June

We got rain the first of June, it was the first time in like 30 years. It really put a damper on packing. I had everything packed so we could leave bright and early Monday morning.

Disclaimer: I had a great 2 weeks in Idaho. There were so many fun memories. However, 2 things. One; I was too busy making memories to take a ton of pictures. Two: I could never write everything this is just going to be highlights.

On the way up to Idaho we got to stop for an hour and see our friends that moved. They are the type of friends that we will not see each other for a while and when we do we pick up right were we left off.  

Our first stop was Grandparents. Colvin was sick the last hr. Less than 5 minutes till we got to mom and dad his body rebelled on him. I was up for 20 hrs. He was fine the next day. Azalyn loved playing on the swing set, she had brought Daddy’s Donald Duck, so he could swing with her. The boys loved going on the side by side. Dad let them drive and boy did they feel big. We went to the swinging tree for Denali. Denali went around a few times but spinning makes him sick. Colvin swung till his hands were raw.  Mom and I went once. Azalyn went a few times. She needs to use her flipping bar more. Dad taught the boys poker, Colvin is my gambler.

Next was Sierra’s COUSINS.  There was very little sleeping. My niece sent us an AI mermaid of mom on tick-tock. It took Sierra and I a few days, but we figured it out.  Colvin was able to go to activity days with Mace. I was there for Sierra’s birthday and helped her make Wong tongs and egg rolls (Had to make them when I got home because Greg was so Jealous). My goal was to talk a million words a day. I must have felt very comfortable at Sierra’s because I left a whole load of laundry.

McCarty’s was next. Her kids Carries this little chicken all over all day long. We learned something on this trip, Colvin has really bad allergies He was playing in a Cherry tree, and his eyes would swell shut. He would come in get eye drops and try to climb again. I told him after the 3^rd time no more playing in the cherry tree.  Brenden took us all on Motor Bike rides. One night we were talking about what would you do if you lost a spouse, then I said if Greg and I die you would want our kids for the money. Dead silence, then at the same time Brenden said we would take them, and McCarty said there is not enough money. I helped Cart put up her pool. We did not get it fully filled up.

MAIN Event the Nef family reunion. I did not see my kids for 3 days. There was actually a night I lost Azalyn because she had fallen asleep on a couch, and I thought she was in bed. The boys found her and brought her to bed. Timber was not able to come, and she had taught Sierra, McCarty and I the dance she made up. The first day of the reunion they had about 4 hrs. of groups. That was perfect, gave the kids instant friends and showed them some of the activities. It also made the adults interact together.  My kids were the ones that loved this reunion so much. Azalyn had a group of friends that they caught frogs for 3 days. Colvin was in the bounce house as much as possible, Denali was just all over. I tried to make everyone a mermaid. If I could get a little kid, they would make sure their whole family got to be mermaids. I got about a 3^rd of the people. We did a fire every night, it was time just to sit around and talk. My whole family did the rock wall. My family was in a big room with my cousin and mom and dad. LATE night every night.  Sad news Greg was not able to come, he had a work trip, and they said he had to fly into the same airport as he flew out of.

I did a first on the way home, I drove 16+ hours just me and the kids. I do have to say now that the kids are older, I just drive, listen to a book and they take care of themselves. Greg told me to stop if I got tired, he would get me a room BUT I was very motivated to sleep in my own bed with NO kids. Every night the kids had taken turns sleeping with me. Thanks to 100+oz of caffeine we made it.  This is how worn out my kids were, Azalyn took 2 naps in the car. When we got home, she had received a letter from a cousin, then we invited a few cousins to the sticker club, chain letter for kids

On the way home we listened to a conference talk because Denali had to talk in sacrament meeting. We had to yell at Saten to get out of the car.  Denali did a great job on his talk he even used the yelling at Saten in the car in his talk. We actually drove home on Father’s Day.  I hope as I read this in the future it will spark more stories and bring back the great memories.   

19 years and Counting: marriage is not easy, it is not 50 50. It is WORK And 100 100 every day. Here is our advice, be each other’s best friends. You can have other friends but know your spouse is your #1 no matter what. You cannot change them you can only change you! NEVER say the “D” word.  Never think the “D” word, just think we will work this out.

Just NEWS I started a new journal. I love seeing all the memories we have made and am excited for all the memories we will make.  I made a massage parlor in my room for the kids, once a week they get 10 min. It is relaxing for everyone. We made it to the new pool and just like the splash pad they have too many things in to small of a space. The slides are Denali’s and Azalyn’s favorite things. The rock wall in Colvin’s. The kids then came home and made their own “water slide” out of my table.  We also made it to the lake. It is really low, I fell cliff jumping, I was sore for a few days, we lost a shoe and paddle. I will take that exchange.  ALL our pumps for our paddle boards are broke, good excuse to buy an electric pump. Thanks to a nice stranger we got our boards pumped up.  We read the Hunt for Red October for book club, naturally we had to watch the movie.  Greg got a gym membership for Denali and himself. Denali loves going.  We love the drive-in, and, in the summer, they have family movies, we went to How to Train your Dragon. Now we are watching the TV show.  Our big project this summer was oiling the floors, it took us 3 days, but they look so nice.  Ending with a laugh, one night the kids wanted to play dress to impress. They say a category and you have to dress for that category. We did a few but the last was homeless, Azalyn sat with a coin jar (just too cute). Denali put on ONLY basketball shorts and acted intoxicated. Colvin came in with ONLY a wash cloth taped in front, at the end he pulled off the wash cloth.  We all laughed so hard.  I do love my family.