The Last of Summer

Very last post of summer, composed while watching Annika play Wednesday night indoor soccer.  Soccer feels like a summer thing, right?

Just some final random moments from around town.  Here's Annika hanging her stuffed sloth from our peach tree.

Spark likes peaches, but he likes spinach even better.  This is where he hangs out while his home gets cleaned.

Tie-dying by day...

...and critters by night.  Glad we only saw these little guys in our yard once!

Nothing says summer like shishkebabs...

...except perhaps hiking.  Grandma Susie, Christy, Brooklyn, and I all trekked up to Lake Blanche.  It's one of my very favorite trails.

The lake was beautiful as usual (albeit, the water level was low.)

On the other hand, the two moose were highly unusual.  It was so much fun to watch them splashing through the water.  It takes a lot of work for them to propel themselves through the muck.

One of these days I'd like to summit Sundial Peak, but this was not that day.

Instead, it was time to train for Italy by devouring Caputo's Muffaletta.  Tasty!

Closer to home, Jason, Talia, and his former coworker Nicole hiked Twin Peaks.  Perfect place to watch the sun set.

 

While the rest were at Youth Conference, I decided to run the Park City Trail Series 10 miler.  I was really nervous about running since the air quality was so terrible, not to mention thte fact that I was untrained.  I took it slow, though, and made it to the finish.

For a dramatic finish, rain.  While desperately needed to offset the drought in Salt Lake, it would be nice if it didn't come all at once.  Here you can see the clouds gathering over the cemetery.

The torrent begins.  We have some pretty impressive video footage of trash cans being washed down Virginia Street.

As for our basement, we did have water seep in from underneath the garage door.  I'm just grateful we had time for everything to drive out before leaving on our European adventure.  Thank you, Jason, for cleaning it all up.

So there it is!  The long-winded, non-chronological Wheeler summer adventures of 2021.  Yellowstone, Montana, New York, Europe and more.  One thing's for sure: there will never be another summer quite like it.

Fun with the Emigration Stake Youth

Twenty minutes until my big physiology exam on the endocrine and nervous systems.  My brain is so saturated with hormones and neurotransmitters that I need to take a break before I implode.  No better time to post a few more photos.  I am getting SO close to the end of summer!

Interestingly enough, I wasn't around for any of these activities.  These were all youth activities where Jason went along with Brooklyn, Talia, and Eli while Annika and I did our own thing.  In general, she and I have plenty of fun.  However, I'm not quite sure we had as much fun as this.

Someone from the neighboring ward kindly took all the youth out on his speedboat.  (Okay, technically it falls in the yacht class.)  Before long, Lydia and Grayson were breaking out the tunes. 

I saw the funniest video of Eli tubing with Clarissa.  Apparently he'd grown tired of the dance party because he suddenly leaped off the tube into the water.  Fortunately someone noticed and went back to get him.

Here's Talia learning to wakeboard, followed by Ben Keddington.

Jason's got it down!  Nicely played, bishop.

Add Jimmy John sandwiches, and it was a perfect evening for all.

This next set of pictures is funny because neither the kids nor I were there.  But Aunt Christy was!  She and Jason went up to Schuester Creek with the youth to get the property ready for Youth Conference.  Looks like Paige is having a good time!

Many thanks to Dr. Principal Bishop Wright for so generously sharing the place with everyone.  It looks like Colton might tickle him in gratitude.

Beautiful night!

Okay, pause.  Time to go take my exam.  I'll let you know how it goes.

***

Whew!  That was intense.  I put in lots of prep, so hopefully it went okay.  Ironic that we should be studying the effects of stress...

Back to the blog (that I wasn't even part of), here are photos of Youth Conference.  Jason and the big kids attended two days before our Europe trip.  Meanwhile Annika went camping with the Wheelers, and I stayed home and packed.

Looks like they had an amazing time!

Here are some of our favorite youth leaders, Tara Behunin and Sonja Blackham.  Pretty handsome guy they're hanging out with too.  Hey PB, where's your wife?  (Wink wink.)

Rumor has it that the girls won this tug-o-war.

Fishing and food.  Life is good.

Brooklyn with her friend Stine.

You may notice that the sky is pretty hazy.  We'd had terrible smoke in the valley, but fortunately the fires didn't disturb the festivities.

Concerned that our kids might catch Covid right before Europe, I made Eli share a tent with his Dad and the girls share a tent with just each other.

I love Eli's face as he looks up to the older boys here.

Eli and Dylan arming themselves for the water war.  The chaos was epic.

President Pickett helping youth across the stream.

Brooklyn pulled out her guitar and accompanied Come Come Ye Saints while Seretta Hart played trumpet.

Leather working was great...

But axe throwing was even greater!

The Shumways brought their granddaughter.  Talk about adorable!

John Shumway has the best eyebrows I've ever encountered.  Seriously.

So glad Amy Jo could come!

Youth Conference wasn't long, but they made the most of every moment.  Our heartfelt thanks to the leaders who planned it so carefully.

Even in pictures, it's easy to see how bright the smiles.