BBQin for my 41st...

My 40th birthday was quite uneventful with Covid clouding all gatherings and celebrations last year, so Justin pulled out all the stops this year. My best friends, Rachael and Jill, surprised me by coming into town. I may not be ready to forgive them for moving to Utah but I love them so much for coming and making my 41st birthday magical! Justin BBQ'd and we had a picnic at the park by our house with the greatest friends and family. I am so grateful to be able to celebrate like normal again. 

 

Preston's 5th Birthday...

Happy Birthday Preston! (Grandpa too!) We can’t believe you are 5. You love noodles, chicken nuggets, ice cream, Spider-Man and Avengers, Sonic the hedgehog, candy and doing whatever Ryan is doing! You are the most intense child and will fight to the death to get what you want, with moments of sweetness and quick snuggles. We celebrated by going to the movies during the day and at night with your best buddy Robel and family at our houses. We love you! 

 

HEFY in OBX...

We encouraged(forced) Zach out of our house this year and sent him to Outer Banks, NC to attend a Humanitarian EFY trip. He was a bit nervous to go as he knew he wouldn't know anyone and he would not have his phone with him for an entire week. These youth spend a week doing service, working on community projects. They also squeeze in a couple adventures and a temple trip before sending the kids home. He had an absolute blast and was so grateful that we had forced him to go and experience something new. And he actually randomly knew three kids that ended up going on the same trip. Two youth from our home stake and Ellie Broadbent, our best friends Val and Austen's daughter. We did not plan that. Funny how small the world really is.

 

Gardens and Trampolines...

We begged and begged and Justin finally caved! After a lot of research and some good recommendations we bought a spring free trampoline. Our great weather days just got an upgrade. We bought the trampoline water park for those extra hot days too. 

I planted a variety of fruits and veggies in our boxes and planters this is year. Our garden really starts to take off in July. The blueberries are getting ripe and the green beans are crawling up a couple iron trellis' my mom gave me. I am so excited...gosh I love summer!

 

Hawaii for the 4th...

A week on Oahu was just what the doctor ordered. We don't normally go away for the 4th of July but since all gatherings and firework shows got cancelled I knew we would be better off getting away. I was a little nervous that things would still be shut down in Oahu but luckily things started to open up just before we took off. They used to have vaccination rules and they just let down their guard this past month.

We stayed at the Marriott in Ko'Olina for about 5 days and spent the last two nights at the Aulani. We enjoyed all the boogie boarding, Pina coladas, snow cones and dole whip while soaking up the sun, and just enjoyed being somewhere other than Oregon. We also ventured up to the North Shore and stopped at Sunset Beach, Ted's Bakery, Pounders Beach and BYU Hawaii and the Oahu temple. The waves are much bigger up north.