2022 :: week 30

July 24

We spent a nice, relaxing Sunday with the Johns. Papa and Nana prepared a Come Follow Me lesson for the kids. We spent several hours playing games. Disney Family Feud was a big hit with most of the kids. Through the many rounds that were played--some with adults and some without--we learned that the most common answers weren't necessarily the most creative or best answers. The adults played many rounds of hearts. That evening we ate more ice cream and started packing up for the drive home.

July 25

While we were in Utah Will was most excited to spend time with Sadie. The oldest two cousins got to sleep on the basement couches and enjoyed less parental monitoring at bed time. Will told me they didn't say up too late with a sheepish grin on his face, but then fell asleep so deeply that I had to carry him out of the van when we arrived in North Platte. Will and Sadie have always gotten along really well and I am grateful their friendship continues to hold strong.

July 26

Tuesday we drive the remainder of the way home. It was about a seven hour drive and it took us about seven hours. We are always spoiled when we drive through Wyoming because you can make amazing time. At one point I really had to use the restroom and mentioned it right after we passed a sign that said no services for the next several miles. Tony made the kids laugh by coming up with scenarios where we would get pulled over for speeding and I would hop out of the car to relieve myself on the side of the road and police officer would radio out "we've got a runner!" The kids--especially Will and Elliott--thought this was hilarious, and have brought it up several times since we've been home. 

July 27

Elliott and Miles spent a lot of time playing with the Mansingh boys after we got home. They had been out of town before we left so it had been over two weeks since the boys had last played together. Miles was very pleased I let him walk over and play in the back with the big kids. He usually only gets to play when Blaise and Luke come to our house. Elliott told me that his happy was that he and Blaise had the most fun playing together that they ever had in his entire life..

July 28

Thursday evening we met up with the Throssells in Lee Summit for an evening of fun. We ate delicious dinner at McAllister's. I tasted extra good because dine-in kid's meals were only a dollar each. The only place we can feed our family for less is the Costco Food Court! Then we headed to the Lea McKeighan Park. We hoped to cool off in the splash park, but it closed just as we got there. The kids had fun playing tag on the ropes course and zipline while the adults chatted. Going to the splash park with the Throssells has become a fun summer tradition.

July 29

This summer you can find Will playing basketball with friends at our church building most Friday afternoons. At the end of Will's basketball season Anthony and another dad (Chris) decided the boys needed some additional coaching if they were going to make their middle school basketball teams this fall.  Anthony organized a "basketball boot camp" for Will, Josh and the boys from their respective Deacons quorums. Each week the boys spend a few minutes shooting around, then Chris would lead them in stretching. Anthony prepared a different drill for the boys to focus on each week--dribbling, screening, shooting through contact, pick and rolls, etc. Then the boys would scrimmage for the final half hour. Both Anthony and Will had a lot of fun and hope to do something similar next summer. 

July 30

On the road again! This time we were headed to St. Louis. Will and Lauren are participating in the MAMA Festival and we decided to make a family vacation out of it. Before we headed out of town we had a busy Saturday. The day started with our annual chapel cleaning assignment and was filled with various chores and preparations for our trip. We ate an early dinner of ribs at my parents before we hit the road. My dad recently got a smoker and he has been perfecting his ribs.