a “Park Silly” Sunday market which they have every week. It was so fun and festive. Here we are walking around.
We ate at the market and I think the highlight was the chocolate dipped bananas that were so good!
After eating at the market, we biked the trail starting at the Farmhouse in Park City. Clarissa’s new bike trailer worked wonderfully. There were a few obstacles, like the heat, Ammon falling on his bike, and Mary being super frustrated because the I brought the small Schwinn bike for her that is way to small for her. I need to get a couple bikes fixed up so that some of the kids can jump a bike size, I just haven’t done it yet. Mary felt her bike was way too small, and to make matters worse she then had a bad crash on it. Aside from Mary, everyone ended up having a really fun time, and I promised Mary I would fix the bike situation so she would never have to ride that tiny Schwinn again.
Isn’t she cute on her new bike!
Here are some videos of us biking:
Then we met up with David and Olivia and to see Oslo. Lydia and the girls were in Chicago when Clarissa, Ammon and I met Oslo for the first time, so this was their first time seeing him! Also, I left my wallet in Park City in a backpack left in the parking lot from when I was putting bikes away. Lily was so kind to offer to go back and get it for me, so she joined dinner late. But there was still good conversation with her included. It was so fun to catch up with David and Olivia and learn all about how their lives are going.
