When Do We Celebrate?

I am not a fan of weekend holidays.  There are way too many arguments on when to celebrate.  There are even people that will stretch the celebrations over the whole weekend.  This year was no different the city celebrated on Saturday with the parade, party in the park, concert, and of course fireworks.

Our weather has been very hot and very dry.  We decided to give the tickets for the concert to Reganne and her friends.  I was perfectly content to stay home with the AC cranked and watch a movie.

Reganne's view of the concert.

The neighborhood was quiet for the night which made everyone happy.  Sunday dawned with a very patriotic church service.  The flags are flying it makes you proud to be an American.  The sun goes down and the neighborhood lights up with multiple firework displays going on in the area.  People are crazy about their fireworks.  The eagerly await the days to arrive that makes it legal to shoot them off.  It's amazing to me that their aren't more fires in our area.

We are not one of those families.  I did find some poppers & sparklers I had bought last year.  Ryder was ready to have some fun.

Check this out!!

How many can I burn at one time?

How about a whole box?

He didn't start anything else on fire thank goodness.  He was a little disappointed that all his friends were out of town.  He was forced to hang out with his parents.  Maybe next year?

I am very thankful our country and all that we are blessed with.  It is nice to see everyone come together to celebrate the special day.  There are many things that are currently screwed up.  It can give us all a little sense of peace that many are still willing to work & fight for our freedoms.  No matter how bad things look or how the media portrays those bad things there is still good in the country.

I am very grateful to be an American and to live in the country.

Hey Mom!!!

Look what is happening outside!!! Ryder send me this picture after swim on Tuesday morning.  How excited everyone is when we receive a few drops.  Let alone when it makes puddles on the ground.  We haven't had much of the wet stuff for over a year.  Of course we live in a desert and of course we are in a drought.  We are sure happy when we see this liquid gold even for a minute or two.

Our driveway

Walking out to the car

after work.

Love the clouds!!!

The promise of rain makes me smile.

Monsoon season is almost upon us.  July is the month that brings much needed replenishment.  Last year it never arrived here.  I believe that COVID scared it off.  The weathermen have predicted that it won't be a good one this year either.  Let's hope all the prayers being offered will get us some relief soon.  I may even play in the rain if it comes.

Goodbye June and hello July!

 

Having a Night Out

While Ryder was away it was time to relax and play.  Dave signed up for a car show being held at the St George Premier of F9.  30 cars showed up all eager to show off their cars and get free tickets.  I was trying to watch Ryder's meet from Facebook Live.  Once again the camera's kept overheating and freezing.

Nova fits right in.

Pictures for Ryder

Another One!!

He was a little jealous and asked us

to please not go to the movie without him.

We didn't.

Moving furniture into

Rylee's new space.

Sunday afternoon

nap time for everyone.

Facebook Live didn't 

pull through for us.  If I got to see him race

it deleted all the times.

We all had a great weekend Ryder with his friends, Rylee & Reganne working, and Dave & I relaxing at home.

Firecracker Swim Meet

Ryder was going a new adventure with the swim team.  This is been planned since April.  I volunteered to chaperone but this was quickly vetoed by Ryder.  He was going with the team.  They were headed to Missoula Montana for the Firecracker Swim Meet.  28 kids and 6 adults loaded up into vans on Thursday morning @ 5:30 am.  The kids were excited to get rolling.  The parents were excited to say goodbye and go back to bed.

Moving to fast

I was allowed one picture and only

once chance to get it.

I failed!!!

They hit the road by 5:45 am.  Thank goodness for "Find MyFriend" app I was able to keep track of him.   I texted to send a picture of what he was looking at periodically.

Montana!!!

Cracker Barrel

Ryder's Group for the next 4 days.

Early Morning Poolside!!

The pool was frigid so quick warm up.

Ryder & the girls

Show your face

Mom needs to see if only for a quick minute.

Meet Shirt

Sitting in the lobby waiting for the finals.

Out for ice cream.

This group didn't make finals tonight.

Instead they got a special treat.

The whole group

minus Coach Dani who is taking the picture.

They are cold.

Headed Home!!

and in Utah.

Welcome Home!!

 

He grew

He was hoping a little more to top Rylee.

They are both 5'1"

He was exhausted and brought home a cold.  He had only a little homesickness the first day but got busy.  Everyone worked hard and had a successful meet.  Ryder made it to finals the first night and ended up competing in the A Group and didn't come in last.

50 Freestyle (13 & Over) 32.09, Cut: B

100 Freestyle (13 & Over) 1:12.52, Cut: B

200 Freestyle (13 & Over) 2:44.17, No Cut

200 Backstroke (13 & Over) 2:52.84, Cut: B

100 Breaststroke  (13 & Over) 1:32.37, Cut B

200 Butterfly (13 & Over) 3:26.03, No Cut

200 IM (13 & Over) 2:58.11, Cut B

He really grew from this meet first by being on his own and taking care of himself.  He did have a few hiccups along the way but he survived and so did we.  I did get the ok to officiate or chaperone the next time.

Snap Shots

Happy Father's Day!!! somehow I only got one picture of the whole day.  Ryder & I decided to get up early and get doughnuts for him to enjoy before church.  Rylee however, beat us to it and had Crumble Cookies waiting on the counter before we got back.  

Love her note!!

From your favorite!!

We spent the rest of the day lounging around and letting him pick what he wanted to watch, eat, and do all day.  We all hope that he had a great day.

WHAT's THAT??

Rain

Even if it was only sprinkles.  I haven't used my windshield wipers in a loooooong time.  I love the smell and feel of rain.  I hate driving in it.  We desperately need the moisture here in Southern Utah.  We keep praying and conserving that is all we can do.

Utah Summer Games 2021

This is one of my favorite meets of the whole year.  However, I didn't want to drive up all 3 days so I asked Ryder to the events he wanted to do.  Then it was time to zero in on a day.  We picked Friday with pool warm up time of 1:00.  We are lucky to have 2 of Ryder swim team members Josh & Taylor join us on the adventure.  Help check the boys in and get them where they needed to be.  I was off to get lunch for everyone.  Cedar City was packed with people and cars.

Back to SUU pool

We have surely missed this space.

Warm up in progress.

Lunch time!!

As we were eating I discovered that the officials area looked really empty.  I walked over to see if they needed help.  I had secretly brought my clothes.  They were down a few and could desperately could use one more to be in compliance.  I was glad to help out.

No time for more pictures until afterwards.  The boys all swam their hearts out.  Each one swam multiple events cheering each other on.  There were kids ranging from 4 years old to 18 years old in the age groups portion.

Not sure who this is but 

he air dropped this photo to me.  We looked around trying to locate him.

No such luck!!!

We thought he looked like Kanye but who knows.

Photo Op!!

The boys had to have a picture on the blocks.

Olympic Poses

I was switching phones during this picture.

When the Air Drop happened.  I thought they were sharing the pictures I took.

Gold & Silver Medals

4th place in the other event.

He got the gold against a couple of older boys.

I asked what his strategy was to win.  The last 50 I needed to either throw up or poop.

I knew I need to hurry to avoid doing either one.

Saying hi or razzing?

New team member from Cedar City.

There are members driving from Cedar City every day for practice due to the changes with their club.  They have blended in and worked hard.

I tried to get his times but assumed that they would be posted later.  Well I am still waiting for them and after a month I think it might be hopeless.  I threw away my heat sheet thinking I could get the official times.  The is the last time I make a rash decision.

Next week is the Montana swim trip that will be a whole new adventure for all of us.

 

Saturday Adventures

The boys are ready for an adventure bright and early on Saturday.  We were headed off to the garbage dump to get help out a coworker of Dave's.  It has been a few years since I had been out there.  I was ready for the experience.  As we drove the memories started coming back to me of other garbage dump adventures when I was a whole lot younger with my Grandpa Johnson or with my Dad.

Grandpa Johnson would collect things that he no longer had use for from the various barns and work shops.  We would head out with a full load bumping along the dirt roads.  The fun was about to begin.  He put on his work gloves and went to work unloading his stuff.  Once that was done we began to explore what treasures had been left behind.  It didn't take long to fill up the truck again and head towards home.

Dad, Larry, Darryl, and I a fews years later would head out to the dump.  Not as much treasure to find.  However, we did bring home a snake.  The boys were excited for the new little pet.  I was excited too not really sure what a snake was.  But it must be cool if the boys wanted it.  We got home and told Mom about our cool adventure.  She promptly said NO WAY!!! We had to find it first.  That is when I discovered exactly what we were looking for.  I was done and headed inside.  I had a hard time walking by those front bushes for the next year or two.

Now to the present adventure.... You can only go where they tell you too.  You must where a yellow vest when outside your vehicle.  Absolutely NO looking for treasures!!!

Ryder & Dave unloading

While I sit in the cab.  I didn't have a vest.

Ryder disappeared for a minute.

He threw some cardboard out.

It created a sail and he did a flipped off the trailer into the dirt.

There was a Ginger look alike dog barking at everyone.

Next thing I notice she is gone.  They brought her back loaded her into the cab

and tried rolling up the windows so she couldn't escape again.

Lunch @ In & Out Burger

Count how many different states are in the parking lot.

12!!

It was a fun adventure and by afternoon we were home relaxing in the AC.