2014 Summer Review

It has been forever since I posted on our family blog.  In fact, I had to re-learn how to blog all over again.  Hopefully, this post will work and look nice.

Family Activities that kept us busy all summer long.....

Swimming is always a favorite during the hot summer months.  As a family, we went to Seven Peaks water park a couple of times and even ventured down to the one in Provo.  Preston, Trevor, Tanner and Sadie all took swimming lessons at the Liberty Park outdoor pool.  The kids also had a lot of fun in the back yard running through sprinklers, water fights, making their own water slide on the playset and of course the kiddie pool.

We didn't get around to planting a big garden this year.  Instead, we spent, or should I say Glade spent most of his time re-doing the front yard.  We did get some peas and carrots that got planted.

Preston spent some time on the golf course taking golf lessons to improve his swing.  Trevor and Tanner wanted to try out the courts and learn the game of tennis.

The summer wouldn't be summer if we didn't go camping at Cub River for my annual family reunion. Of course my sister and I had to divide up our time up there in order to take turns caring for my dad. We all had a wonderful time visiting, playing in the river, hiking to the spring, kids biking around camp,eating, playing games around the campfire and picnic table, and of course making memories. Glade even taught Preston, Trevor, and Tanner how to fish, The excitement of learning to fish quickly left since nobody was catching anything. We all loved spending time together in the great outdoors.

Preston spent a week up at Bear Lake for Scout Camp.  Some of the boys including Preston got injured in a scout activity.  They all ended up coming home a day early.  Despite a few cuts and bruises, Preston still had a good time.  He did say it was a long week being away from home.  I'm not surprised since that is the longest he has ever been away from home.  In June, Preston attended Youth Conference with the youth in our ward.  He went on a tour of BYU campus and then did some activities at Utah Lake.  Another scouting activity Preston went on that didn't go so well was hiking up Mt. Olympus.  They were planning on an overnight camp but they had to turn around before they even reached the top because someone in their group was suffering from kidney stones.

Trevor's big event for the summer was getting his tonsils and adenoids out, which was not his favorite,  He did think it was cool to play video games at the hospital.  The third and fourth day after the surgery was the worst but he was a good sport and is now glad it is over. Trevor also spent two days up at Cub Country for day camp working on belt loops and activity badges for Webelos.  Trevor, unfortunately inherited my asthma and allergies, so the both of us started getting allergy shots.  Surprisingly, Trevor doesn't mind the shots. This fall, Trevor is playing flag football and wants to play tackle football next year.  As a mother, I hope I will be ready for that next year.

During the summer we also had many get-togethers with Glade's family who came in town. First we had Grandpa and Grandma Going come from Ohio and the big news about them is they are staying here in Utah!  They bought a condo and have sold their house in Ohio.   We are excited to have them closer and the grandkids are happy about the swimming pool, playground, and tennis courts at their condo.

While extended family of Glade's were in town we had a nice family dinner all planned to be out in our backyard, but plans quickly changed to being indoors when a storm came through.  Although, we were able to be outside for a little while for pictures.  We sure enjoyed visiting with Glade's Aunt Karla and cousin Shalane and her kids who were up from Tucson, AZ , along with Glade's cousins Melanie and Cydni with their cute families.  Of course Grandpa and Grandma Going, Dan and Jen and Annette and Eric's families were there too.


Glade's brother Trent and his family came down from Oregon for a visit.  Their oldest son, Cody just left on a mission to Peru.  Some of the activities we did with them were walking the Quarry Trail in Little Cottonwood Canyon where the early pioneers cut granite stone for the Salt Lake Temple, a family dinner with visiting and playing games and a Temple Square picture scavenger hunt in which we had to find objects from pictures all around Temple Square.

The next family in town for a visit was Glade's older sister Laurel and her family from Ohio.  They were bringing their oldest daughter, Stephanie to school at BYU. While they were here, we had a good time playing games, celebrating Zac's 2nd birthday, getting rained on at the Tracy Aviary and going to the Ogden City Temple Open House.  We also had a mini extended Going family reunion with cousins, aunts and uncles.

With summer coming to an end it brought the beginning of a new school year.  Preston started his 1st year at Olympus Jr. High as a 7th grader.  He loves Jr. High and thinks it is way better than Elementary.  Trevor is in the 5th grade and Tanner is in the 2nd grade.  They both like their teachers and are doing well.  I'm happy to say that Tanner has not broken anything, unlike last year at this time when he broke his arm on the monkey bars.

Sadie started Preschool and loves the excitement of going to school.  Every time she sees her school she says, "Look Mommy, that's my school!"  She continues to attend speech school once a week with Ms. Liz to help with her speech.  Sadie put on her toe tapping shoes again since dance lessons started up.

Zac is growing like a weed.  He is not sure about having his siblings gone during the day, but he does like having mom all to himself.  Zac, like his brothers at that age loves trains.  Good thing we kept all the trains that Grandma Sampson gave our boys over the years.  I'm sure she is watching above and smiling seeing another grandchild playing with trains.

Now, that I've talked about the kids it's time to update me and Glade.  We celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary the beginning of September.  Glade was released as the 2nd assistant in the High Priest and received a new Stake calling of being on the High Council.  I am the Nursery Leader in our ward, which is very rewarding and very tiring.  Our kids definitely keep us busy along with caring for my father.  His health hasn't changed much and still has troubles walking, but he sure smiles when he sees his grandkids.