Happy 6th Birthday, Scarlett!!!

HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY,

SCARLETT!

We got to celebrate Scarlett's birthday a day early this year.  Scarlett was sharing her birthday with her other Aunt Jessica who was getting married on Saturday.  Friday night, Scarlett and James came over for the evening to celebrate with us while their parents were off doing wedding prep. stuff.

We made our own bagel pizzas..............

played with the toys  (Scarlett was so excited to see her favorite toys from our house, although she was disappointed that the downstairs toy area was all boxed up for repainting.)

James is quite a builder, just like his dad was.

We watched Mary Poppins and then it was PRESENT time.

We got a tiny little cake but a fun candle holder...

a number six that blinked different colors........

Here she is--one day before she officially turned six.

Look how much she has grown over the years---

We love you Scarlett and love sharing your life with you.

New Walks

Since I was already further east than I normally am in the morning, I decided to take a different path to walk after my Covid-testing.  Gary and I have ridden our bikes along this trail, but this was my first time walking.

I started off at Hill Field Road and headed mostly north...

This trail actually goes from one end of Davis County to the other--north to south.

As you know, I like bridges so took a picture of this little bridge a homeowner built over the gully to their backyard.

I ended up under Antelope Island which gave me a walk of just over 1 1/2 miles one way.  Compared to Jensen Pond trails, there were very few people on this trail which was nice, but it had almost no shade.

...except for the road itself.

Variety is nice and I think I will probably go the other direction some day this week.

The week was filled with non-traditional walks---Willard Bay on Monday and Tuesday, Lagoon on Wednesday, walk around the nearby elementary school on Thursday (due to still having a headache, I thought I should stay close to home), and then the Train trail on Friday.

Saturday I was back at Jensen Pond for the first time this past week and even there I got to go on a new part of the trail that just opened this week.  Due to recent upgrades on Bluff and Gentile Roads, the path was extended further south to the junction of those two roads....

..where they are adding a roundabout.....

...definitely no shade, not even weeds yet along this new addition.  It added about .5 miles to the trail.

But you know me---I like to go on a new piece of trail/path/road!

Seriously, exercise is very important and there are lots of great ways to do it.  Try them all and keep doing them throughout your life.  Your body will thank you.  But walking in the mornings--it is one of the pleasures of my life.  I can't believe that I skipped so many years of doing it when I really see so many benefits of it.  I am grateful for this space in my life where I can often walk an hour a morning...just me.  Try it, you might like it!

Covid-19 Testing- Negative!

On top of the normal "joys" of having a colonoscopy, in 2020, you must take a Covid-test beforehand.  So Friday morning at 7:30 am, I head over to a location in Layton to be there before it opened at 8:00.  When I arrived at 7:45, I was about the 20th car in line.  Luckily I had a book to read.

About 8:00, a guy skateboarded up to my car window and gave me a flyer with a phone number and told me to call to register at 8:12.  He was wearing a ID tag so he was legit despite the skateboard and his casual dress.  It took about an hour to actual get to the tent for my test.

The nasal swab test is as "fun" as everyone says, but it only lasts 15 seconds or so, then you are off again.  The line behind me only grew during the hour I was in line so I was glad that I had taken Gary's advice to go early and get it done.

Unlike Gary, my restrictions were only to stay at home as much as possible and wear a mask outside of your house.  That has made my weekend easier than Gary who stayed mainly in our basement.  As I write this, I am in the middle of my "only liquids" day but haven't started the medication yet.  Hopefully, future descendants, they will figure out a better way to check colons for polyps and cancers for you. 

Oh, well, this too shall pass!

Wednesday- Lagoon Day

In planning their visit to Utah, we decided that Wednesday was a good day to go to Lagoon, so we made the required reservations (and discovered that July was health care worker appreciation month so Scott and Chantel got a discount on their tickets-win!) and met at the park for some more traditional summer fun.  Not surprising, going to Lagoon during a pandemic is awesome because there are almost NO lines and not many people.  What could be better than that?  (Well, cooler temperatures would have been nice. But for our AZ family, 90s are doable compared to their frequent 100s days.)

First stop was the fountain---

 

Then off to the rides----

I joined Scarlett in the tea cup ride. 

On to a roller coaster ride with Jena

Gary and Scott ready for Blast off---or was it the Re-entry side???

The updated Ferris Wheel---

 And the now "Infamous" Paratrooper Ride----

This is not one of my favorite types of rides because it is so slow to start and stop.  People have to get on and off one or two cars at a time and the rest of the people are left swinging in the air and moved for short distances backwards and forwards.

Well, James loves the ride when it was going around and around--but not a fan of staying still and short moves back or forward.  He was getting pretty anxious to get off by the time it was our turn to disembark.  I helped him off first and then stood up and off AND right into a beam.  Since I was wearing my ball cap I didn't even see it at all, so I knocked my head hard enough that I fell back and landed on my backside with my legs twisted up under me.  I am fine, but it took my breathe away and left me with a headache, ringing ears,  and feeling a bit off.  After sitting for a bit, I decided that heading home was a wise choice so Gary and Jena ran me home and then rejoined the other Halls later.  Sometimes, it is wise to do the smart thing even if you miss out on some fun.

It is funny about things like this--when accidents  happened, you remember things like they happened slowly even though it all went very fast. I clearly remember the sound that my head made against the ride and falling. I remember making a quick check and realizing that nothing was broken or bleeding and then thinking this is so embarrassing to fall in a kiddie ride at Lagoon....hopefully no one got it on film.  Quickly after that, I remember seeing Gary's face of concern and then hearing Scott's voice as he reached from behind to help me up.  (Gary told me that Scott had leaped the fence to come to help me.)  It was the feeling of Gary and Scott helping me up and talking to me that I will remember the most.  These are two of the people that I love most in life and it was a sweet moment to feel that love intensely from them even when my head was pounding.  Not that I don't feel loved by them all of the time, because I do.....it was just a vivid display of that love in that moment.  I am not sure if I explained that well. Summary-- Even in a hard moment, the sweet things are felt and treasured.

Scott and Chantel and family spent some time at Laguna Beach where Gary and Jena found them when they returned.

The Merry-go-round----

They headed back to their other grandma's house and Gary and Jena did a few more rides including the train before they came home.

All in all, a fun day for Scarlett and James and that was what a trip to Lagoon is all about. Maybe next time I will last the whole day!!

Willard Bay- "Going Home" Day!

Tuesday morning, we had one last breakfast and walk before heading home.  It is sad for all of us to say goodbye.

Getting ready for the day----

Took the more western trail which still ended up at Eagle Bay  This time we stayed on the upper path away from the sand and water (not a popular choice, but better for keeping clean and heading home.)

Occasionally they head in the same direction.

Then we packed up and headed back to "real" life again!  Both Jessica and I had to work later in the day so it was really real life with a bunch of laundry on top!

 Jena is learning how to help pack up the RV as well.

Even camping, there were reminders that we are in a pandemic---

Outside of bathroom

Summer fun---so glad to share a bit of time with most of our family.  Four out of five of our kids and 6 out of nine of our grandkids!  Can't wait until the next time it is 100%.

Willard Bay- Lake Day

 Nothing like sleeping in and then enjoying a family breakfast outside (Okay, well, it was Jena, Scarlett, and I that enjoyed the sleeping in--Jessica and Elessia were up with the sun with their four little ones.)

After Ben and Gary arrived, we headed over to Eagle Bay where we met Scott and Chantel and James and we spent a fun day playing in the water, eating, and playing some more.

The water was much warmer than the ocean was a few weeks ago.

Lunch at the beach---sandwiches, watermelon, chips, and cookies--about as traditional as you can get.  (So nice to have the RV to keep things cold and to prepare the food in.)

Alex and Uncle Ben spent a great deal of time working on their sand castle.

Zander

James

Nice thing about an RV is that nap times can be taken in the cool of the RV.  That is one of the reasons that I wanted to get an RV.  I can remember when our kids were little and Gary's parents had their RV.  It gave a place to keep the milk, take naps, and cool off in the middle of camping vacations and fun.  Even just having a place to change a diaper that wasn't on the ground was so nice.  I am glad that we can share that with our children and grandchildren.

Alex with Aunt Jena's hat

More swimming shots---

Except for eating, I think that Liam was almost always in the water--very much like his mom when she was little.

Zander

You can see Zander riding on this tube in the lake, but I neglected to take a picture of the tube when it was blown up.  We have had this tube for a very long time.  We actually had two of them, but one finally "died."  I am actually not sure how old this tube is, but both Jessica and Scott smiled and made a comment when they saw it.  It probably has gone to camps with them as well as other trips to lakes.  Some of our kids and grandkids have been on it in the snow. It is funny how something so simple brings with it memories.  I don't know for sure but I think we got these in Texas for a vacation and they have been around ever since.  We have definitely gotten our money's worth out of them.

We started leaving the lake around 6:30 and found the pavilion packed with nests with little baby birds.  Scarlett got a lift by her dad to see up close.

I used my zoom on my camera instead----

I love that my grandchildren (and their parents) stop to notice and enjoy the creatures and beauties of the world.....maybe one thing that we have passed on from our parents and grandparents before us!

PS--Gary and I and Carter were actually here on the beach, in the water, having fun, but I don't have pictures of us.  We had fun, too, and I have a sunburn to prove it. (I apparently need a mother to put sun lotion on my shoulders and back.  For the record, I did bring it down to the beach, but misplaced it.  It was later found as we were heading out in the cooler in the sack with water bottles. Too late then.)

PSS- Note to self, I need to remember to take group shots of the grandchildren when we are together.  I love the random pictures of me with my cousins, even if we aren't all looking the same direction or smiling. Next time---