Clearwater

We went to Clearwater Beach today. The girls said it was worth the drive and “the best beach” they’d ever been to.

We spent hours swimming, boogie boarding and collecting sea shells. The water was warm and the sand was soft and it wasn’t too crowded which was awesome.

After we went to Frenchy’s seaside cafe for an outdoor dinner that was delicious. 

...after a long wet drive home we cleaned up, took hot showers, put our beach stuff to wash, brushed hair and teeth, and watched Ghost Writer.  I love having the girls here!!

Tatum & Penny

I got home late last night and then this morning we cleaned up and got ready to go back to the airport to pick up the girls! Yay. We had to delay their trip earlier in the summer because of Covid and I was glad it worked out now. 

Our first stop was 5 Below for some summer fun items and then out for pizza. When we got home we went swimming and ended the evening watching the Ghost Writer, walking the dogs while watching lightening in the distance and reading a chapter of our A to Z mystery. 

It’s going to be a good week!

Last day

A week flies by so fast. It’s been such a delight to spend time with this darling sweet boy. He is so so cute. It’s been so fun to see Hannah and Sawyer be mommy and daddy and to do such a great job at it. It’s been sweet to be here with them.

I did a little photo shot of him this morning and I think I got some good ones!

Today I also visited with Nellie. Hannah and I made chicken pot pie for dinner and we had lots of time to talk.

Arrow

Anna and Arrow came to meet Ezra today! I was so happy they came up. Arrow is adorable. We built with blocks and played outside. He also watched Mickey Mouse clubhouse and did flips and flops around the room. 

I love my Anna sister and we always have a good time together. We like to admire each other’s children and grandchildren. We like to talk about life, and our family, and eternity. We like to eat together and it was a very sweet visit. 

Also Yoshi was a huge hit with Arrow and he was very excited when Sawyer gave him some watermelon to feed to Yoshi.

Shabat

We had a very nice Sunday. Mostly we look at Ezra and take turns holding him. He’s been a little crabby at night and wanting to nurse a lot. Being a newborn is hard, and having a newborn is hard. Hannah and Sawyer are great at supporting each other and are patient and loving with little Ezra.

Grandma Dunn (Tami’s mom) and Sara and Kenny and the girls came over for church and dinner. We had a nice time together. Brian led the meeting and it was really special. I like his leadership style and he is very kind and wise. We had a nice discussion. 

After they left Hannah and I made banana bread and then we all watched “the boy who harnessed  the wind”, which was sad and awful for the first 95 minutes and then happy for the last 5. It was good though. 

I rocked Mr E for awhile while H & S got a little pre bedtime nap. I wanted to keep him a few hours so Hannah could rest but he was really sad so I eventually gave him to his momma. 

Target

This little family took their first outing today, with Mimi in tow. We went to Target then picked up some lunch at Rubios. 

We are enjoying some lovely time together. Mostly we watch Ezra but we’ve also played some games, baked some cookies, spent time with Tami and Bryan and watched a little TV. 

Today Sara and Kenny and their cute girls came over and it was fun to say hi to them.

Another day

In paradise spent with this darling boy. 

He was circumcised this morning so he’s been so sad :( Also Tami’s cute dad died this morning so that’s sad and hard. Hannah and Sawyer and now baby Ezra have been living with Bryan and Tami during covid. It’s been really nice for them and it’s been so nice to stay with them while I am here. They are a lot of fun. I am sorry for their loss. Even though our parents are old, and we are grandparents ourselves, no one wants to lose a parent.

I had lunch with Lisa today. It was so nice to see her again and to catch up. We talked a lot about missionaries. Noah is serving in Boston. Ethan is waiting for a call. Good stuff.

Cutest boy

We had the nicest day. I loved holding this little grandson. 

Hannah and Sawyer are the sweetest parents 💕

When mom travels

I’m at the airport waiting to board a flight. I am so excited to see Hannah and Sawyer and to meet little Ezra!! I wish we lived close enough to never have to fly to see each other but I am grateful that we can fly since we do live far apart.

I spent a busy day getting ready. I had an appointment this morning. Then I went to Walmart and got groceries for the week I will be gone. After I got home and got everything put away I cleaned the bathrooms and did the last loads of laundry. I made up the flamingo room for Penny and Tatum’s visit since they arrive the day I get home. I vacuumed and took out trash and tried to leave everything nice and organized and clean. That’s one of the ways I say I love you..with clean underwear!

I’m looking forward to the next couple weeks. One week with Ez, then a week with the girls. Yay!!

Tonight Ethan had his last step for mission paper submission, his interview with the stake president.  Now we wait, which is something we have gotten good at. I wonder what his mission will be like. World events are hurling us closer to the 2nd coming, it’s obvious to even the unobservant. But missionaries are still being called, still needed, and Ethan is excited and ready to go. I am excited and proud. Also nervous and 🙏🏼.

This will be my Bub, is my Bub. A friend to Jesus. He will grow in discipleship and wisdom and love. Of course Jesus already loves him (and each of us) perfectly and infinitely.  This is also how I picture Tanner when he greeted Him. That joy is for each of us. 

Woes

Belle came to spend the night. The girls wanted to go to Disney Springs. I am always happy to go but I will say that going with a mask on really dampers the happy. It is super muggy in Florida in the summer and the mask makes it worse. It’s like when you were little and scared of the dark so you’d get under your covers for protection. Soon you couldn’t breathe under there and you’d have to make a little snorkel hole for air. That’s what the mask feels like minus the snorkel. 

Also going with Lincoln can be taxing. So many people stop to talk to you, to

comment on the dog. People stare. People also literally walk up and take pictures or videos. I don’t understand why. If I was a disabled person I would not like it at all. As it is it’s still pretty annoying. 

Look at these cuties!!

Love them:). I love that Ruby felt the need to take a walk holding a dishwasher soap box! She’s so funny!

Luckily despite the hot we have a cool night swim to look forward to when we get home!

Jess’ bday

We went over to Jess & Isaiah’s this evening for her birthday. It’s always nice to get together with family. Keke loved Grace and gave her all her toys to hold. She is a cutie! I can’t wait to see the new baby and see their cute little family grow. We had dinner and ice cream cake and visited. It was a good night. 

Baby Ezra is so cute! Can’t wait to see him in a couple of days. 

Our weekend was mostly uneventful other than the family party. We ran errands and did whatever.

Ethan wore some of Tanner’s socks today. I recently bought Rob a bunch of socks so that he won’t take E’s. He likes to borrow them but Ethan doesn’t want him to take any of Tanner’s.

Our porch is so nice in the evening. It’s peaceful and quiet and the temperature is nice.

Vitamin sea

Rob and I spent the day at the beach. We were totally social distancing as it was pretty empty. The water was warm and the breeze was blowing. Perfection.

That speck is Rob out fishing. The fish weren’t biting but that doesn’t seem to matter to him.

Our teens never want to go with us:(

Luckily Tatum and Penny will be here in less than 2 weeks and we can go again!🤞

I got my Covid testing results back. They were negative. 

Which means I get to go see this cute boy and his momma and daddy!

Summer storms

 We’ve been having rainy afternoons here in Florida. We also had some testing storms. The kids got their AP test scores back. Grace got a 4, which was a shock and sadness to her. She couldn’t believe it. Ethan got 2-5’s, 2-4’s, 2-3’s, and 1-2. This was completely shocking to us all. He has only scored 5’s in the previous years. I really attribute this to Covid, being out of school for months, preparing at home and having an adjusted format for testing. No assurances from me made it any better.

 Grace has sectionals this week. It is very different than last year. The kids are in pods and can only practice in these small groups. Lu is still enjoying it and got assigned first part this year, which she has been working toward and hoping for. I am a volunteer for the evening session 4-8:30. By volunteer I mean I am one of the few parents who can help since I am also a school employee. Grace goes in the morning. It’s fine, I’m happy to help because I know it’s so important to Grace and the other band kids. I am impressed with how hard these kids work and also how amazing the section leaders are at leading and teaching their groups.  We don’t know what band will look like in the fall. Will there be football games? Will there be competitions? Some things have already been cancelled. They are hopeful, and worried that more things will cancel at the same time.

Andrea is still in Utah. Yesterday they all went to the reservoir and had a fun day! Ruby and Cora even liked the water!!

Baby Ezra is doing well. He is cute as can be and is eating and sleeping and pooping. Sawyer is being a great support to Hannah and Hannah is doing well, having all the normal worries and stresses of new motherhood. Tami is awesome, Sawyer is awesome. I am a looking forward to going to help next week and all in all she’s great. Being a new mom is hard, especially a first time new mom.

Noah 7, Reggie 10, Penny (almost 8) and Marshall 5

I miss being in Utah. When Grace graduates I might have to spend 4-5 weeks there each summer. Yes 

Today Andrea took Dani’s kids on an adventure so she could study. Dani is being such a great student. Also how nice is Ange to take the kiddos.