Summer Lovin' (have I already used that?)

Dave and family are moving to Arizona, so we gathered for a "last dinner" before he goes. It is always good to chat and laugh with Dave. He's one I can gab with for hours. He's a real pal. (I'm not sure why Kim hid in this pic.)

 

It's getting hot out there, folks! But I'm loving how green our yard is getting, and especially happy that we've been able to save this tree! It was on it's way out last year, but with some dedicated shots of iron and lots of care from Jon and I, it has pulled through and greened up! Hooray!

 

Not a great shot- horrible, in fact- but this was a really pretty summer moon.

 

Just more shots of our summer house and lots of fresh flowers. Ahhh, summah!

Meanwhile, back at the office...

Kent went out of town for the weekend so I took the opportunity to paint his office. I gave him 3 colors to choose from, and he said he really didn't care. I find that so odd to really not care at all. I chose the one I liked the best. It's a really great color in person. It's a beautiful grey-blue with a little green in it. I worked all weekend long. Not only did I paint the walls, but I wiped down every single surface and washed the windows. Everything was so filthy. I am not sure why- or why he has been working in such filth. Nothing has been cleaned since the move. It was so bad! I even polished his family photos, dusted his books, polished his monitors- everything went from a layer of grime to sparkling clean.

I did not hang his artwork because I don't like it.

He was so thrilled when he came back to work, he said he didn't realize how much he would care to have a painted and cleaned up office. (Duh.) He and Mary took Jon and I out to dinner to thank me, which was very nice.

I had to chuckle when I saw Eli's Lagoon Season Pass pic from last year. Funny guy.

Then I had to take a pic of him mowing the lawn because in the moment I felt all tender because Eli... mowing the lawn.... what a sweetie.

Adren's mission Presidents, the Gentries, returned home to CA. He was sad to see them go, he's loved them so. I tuned in to their Homecoming, it was great!

 

This hit me, I get it.

 

Family Lagoon Day!

I sent the kids off to Lagoon with bags of food to drop at Home Base and meet up with the family. I had some meetings scheduled and work to finish up. As the morning went on, I continued to get texts about everyone's whereabouts at the park. Soon enough I was feeling the jealousies so I shut my laptop, filled our cooler with ice and drinks and hit the road to meet up with everyone. It was great to be with the family at good ol' Lagoon again and see all the cousins together at one of their favorite places. Tradition!

What a gang!

 

Sadie and Brent and family took a road trip to the Church History sites in upstate New York right in Adren's mission! They visited in the same area's he's served in. I took a screen shot of Sadie's location while on our phone call with Adren and he loved to see where they were. He knows and loves that area well!

I'll just slip this photo in here because it made it's way in my feed. It's one I took off the kids media from a few years ago and one I just love. It's the boys and friends in downtown Provo. I think it's so cute of Eli and Adren out and about with the gang!

We met up for the Tay-Sull-Zoll Reunion at a park and I love that Chris brings her binder of pictures of my Grandpa and great aunts and uncles. These photos are so precious! Of course, it is always so great to catch up with my cousins and see everyone.

My forever young Grandpa Taylor

Grandma and Grandpa Lucile and Ray Taylor

This is ALL of the missionaries in the MTC at the time, when my dad was serving, getting ready to head out to Brazil!

My Great-Grandfather

I thought this photo of Daddy looks so much like Adren. He's with a baby Eliza.

I have often imagined Grandma Taylor's life as a single mother, parenting my dad and two aunties. She worked, cooked, did everything. She was a loving, strong-willed woman. I admire her so much. I am so grateful for the years I knew her and her influence in my life. I still feel her loving me.

It wouldn't be a normal day in my life without painting a room at the office! I spent my weekend painting one of the conference rooms a nice creamy white. "Swiss Coffee". It's a good one, if you want a nice warm white. It looks clean and fresh! This room has big windows and I like that it feels so bright in here. We've lined the window sills with succulents that Kassidy brought from home. I hung a very large piece of art that one of our board members donated to us from his travels. It looks great in this space. One more room done!

Go moi!

 Paisley and I went to one of my Laurel's bridal showers, Andrya White. She is the 3rd daughter of my dear friend and CRU member, Mary as well as my boss, Kent. I also work with her two older sisters and former Laurels Kassidy and Madelyn. The fourth daughter, Gwen is one of Adren's good freinds. Here they are performing the funny tiny hands sister skit from SNL. I sure love these girls! 

Andrya met her fiance, Chuey, while volunteering at an orphanage in Mexico for a summer. He grew up in that orphanage and they became friends and eventually fell in love. Because he doesn't really have a last name- or the one he has he isn't really endeared to, they decided they would take her last name. He is working on learning English so they've changed their name to Blanco. (White in Spanish) Their story is really sweet.

We are in the full heat of summer, that is for sure!