Saying Goodbye to the Coontz Family

Becky and Danny moved to Medford, Oregon - for a great opportunity and a wonderful house, but so far away from us! We had them about 2 hours and 45 minutes away and it was so nice to be able to drive up and back in a day just to hang out a bit. I did that quite a few times and the drive wasn't bad at all.

Miles and Gabe played and played in the empty field behind their house, building a fort out of whatever they could find. Cardboard, pieces of sod, boards. It reminded me of building our forts as a kid, weaving grass into "curtains" or using tree branches for the roof. If it wasn't for a lightning storm rolling in, they would have stayed out their all day. As it was, they got pretty soaked with some sudden rain bursts. I totally caught them going pee out there too... boys.

We had to get a group photo of the cousins - we are hoping to see everyone at Christmas, but you just never know what will happen with our schedules. So, these kids could look very different the next time they are all together! At least the little boys will for sure!

"Sisters, sisters, never were there such devoted sisters!" And we even matched in our swing dresses and gladiator style shoes. Of course. I'm going to miss having them so close and seeing Becky every few months. Now we will just have to be better planners and make it happen!

McKinley made sure we got Claire an email address so they can stay in touch! Going into 6th and 7th grade here.

Cedar Breaks

We took a scenic drive up the canyon from Cedar City after the first day of volleyball camp. We had driven up at the crack of dawn and we needed to do something until our hotel was ready for check in the first day. Cedar Breaks did not disappoint. I'm can't believe we never went up there! The view was vertigo-inducing as we drove up the mountain and I had to stop looking out and focus on the road. Weird feeling... I can still feel it when I think about the drop offs, no guard rails, and the pull of the red rocks and pine trees. Anyway, it was spectacular.

We did a wildflower scavenger hunt and walked around on a few simple trails, then headed back for swimming and dinner.

SUU Volleyball Camp

Claire, Miles and I went up to Cedar City for the Southern Utah University volleyball camp, Junior Spikers. It was taught by the women's volleyball team and coaches. It was crazy how easy a trip with the two big kids seemed - we had a great time staying in a hotel, eating out, swimming and just hanging out. I worked remotely while they were at the camp, and logged some time on the laptop while they swam in the hotel pool. 

Miles was one of two boys in the entire camp... good to know for the future. He had fun though and had great energy up until that last night. He went for every ball and hustled his heart out.

I think it was good they had each other to play with since a lot of the other girls came with bigger groups or close friends - the tight groups was kind of tough, especially when Miles came down with Strep the night before the last day and couldn't go for the third day. Claire was alone but she did her best, and I think she did learn a lot. Her school has volleyball try outs the first week of school- I hope she wants to play! She has a lot of control and calls the ball really well.