Boat Week

Boat week 2020 is finally here!  We all wait for, think about, dream about and can't hardly contain our excitement for this one week of the year.  It's one of the most relaxing and fun few days that we get to spend together.  Mom and dad have just redone the cabin and it's so nice and updated and we feel so lucky to be able to have that little place to call home for a week every July.  This year was full of trying new things, inviting friends up for the day, being crazy, eating lots of food and sleeping in hammocks.  Doesn't that sound just like what you'd want to do on vacation? Here are the highlights of our week:

Desh was amazing this year and rode on the kneeboard all by himself.  I started out on the back of his board with him then dropped off so he could ride alone.  He did awesome! And Josh helped each of the kids learn how to be captain of the boat.  The girls are actually getting pretty good at navigating and driving on their own (especially when the lake is pretty empty of other boats).

Gracie came and stayed with us one night then spent the next morning with us on the boat.  It was so fu having her!

We had some really great early morning water most of the mornings and took full advantage of that!  There's nothing like a glassy lake to make you want to jump in and ski.  Rease is rippin it at slalom skiing!  She has gotten so good and confident over the past year and seems to have no fear.

Beck's birthday usually falls right in the middle of boat week, so we did gifts and cupcakes while we were up there this year.  

The Chalks and Hammers came up one of the days and the kids all had a blast tubing, kneeboarding and hanging out in the sun!  I'm always so glad there are enough kids that want to ride the tube cause that's one thing my body can't take as I get older.

Liev. Rhen and Keen rocked the wakeboard this year and all did so great.  We saw so much progress made just in one week and they all seem to really love it!  Liev just wants to learn to do jumps and he's so cute getting in and out of the wake.

Papa and Grammie came up and spent a night with us and a day on the boat.  Papa is amazing as always at skiing and we love to watch him.  We are so glad to have them whenever they make it up there with us!

Nights are spent around the campfire roasting hot dogs and marshmallows and playing games.  This year we started playing ultimate frisbee down at the park and that ended up being our favorite post lake activity!

We found a rope swing this year on the far side of the lake at Baby's Bottom.  I'm not sure if its always been there but the lake is high enough this year that we could easily reach it.  We spent an afternoon one of the days just playing and jumping from that rope swing.  

The best part of the week is that we get to be together laughing and joking, eating and learning new things and soaking in the sun.  Even if we aren't out skiing or kneeboarding, we're making memories together that will last forever!  Even in the midst of the pandemic going on around us, we were able to get out and spend an amazing week together (without masks).  Boat Week 2020 did not disappoint!

 

Camping Payson Lakes

We went on a camping trip to Payson Lakes with our friends the Hammers, Chalks and Flints.  We reserved the group site there and it was perfect to fit all our families in one spot.  We had THE BEST time together and camped right next to this small lake that was so fun to wander down to and play at during the day and evenings. The kids loved fishing, throwing rocks, finding creatures and running around the lake.  One of the days we drove over to the main lake that has kayaking and paddle boarding and spent the day there.  We took lunch and just hung out there all day getting in and out of the water.  It was really a beautiful place to spend the day.  At night we cooked, roasted marshmallows and listened to the older kids tell stories from their missions.  Gavin, Brock and Tayson just recently returned from missions and we loved hearing about all their different experiences there.  We loved being together and enjoyed the company so much!  We decided that this better be a yearly event! 

 

Injury

I've had a sore achilles and shin for the past few months but it's finally gotten to the point that I needed to get it checked out.  The inside of my left shin has been sore for years and I do get shin splints so have always just been really careful touching that area or doing anything that might bump up against there.  Lately though my achilles on that same side has gotten really sore in the mornings and when I run, especially right after a run.  It's super tight and feels like it is going to tear more and more if I don't have it stretched out really good.  Just a few weeks ago I noticed a lump right on the lower part of my achilles that hadn't been there before.  I figured it was time to get it looked at before something major happens.  I saw an orthopedic surgeon who took x-rays and did an ultrasound on it to see what was going on.  He said that I do have a tear starting in the achilles and that lump that is formed is fluid in between the strands and some scar tissue starting to form.  He does think that it will go away eventually but wants me to decrease activity with certain things so that I don't tear it more or even rupture it.  So...basketball and volleyball are out for a while :( 

He also referred me to a physical therapist and wants me to get some therapy in for a few weeks while I'm "resting".  

He did say that the pain in my shin is actually a stress fracture.  You can see that lump on the left side of the x-ray and he said that is a stress fracture that has started to heal on its own.  So that's the pain that I've been feeling there.  He wants to keep an eye on that area over the next several months and take a new x-ray later to see if it has changed.

So, that's a big bummer overall.  I'm glad that I don't have an injury that keeps me in bed, but I'm going to have to take it easy on some things for a little while.  Getting old really sucks...

 

Tilly

We did something crazy...

We let our kids talk us in to getting a dog!  I know, we said we never would so I'm not sure how we let this happen. 

The kids have been relentless lately talking about getting a dog, and it doesn't help that Grammie has 2 baby puppies at her house to keep it fresh in their minds.  We finally decided to surprise them with this little baby.  Grammie was so generous and made a trade with her breeder for this little red poodle that we have already magically fallen in love with.  It was an offer we couldn't pass up and we brought her home to meet the kids.  We sat them down to have "a serious talk" about what or who might be missing in our life and how we could make it better.  I think the kids thought that we were announcing that I was having another baby...luckily Grammie and Papa came in at the right moment and the kids realized that what was missing from our family was not another baby, but this little puppy!  They were beyond surprised and could not believe that this was happening.  Liev and Rhen burst into tears and Rease didn't want to let her go.  We have been loving on and playing with baby Tilly since the minute we got her and hope that she is actually a good thing that we've introduced into our home!  It looks like it might be...

 

Losee Reunion - Day 3

The next day was Losee Olympic day and was a hit as usual!  Hayley always does a great job of making the teams and the games fun for everyone.  Our favorite events were the Inch Worm (which was actually really hard), the soda can carry and Elevated (which was amazing and so so funny to watch). We got a kick out of watching everyone try to work together as a team to get through the events and of course the competitiveness that most of us Losee's have makes for an eventful Olympics!  

We had such a fun time together and mostly just loved spending time with each other.  The weather was perfect and the cousins had a blast.  

One of the kids' favorite things are the "spotlights" each night.  This year those kids were so excited as they waited to hear all about each one and try to decide which cousin it was.  Such a fun thing to be able to spotlight each of these cuties!

As we wrapped up our weekend, we all felt so grateful for the time spent together and the wonderful people that we get to call family.  

 

Losee Reunion - Day 2 Downata Hot Springs

The rest of the reunion we spent at Downata Hot Springs in a group of covered wagons.  There were six wagons in a group so each family got one wagon and it turned out to be the perfect place for our group.  The wagons each had a king size bed and 2 sets of bunk beds with and ac/heating unit and fridge in each one.  They were awesome!  And because we used all the wagons, we basically had the whole place to ourselves including all the open grass area and the fire pits.  It was such a fun spot.  

We spent the day doing crafts projects with the kids and looking for bugs and creatures with some little exploration sets that Grammie gave each of the kids. 

We played games and more games all day long.  The favorites of the weekend were Splendor and Cover your Assets.  The kids (and adults) couldn't get enough game time in!

We also got to go to a Bison Ranch while we were there.  Justin has a connection with someone that owns and runs a ranch and he set us up with a private tour of the place.  It was really fun to see the bison up close and personal! They are huge, beautiful creatures and the kids had such a good time feeding them and getting to be right up close.  That was something we'll never forget.

We celebrated Papa's birthday that night, had teen Bingo, roasted marshmallows and starbursts, and stayed up late looking at the stars and enjoying the beautiful summer night!

 

Losee family reunion - Day 1 Steadman Farm

The Losee family reunion officially kicked off today bright and early! We gathered at mom and dads house and began our caravan north to Idaho for the rest of the week. 5 vehicles in a row - Big white in the lead, Steph’s Tahoe, then our big van, Chad and Britt behind us and then Mom and Dad bringing up the rear in the truck. Unfortunately the tailgate on dads truck was down for the first 15 miles or so...we may or may not have lost a couple of bingo gifts out the back but no one will ever know! Only a couple bathroom stops along the way and we made it to Steadman Farm around noon to spend the rest of the day. This was the coolest place! Huge slip and slides down the hills with tubes and raft for everyone to use. The kids had THE BEST time! And us adults too :) I couldn’t believe how no one tired of going up and down over and over and over all day long. It was a blast. We had a couple of really good runs at a “cousin train” and almost got everyone down at the same time run of the runs. We couldn’t get enough of this place! 

After swimming for the day we packed up and left for Downata Hot Springs to stay for the next couple nights. We were tired and hot but the cousins were having a great time together! Pizza for dinner then kids bingo before we turned in for the night! Perfect day to start off the reunion. 

Marching band camp

Rease was asked to be on the high school marching band this coming year and has been so excited to do it!  She is going to be an 8th grader so technically not a high schooler yet, but she plays an instrument that the band needs (mellophone) and so special permission was given for her to be able to join.  She could not be more excited for this opportunity! This we was the start of 3 different band camps that they will have this summer to get their competition show learned and perfected for the season that starts in August.  This is a whole new world for all of us and we're excited to see how it goes!

 

Sunrise

Love these summer sunrises from our neighborhood...

 

Father's Day

These boys are just beginning the journey to become the man that they look up to every day of their life.  They couldn't have a better example...

Happy Father's Day to our dad who we all love to death!

 

Black ridge Trail

Liev, Rease and I went on an early morning bike ride today on the Blackridge Trail just up from our house. It was a beautiful morning and we had the best time riding together. These two are getting so good at their mountain biking!

Garrett and Rachel's wedding

Garrett and Rachel got married this weekend and had a beautiful backyard wedding at her parents' home.  We have loved being able to welcome Rachel into the family and are so happy and excited for them!

 

Amazing Race 2020

We held our annual Amazing Race this week - though we took some extra precautions this year due to COVID.  Since we're supposed to be social distancing still, we put teams together as couples instead of splitting everyone up individually.  We also gathered outside to eat and mingle before and after the race so we weren't in a confined space all together.  We did our best and in the end, I think it turned out amazing!  I think everyone loved being with their spouse which they typically are always separated from each other on different teams.  But I got lots of comments about how fun it was to be with their husband or wife so that was a plus!  We also got to include Chad and Britt in the race since they are here for a while and it was awesome to have them with us.  We teamed them up with the Chalks and I think they had a great time as a team.  

Hayley and I love putting these on for our neighborhoods and this year was fun because we had the clues all along Redwood Road.  So teams were passing each other and running into other teams all night as they looked for clues.  It turned out great.  And in the end, it came down to the orange team and the yellow team racing back to the house at the same time trying to be first.  We though yellow had it, but orange ended up pulling into the driveway first and took the trophy (which was a super soaker this year).  Yellow got here just 30 seconds later than orange for 2nd place.  And the White team claimed the 3rd spot.  

We LOVE this time we get to gather as friends and neighbors and especially appreciated being together this year since we haven't been able to get together often.  Thanks to everyone for making it a great success!

 

Sid comes to visit

Sid and Jackson made an impromptu trip to Utah and we enjoyed their company for a couple days while they were here!  We had a bbq and swim day and Andy and Kristi's and took Sid mountain biking one morning.  Man we wish they lived closer...

 

Shaving the beard

It was finally time to shave the "Corona Beard" and Josh had a great time figuring out how much of it to keep...

 

Too big for the tub?

Looks like they might be too big to take a bath together...

 

The twins' blessing

Caleb blessed the twins today and though the meeting was done over zoom, we were lucky enough to be invited to be there in person.  It was a really special day to see these two sweet babies get beautiful blessings.  And Hayley crocheted these darling outfits for them which was pretty amazing!  Love these babies!

 

Rease's 13th birthday

We have a teenager in the house! Rease turned 13 today and officially stepped into teen mode.  We love her dearly and hope that being 13 doesn't change her too much too fast!

She wanted a 2 tiered cake that wasn't quite so little kid-ish and helped me pick out the colors and the frosting design.  It was definitely big enough to feed the whole crew that came to celebrate with her!  After opening presents and having cake and ice cream, we had a late night with some of her besties - Izzy and Riley along with a group of Rhen's friends and cousins and little brothers.  It was quite the group but we had a great time!

 13 year old stats from Dr. Erickson:

Height: 5'6" - 94%

Weight: 174 lbs. - 98%

My favorite things about 13 year old Rease:

1) Rease is my right hand gal.  She helps me with anything and everything and is always happy to be by my side.  She loves to try new things and is up for whatever crazy thing we're doing or trying.  She isn't afraid to do something new and has become a really great mountain biking partner for me! I love being with this teenager of mine and hope she is my friend for life!

2) Rease is smart and a hard worker.  No matter what it is she's doing, she is doing her best.  She does well in school, has loved learning the french horn, practices her piano hard, reads like a maniac, works in the yard with her dad and plays hard when the time comes!  She has the great quality of doing things all the way when she decides to do them.  Love that about her!

3) Rease is the best oldest sister.  She has a great relationship with her sister - though there are times that they can't seem to figure out who's turn it is to clean their room (which is always a mess).  And she is really good to her younger brothers.  They all look up to her a lot!  Best of all, she is a very reliable babysitter and does great when she's in charge at home or if she's babysitting for a neighbor.  I never have a worry when I know Rease is home and in charge!

Rease, we love you and made you promise today that you wouldn't act like a teenager even though you officially are one now.  Remember that a few years from now when you actually start getting an attitude would ya?! 

Happy Birthday!