Where Did It Go?

Whew! Summer has flown by at break-neck speed! I find myself reeling and wondering where it all went. My memories of it are already starting to fade away as the craziness of another school year is upon us. I’m feeling bad that I didn’t record at least a little of our happenings as they were happening. Now I just have to rely on my memory, which isn’t what it used to be I”m afraid.

My overall feeling about this summer though, is contentment. Summer was good to us this year. It went quickly, but it was sweet and good and mostly relaxed. It felt like a break, and it was much needed.

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To kick off our summer, I turned 40! So far I’m having a pleasant experience with this age. There’s something about saying that I’m  40 that makes me feel calm. Have no idea why.

For my 40th birthday we took the kids to see “How to Train Your Dragon 2” on opening day. It was perfect to have a little birthday date with my favorite animated character, Hiccup. He’s much too young for me, but I can’t help myself.

To continue the birthday celebration (I like to drag June out as my birthday month) Mike and I went to the Lionel Richie concert with two of our favorites, Claudia and Henry. Talk about feeling my age! I truly felt 40 when I could sing every word to “Ballerina Girl.” I guess I officially go to concerts with the old people now, but I’m surprising okay with that.

Congratulations to Henry. As of last Sunday we now address him as Bishop Astwood. :-)

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After I turned 40, my girl turned 15. When it comes to people growing older, this birthday gave me much more of a jolt than my own.

She’s 15, people!

 

This is how I found her most of the summer…texting. That phone is never too far from where she is. Staying connected to her friends is as important to her as breathing oxygen, maybe more so. I totally remember being like that at her age. I’m just super grateful that she has good friends to stay connected with. I know how good they are because they have spent LARGE amounts of their summer at our house. We’ve had pizza and watermelon, s’mores, and night games more times than I can count and I wouldn’t want it any other way. These kids are great; a bit noisy, but great.

Another fun memory of summer, for me at least, was watching all three seasons of Sherlock with MK. It was indulgent of us, but if you can’t be indulgent during the summer, when can you? I’ve converted MK to the show, which was my goal, because now I have someone to wait impatiently with until the next season in 2016. I’m in the process of getting her addicted to Downton Abbey too. I’m such a good mother.

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In June, we said goodbye to my Uncle Brad and Aunt Rosie who were sent to be mission president and mission mom in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. What a beautiful day that Sunday was. We miss them dearly, but love getting the emails updating us on the great missionary work that is being done in PA. I feel incredibly blessed to have such a close relationship with Brad and Rosie and their family. They are all such a blessing to us.

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Now for these two boys of mine…

They got their “geek” on this summer. They begged us to buy them fanny packs to store their Pokémon cards, chap stick, coins, rocks (and who knows what else) in while they rode their bikes and scooters around the neighborhood. Mary Kate seemed really concerned about the nerd factor inherent in those packs, but I loved it! I thought it was really practical of them. They were, in very fact, all over the place this summer; and a person needs their stuff handy!

 

As soon as school got out, we bought a pass to the newly built Museum of Natural Curiosity thinking surely we would get plenty of use out of a season pass with a whole summer ahead of us. Each time we tried to go back after that, the line to get in was clear out the door and down the street. It seems everyone else had the same summer entertainment idea. We haven’t been back since.

But no worries, we occupied ourselves with plenty of other summer fun...

One highlight: We went and had traditional strawberries and cream at the city’s summer celebration. Jeffrey eagerly rode any ride available while we spent the rest of the time talking Jonathan into riding even the least threatening ride. He finally agreed, only on condition that Jeffrey ride with him. Tragically, Jonathan’s first ride of the evening turned out to Jeffrey’s last after he came off the ride looking green-faced and searching for the nearest trash can. Motion sickness! That evening was the first time I have ever seen Jeffrey turn down treats. He spent the rest of the night like this…

Oh, I know that feeling well.
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Since it’s summer time and I’m married to Michael Dickey, we spent plenty of time in the great outdoors. Personally, I could stay in my air conditioned house all summer out of the hot sun, but I’m glad Mike encourages (read: forces) me outdoors. We truly live on a gorgeous planet and it would be a shame to miss it’s summer splendor, even if it means there might be some sweat involved.

We bonded with our bikes, hiked mountain trails, spent time on the lake (even on Mayfly day which it was nothing short of a biblical plague, yikes!), took walks, went swimming, sat around camp fires, and soaked in all of that lovely nature.

Our annual trip to the city fireworks. Highlight of this year’s event: When the sprinklers came on just as the fireworks were starting. Some city employee really dropped the ball on that one. Hilarious!

Our local lake: only a five minute drive from our house. Lots’ of carp (and those Mayflies), but it’s so close so we deal.

 

One weekend, Mike and Brandon decided it would be jolly fun to take four kids backpacking into the wilderness. This is were I draw the line when it comes to outdoor participation. If the outing consists of hauling your sleeping arrangements in on your back, I’m out.

The kids loved it though. They got to eat pop tarts for breakfast, lunch and dinner. What kid wouldn’t love that?

p.s. I loved the peace and quiet being home alone.

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When you have family that lives out of town, summer is the time for extended visits and always a good excuse to get together and do the reunion thing, of sorts. This year the Dickey’s gathered up American Fork canyon during the hottest part of the summer, naturally. We took refuge from the heat by heading up to even higher elevations. It really was cooler…and cousin-fun friendly.

 
This photo wins first prize as our favorite snapshot of summer, all because Lilly knows how to get the job done when it comes to that nose!

We lived summer to it’s fullest, indeed we did. We fit in a little of everything and we were together as a family a whole bunch, which was my favorite aspect of all…that and sleeping in most days. I’m certainly going to miss that!

Overall, summer was good to us. I’m feeling blessed and grateful for the good times, the nice break from a heavy schedule, lovely time with family and the beauty of it all.