24th Parade

Today is a holiday in Utah. It's the 24th of July, also known as "The Days of '47". In 2024 our stake submitted a float into the parade and Abi and Lily were in it (I was thinking this morning that it was last year but then just looked it up on the blog to check and it was two... time is flying). After Corey and I got back from a ride to the ruins, we mentioned a parade and the kids were excited to go somewhere at the word. No, we're not going in person, but I turned on the tv so our children could be educated. The tv is still out from watching the World Cup, and it's sad but the first game I watched was Norway's quarterfinal against England. So we're there with the tv on and then Natalie borrowed my phone to search for something, and this moment soon followed ~

We thought that was funny. They are an overstimulated generation, as are their parents. They were watching videos of themselves on our youtube channel. I took back my phone, they all left and didn't watch the parade but Corey and I did, then he worked and I spent spare moments I have had this week preparing for a lesson a Relief Society on Sunday. I'll be leading a discussion on Elder Eyring's talk from April Conference Prayers for Peace. I've been listening to other talks and podcasts and reading stuff as I've been thinking about what I feel the main message of his talk is. One of the things that I listened to and then listened to again and started to write down was a BYU Devotional from this past Tuesday - Jeffrey Bednar message titled "To Those Enduring Trials with No End" - it is soooooo good. 

I fasted today and, as usually happens after fasting, I really enjoyed date night dinner. Bandits is one of our favorite restaurants. I always get the Farmer's Harvest Salad with an additional skewer of shrimp added on and dressing on the side. Yumm

Corey got the red trout. We enjoyed our veggies. After that dinner, we went to Handles and we got large dish of Chocolate ice cream to share. So we enjoy our desserts too! Corey has been taking photos of his breakfast and sending them to Ethan and Wes, hoping to encourage them to be healthier. 

I have been having a big bean salad for breakfast the past two weeks. It's good! I load it up with spring mix from Costco, pinto beans, pickled onions, banana peppers, cauliflower, kimchi, peppers, and sometimes also tomatoes or other veggies I see. Then (and this is where the magic is) Bitchen' chipotle almond sauce from Costco (I call it chipotle sauce, kids call it Itchin' sauce) Yesterday Natalie saw me eating my big salad and said "Oooh! Can I have some?" Surprised and pleased at her interest, I said yes, she took a bite and her eyes got big "That's GOOD!" and then she got a bowl and I gave her some, then she got seconds. She likes beans though, so she might be partial to it already. Corey said he felt some shame this morning as he cut up vegetables to grill. I saw him chopping and brought out mushrooms, which he had overlooked "Ooh thanks!" Then I added a tip to grill the mushrooms last, cause they cook faster, and he was like "Oh! ok!" Tonight he made me laugh saying "I always saw them (bell peppers) and knew they were there, but I didn't know what to do with them." He said that he's been feeling like a simp lately, and I asked for a definition and he sent me this:

Haha. I'm quite pleased with his food choices as of late, but it's not him being submissive to me, he's just listening to Dr. Alex. And I am very grateful for Dr. Alex's influence on him! He got a new subscriber in me, just to say thanks.

What other pics do I have from today... Daniel finally put away his fort, which he made on Monday or Tuesday. They've been sleeping in there everynight. 

Corey worked from home and thus made more coloring pages for the kids. He took this pic last night - 

Which Corey turned into this - 

Corey sent that to the college kids and Joseph asked "What's this for?" probably thinking we are really spoiling the younger siblings. I told him it was AI. His reply "Darn it" - he got tricked! You feel a little sheepish when you don't recognize it. Corey turned it into a coloring page.

Pretty fun! Here's another one he made today - Katharine really would be a little mermaid! So cute.

Yeah, Ariel should have been a toddler, aww. Coloring page (Katharine liked the long hair!) ~

So that's fuunnn. Last night Abi and I went to the temple together for initiatories. 

We got home in time for scriptures. Katharine and Lily were both drawing on their arms. 

Tonight is was Katharine drawing on Lily's leg.

Kid Hike

It rained again last night, so I was hoping to get out in the mountains again this afternoon. How about a little hike? I ran it by the kids and I was please that the boys were all willing and even eager to come with me. 

I told Katharine she could come, but she HAD TO WALK the whole time by herself, I couldn't carry her. She sweetly and obediently said "okay" and she did so good. She did walk the whole time, and even ran up the hill back to the car at the end. We went to Pooh Corner first, which is the end of Techy, then took some of the techy trail up. Daniel was anxious to get up to the ruins, but I told him that even if we don't make it up there, there are lots of fun places all along the creek. They enjoyed climbing on some logs - 

And we found a spot where the were all able to sit. 

We did finally make it to the ruins. K unloaded all the rocks she had been gathering from her pockets into my backpack (she's so cute) 

Owen was ready to head home so he could hang out with a neighbor before they went together to a rodeo in Spanish Fork. Daniel wanted to stay longer. I told him we'd stay, Owen was going to be gone all evening with his friend, he didn't need more time now. Then some ominous clouds were rolling in and Daniel said we should go. We all agreed we better get back to the car before we got wet. We got some water, oh but then real quick, cause this is why I came up here... I took out my blanket that I had been carrying in the backpack, and we cleared off a bit of leaves and dirt from a hidden spot to make a soft space for us to rest. And let's lay down, ahhh!

So relaxing.

Owen took a video. Step 1 was coming to the ruins. Step 2 is ruins with a blanket, check! 

Step 3 will be ruins with a blanket and staying for 30 minutes for a nap or to stretch or meditate and soak it all in. We will be back again soon!

The girls got home around noon today from their sleepover with Mel. They went to a doughnut shop close to Mel's apartment before they headed home. 

Awww cute little Katharine! I love that little face. 

I'm glad they had a girls night, and it's ok that I wasn't able to go (Corey was working late and I had no sitters!) 

I'll try to go to things when they invite me and when I can, but I'm also ok living the life I'm living. Corey and I did sneak out on an early ride before the boys got up - off to the ruins once again. I didn't want to miss my morning ride!

Cause we got our habits and rituals that we enjoy and that are working for us, plus we love our canyon. Mel sent me these pics of where the girls slept at her house - 

K all safe and snug between her big sisters.

Shrek Party

I'm at home with the boys. I'm letting them watch Gravity Falls while Corey is late at work. ALSNK all went down to Lehi tonight to Mel's place. They left at 5:30 and are sleeping over tonight and they're going to watch Shrek. It's a "Shrek Party" thought Katharine says they are a "Shrek Family"

See how they all did their hair in little space buns to kinda look like Ogres? And everyone has a little accent of green. Lily has Shrek socks, so she's really official. Cute and fun. Lily put some green lips on herself and did a few embellishments on Katharine. 

They made a green pistachio cake with pistacio frosting. They thought the batter smelled gross and are worried it will taste gross, but then that just makes is go along with the theme even more, right?

They sent some pictures of their fun - They ate an onion and Mel provided green face masks for the ogre theme. 

Katharine is 100% princess, and looks to me like she wasn't too sure about how they all looked. She'll have to be Princess Fiona next time.

Ready to binge Shrek

So that's fun and our house is definitely more quiet with them all gone. 

Peter was a little sad to not be invited, but we had out own party, aka I bought them ice cream and they're watching tv. Peter also had his face painted. 

Natalie did that earlier today, and she did Katharine too. 

Katharine is a deer.

Getting a pic of them together. 

Then Peter went to go test if his superpowers had increased.

While they've been watching the movie, I was outside checking on the baby humming bird. So yesterday Daniel found this little one on the driveway on the east side of our front yard. We googled and decided he was probably a fledgling and he was able to perch well so we put him up in a tree there while we went on our hike, and he was still there when we got back. Then this morning we couldn't find him anywhere. Then Daniel and Katharine heard him and found him while they were walking to a friends house. He was totally on the other side of the yard by the tree farm. So that's where we left him all day.  

Before the girls left for their party, I ran to Home Depot to buy a hummingbird feeder for it and it's mom. He didn't take any but I put his beak in there a few times to try and show it what to do. 

Not sure if it worked, but I left him perched in a tree with that, checked on him every now and then this evening. It looks like a storm is rolling in, so before I came in I put him on the ground by a rock where I think he should be shielded ok from the wind and rain. We'll say a little prayer for him and check on him in the morning. I haven't seen the mom come and feed it, but I'm just trusting she has, my only evidence being that this little guy is still alive since finding him yesterday.

Kids to the Ruins

We just got back from a short FHE hike to the ruins with the 8 kiddos at home.

The inspiration for this evenings activity was my morning ride to ruins. I didn't know it when I set off, but it rained up in the mountains last night and thus it smelled oh so absolutely amazing all up the trail from the 1st bridge on. From the trailhead to the sandy track it isn't as green and forest-y, so that just smelled like wet weeds. But from the 1st bridge to the ruins, oh WOW it was incredible. After I got to the ruins, I just sat and spent 45 min smelling glorious nature and listening to the creek. I decided, as I sat there, that the kids needed to come up. I got home and tried to rally them to come with me early at 10, when I knew the smell would still be fresh and amazing, but NO ONE would come. I was ready to force them, but if I did, they wanted it to count as FHE. I didn't know if Corey wanted us to do FHE without him. He was working from home. I went to ask his counsel. Do I force them to go now and then let them play with friends this evening? Or do I make them work and then they can go play and we'll do it later for FHE? Corey said the latter. So they cleaned up the main floor then I let them leave. Off to play with friends. When we finally did FHE it was way later than I wanted (8:30 pm) so we only had 20 minutes until sunset. That's not much time. Off we went in a brisk walk from Lisa to the ruins with kids. The boys were leading the pack. 

K was holding my hand until she got tired, then Corey carried her on his shoulders as he talked with the girls. A few were reluctant for this activity (Abi) and called for a vote to make us turn around early. She wanted us to stop at Techy, but no, this is our chance! We have to make it to the ruins! And we did. Corey and I felt happy to share this part of our life with the kids. It was fun to have them up there! It was a 1.33 mile walk, took us 40 minutes. I showed them where I always fill my water bottle, and as I'm turn around to come back I see Lily climbing over the logs to the ruins!!

WHAT!?!? I've never dared do this, but my defense for that caution is that usually the creek is higher and the log is wet. But Lily just goes over there without even asking us. 

Listen Lil, this is OUR spot.

Well you can't go over there and I not do it too... so I guess I'm doing this today. I wasn't planning on it, I was a little scared and went slow, and I did it. And so did Natalie and Sophi. Lily and Natalie went twice, Owen and Daniel came too. Abi stayed with Katharine eating ice cream. While I was over peeking in the ruins Corey dished up ice cream in bowls that he brought up in a cooler which I did not notice at all. All of a sudden everyone was eating ice cream. 

I came back, had one bite of what was left over, glad I didn't have a chance to over eat it but got a taste. Then Corey was about to cross with Peter, but it was getting dark and so I called for an end to the fun. The kids were reluctant to end but admitted it was getting dark. I also think this will turn out to have been a good strategy to end before they are ready to stop, cause that left them wanting more. Maybe that means they'll come with me again soon, yay! The kids climbed back and started the walk back to the car. It was dark but we made it. So that was fun. I let them know, if I ever go missing, to look for me up there. I showed them a few of my secret spots where I try to hide and have some private quiet time. 

When we got home we checked on a hummingbird that Daniel found earlier today. 

He found it in the driveway when he was walking over to get Owen from a friends house. Oh that's one of the reasons we got started so late on the hike - cause Owen wasn't home cause we didn't go get him cause we were distracted by a hummingbird. We perched him in a tree before we left. Cute little guy, sitting there so proud and patient. 

He was still there, so yay. We'll check on him tomorrow and hope he is flying off soon. In other nature news, I also am very happy that I have a few roses right now! These have grown on https://thewridefamily.blogspot.com/2026/05/michael-with-kids-my-roses-are-gone.htmlmy shrub that Wesley aggressively pruned. I didn't think I'd have any this summer, so yay, a beautiful blessing, and they smell beautiful. As of This evening there are 10 of them that the deer haven't eaten yet, yay

They are smaller than my roses in the past and not quite as pink and vibrant (2023 was an amazing rose year), but better late than not at all, I'm just glad they are here.