June has been a very eventful month.  It feels like I have taken more vacation days than I worked during the month.  It was a month with a lot of emotions.  We started with Emma graduating High School.  We had the ceremony at UVU.  Mom and Dad made it to the ceremony.  Bingham had their graduation right before Riverton did so Mom and Dad spent the day at UVU.  It was great and we got good pictures.  It feels weird having a daughter old enough to be done with High School.  I still feel like I'm 28.  Well, I feel 28 mentally.  Physically I feel much much older.  Tiffany has been struggling with the idea of Emma moving on.  Whenever it is mentioned she has a bit of a meltdown.  I'm very proud of Emma and all she has accomplished.  It will be fun to see what she does next.

Tiffany has been saving her Orchestra and Landscape money for our vacation fund.  Years ago she decided she wanted to go to Hawaii.  We had thought we would take the whole family until we saw that is would cost around 10K to take us all and do what Tiffany wanted.  We decided that Tiffany and I would go.  We went to celebrate our 20th Wedding Anniversary.  Mom and Dad were celebrating their 50th this year and were considering a trip to Hawaii to celebrate.  We went together.  They asked us to plan it all but dad made three requests.  He wanted to see Pearl Harbor, visit the temple, and go to the Polynesian Cultural Center.  Dad went online and purchased the most expensive, deluxe, mega package the PCC offered.  It came with a private tour and a DVD.  We were surprised at the purchase.  We thought we would get in the door and roam but Dad had other ideas.  We teased him about it for a few weeks building up to the trip.  We decided to spend our time on the North Shore on Oahu.  We were told it was like old Hawaii before it got all touristy.  We wanted to avoid the South side of Oahu and all of the traffic.  It was prefect.  We had a blast going all over the North Shore.   We absolutely feel in love with Haleiwa.  We ate very well.  We hit a lot of places between Haleiwa and Laie.  We had many Acia Bowls.  We visited the shrimp trucks.    Had the best burger I have had at Seven Brothers.  We visited the temple.  We made it down to Honolulu to visit the Bishop's Museum and Pearl Harbor.  the traffic in Honolulu was crazy.  If it was moving it was very fast and felt dangerous.  It easy to see the rules of the road in Honolulu.  Whoever had the worst car did what they wanted and everyone else tried to get out of their way. The North Shore was a great way to introduce us to Hawaii.  We went to Oahu thinking when we brought the kids back we could go to a smaller island.  It will be hard to go back and not take the kids to the PCC.

Soon after we got home Hyrum and I went to scout camp.  We went for 3 days to the Green River.  We had a guide take us up 9 mile canyon to search for petroglyphs.  We were there for 5 hours.  It was very hot.  It was interesting but I think we got to a point where the guide was having fun and we were humoring him.  We camped next to a golf course.  We ate well.  We went cliff diving and witnessed a girls break her leg.  We ran the river and got a little carried away when a scout dove from one raft to the other and pushed our river guide out of the raft. We earned some merit badges.  When we were done we were happy to be home.

The following week we went to Youth Conference.  we were there as support for the Lehis and Saraihs.  It was a Book of Mormon Youth Conference.  Tiffany and I were able to implement a skit around the Anti-Nephi-Lehis.  We reenacted the burying of the swords and massacre that followed.  the mothers raising their sons and eventually forming the Army of Helaman.  It was a very special experience.  Being support meant we had a lot of downtime.  It was interesting to not have any connections with the youth .  We held a reunion and asked for feedback we then sent to the Stake to include in the next BoM Youth COnference they do. 

June was a fun month but I feel I had more days away from work then I had work.  I hope it does not cause too many problems for next quarter.  I keep telling myself that when I'm old a gray I will not wish I septn more days at the office but will rely on these memories. 

WE have had a great christmas break.  We surprised the kids with a trip to San Diego.  On Christmas morning we opened all of our presents and then we sent them on a little treasure hunt.  We put together some clues that rhymed which took them to the library where we had their luggage.  Then to Hyrum's room where we had some flip flops.  then to Tiffany's music room where we had 3 presents.  Marked When?, How?, and Where?  The first two were in boxes. For the When? we printed a calendar and marked the end of the month.  for the how Tiffany folded a paper airlplane which we put in the box.   For the Where we had them open a box that has a Eggo Waffle in it with the logo torn from the packaging and a cup of sand.  all of this on a cookie sheet.  We gave them instructions to our the sand on the Eggo.  It took them a while but eventually they got Sandy Eggo.  We left the morning of the 26th and came home very late on the 31st.  Temperature ranged from 65-85 degrees.  We went to Imperial Beach like we had before.  There were a lot of rains which meant we could not use the beach in Imperial.  The Mexican government will let their sewage drain into the rivers that bleed into the ocean.  When we have a good rain these river flush out into the ocean and contaminate the water.  We went to the beaches in La Jolla.  The beach was great btu the waves were much smaller than the ones we saw at Imperial.  We were able to give Emma and Eve some surfing lessons while at La Jolla.  They wiped out a lot but had a lot of fun.  By Wednesday they lifted the restriction around Imperial.  We rented wet suits for everyone and had a lot of fun at "our beach".  Mari and I went into the water very early that morning.  It was not yet 7:00 and we were hitting the waves.  Mari was fearless.  The waves were very large.  It did not take much to go far on a wave.  Were having fun on the waves for a little over an hour before the other came to join us.  I'm glad we had the wet suits.  the water was very cold.  by a little after lunch time the waves were much smaller and the tide was not coming in nearly as far.  We moved a little closer to the water and everyone took turns going back to our rental to shower and change and come back to the beach.  We sat in the sun for a few more hours.  It was in the mid 80s while it was in the mid 30s back home.  We went to the Mormon Battalion as visited with the sisters.  they were very talkative with the girls.  Tiffany thinks they were missing home due to Christmas.  We went to Ghirardelli's for some overpriced ice cream.  We went back to the Blue Fish and stood in line for over an hour to be seated.  We went there on the 31st.  they said they were busy due to the holiday.  We visited a few new places this time.  We went to a great taco shop where Hyrum got a lucidor mask.  I had a California burrito.  Fries, steak, shrimp . . . man it was good.  We went to iDesserts.  It was a dessert shop that used molecular biology in making desserts.  It was different.  Good, but very expesive.  About the same cost as Ghirardelli's but not as much food.  We went to a taco shop that was close to Imperial as got some Asada fries that were awesome.  the girls really wanted some Horchata. Every trip we go on the girls make a play list for us and one of the songs was about drinking horchata in December.  We went back a second time for good measure.  It was a fun vacation and hard to come home from.  Coming back to cold weather was hard to adjust.  I'm still not right yet

We ended the year at work with some tremendous momentum.  I have 2 month where everything went my way.  We had a large amount of money come in the door and everyone I talked to wanted my help which lead to a lot of production.  Every week I had big numbers.  I have a new boss so I'm bit concerned that I might be setting expectations too high.  It is another lesson of when you pray over what is important to you the Lord will bless you.  I had a very rough beginning of the year last year which lead to an underperfoming year.  This year has started with that same momentum.  I am convinved that the Lord means it when he sayd to cry over your flocks and your fields.  I have asked the family to pick up their prayer on behalf of my job and it has brought a great benefit.  Right now I feel like work is ok.  Sometimes I feel like I'm drowning.  Like I desperatly need to do something else but right now things are ok.  When I have times like I do right now I thinking I would be crazy to want to have a different job.  I know it is only a matter of time before I feel like I'm drowning again but right now things are good. 

While we were in San diego we got word that Lavell Edwards had died.  He was not doing well for some time.  I have not met him before but he was a large influence on me when I was younger.  It has been a rough year for my aged mentors.  We lost Scoutmaster Wally and BYU Coach Lavell.  Keith played under Lavell and was able to participate in the funeral services.

Mom and Dad are getting old.  We had Emma's last MTD performance they due as a musical review.  I'm very proud of Emma and how far she has come with her talents in this area.  I tried to help her when she was in 9th or 10th grade but she refused to sing in front of me.  She has come a long way.  the performance was awesome but Mom and Dad missed it.  They forgot which is common for us.  I don;t think they have come to a perforamnce for the older kids for 1.5-2 years.  they have not been to Hyrum's sports events.  To make it a bit worse Emma found out that while they were missing Emma's event they were having a fashion show with Rachael as she showed off her mission outfits. Emma has tried to be friendly with Rachel but she has gotten nowhere.  We keep hearing that Rachel is a wonderful girl but we would have no idea which is very common for Mark's family and the rest of us.  I don;t understand why that is.  I forced them over to our house before Lincoln left for the MTC and tried to create some memories with them and did not yield as much as I hoped for.  I think the kids are starting to notice a lack of attention.  We see on social media that they make it to many of the other cousins events.  They made it to Tiffany's orchestra Christmas performance.  Tiffany feels like they don't make as much of an effort as they should.  I think she forgot they came to her concert.  I have just come to accept it.  That is one reason why I did not want to have a large family.  When the grandkids come i didn't want to have so much going on that I can;t make most of what they do.  That is my hope anyway.  I also think that Tiffany is a bit upset that they have not been by to see her new kitchen.  I'm not sure how to handle it.  I think the other families visit mom and dad more than we do and maybe that is part of it.  they get more reminders for their events than for ours. 

We just started our basketball season for stake ball.  We are two weeks in and I'm already exhausted.  I'm not getting as much help as I thought I would with my new committee.  We have a few new additions to the committee.  I was hoping to be able to go to some of Hyrum's basketball games that are scheduled at the same time as the stake games.  So far that has not happened.  We don't have any conflicts going forward.  Eve is doing well with her games.  Their team had a run in with a parent that was a little too involved.  This mother came over a taunted the girls after a close loss.  Eve was not prepared and came home livid.  she was so angry she began to cry.  I remember taht feeling about the same age.  I don't think she will want to keep played basketball.  She does not like all the practices. It is fun to support her while she is wanting to participate. 

Wand Names for Hyrum's Wizard Party

Smoke

Oak with dragon heart string center  -  The wood was rescued from a fire at the Keebler elf cookie factory.  During the creation of this wand it was infused with a hint of nutmeg and cinnamon from the cookie making happening during the fire.  Name   -  KeebWeeb wand

Elderberry with a phoenix feather core.  This wand was created by a gnome who was playing with a magic book during a lightening storm.  He thought he was creating magic but really a lightening bolt struck his hovel and created this wand.  -  Name  -  Lightning Strike Wand

Elm with a Unicorn hair core.  This wand was created by the great Unicorn Vladimar who was sharpening his horn on an Elm tree.  The friction created a fire that Surprised Vladimar so much that he farted and created a bigger fire than before.  Name  -  Toot Methaune Wand

Oak with Dragon heart string – This wand was hand crafted by the great elf wizard Lego LutLut.  He was trying to create the best back scratcher and in doing so created a wand instead.  Irionically it is still a great backscratcher.  The strongest spell it casts is the scratch be gone spell  -  Name – Smokey Smokey Pokey Pokey wand

Pine with a Minotaur Booger core  -  This wand was made from a tree that the great Minotaur Spike collided with while fighting the massive troll Mungnut.  His face hit the tree so hard that it splintered into many fragments.  The largest fragment was crafted into a wand and has great power especially against trolls  -  Name  -  Boogey Spike Wand

Pine with House elf fingernail core  -  This wand was an carved from the great pine tree that was cut down to great the white house.  It has in it all the knowledge and power of past presidents and leaders on this nation.  It can be used to make those around you either wiser or dumber based on your command.  -  Name – I.Q. Tawssah Wand

MARI  -  Spruce with Gold and a Hair from the great Elf Queen Elsa  -  This wand was created when the Elf Queen Elsa threw a tantrum.  She was very made and sent burst of of light from her castle to the forest around.  One of the trees that caught on fire was a home a family of ice ferrets.  They scampered away safely but they left all the gold they had been piling in the tree.  This became the core of the wand.  Name – Elsa Wah Wah wand.

Elm with a Dragon heart string core  -  This wand was crafted by the great Olivander himself.  He was eager to get remove it from his shop due the odor it greatest.  During the making of this wand the crafty Weasely twin made a visit to the shop and drop a stink bomb in the workshop.  The stink bomb fused with the wand and now whenever a spell is made it releases and nasty smell and makes fart noises.  Very powerful wand but also very smelly.  Name  -  Tooty Toot Weasel Wand

Pine with a Golden grass core  -  This wand was handled by the great king Midas.  King Midas was cursed having everything he touched turn to gold.  He was running away from his angry girlfriend after accidentally turned her favorite pony into a gold statute.  While running away he tripped and while screaming touched his tongue top the grass outside the girlfriend’s house.  This made the gold extra pure.  The king commanded wands be made from the grass.  Great wand but might get you trouble with the ladies.  Name  -  Spit Git Wand

Elm with a Jedi Lightsaber core  -  This wand was an experiment from the Great Yoda himself.  He ws trying to find a way to magnify the power of the force.  He created the smallest lightsaber and crafted a wand around it.  This did not help him use the force but it did create an awesome wand.  This wand will help you make friends with the Jedi and know who is a Sith Lord without having to ask  -  Name  -  Luke, Give It a Try wand

Pine with a Tooth from a Jibber Jabber core  -  The Jibber Jabber are known as a group of people who can’t stop talking.  They always want to talk and they can only talk about themselves.  They are extremely annoying.  This wand is often used as a way to shut them up.  Instead of words coming out of their mouths they only hear a small baby cry coming out of their mouths.  This wand is also used to help   shy people talk more often.   Name-  -  No Talkie Talkie Wah Wah wand

Cherry with Unicorn hair core  -  This wand is a recycled wand.  It was last used to break into Gringots in an attempted robbery.  A large haggle of orcs stormed into Gringots and but were stopped by a large horde of goblins.  This wand was used by Steve the Orc who was very handsome for an orc and a very powered warlock.  He is not is Azakban sure a life sentence for his crime  -  Name  -  Steve the Wand

Elm with a Moutain Dew center  -  This wand moves very fast and is very jittery.  It slashes and moves so fast that most can’t see it.  It is great in making everything go faster or  move much slower.  Be careful to make sure it is pointed the right way.  -  Name  - Go Go Beh Go Go Wand

Oak with a Syrup core  -  this wand is normally very stick unless you use it correctly.  Casting a spell the wrong way will have you and those around you covered in sticky syrup.  You will be the hit and breakfasts but be careful all other times of the day.  -  Yum Sticky yum yum wand