Birthday Get-Away

Corey and I are in St. George, on our way to pick up Abi from Las Vegas (on her way home after 3 weeks in Brazil). We decided to make our drive to Vegas to pick her up into a couple's biking get away  trip that doubled as a b-day trip for Corey's birthday yesterday. This morning we got up early before the hot temps made us retreat into the air conditioning of buildings. We left St. George at 6:00 for an hour drive to Hurricane, on the trail at 7am. We I biked a trail called Wire Mesa. 

It was fun. Not steep at all, so it was pretty chill, but there were a few parts that looked over cliffs and had the potential to be dangerous. 

Mostly it was just nice, easy, and pretty. 

7.05 miles (Corey got 7.11) 1 hour 20 min (Corey got 1:17). His Strava always gives him better stats than mine gives me. Happy birthday Corey!

Wire Mesa was our second choice trail. At first our plan was to go to Little Creek, but the place google maps was taking us was super sketchy for the mini van and I was worried we ruined something underneath the car when we scratched something on the dirt road. A few other parts were also slightly terrifying, we were both glad that we didn't get stuck or fall off the edge. 

On the drive back after that, we got a hit by a huge pebble or something that put a major chip in the windshield. It's definitely larger than a quarter, so we're not going to bother trying to get that repaired cause I'm positive we can't. I guess we get to get the windshield replaced again, yay. We made it back in time to catch the free breakfast, yay and yum, the breakfast hash tasted good.

Mel is watching the kids at home for us, and brought her friend Christian along. So they got to play house together and be the "parents" for a day. They took them out to Classic Skating tonight with Christian's siblings coming too! Fun!

How fun for all of them to meet up.

They've been having fun. Mel sent us this pic of Lily and Sophi dressed up for some reason, that reason probably being it's just another day around the house. Sophi is an anime character, and Lily is a girl who has undergone too much plastic surgery.

For Father's day this weekend, first Corey and I went out to eat at India House with Wayne, Mark, and Nancy on Saturday. Spouses were invited, but Chalane and Jeremy couldn't come, but I didn't mind tagging along, cause Corey's birthday was the next day, so I felt like he could invited friends that he wanted. :) Sunday at church, our primary kids were the reverence examples. The leader forgot to excuse them, so they stayed up there for a bit too long, it was funny.

They were all looking so holy and righteous. "You think you're more righteous than me? I had a companion who said he never saw me smile!" - an approximate quote from Ethan in a House video, I think? Those are linked at the end of that post, (not sure which episode). After church, the ward provided ice cream for the dads, aka everyone (since the dad's always give away their ice cream to their kids). Katharine enjoying a orange cream-sicle with her friend Becca.

Mix and mingle.

Back at home kids ready to be entertained.  

Ethan also shared a picture of him with his district at the MTC and sent Corey a voice message talking about how much the House video and seeing our family life has helped his missionaries. It's one of the lessons he gives. 

Ethan is going to be done teaching soon, but has been compiling lessons that he's learned to share with Wesley and his younger siblings when they leave on their missions. We got to talk to him today. He's 73 weeks and 17 months into the mission, and they just had transfers and Wesley is training a new missionary, Elder Boyle! Feeling the weight of leadership a little bit.

You're doing great Wes. 

So Corey said he'd drive to Vegas himself to get Abi, and I'm here enjoying complete silence and trying to catch up on the blog. Abi had a layover in Dallas that was long enough that Grant and Steph came and picked her up. 

She was able to visit with them for a bit and they went out to eat. 

They all know Abi cause she went to Texas to babysit them in 2020 right before Covid shut everything down. Good times. I wish I was able to stay on top of it, but alas, I'm still working on December 2024. I know I'll get current eventually and I also know that my offering is acceptable unto the Lord. Still, some memories from months ago are fading. It is really important to me to write things down about our life right now, cause I know I'm going to forget it all. I'll keep chipping away.