Bad Reaction

I don't know for sure what it is about the biting bugs this year, but my reaction to them is out of control.  I noticed a tiny bite on my leg with a red center one morning.  The next day, it started to burn and itch and grew incredibly huge.  At its worst, it was about the length of my hand from my wrist to the tips of fingers.  I tried really hard not to itch it but didn't always succeed.

Red Sensation Hydrangea

When I first saw these bright pink hydrangeas while visiting Anderson Island, I was instantly enthralled and decided that I would find some to grow.  Likely they wouldn't grow nearly so well in dry and sunny Colorado as they did in rainy and often overcast Washington state, but I was determined. 

I first spotted them at Lowes last summer, but was somewhat deterred by the price.  When I decided later in the week that I wanted them and returned to Lowes, all of the Red Sensation Hydrangeas were gone.  Rats.  So I waited an entire year, not remembering exactly when I saw hydrangeas at Lowes, but checking every chance I got.

Success!  I found a beautifully potted plant and happily took it home (being extra careful not to spill or make a mess of Chris' new car).  The day after I put the pot on the front porch, the weather was extremely hot and the flowers wilted.  Shoot.  I gave it a good drink of water and happily the flowers had perked up again the next day.  Now I am going to learn how to propagate a new plant from its leaves.

I like looking out the side light windows by my front door to see the beautiful blossoms.  It was a good choice.

Homecoming

Chris and I drove to the airport to pick up Misha after her week-long stay in Utah at EFY.   I had missed her and was happy to see her smiling face as we picked her up at the curb.  Even though I had missed her, I was grateful that she was having an amazing time, feeling spiritually uplifted, and making lots of new friends.

Especially For Youth

I was thrilled when Misha suggested last Fall that she would like to attend EFY this Summer.  She and her friend, Megan Lewis, signed up together and both headed out last weekend to Utah.

I drove Misha to the airport Friday morning, leaving the house around 7:30 am.  We got her luggage checked and then had to go to a different counter to get a Pass for me to accompany her to the gate.  That took more standing in line, outside, in the hot sun.  Misha had pre-check and I didn't, so I had to wait in the regular line to go through security.  Fortunately we had plenty of time, and Misha just waited for me to catch up.

I waited with Misha until it was her time to board, as her time drew closer, she and I hugged.  Misha hugged and hung on and when we pulled apart, there were tears on her cheeks.  Flying by herself was a brave moment for her.  I just knew I was going to miss this girl for the week.  I watched her walk toward the airplane, texted her a quick goodbye, and left the airport.

Misha and Megan had different flights to SLC, Misha arriving first.  Julie picked Misha up and took her to lunch, returning to the airport a couple of hours later to pick up Megan.

They had the pre-weekend fun with Julie before the week of fun at EFY.  Julie is so wonderful to spend time with our girls and their friends.  Since Julie's husband, Patrick, was away at High Adventure Scout Camp, it was a girls' weekend.  They spent time shopping Friday evening and then paddle boarding all day on Saturday.  Misha got a wicked sunburn.

On Monday morning, Misha's friend, Becca Zitting, and her mom picked up Misha and Megan and drove them to Provo to check in.  (Becca lives in the Logan area now and it worked perfectly for them to pick up the girls on their way.  Tomorrow Julie will pick up all three girls and take Misha and Megan to the airport, and transport Becca back to Layton where her mom will pick her up).

I have talked with Misha throughout the week and she has had a fabulous time and met some great new people.  I look forward to seeing her tomorrow.

New Calling

My favorite calling at church is teaching the 4th Sunday lesson in Relief Society.  I have had the pleasure of having this calling a number of times, and it is still the best.  But, you know when you start to get the feeling that things are going to change?  Yeah, I had that feeling for awhile, and then the Bishop called me in to his office earlier this month.

Relief Society First Counselor.  At least I still get to teach every couple of months. The Relief Society is the women's organization for the Church of Jesus Chris of Latter-day Saints.

Awesome Sunset

Sometimes you glimpse out the window and see the most amazing site.  I had to grab my camera and hoped to capture that awesome sunset.

Date with Kristen

Misha was at EFY, Amy was working, and Chris was in Europe, so Kristen and I had ourselves a little date in Loveland.  We needed some fabric for her sewing class.  After shopping at Joann's, we had dinner at Panera and then Kristen kindly treated me to froyo at Menchies.  Sweet girl!

Vocality Camp

I signed Kristen up for an A Capella camp this summer called Vocality Camp.  It was run by different music teachers in the district.  As I picked Kristen up from class the first day, she jumped in the car and couldn't stop talking about how much fun she had.

She attended the camp every day from 10 am to 3 pm at Sunset MS and loved it.  Chris, Amy, and I attended their "concert" on Friday afternoon at the end of the camp to listen to the kids sing.  Kristen is just a natural born performer.  She loved her teacher Miss J.

Swallows Again

These darn swallows swarm our house and the neighborhood like clockwork every year.  Misha is keen on earning money, and since she can't apply for a formal job until she is 16, she is more than willing to undertake chores and projects around the house.  If you are diligent about spraying down the swallow's nests before they get settled in, they leave after about a week.  But you can bet they will be back next June 1 making a nuisance of themselves.

The Pretty Car

We didn't plan to buy a new car when we left home on a date.  We were just going to test drive one and see if we even liked the car that Chris had been drooling over for the past year.  But as things often have a way of happening, a test drive turned in to a conversation about $$ which in turn led to an appointment the next day to return and buy the car.

Chris found a "used" 2017 Audi A4 in his searching.  It was used, simply because it had been the dealer's courtesy car for people to make use of when their vehicles were being worked on.  And because it was "used", we got a better deal.  Yay for a savvy husband.

Our girls like to call it the pretty car and Amy fairly begs at least once a day to drive it.  Chris let her drive it home from church last week and in doing so, garnered two car washes from Amy for the privilege of driving.  It is a fun car to drive.  You could simply leave the keys in your pocket as you get in the car to drive and push the "start" button.   Same for when you want to open the car door.  If the keys are in your pocket, you simply have to lift the door handle for it to open.  That method of opening isn't always feasible as kids race ahead to the car and want to have doors unlocked sooner.

Let's just say that it is easy to go a leeeeeetle faster than the speed limit.  The ride is both quiet and smooth, and for the next five months, we have wifi in the car!

Jumping on the Bandwagon

I saw this in a grocery store advertisement yesterday.  Seems a little redundant.

Kristen Kneeboarding

Kristen babysat for our next door neighbors.  They invited her to come boating after their kids woke up from naps.  It was Kristen's first time on a knee board.  She felt most comfortable just hanging on tight.

Lightbulbs

We were helping the Parker family prepare their yard for their daughter's wedding.  Many people from the ward came to help as David Parker recovered from a stroke.  As I walked with Kristen to the basement to move some buckets, I spied the missionaries on a ladder in the garage changing a light bulb.  I asked, "How many missionaries does it take to change a light bulb?"  Their answer, "Two.  Always two."