Annie at OMT

 Addison and Poppy are in Annie at OMT.  Addison is doing the show for Poppy..and never really thought of playing Daddy Warbucks, but he is enjoying the experience and even shaved his head for the part.

Addison is a great Daddy Warbucks– he has a big presence on stage and a big voice and shows a change in character from tough guy who doesn’t need anyone and calls all the shots– to a playful, caring man who wants love and connection in his life.  I got teary a couple of times.  Poppy did awesome– she is the youngest on the stage and she stayed focused and on time with the choreography…and she is having a blast! 

Wayne, Sophia, Andrew and I really enjoyed this show.  Mostly because of Addison and Poppy!

Our Band Shirt

 

63rd Birthday

 

Brunch at Sunshine Cafe with Diane, Kim and Kimi... I wore my birthday crown!

Linner at House of Corn with Wayne and Tru

63 things I have loved about today:

1. Woke up early
2. Back scratch from Wayne
3. Gorgeous day
4. Overcast walk
5. Saw my ducks and squirrels
6. Walked with my Wayne
7. Listened to scriptures
8. Bob and Star walking over to my house
9. Detailed card all handmade by Bob
10. Bob and Star sang Happy Birthday to me 
11. Rhubarb pie is cooking - love the smell
12. Hung out in my birthday suit 
13. Warm shower 
14. Sitting In The sun 
15. Wore A birthday crown
16. Brunch at Sunshine Cafe
17. Hugged Diane, Kimi and Kim
18. Laughed a lot
19. Granola pancake 
20. Fresca from Maverick
21. Lots of birthday wishes from strangers - becaue of my birthday crown.
22. Visited my sister Angela
23. Helped her with light housecleaning
24. TJMaxx shopping
25. New birthday outfit
26. More strangers wishing me Happy Birthday
27. Took bread to my primary counselors to say thx and goodbye- I cried
28. Carpool lane for the win 
29. Ate rhubarb pie and ice cream
30. Nap
31. Gary text: Your birthday is such a part of our summers at Bear Lake that it seems really strange to not be celebrating with you. Thank you for your friendship beyond family. I really cherish the times we spend doing your hair and solving the world’s problems. I am so glad that all if it isn’t our sole responsibility. I love how you love your kids and make room for everyone. It is hard, but really becomes easier with practice. Thank you for including my kids too, mothering, mentoring and beating on them a little when needed. They always look to you for that. Have a wonderful overactive Melinda-style day. I love and celebrate you! Happy Birthday!!
32. So many sweet birthday texts 
33. Si text: Happy happy birthday dear friend. Things I can always count on with MELINDA: 🌈 tye dye. Large drink. Big laugh. Sleeps anywhere. Listens listens listens without judgement. Beautiful singing. Every day is a good hair day. Practices what she preaches. Loves to learn. Loves Wayne and the Lord. ❤️ 🎉🎁 🎂 🍰 
34. Driving to SLC with my Wayne
35. Picking up Tru spur of the moment for dinner
36. House of Corn Mexican food
37. Street tacos
38. Ground corn Chips and Salsa. Made in-house 
39. Met the owner, Armando Guerrero
40. He sang  Feliz Cumpleanos to me 
41. I got to wear a sombrero
42. Tres leches cake
43. Tru gave me a mannequin 
44. The heat!   Summer is my favorite
45. Hanging out with Tim and Linda
46. Gospel choir singing National Anthem
47. Aretha Franklin concert
48. More strangers at the concert wishing me a happy birthday
49. Chair dancing
50. Singing "Stand by Me" at top of lungs
51. AirPods in ears so concert not so loud 
52. Feet on the grass
53. Backpack chairs
54. Soprano back up singer 
55. Gorgeous summer night
56. A band with brass instruments 
57. Live Music 
58. Dancing with abandon 
59. Sunset
60. Singing "You make me feel like a Natural Woman "
61. Holding Wayne's hand
62. Big O
63. My bed 

Aretha Concert at Layton Amphitheatre with Linda

Tru gave me a mannequin.... he gets me.

Bear Lake '25

Another glorious week at Bear Lake.  We had 18 of us there…(missing Markus, who was in California, continuing to move to a new apartment.)  We had amazing weather– perfect boating days- and only two afternoons with 4:00 wind.  We actually had dinner on the beach two different nights, because it was so perfect.   It was a laid-back, chill week.  We are all unique and we belong to each other and I’m so grateful that we all get along and love each other.  

Our boat was running well this year, and Wayne spent an amazing amount of time out on it.  He is burned.  All of the kids wanted to go out of the wake this year on the tube for a more bumpy, thrill-seeking ride– and I was so proud of them.  It makes for a more fun time when I’m on the tube with them as well.  Andrew even got on the tube this year– he got out of his comfort zone. This is a big step. 

As each group of kids/grand would get on the boat I would make the same speech, “ Look at this blue lake, look at this glorious day, we are on a boat, having a great time with family who we love and we are so blessed!  Not everyone gets to do this, but we do… We are so lucky”  I said it so much that by the last boating day I said– “okay what am I going to say now?”  and they all repeated it back to me.  I love taking my speakers and playing really loud music while on the boat.  It brings me so much joy.   

We let the kids ride in the back of the truck to and from the marina…we were raised this way, but now it only happens in a lake town…they love it.  They also love feeding the carp at the marina.  And Sophia lets them suck on her toes.  Addison told Tayla he would pay her 20 bucks if she did it.  She did!  I got the video.   Wayne got up every morning at 6 and went down to the beach and set up our canopies  so we would have our spot!  He’s amazing.

A weird thing happened…. A  grown male deer came barreling out of blue water beach- right by our beach set up..and bounded into the water and swam out to the buoy and away.  It was crazy!

Cousin Julie Cole Jenkins boat that we helped tow in

Another wild- but we feel heaven-sent thing happened..  We had a cool experience on the boat Saturday. We had just picked up our second group of boaters and headed around the point to find smoother water. There were a ton of boats as is usual for a Saturday. As we were passing one of the boats in the distance Wayne thought he saw someone waving from the front of their boat. He told me he thought they either need help or were having a dance party 😂. As we got closer and asked if they were OK, they said they needed a tow. They had a dead battery. We got closer and Melinda said “Hey I’m related to you!” It was my cousin Julie Cole Jenkins, and her husband and some of their family. They said they had been out there floating for a couple of hours. The Ranger boat had stopped about an hour earlier and said, “ sorry we can’t tow you. You should be OK out here because it’s a pretty nice day. Hopefully you can convince another boater to take you in.”   I am sure that my dad and my uncle Jay T. were in heaven orchestrating this rescue.

Monson scooted around on his knee scooter for 2 days– and it was hard– he was stranded many times at the top or bottom of the stairwell– and figuring out potty stuff was tricky.  Wayne felt sorry for him and had an i-walk peg leg system sent in for Monson to master and be able to walk around with.  Monson is very athletic ( hence why his ankle is messed up in the first place) and he figured it all out quickly, which made the beach and the condo much more accessible.  He was even able to get on a tube and float in the water for a bit. He looked like a pirate with a peg leg.

Laila and Tru made it up to the lake by Wednesday night– and the littles were thrilled!  I was too.  Laila said she had her most relaxed lake time in many years.  Tru had friends, Sal and Matt come up on Saturday to finish out the weekend with him.

We played a ton of games. I took up Dominoes- one of my parents' favorite games, that we haven’t played in years and I taught Mexican Train to all my grandchildren. They loved it.  We also played a good amount of Canasta and 10-2-8-Oh crap!.  We  had our glow stick dance party- which the kids all love.  

We celebrated Landon’s birthday. Landon wore a crown and pageant banner across his chest all day and enjoyed the added attention…including pizza, pie,  homemade cards from his nieces and nephews and a trivia game about 1988..his birth year.  Alex did a good job helping him feel loved. 

Monson hopped to the water and folded himself into a giant swan floaty...

Addison is the boondoggle king!  He brought all of his stuff and taught so many of us his tricky weaving patterns– we did a lot of intricate boondoggle!  He was so patient having to start everyone’s doggle.  It’s a good thing to do at the beach, instead of being on phones, we look up and see the kids all playing in the sand and water and talk to each other more. 

We took our electric scooters up there and the kids had a riot zooming all over Sweetwater.  It’s the perfect place to ride them.   Landon set up a hair salon out on the grass and did 6 haircuts and a buzz and bleach... He's a good sport.

I feel really close to my parents and sister Marcie and nephew Preston Brown while at Bear Lake.  It is a sacred space for me.  At every turn, there’s a memory.  This is what happens after doing almost the same things over and over again for the past 53 summers. I shed many grateful tears.

TOP THREE FAVES:

Andrew: Boondoggling, Going tubing 3 times in one day, playing games at night with the cousins.

Melinda: Family tree picture, Andrew getting out of his comfort zone and going on the tube, All the littles going in and out of the wake

Lady: Playing with Poppy, Going out of the wake, Playing games

Landon: Poppa's boat!, Sitting by the lake all together, 4 different shake places for raspberry shakes

Alex: That the kids and Landon love love love their week there, Card games with he fam, Crepes and Coffee

Alfie: Making sand sculptures, Getting a buzz and bleach, Scooters

Poppy: Going tubing, Going outta the wake crazy, The pool

Wayne: Boating, Shakes, Being the first on the beach each morning

Addison: being on the boat, Building a sand dragon sculpture, starting hundreds of boondoggles

Tayla: Going on the boat and the tube, Being with family, Zips food

Elsie: Going on the boat, mommy-daughter date at bear lake, Being with cousins and Laila

Sophia: Tubing, Learning new boondoggling, Hanging out with family and cousins

Lexi: All the help at Bear Lake with Money's peg leg, Tubing-especially a scared Andrew overcoming his fears, Playing dominoes

Monson: My new leg, Being able to get in the water, All the kindness and help from everyone.

Bre: Sunset walke, Late night Disney trivia, Belting "Let it Go" on the tube

Laila: Being with my siblings and parents, Boat rides, Playdough ice cream