The house just keeps emptying...

Mr. Dub took the remaining two daughters to New York for the weekend. They're with the youth of the Springfield, Mass. stake touring church historical sites around Palmyra, NY and are enjoying the annual Hill Cumorah Pageant.

 Don't you worry.

They're not the only ones having fun.

Newport: the sequel

 More friends, more FUN!

hiking is just a thing I LOVE

If I can talk my people into a Saturday afternoon hike, I feel like I've won the lottery! Watatic is one of our favorites.

 We found some wild blueberries at the top and stopped for a snack.

We also found a snake who was snacking on a VERY large frog in the hollow of this tree.

 I was glad the hungry snake was NOT in the hollow of this rock.

 On a clear day from the top of Watatic, you can see all the way to Boston. Since our heads are obscuring the skyline, I'm hoping you'll find them much more interesting.

In the words of my brother:

Leeli got a trip to Utah, 

and Morning Boy got a hike up Watatic with his parents. 

Maybe I'll design a t-shirt.

...and OFF! they went

Two weeks is a LONG time for a 13-year-old to be 2,000 miles away from home. It's long for the MOM, anyway. Thank heavens for cute cousins who make perfect traveling companions.

I left them as they boarded the plane in Boston.

They made it to Utah in one day, (one LONG 12-hour day) and will be at BYU for two weeks of sports camps. 

And western perks like In-N-Out Burger.

Adventure awaits!

Arthur didn't dampen our Fun on the Fourth

It rained and rained and rained...

so getting wet wasn't a problem.

This little guy would have stayed in the pool ALL.DAY.LONG.

 Most of us partied on the inside.

It was good to be together.  Some of us enjoyed being especially close together.

 There was singing,

 more rainy swimming,

 talking,

 laughing,

and we ate. A LOT.

With the exception of the garden fresh salad.

Too many choices, I guess.

That made me laugh.

(I didn't even take any)

We didn't care about the weather.

I love my freedoms.

 I love my people.

Happy Fourth!

Newport Beach Day

July is off to a great start.

 We took a beautiful ride south to Rhode Island to meet up with a FUN group at the beach.

 We learned a new beach activity: how to catch a seagull.

There were plenty of gulls,

and we enjoyed playing in the surf.

Newport: We'll be back!

The New England Revolution

Thanks to our town's Youth Soccer Association, we scored some pretty great tickets to the New England Revolution game Saturday night.  We went as SUPER Fans, and got there as soon as the gates opened.

 We were most excited to see Diego Fagundez play.

He's from a neighboring town, and is one of the youngest MLS players in the league.  He graduated from High School the same weekend as our Sweet Mesquite.

 There was also a wedding... 

 A rowdy and enthusiastic crowd

and some good soccer.