Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability. ~Sam Keen

I wonder how it’s July already?!  It’s going way too fast!  It looks like everyone is home safely from Europe and the reunion.  Im sorry to have missed out on both, but I FINALLY broke through my sleep problems and have slept solidly 12 hours a night for a week.  that's worth its weight in gold!!!  I think everyone else though is exhausted and I think Ellie’s picture sums it up best!

Marisa and Riberas looked like they had a fantastic trip the British Isles. I've added Scotland and Ireland to my bucket list! Glad everyone is home safe and sound!

Bob and ALayna flew out to the Hart family reunion and Kayla’s family was able to go.  I barely got any pictures from them but I assume they had a great time?  This is my favorite pic that bob sent me!  Im very sad I missed time with Ellie

Alayna is now in Missouri heading to her 1st EFY tomorrow!  Bob will pick her up on Saturday and then she goes straight into girls camp! 

Tyler finished one class, is working on the other 2, and has registered for fall classes plus a CNA class. 

I went to Ames for the Reading/ School Librarian Conference.  As always I loved my 3 days there and learned a TON!  My presentation was a huge success and I even got some great feedback! Like this one: “Kristina, you have so much energy! This was great fun! I feel like I just took a world tour in 50 minutes! You've given me so many ideas to expand my students' world as well as my own.”  I had 3 speakers I loved the most.  One was the author of Mr. Lemoncello’s library.  He was extremely entertaining and my students are obsessed with his books.  The 2nd one was an incredible lady who spoke on “Chasing Imperfection.” While it may not seem reading related, I think we all needed it- me especially.  I wish I could have recorded it!  The last one I also posted about on fb. His name is Dean Jacobs. It is amazing and thrilling to hear him speak and I kept thinking "OMGSH he is living my dream life!" After a way-too-close-to-death accident happened, he sold everything he owned and has literally been traveling the world ever since. He spent 7 months with the gorillas like Dian Fossey. You should see the videos he took. His pictures are breath-taking, his videos are riveting, I just can't say enough! Now traveling with him to the tribe he works with deep in the Amazonian Rainforest is now on my bucket list!  Wouldn't that be amazing?!

While I am not even close to perfectly balance in my life I have done much better this week.  Sleep makes a world of difference for me.  I have been able to tackle projects I have been wanting to do forever.  I have worked out every day while watching a Star Wars marathon in chronological order.  I did tons of sewing projects including new decor for my reading area and new fleece liners for all the guinea pigs while watching the full Hobbit/Lord of the Rings marathon.  At night I have been watching some other movies that I highly recommend.

The Promise: When our students skyped this year with author Marsha Skrypuch (who write "Making Bombs for Hitler") she mentioned that she had even received death threats for a book she wrote on the Armenian genocide during WWI. It intrigued me...and I just finished a movie about it that all of you should see called "The Promise" released in 2017. Based on the true story of the Armenian Genocide- an event that the Turkish Govt still deny happened.

Partriots Day: True story of the Boston Marathon bombing. Watch edited on vidangel though!

A quiet Place: My absolute favorite new movie of the year!!! What an intense thriller!

I organized ALL our pictures, photo CDS, video DVDS and family treasure boxes.  All that cant be replaced are in our fire safe box.  Then I went through all of it and organized piles of the years we dont have blogs for.  Again a huge thank you to Grandma JO for saving all those newsletters.  My goal is to get these all into books into the next few years.  We Gave kids digital copies of all the blog books, family videos, and year slides shows at Christmas.  I am SO EXTREMELY GRATEFUL that I have been taking pictures and writing blogs because there is no way I would ever remember this stuff!  I was also thinking that this is a perfect way ofr grandkids, great grandkids and so on to learn about me when Im gone. Our family history is so very important!  So I hope you kids are all recording your lives now!

I got through all of our food storage and 72 hours kits.  They are cleaned, updated, and ready to go.

Got my ring resized (as it was cutting off my circulation) and even though the picture doesnt show it- it sparkles now like Ive never seen before!

And here are some pics of the new guest room.  The new bedding isnt on yet til I kick tyler out. But all the posters on the wall (except ellie and batman) are photos either Corey or I took on our trip to the Caribbean and I blew them up to poster size. Im pretty pleased with myself.  Alayna and Bob did the painting.  We also have a crib and changing table and new baby bookshelf.

Dont worry- the green “curtain” goes with Tyler lol

Wishing it could always be summer!

I finished my last 2 brutal days of school and now I am free!  I need the break to focus on me and my health: mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual!

The pool is amazing and relaxing and comforting! Alayna and I have been working hard to find balance between working on projects, and relaxing. For me its hard to find balance.

We have been doing a family Summer Fit Challenge and its been great.  I already feel better! Its wonderful to sleep and work when my body tells me to. Its been so great!

We finished deep cleaning the shed.  We took 1/2 a van full of crap to goodwill- realizing we need to stop buying “things”. We took an entire van full of cardboard to the dump and an entire van full of trash to the dump. Its crazy! and cathartic!

We’ve been cleaning all the carpets, redecorating the guest room (who wants to come visit??), deep cleaning and rearranging the cages, working on the yard outside, etc. However, today while mowing, I ran over one of our baby robins and murdered it!!! I held it in my hand and stroked it as it died.  I dont think I can take nature anymore. It hurts too much!  Especially watching the mom all afternoon flying everywhere calling for her!

I’ve been working on some puzzles and we saw some interesting movies this weekend.

“Meru”- Super interesting documentary about the 1st climbing team to ever reach the top of Shark’s fin on Mount Meru.

“Into the wild”- Based on the true story researched by John Krakauer. Good book.  Really makes you think about life, priorities, etc.

“Pele”- If you havent seen this yet on Netflix its a MUST SEE!

Updates:

Marisa is packing for the trip to Europe. Cant wait to see all the pictures and hear about the trip.

Kayla Brandon and Ellie have been crazy busy!  Kayla should update her blog hint hint

Tyler is doing great in his classes and new job. Hes hoping to find an apatment closer to campus and move in July

Bob and Alayna will be flying out for the Hart reunion in park city. I will be presenting at the state conference.

Alayna got a new calling as a Family History Consultant- which is exciting because she loves that AND we are working on family history projects this summer!

Not the best pic but I chopped my hair, got highlights and covered the grey!

Bring on the rest of summer!

How is it June already?!

In many ways this month flew, but I was also extremely busy.  Alayna is done with school but I have 2 more days.  As always I am more than ready for summer!!!

Kris-

It’s been nutty in the library, as usual.  I got swept up (unplanned) in the Excelsior comes clean project and you can see how huge of a project that was on FB.  It was overly exhausting.

Plus we had so many projects, inventory, etc.  This sums up how we felt on Friday…

Bob-

Bob was in a car accident coming home from work Friday. He was hit from behind and 4 cars were involved. Grateful only our car was hurt and not him!  I always panic whenever I hear anything has happened to any member of my family. I guess thats what being a family is all about. Thank goodness he wasn't hurt and didn't hurt the next day.

Tyler-

Tyler started his summer session of classes at Kirkwood and so far has been doing well.  He is taking Anatomy/Physiology, Chemistry, and Microbiology.  These are prerequisites to start the Respiratory Therapy program in the fall. He is excited about it and really wants to work in the pediatric unit.  He also got a new job this week at Frog Hollow doing the same thing he was doing at the last day care.  This one is closer to Iowa City and much fancier.

Alayna-

Alayna finished off the year with all A’s again! She is now officially an upperclassman!  She has a lot of fun things planned this summer like tennis camp, EFY, girls camp, possible reunion, etc.  She is also excited about our new summer addition…She is anxiously awaiting Ellie to come play in it with her.

Marisa-

Marisa is getting ready for her trip to Europe at the end of the month and it looks like she will be taking the job in Lehi and staying there for a bit, right Marisa?

Kayla Brandon, Ellie-

They moved into their new apartment.  Brandon seems to be enjoying his internship!  Kayla said “Ellie can crawl and pull herself to a stand. She loves to hold our hands and walk. At her last check up she was only 12 lbs 13 oz and 25 in long! She is very tiny but has the biggest attitude! We love you Ellie! Happy 7 months!!”  It was fun to interact with her and see her crawling this week on skype.

We are hoping Marisa, Kayla, Brandon, and Ellie can all come visit us in August!

We had a pretty traumatic weekend over Memorial Day weekend.  I was out mowing and went over a dry patch of grass.  I noticed it moved after I went over it and I went into major panic mode. I ran over and uncovered a bunny nest with 6 brand new baby bunnies.  Thank heavens I didn't hurt any of them. I told Bob and Alayna about them, said we need to be super careful and check on them often.  Then I went inside.  Came out later to find Bob running the mower to gather all the grass and he went OVER THE HOLE!!!  He killed one of the babies and I was devastated!!!  I sobbed- trust me I don't know where this sudden love for animals came from) but I was so mad at Bob! He had forgotten they were out there.  Tyler and Alayna buried her in the back by Daisy.  The next day I went to check on the 5 left. They were doing great but it was almost 100 degrees with the heat index. I texted my friend who is a wildlife rehabilitator and she said I could put up an umbrella to help give them some shelter since they were in the direct sun.  The next morning I went out to check on them and it looked like a crime scene. Dead bloody bodies everywhere, and I just sobbed again.  We found out some domestic cats came and killed them for fun.  Didn't eat them.  Alayna went to get the umbrella and found a baby survivor tucked way deep in the nest.  We didnt know what to do, my wildlife friend didnt respond and everything said leave it in the nest for mom.  The next morning I saw 2 huge cats by the nest and the baby was dead.  Once again I sobbed.  My heart literally cant take the pain of death]th. It made for a tough weekend and my heart hurts!

Here is our Robins nest and then 2 of the eggs hatched.  Grateful the cats didn't get to it. I officially despise cats.

Heres to an amazing, relaxing but productive summer.  It is needed!!!!

Blog part 2

Marisa even got to see one of Alayna’s tennis matches.

I finished more puzzles

My birthday, on Monday, was great.  I did go to work, but came home to a clean house, dinner made, and I was so happy!  Marisa should stay! The funny thing is I thought all day (and year) that I was turning 48. It wasnt until I calculated before bed that I realized I had turned 47! Good grief!

To celebrate my birthday (and Marisa’s) I took Wednesday off.  We had a super fun Girls Day Out but we REALLY missed Kayla and Ellie!!!

We did tons of shopping…

Lunch at Olive Garden with Bob so I could have Fettucine Alfredo

We went to cold stone for ice cream and then came home. The girls did their nails while I started my new puzzle!

She flew out on Friday and we miss her!  Cant wait for everyone to come in August!

We were able to skype again on Sunday and so glad Ellie likes her “computer” we got her at goodwill!

We got a tour of their new apartment and got to see Ellie trying to walk

And of course she likes books!

Had a great mothers day and loved Kaylas bookmarks she sent me!

Surprise!!!

I was so sad we couldn't attend Marisa’s graduation, but imagine my surprise when I looked up from puzzle and she was standing in my living room!!!

I will never be able to express in words how much that meant!

We finally got to go see Infinity War in the new recliner seated theater (which was awesome) BUT we are all reeling from the emotional trauma of that movie!  Good grief! (Alayna wasnt happy with her face so she photo edited the picture for me

We finally got to take Marisa to Newbo market so she could try all the yummy food there!

She and Alayna also helped me put in my deck garden!

My lilac tree came back to life and it smells amazing!

Our gala tree which we were sure died years ago bloomed!

On sunday we got to skype with Kayla, Brandon, and Ellie- she is growing up so fast and was so interactive with us!