Swimteam

The end of July marked the end of swimteam.

The kids had such a great year and they both improved so much. Macey was one of 200 teammates to be recognized for her efforts and contributions to the team at the banquet. 

McKay competed in every stroke and was often the anchor for his relay. 

Thanks for another great season!

Sharks on three!

Visitors

This summer is the most family time we’ve had since we lived in Provo! With Mitch and Asha here for an internship, my kids thought they hit the jackpot. We’ve done weekly family dinner, church, lake time, pool time, shopping, World Cup watching, lots of games + having the Sound of Music on repeat. 

As a bonus guest, Rich’s brother and Mitch’s dad came out to visit for McKay’s birthday. We played hard (and sweat hard) at the park, pool, lake and of course… Dollywood.

^^ Melton Hill Lake.

Loren was such a good sport spending every waking moment with these two obnoxious cuties. 

^^Buc-ees with the first timers 

^^I’m often the third wheel to these two.

^^the highlight was getting picked to go onstage for the bubble show, on McKay’s birthday!! 

^^then an hour later, Macey was picked to go onstage at the dog stunt show! 

Dollywood was so good to us. 

We stayed until the park closed and watched the fireworks. I’m not sure a summer night gets better than family, good food, drone show and roller coasters. 

Thanks for coming and spending the summer with us. 

As Dolly says “I (we) will always love you!!!”

McKay #13

Hello teenager!

Our McKay boy is such a special guy.

He’s a man who loves a plan and a purpose. 

He’s helpful and friendly and gives compliments as soon as he thinks it. You never have to wonder how he’s feeling and he speaks his mind. 

He’s the deacons quorum president and does such a good job asking for help to pass the sacrament, even from adults. He dutifully puts away all the chairs in the entire building after every church service and smiles + whistles the whole time. 

At school he washes the tables after lunch, follows all the rules and his teachers adore him- even those he only had for a quarter. His TCAP scores were incredible this past year and math continues to be his strength. He comes home with his agenda filled out and gets right to work. He’s favorite phrases he’s picked up from school are “What’s good” “Crash out” “I’m GOATED” “Lock in” “I’m cooking” “That’s W”

His ideal day would be this past week where we took him and a different friend each day to the lake, Urban Air and Main Event. He played so hard with his friends and then came home and played hard with his legos, alone in his room. A selective introvert at its finest. 

He sure loves his extended family. He’ll do anything to see cousins, aunts, uncles and grandpas- even just for a day. Any trip we plan, his first comment is always “is any family going to meet us there?!” So today taking him to Dollywood with Mitch, Asha and Uncle Loren is literally his dream come true. 

We love our McKay so much. 

He’s got quirks and neuro-differences but he’s ours.

 He’s forgiving, hardworking and creative. 

And he constantly makes me want to be better.

Happy Birthday!!!

The Outer Banks

The Outer Banks has been on our radar for years, and it did not disappoint.

 We drove 30 miles east from the North Carolina mainland to reach the barrier islands. Think small town, non-commercialized and historic vibes all along the ocean. Many restaurants were closed on Sundays and had limited hours during the week, even for peak summer days. Our hotel was the only one we could see and it just had five floors, two of which were hidden behind the berm, There were no high rise condos, or other buildings either. The shore was simply lined with the most darling beach cottages. We found turtle nests as I'm sure they love the lack of light pollution. 

A little town simply focusing on the wonder of the Atlantic.

^^the Jacks from Maryland met us in Nags Head.

Being with them was easily the highlight.

After seeing the original plane used in the first flight at the Air and Space Museum in DC, we had to go to the site where man first flew!

^^we also played in the largest sand dunes out east at Jockey Ridge State Park.

^^and what's time at the beach without collecting seashells on my run?

^^The Messerly Four at the place where everyone is the happiest. 

OBX BB #36

 

Beachy Birthday #36!

Nags Head, Outer Banks in North Carolina, was this year’s location.

---

Reflecting on another passing year, I realized there are a lot of things I'm not.  

I won't be attending an Emma M. Lion book series party, I’m just not a fan. I created and was the first member of the "do not ask to speak in Sacrament meeting" list.  Small talk is so painful for me. I don't do pets. I only answer my dad's phone calls. I don’t have an inner voice. I don’t wear makeup.  I won’t find an excuse to dress fancy. I don't experience mom guilt. I decline all the running group invitations. Hosting guests is not my favorite.

Buttt... I'll hold your baby any day of the week. Meeting at a National Park or beach is an easy yes. If we ask to double date with you, that invitation carries weight. Simple living is always a conversation to have. I'll do anything for my kids' school + teachers.  I love working with the youth. I love the peace of our home. Family finance is a passion of mine. Sunshine is always my answer.  

I'm grateful to embrace who I am and who I am not. 

Is this what aging is??

Happy Birthday, me!

Moments

^^we had such a perfect fourth. 

^^fireworks outside our window?! 

So magical!

^^swimteam glitter freckles 

^^McKay was so excited to see the Mandolorian in theaters with Rich. 

^^Dude Perfect + Savannah Bananas!

^^Smokies game in the suite, compliments of ORNL

Our friends’ 10 aces of lake front property is such a dream.

^^give us all the sunshine with friends!

^^Swimmers of the week.

Macey and her crush, Austin.

^^July babies playing mini golf, bowling and arcade games in Gatlinburg. 

Macey and Rich were at basketball. 

^^AAU Nationals

^^happy birthday to me! 

A paddleboard! 

Macey and I brought it to Girls Camp at Ten Mile when we visited for the day and had such a blast. 

^^cruising on the lake is a new highlight for the summer!

America!

Happy Fourth of July! 

America is truly beautiful and we wonder at her variety, especially in geography. 

Recently, we went to Mammoth Caves National Park. 

The Domes and Dripstones tour was an incredible maze through the longest cave system in the world.  

God bless the USA, land that we love. 

Gulf Park

All we do is win, win, WIN!!!

Our second season swimming for Gulf Park has been such a success.

Macey is killing it with her freestyle, breaststroke and relays in the first heat of her age group.

McKay's lower heat competition has been so perfect for him and has led to lots of smiles and confidence.

The new coaches have been better at individual instruction and focusing on good sportsmanship. 

The kids are learning how to flip turn + make new friends, I'm learning how to be the Clerk of Course at meets and Rich eagerly waits for the food court hamburgers to be announced as half off.

We're at practice everyday and often the kids go twice a day. 

Love our water babies so much.

The pool is such a great place to be.

Happy Birthday + Father’s Day

Father’s Day lands on our guy’s birthday today.

Last time this happened was six years ago, and it won’t happen again for eleven more years, pretty unique! 

And fun fact, Rich was actually born on Father’s Day, thirty nine years ago. 

Richy is the family favorite.

 Even though he (mostly) works from home we can't get enough of him. 

There are many times when I have to pull rank and tell the kids he's my husband and they can talk or hang out with him after me. He is able to connect with us each uniquely and in the ways we most feel loved. 

He's our coach, our tutor, running buddy, and everything in-between.

I love watching Rich create a life he's passionate about. 

Obviously we have a family culture and have goals as a couple, but I absolutely enjoy seeing the corner of the World that he carves out just for himself. His hobbies, passions, testimony, relationships and view of life are well established and he's disciplined at developing and maintaining them. 

Perhaps Rich's favorite thing about living in Knoxville, is the Ultimate Frisbee scene. He is part of a league year round and his goal this summer was to make the traveling club team. With a lot of dedication and hard work, he made the team and couldn't pass up the opportunity to participate in the inaugural tournament this weekend. Our whole family decided to join and it was so fun to kick off our birthday season with a weekend away in Cincinnati.

Happy Birthday + Happy Father's Day!

We hope you feel as special as you mean to us all.

Moments

I'm not the picture taker I once was, but here are a few things we've been up to. 

^^McKay went to Young Mens camp with the ward and had such a blast.

They stayed in the Smoky Mountains and hiked Mt. LeCounte (11 miles!!), tubed the Little River, and explored the Tuckaleechee caves.

Macey had all the girl fun with McKay gone.  

Lots of playdates, birthday parties and hangouts with all her friends.

^^their summer chores include catching all the Japanese beetles from our oak tree and drowning them in soapy water.

^^One of my favorite things is having my lawn enjoyed. 

It's a lot of work to keep it green and weed, grub + disease free, but I'm up for the challenge! 

I contribute this year's success to mowing the grass high and all the Scott's products.

^^Sam's niece got married three hours from us so he spent the night with us and Rich drove him.

 Apparently the duo stopped at Buc-ees, too, hah!

^^Game night + Sound of Music with Mitch and Asha

Rich's nephew + wife are in Knoxville for a summer internship- we are all obsessed with them.

^^This brave rising 6th grader tried out for the Middle School summer basketball team. 

She didn't make it, but she was in good spirits and knows there is a lot of talent + hard workers on the team.