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Turning

The world keeps turning. We keep working, watching, wondering, praying, growing, changing, slipping, all the -ings.

As July turns to August, our attention turns to back-to-school preparation, fall sports and activities, and new living situations for a couple of kids. Ah, apartment life--an experience I do not wish to relive, yet a valuable experience nonetheless.

This year, school doesn't start until the last few days of August. It feels like we have been gifted a few more weeks of together time. I want to make the most of this lull between summer sports and fall chaos, but we're already a tad bored. Just a tad. Of course, there are always things to do like reorganize the upstairs closet that has become the summer dump zone when garage cleaning and outdoor chores took priority. But, who wants to tackle a big project when I can do something small and much more enjoyable--update the blog?

The second half of our summer has been mostly delightful. Gavin enjoyed baseball so much that he's signed up for fall ball, giving up football and cross country in the process--at least for this season. Can't do everything!

We enjoyed our family trip to Colorado and Utah. I got some teasing for my insistence on drink mixes, buying soda, and taking my water bottle everywhere.

Makayla and I posed for a "portrait" at the old hotel in Durango.
Riding the old elevator was spooky and fun too!




The train riders are pictured below. Mom, Makayla, and I didn't go because of that poopy broken arm.
But Makayla and I got some yummy Mexican food while we waited for Mom's reduction procedure.


I don't have pictures from our adventures with Chelsey's family Kayaking down the Animas, but it was so fun. Brooklyn lost her glasses, but we ordered a new pair for her to meet us as home. Unfortunately, she wasn't home when the package arrived, so I had to model the new frames for her.



Monticello has the coolest Pioneer Day celebration. Small towns just do that stuff right. Emily and Logan were like kids chasing candy and throwing stuff back at the parade people.


Emily and Logan participated in a triathalon!! Amazing kiddos. I get tired just walking up the stairs.




 

I did find out I'm suffering from iron deficiency anemia and probably have been for about a year or more. My iron stores are so low, I have been referred to a hematologist to see if we can isolate the cause and get them up again. Fun stuff!! I'm sure I'll eventually recover my energy. For now, I'm, unfortunately, used to pushing through being tired. I tried strength training the last couple of weeks, and I'm proud of the progress I'm already making. One day I WILL do more than one real pushup!!

A few Sundays ago, I installed our swing on a lovely maple tree in our yard we call "Martha." Isn't she majestic?


Green, green, green everywhere. I love walking around admiring the plants and animals, even if they can be kinda gross.
The garden is exceptional, once again, even though I didn't get it planted until mid-June.
What do you think of that thumb-sized grub? Ewwww
Paper wasp nest, anyone?

How about a rare spade-footed toad found in our pool?

Not pictured: fat 4-foot long rat snake, mama turkey and five babies, great-horned owl, red-tailed hawk, baby bluebirds nest, red fox, hummingbirds, swooping monarch butterflies, and soooo many deer.

I'm guessing the next time I share, you will be seeing back-to-school pictures and falling leaves.

Turn, turn, turn.

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