Graduation and Summertime Fun


June is truly one of my favorite months. And this June was super special because we had two more kiddos graduate high school: Papaya and Jr. So so so happy for them. (Is there anything better than that feeling of being DONE with High School?)

 So much lies ahead for them: missions and school and work and play. Super proud of them. And super happy for them to have so much to look forward to as they set out into the Big Beautiful World.


Jr's graduation announcement photo.

Papaya's graduation announcement photo. (They took many, but these are my favorites.)

 Graduation kicked off summer for us. We plan to BBQ, garden, swim, go for walks around the lake, work some, visit family, and sleep in!

Bam dresses the pets ... often. It's a riot.

Jr. wrapped up a year of working with the Special Needs Young Adult group at church. It was a great experience. He said he loved it.

LuLu's cat, Obi Wan, scares the crap out of me. Just sayin'.

Papaya (who is 18, so I am okay with her name being shown) "graduated" from the Young Women's Program at church.

Jay and Dave are both working full-time, but manage to meet for lunch every now and then. (PS: I think it is hilarious that all of our adult kiddos' names are in this post.)

Zu and her friend D on the last day of school. Woo hoo!

Last day of school for Lu and Zu.

Summer gives me a chance to cook random Pinterest finds. (Sliders)

Candy sea glass. Seemed cool to make.

More of Jr. with his friends from the church activity where he volunteered.

Jr. wears size 9 shoe; his friend wears size 16!

The kids helped me "plant" a small 4 x 8 garden, tomatoes, pumpkins, etc.

Our strawberry plants are really growing this year. (City Kitty doesn't think it's useful to grow things she can't eat.)

Graduation dinner for Jr. and Papaya.


Graduation dinner.

Graduation!

Best part of summer: CAT BACKPACKS.

The kids are each making dinner during the summer. This was Zu and Lu's night: kabobs and cheesy herbed orzo.


Oh! And Zu loves to make this: caprese (using this cool balsamic syrup Janae told us about). 

This is Dave's favorite, so Zu loves to make it.

Finished plate!

I'm finally able to walk about 3-6 miles a day now--thanks to
5 back procedures and surgeries (Survivor injury).

Jr. went to California to visit family this week. Here he is with my niece and brother--at her promotion to middle school.


Papaya saved her money and planned a "senior trip" with girlfriends to California. She has had the best time. So so so neat to see our kids growing up. Scary, but neat, too. (I think this is Laguna Beach.)



Bam just went to the annual Color Festival at the Hindu Temple in our area. It's a pretty cool thing.

Zu and Lu are earning money tending this summer. (Utah-speak for "babysitting."

My parents took Jr. and his cousin to sushi to celebrate graduation! (I feel like sushi may be a little GRANDER when you live in Los Angeles. My SLC sushi has never looked this good.)

Jr. and cousin D (who has his pilot's license--at age 16! Nuts).

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