Five for Friday - Summer Odds and Ends

- 1 - 

First Payson Garden!

Our first garden here in Payson has gone remarkably well this summer! On one side of the yard we had our traditional garden. 

Spring Garden

Late Summer Garden

It's turned into a messy, wild place, but I've been amazed at the harvests we had. Here's a picture of last week's harvest! 

On the other side of the yard, we experimented with a Three Sister's garden. The Native Americans used this method for growing food. You plant corn, surrounded by beans, and squash. The idea is that the corn provides a trellis for the beans to climb, the beans provide nitrogen to aid the corn's growth, and the squash helps with weed control. Things started out okay, but the beans all grew just a few inches before dying. I think I waited until the corn was too tall to plant them, and they just weren't getting enough sunlight. The squash has grown well, but not before the weeds haha. 

On one end I threw in what were supposed to be decorative sunflowers just for fun. They turned out to be giant sunflowers instead! 

 

In the end, we did get a great crop of corn, but not a single bean grew. While it was a fun learning experiment, I haven't decided if I'll give it a try next year again or not. 

I planted a fall crop of colorful carrots, beets, and radishes. I don't have much hope for them after Conrad decided they freshly planted and soaked ground was the perfect mud-puddle. I guess you win some, you lose some. That look of pure joy was pretty worth it though! 

- 2- 

Forth of July

I had to include these pictures from our fun 4th of July mostly so we can all enjoy this one of Lenora. Oh to enjoy the simple things in life so fully! 

 - 3 - 

Cousin Time

I love getting these cuties together to enjoy the little things in life like berry picking and snow cones. Living closer to cousins has been such a wonderful blessing!

- 4 - 

More Hikes!

Salt Creek Falls

Up Payson Canyon

Cecret Lake and Albion Basin

Bridal Veil Falls

A slightly hiking related story, poor Orson fell on a wet log one week while we were hiking. He ended up with the biggest fat lip I've ever seen. 

- 5 - 

This and That...

Tessa (Lenora's best friend from Kentucky) was in Utah visiting family and took the time to come see us. It was so much fun to see her!

These boys are the cutest! 

I learned that my 5th-great-grandfather is buried in the Payson cemetery. So, one Sunday afternoon we rode our bikes down there and found his grave. He was one of the first settlers of Payson and helped dig several irrigation ditches, some of which are still used today! 

It's a hard life when all your pets try to steal your food. He kept trying to turn from Haley only to have the chickens start munching his corn bread or vice versa. We all couldn't help but laugh. 

Eating ice cream is rough too, especially when you bite off the bottom of your cone. 

Life is weird right now. We wear masks to go to the grocery store, the library, the zoo, and even church (well a shortened sacrament meeting once a month for now, but it's something!) I'm so thankful that despite the crazy COVID world we're living in right now, that we still can get out and have fun. We truly have had a great summer and made some wonderful memories. 

California!

We were able to spend a few days in California in July!!!! We haven't been since I was pregnant with Lenora, so this trip was LONG overdue. And thankfully, coronavirus didn't cancel our plans. Nearly everything was still closed out there, but we still had a wonderful time visiting and enjoying the perfect California sunshine.

One thing that had just re-opened was the beach! Sunday morning the boys woke up early so the three of us headed to the beach for their very first time. They LOVED it! 

There's something so magical about seeing the ocean for the first time.... 

They were timid at first, but soon they were running in the waves before rushing out laughing when bigger waves swept up. It was one of those perfect moments in life that you wish you could just freeze in time.

It's no surprise they ended up soaking their "church" clothes. Rookie mistake on my part! 

The rest of Sunday we enjoyed a slow day spending time with Jamie, Grandma, and Grandpa. We enjoyed a late birthday celebration for the incredible Aunt Jamie! 

Monday morning I repeated my beach trip with all the kids this time while Michael helped Jamie with a project. It's been so long since we've been, I don't think any of the kids remembered the ocean well. They were in heaven! We ate breakfast on these rocks they laughed, played, and got soaked again! 

We spent the rest of the day swimming in Grandma and Grandpa's pool and capped off the night with a beach bonfire!

Tuesday we enjoyed a short visit at the beach with Michael's aunt who is also deaf. The weather was perfect for some kite flying! 

One of the absolute highlights of the trip was introducing Lenora to Mama Faye! Lenora's middle name Faye is in honor of this incredible women. It was so much fun for these two to finally meet, and for us to hear stories from her long, exciting life. 

After our lunch with Mama Faye it was time for more swimming. Lots more swimming. The kids came home SO tan!

Grandpa and Grandma helped Eliza overcome her fear of the deep end and she swam from one side of the pool to the other! 

By this point Conrad was so tired from so much fun and sun he crashed on the floor in the middle of the living room.

All too soon it was time for us to head home. We left fairly early Wednesday morning so we could have a nice visit with Michael's grandpa on our way out of town. This was his first time meeting Orson and Conrad in person. We had a wonderful visit with him! 

 

Now that we're closer, it won't be another 6 years before we see you again California. Thanks for a great trip!