Calli moves out!

 A few months back, one of Calli's best friends from high school and soccer asked her if she wanted to move in together. Calli decided it would be fun and they started making plans. After not being able to lock down an apartment they decided to move into grandma and grandpa Losee's apartment. It aways seemed so far off that it didn't worry or concern me. But the weekend she was supposed to move she had gone to Provo again to spend time with Edu, Mati and Olivia. She got home late Sunday night (August 30th) and felt like she needed to move in because Hannah had already started moving her stuff. So we all got to work packing up her room and heading to grandmas together. 

I really didn't think it would affect me, (she can be pretty hard to live with at times:) but the more we packed the more it started to tug on my hearts strings. This would probably be the last time I would have all my girls living under one roof.

We went and helped her set up her room. 

It looked adorable. I could sense that she was excited but also a little hesitant. I think she started to realize that she'd be losing more than gaining.  She'd gain more freedom, living with one of her best friends, living the "college life" without college, be closer to work and the gym and have no curfew but she'd lose a kitchen full of appliances she used everyday, a fridge full of food, her laundry done for her each week, her room cleaned and vacuumed once a week, her bathroom scrubbed once a week, a treadmill and weights at her disposal and her car defrosted and heated in the winter. But she pushed on knowing she couldn't turn back on Hannah now and knew it really would be fun. 

It was good having her sisters there to help her with the decorating too.  

Her room turned out so cute and she was excited about it. It was harder than I thought it would be leaving her there even though she is only a few minutes away and with grandma. I know she will love  it and it will end up being a great experience for all of us. But, I miss her dang it. 

Padre Canyon Hike

On a Spur of the moment, Adam and I decided to go for a hike. Adam had done 3/4 of the hike with the YM and had been wanting me to go with him and do the entire hike.  So we decided just to do it. He told me it was going to be intense but I guess I chose not to listen...

So far so good. Loved seeing all the backlot's as we hiked by...little did I know the hike I was in for. It was the Padre Canyon Hike that started at Tuacahn, went up and over the cliffs behind Tuacahn around to the sand dunes in Snow Canyon and then back around to Tuacahn. 

The views and scenery were awesome. 

Heading up the incline. I'm not going to lie I wanted to cry but I didn't, I just kept pushing myself, telling myself I can do hard things over and over again. When it became too unbearable I put in my air pods and tried to dance my way to the top. It was a hot day with an occasional cloud cover and breeze which saved us. 

About 3/4 of the way up the incline I spotted a cave with some shade and it called to me. We stopped for a break. I laid down in the cool dirt, sipping on the camelback and was good to go in no time. 

Views from my cave...Tuacahn, looking back

We started hiking again with the top in sight and finally made it. It was so exhilarating knowing we just tackled something so intense. 

The top

Rockstars

Heading down the backside of the cliffs towards Snow Canyon, brought amazing sights and views again 

Adam said in his entire life living here he had never seen a lizard like this.

And then, just when we thought our legs were going to give out on us, we hit the sand dunes and had to wade through it. 

But we did it. We made it to Snow Canyon and stopped to rest, eat, drink and splash ourselves with cool water before heading out again. At this point we had reached 5 miles into our hike. 

We made our way through Snow Canyon and were on the last leg heading back toward Tuacahn. We could see it in the distance but it did not seem to get closer as we walked and walked, putting one foot in front of the other. We made it to the gate of Tuacahn when the chills set in and I knew I was seeing the first signs to heat stroke. I tried to push through it. I wanted to finish so bad. I had made it this far, I wanted to just get to the truck about 1/8 mile away now. But I had to finally listen to my body. I looked at Adam and said, you'd better go get the truck. I plopped down in the dirt under a tree and just laid there. Little ants were biting my ankles and I didn't even care. Adam said "don't pass out" and took off running. I hollered after him to not run but I knew better. How he ran after hiking that long I'll never know. Within a few minutes a heard the roar of this truck and made it to my feet and started walking toward the road.  Adam came running down the wash where I was with ice cold water bottles in each hand..my knight and shining armor..Haha! Our bodies hurt so bad but we felt great. We had just hiked 4 hours and 7.25 miles. We are freaking rockstars!!!

Gentry's 17th Birthday

Gentry was able to celebrate all weekend long. On Friday, Jaden and Brady Gates were able to come down and stay with us for a couple days. That in itself was enough for Bo to have a happy birthday but add a few more friends and more partying to the mix and she was a happy camper. 

My Instagram Post

Friday Night they went to Denny's at midnight and then Saturday during the day, they all slept in, hung out, played Just Dance, went and got food and then she had more friend over that night for movie night, pizza and smores. 

Hanging in the kitchen with all the food. 

After the Gates girls went home on Sunday, she opened presents. She got a Minky blanket, Marvel game, Spotify gift card, coloring book and pencils, toothbrush, phone case, lotion  and sweats. 

Also, on Sunday we invited grandpa Peterson up to dinner for his birthday. We had Gentry's new favorite, shrimp boil. Happiest Birthday Gentry Bo. She sure love  you. Still cannot believe she is 17.

Summer Rainstorm

There's not much I love more than a summer rainstorm. 

This one was amazing. It was not forecasted to rain that night, so it came as a surprise. It DOWN POURED, lightened and thundered for 4 hours straight. 

This picture was right when lightning lit up the sky. It looks like daylight.

Calli was so excited, she had come watch whitening her teeth. 

Another dark picture of the rain...

And then lightning in the sky. 

I even captured a bolt. 

It was awesome. It felt and smelled so good and was so needed...

                                             

But with every good storm, unfortunately comes damage. 

Sink hole at Ramada Inn. The governor even came to asses the damage. It took days to clean up the hard it areas. But no one was hurt and everything repairable, so we'll count our many blessings!