Baptism Day

Penelope's baptism was very special - it was just her being baptized, not the stake baptisms with a lot of the children at once. There are some things that are better with the quarantine. We were able to invite our family to view the baptism on Zoom which was also really cool. Becky, Matty and Alexis and Megan and their kiddos joined online. Penelope was very nervous about her baptism, but she seemed calm once she got into the water. It was a very good day and I know Penelope felt peaceful and loved.

Penelope's Baptism Photos

We took these photos of Penelope for her baptism a month or more ago, and I love how they turned out. Penelope loves all things girly and she loves her dress. It was the same dress Claire wore for her baptism too, so that was pretty special.

This and That

Swim lessons - going GREAT! Henry was afraid and didn't want to go, but he changed his mind so fast, it was amazing to watch. He is diving in and doing the different strokes, it's awesome! Penelope loves swimming lessons and asks daily if it's a swim day. We have only so many activities open to us right now so we are taking advantage of swimming and tennis.

Tennis lessons for Matt, Miles, Claire and Penelope - P takes a shorter portion of the lesson, and the others have been quick learners, able to move on quickly to new skills. I am hoping to have some built-in tennis partners very soon. Our coach Craig says Penelope will be the best of us since she is starting younger, and Henry can't wait to try. He has a racket and hits balls on his own.

Family game night - we are trying to play more games, use less screens. It's so hard, especially with working from home, to monitor screen time as much as we want to. We are letting them use them more than normal, but these are unique times and I am trying let some things go right now.

Henry is working on his scooter skills during tennis lessons. This photo shows the empty sand volleyball courts behind him, with the nets removed because of quarantine. The park behind our house removed the basketball hoops - I can't say I miss the sound of loud music and players yelling at all hours of the day, but it is sad to see things empty in our community. Tennis courts are open again, thank goodness. 

Quick Trip to Bryce Canyon

I hadn't been to Bryce Canyon in 20 years, but I still remembered how impressive it is. Matt and I took a long weekend trip up and it was so nice to get away for a bit. We have all been together, practically nonstop, since the middle of March. I like working from home and spending more time with the kids for the most part, but we all needed a break. The weather was cool and we were even cold at night. We took an ATV tour and went on a few killer hikes -the views were dizzying, literally. I am not sure what has happened to me lately, but heights and especially drop offs are tough for me. We hiked the rim of the canyon on our second day, and I survived. :) Matt loved it - this was his first time going - and he said he didn't get tired of looking at the Canyon. We will be back!

Betty and Phil's 50th Anniversary

We had a small family celebration to mark Betty and Phil's 50th wedding anniversary - which was June 6th. 50 years is an amazing accomplishment and one I can respect even more the longer I am married. We had a nice dinner, played the "Not So Newlywed Game" and had cake and presents. Phil also took a moment to give a very touching tribute to Betty - he wrote it down and read it to her in front of everyone. Betty said he is quite the romantic, actually.

We gave them a framed photo of this map showing all the places Betty and Phil have lived together.