Early July 2021

The troops gathered for the 4th of July holiday and all the traditional activities were on the calendar, including several in which I didn't participate. Independence Day was split in two, on the 3rd and 5th so that there would be no Sabbath breaking by the locals, as the actual day was Sunday. 

Anna helping Emily to choose some plants

Chom with the Soelbers and Taylor/Woodburys

Traditional 4th nosh on the 3rd at the Soelbergs

The kiddos

Time for fireworks

The boys helped Gavin

Darkness falling on fireworks

Gavin admiring his work on the party lights

Banoffee pie tutorial for Harry

The 5th at Sundance: lift, and zipline for the stout-hearted

View from the lift

Nachos with Nada (Gavin's mom) at Bearclaw Cabin

Citizenship party for Erick at Emily's: these girls can dance

The Youngs' digs in the basement of the 

Happiness Hotel

There was porch sitting every single day

Scera Shell to see...

Matilda

Picnic with the Boynton cousins

Dinner at Strap Tank Brewery with the adultos

The music was just so compelling!

Teaching Beckham how to make...

Tuna-grape salad: his favorite

Passionfruit juice before the storm drove us indoors at...

Asado

Clara post-surgery

Harry's portrait of Beckham

The cousins signing Clara's casts

Headed back to Santa Fe in comfort

The Soelberg cousins running with them to say goodbye

The cousins saying goodbye to the Youngs

There is more from the end of July, but this is all for now.

OXO

D.

The Rest of June 2021

 The theme for the rest of June was family visits, with a graduation via YouTube. Katy and her binkers spent part of a week with us while she did an intensive online course at a quiet space in the BYU Library. Uncle Mark spent a few days in Provo that overlapped with Katy's visit. Madeline spent her day off visiting with us, and on his return from Morocco, Oliver dropped in for a quick visit. Maren, Harry, and Beckham arrived from Arizona for their summer visit, and Meg also made a quick stop on her way to Zambia. Anna and Clara drove in from Santa Fe and the summer festivities were truly off and rolling. On the last day of the month, Maren picked up Gavin and Finn, so now we are just waiting for Lucy Jane to arrive. July should be jolly good fun.

Al fresco lunch: Mabel, Bea, Scout, and Evelyn Alta

La Casita with Katy and the binkers

Oliver David dancing the hula at Punahou graduation

Ollie receives his diploma on YouTube

Grammy made cookies for the cousins

Uncle Mark entertaining the troops with Wombo

Indian take-away from the Bombay House

Lots of cousins including Anders and Henry

Group dinner at the Astles with their beautiful view

An afternoon and evening with Madeline Alta

Ollie dropped in

The hollyhocks are beautiful this year

Emily and Maren with Theo

The cousins making movies, and Crumble 

cookies from Aunty Em

The Taylor/Woodburys and Maren keeping watch at the first

cousins' lemonade stand

Meg, Lizzy, and Auntie Em

Those Hawaii Taylors love La Casita

Kris's humor strikes again

First canal walk of the season

Traditional human pyramid

Greek take-away at Liberty Park post zoo and medical 

visits, pre airport pick-up

The rest of the Youngs have arrived

A glorious 4th is still in store, so there will be more! This, however, is all for now.

OXO

D.