Families that play together, stay together

August came and went. With Kids coming to town to visit, a lot of celebrations and activities, the month Flew by. Joe took me out for a birthday lunch to Kitchen 747 which is a resturant near our house that I had been wanting to go to. He and I have had a grand time. We've been going on walks to pokemon go and have played a lot of Magic the gathering card games. He is my shopoing and errand buddy and of course we've cleaned cars and gone for sodas. Its a burn its almost time for him to go back to Idaho for school. Good thing I have Celia at home with me for school. I tell her I'm so glad she is around to keep me young. We have a fun time together too! We watch shows together, eat meals super often and walk around the block. She wants me to be an ebayer, but so far I've been just learning hehe. God providing we were able to find a great situation for her to do independent study. This year will be quite produtive and it seems to make success in seminary and High School so possible. We all have enjoyed having Emmy around for a week in August as well. Her and I went to The Killers concert in SF. They put on a fabulous show, wow. It was fun going there with Emmy. She had the uber app ready when things got a little sketchy. Emmy's my super adventurous one, so we had lots of activities going. She and I ate at Buckhorn grill in the Palladio then biked the Johnny Cash Trail in Folsom. Emmy leanred riding up hil is challenging, but she loved the down hill. I can't even list all we did ogether and do, but we lot to talk and go adventuring. Bri and I did that a little too. We went to a 50th Birthdayy skate party, 80's themed. Bri didnt skate, and I did skate for a little. I'm prousd of how he goes out and socializes so well with me when needed. I like working with him in our church calling and we do a lot of of decions togerther and I respect his careful way and ideas. We got a electric water heaer after coming home from Colorado to no hot water. I like it alot. we have an app for it and its energy saving so we got a rebate from our city. I noticed our gas bill is soo small this month because of not usnng gas for the water heater. We will see how that reflects on our electric bill. Im glad we have enerygy saving on our van as wellsince we drive all over with Spence. He has been doing pretty good and we've been bringing Emmy and Joe to ride with him when they are in town. It warms my heart to have the siblings get along so well together. Im trying to reduce contentnion in my life and seeing peace in our relationships makes my mama heart happy.

A Different Experience

Each year, almost, we go to our family cabin. We hike and see meadows and waterfalls and cook food in the back yard of the cabin. This year was very different. Coming from drought stricten California, It was a shock and surprise to see so much rain in Colorado. We avoided a flood warning near La Veta pass on our way home from Denver. The sand dunes which have been so dry for over twenty years had a river running through it and we were hailed upon in the shadow of dark clouds there. We made the most of it. Some of us were sick while others were healthy, but we still we able to hike Zapatas falls trail and see great views. We had fun having a picnic by the Rio Grande with many chipmunk visitors. Taos had deal on beautiful southwestern gifts, we just had to avoid of the waterfall like streams from the roof tops moving the water to the drains around the square there. I can't help but feel grateful for the good times we did have even in the prescence of adversity and concerns. We were rained upon while wwalking down to the river, but we were resuced in the van and enjoyed the warmth of the cabin and I was happy we had plenty of clothing. We had a grat experience spending time with each of our kiddos that were there. We ate, played games, and spent quality time. We had fun in Denver going to the temple, a food truck, a concert and seeing all of Brian's old stomping grounds. We all were impressed and decided he had a pretty good upbringing in such a nice area. I even got to do my mall walking I like to do and it looked like a cabin in the mall there and it was so cute. We saw the other mall that was there and it had a beautiful garden area to walk around in. We all fot along really well despite us grilling each kiddos on what was going on in their live. We sang songs in the car, and did take out trash friend and did laundry wwith no bad attitudes at all. It was just so great to have a family strengthening time together in the mountains. Its good to be home, but it was a memorable, different time.

Out and About Enjoying Nature

In June, I created another article, spent time with Spence, and ran off to San Diego. Theres a Blue Canyon near El Dorado Hills that we took Spence on a ride to. It was gorgeous and we stopped by Opportunity Acres which is a possiblity for him to have as a day program. Things are going well for him and it is so nice to know he is well taken care of when we aren't there. He loves his popsicles and whatever he wants to pick from 7 eleven. He is so big now and gives instrctuions quite well as man of his house. We took him on a Saturday ride because we were leaving on Father's Day for San Diego. The van was all cleaned up and ready to go which after Spencer rides is no easy feat. The whole going for a car ride is a tradtion and a great experience for us Davis' I love that we get gas at propel stations, it makes the though of driving all that wasy a little more fun knowing it helps with the environment and is a bit less expensive. Celia did well on our trip. She wanted the radio so we listened to a lot of Spanish music as that was what was avaiablbe on the Interstate 99. I got so excited about being in L.A. area again, we played all the songs about L.A. we could think of. One for Red Hot Chili Peppers came to mind. I get such a youthful energy from visiting that area. We went even further down to San Diego for Brian's Special District Conference. San Diego was so beautiful and it felt like Hawaii at the resort. We saw a real battleship float by with guns and navy people on the bay near our hotel room. Emmy and I rode bikes and toured the area, the sights and sounds of the ocean and bay are soo relaxing. I wanted to visit Hotel del Coronado which I remember from when I was a little girl. It was so fancy and new, I hardly recognized it. We did find a Boathouse near there and tried various fresh catches of fish which was soo cool. I loved seeing and smelling the bonfires on the beach and hearing a singer sing "Brown Eyed Girl" as we walked by. Those that grow up near the beach(like myself) have no idea how good they have it. It is pictureque and fun. The beach is full of open expanse, wind in your hair, and sun bathing blue water. I can see why coastal is a decorating theme. For now I will visit and continue to love and appreciate the trees and beauty of the inland areas. Emmy and I went and saw the temple and La Jolla beach by UC San Diego. I was happy Emmy got to spend some time with her long time friend, Kaitlyn also. After work Brian and all us girls went to see Bob's Burgers, the movie.The Amc was near a mall. I liked the outdoor malls there, although we went to two since the first one was a mistake. I may have been hangry since we all didn't know where we were going and we were winging it. I was still glad we went. The girls and I also went to SeaWorld. The water rapids ride there was the best and you cannot be more impressed with the Orca whales, They do such a good job there and Celia really seemed to enjoy it. Other highlights were getting an umbrella(there was compeition) at the pool and ordering lunch to be brought out to us, I felt so fancy. I loved the sunset stroll and looking at all the plant and wildlife. We snuck a peak at the Japanese garden there onthe way to the airport for Emmmy, but I could have spent a few more days there just exploring. It is always good to be home and great to see Spence again so its fine. Celia and I got to go boating a few days ago too and that was a blessing and a relaxing and fun social experience. I was asked last minute if I would drive and I was so happy to say yes, I secretly wanted to go since I don't serve in Yound Women's anymore. So I got the best of both worlds being able to teach temple prep with Brian for our calling and still get to be with the younginrs at Folsom Lake. God is good and I feel his tender Mercies and blessings. I can't wait to gather most of the kiddos again when we go to Colorado to the cabin. It'll be wonderful enjoying nature there as always.