Wheels, sweet wheels!!!

Zac has been working 2 jobs this summer 

and adding to his savings like crazy

to buy his first car.

Years ago we told the twigs we'd match their savings 

for college and for a car.

The big day came 

when with our matching funds,
he had enough money so the hunt began.

Aren't online used car websites totally awesome?!!

He had a specific Make and Model in mind

and the consumer reports on safety for it were terrific 

so we tracked down every one we could find 

and started test driving. 

It was an education!

In the end, 

he bought this sweet ride. 

Then got right to work changing the serpentine belt

all the while with a big smile on his face. 

Wheels, sweet wheels.

=D

Happy Birthday America!

We skipped town the night on the 3rd of July 

and celebrated our country's birthday 

in the purple mountain majesties 

with some sweet friends. 

There was swimming,

piggy back rides,

bouldering,

and more piggy back rides 

but this time across mud

as a dear little someone forgot her hiking boots back at home

so she was tough and did the hike to Cecret Lake in sandals.

Maybe the dismount didn't go quite like planned?

Thanks Zac for being a pal.

<3

Cecret Lake had an iceberg in it!

Hunter, our dear salamander catcher, 

we tried 

and tried 

and tried 

and tried 

to catch a salamander

just like you would do

but we got skunked.

We saw about 15 of the little guys

(or maybe the same 3 little guys 5 times - how would we know)

but didn't catch a one of them!

Still, it was a great 4th in a beautiful place.

<3

Be kind to one another and watch out for the little guys...

When the boy twigs were just little tiny guys in toddler beds, 

we picked out this fabric to make bedspreads. 

My beautiful little blue-eyed mother 

and my sister Marti 

quilted them for us - so very nice of them! 

As often happens with little ones, 

the boys got attached to their blankets 

so a few years later when they got twin beds, 

they weren't excited to part with their favorite blankets.

We decided to make a shower curtain out of one blanket 

and move their Noah's Ark decor to the bathroom. 

It worked great for years 

and was often a conversation starter 

at bath time because of messages like these.

This past spring we decided it was time to bid a fond farewell 

to the Noah's Ark decor 

that served us well for so many years

and update the bathroom. 

The Mr. picked out the shower curtains - he loved the red! 

My dad loved red and would have agreed whole-heartedly.

I hope we'll always remember the ark rules of 

being kind to one another

and watching out for the little guys. 

<3

What just a little bit of water can do...

Thanks to Gary's hiking suggestions, 

we got to enjoy this beaut of a trail. 

It led to Lower Adams Canyon Waterfall

and I was amazed to see that 

this little bit of water...

could turn into this awesome waterfall!

There are so many analogies that come to mind 
from this little stream. 
It gives me hope of beautiful things to come.

Thanks Gary, 10/10 will do again. 

Man, I'm grateful to get to live in this place!

The kindest people...

I'm tremendously blessed to know so many people 

who are kind and loving, 

helpful and thoughtful, 

people who go out of their way on a daily basis to bless others. 

Kind friends who share their yummy baking skills, 

friends who'll play pickleball, 

friends who leave their very busy lives 

to go walking, 

friends who love and care about our twigs,

(Stake Girls Camp) 

(Girls State) 

(Mission Homecoming) 

(Mission meetings) 

  

and send us fun pictures! 

(Fort Knox)

We love and appreciate you, kind friends!

<3