Absolutely Awesome Eight: The Start of Summer

It's nearly 10pm before the sun sets around here. There are pros and cons to that. We are all having a hard time getting to bed at a decent time which makes early morning work-outs more challenging for me and Aaron. We have had a pretty solid routine going for a long time now. Aaron has been a faithful gym goer at 5am 3-4 times a week for a few years. Now he is training for the Lotoja bike race in September so he isn't at the gym as often and his morning rides start when the sun is up (5:30-5:45am). In January, I decided it was time to start back at the gym when my walking partner, Wendy, became pregnant with baby #7. Yes, I still run with Alisa Garner T/TH from 6-7am during boys basketball practice but have enjoyed the 5:30am gym classes - lots of variety and lots of great friends. I was happy when Aaron started bike riding because that meant I could 'sleep in' until 5:10am. I'm just not a fan of hearing his alarm go off at 4:40am.

Sunday (May 29) evening after I dropped Brinley off at the high school to join fellow orchestra members for their trip to California, the C. family arrived and spent the night. They decided at the last minute to be wild and crazy so they drove north for Memorial Day.

The cousins had fun playing, Hilary and I walked a few miles, stopped at the store and had an impromptu BBQ before heading to a local cemetery together.

Jameson & Elsie's 'selfie'

Elsie, Anna, Jenna, Britton, Korinne, Hilary, Jameson, Heather

We visited the sites of Jacob Spori, his wife Magdelina (questions about the spelling of her name) and three of his six children, a son (also Jacob Spori) and daughter (also Magdelena) and daughter (Louise ?).

This is where we parted ways.

The C. family continued visiting other cemeteries on their way back to CV and we headed home. Short but sweet - it's always fun when cousins come.

We had a few projects waiting for us back at home. I purchased 13 flats of strawberries during the past two weeks. That's 104 lbs. of berries. The girls helped bulk up our freezer jam supply by making batches throughout the week. We also stocked up in the smoothie-making department by individually quick freezing sliced strawberries.

Another day Anna made babysitting fliers which we delivered to prospective clientele. Jantzen picked up six rotations mowing for the HOA and is hoping to ref city rec soccer games during the month of July. Brinley has taken on additional cleaning days at HCP for the summer and is keeping her eyes and ears open for other employment opportunities. Tanner is staying very busy with school and work at HCP. Quinn and Elsie spend nearly every moment possible playing!

Meanwhile, Brinley was having a week of adventures in sunny California.

Hotel roommates

Brinley, Megan, Aubrey, Nikki (back), Maddi

After enduring the all-night and next day bus ride to Anaheim, CA, the group was excited for the Medieval Times dinner show.

Dining tables are seated around a real arena and guests watch real men on real horses.

And eat real food.

The students also attended the Broadway musical, "Newsies" one evening.

Megan, Aubrey, Maddi, Haley, Brinley

A day at the beach....

The kids were on their own for most meals.
Brinley had fun budgeting her meal money and seeing how far it could go.

I'm sure there is a story behind this picture but I really have no idea why she is washing lettuce in the hotel bathroom sink.

The trip was mostly fun but a little work, too, for these musicians.

Brinley - 3rd row from top, 4th girl in from left

Not every student traveled to CA and this is just the concert orchestra. The symphony orchestra had their own picture taken - we have a lot of amazing string musicians in our community.