Well, to back up and talk about what our summer was about. June was busy for the boys. They worked hard to finish their model train modules. They spent many mornings at Mr. Hovey’s home (he is their club leader) working on the artistic part of the modules. They enjoyed their time in his work shop and learning how to add grass and bushes to their layouts. At the end of June they displayed, with their model train club, at a convention in Albuquerque for the Train Collectors Association. Others in the club had worked hard to get things done too and their layout looked great. We spent a lot of time at the train show and letting the boys play on their layout and look around.
working at Mr. Hovey's home
The TCA train show
To continue with the train theme, in July we went to Utah for the National Model Railroad Association’s National Train Show. It was a huge show in Sandy, Utah at a convention center. The boys helped set up the club’s train layout and also worked at the show running things. I helped with an activity for the kids and had fun with that. We enjoyed helping out and also looking around at all the model trains. I thought it was great that our youth club was able to display at the National Train show. This year it was held in Salt Lake City because of the 150 anniversary of the Golden Spike. While we were in Utah we drove out to Promontory Point, Utah to see the spot of the Golden Spike. The boys enjoyed seeing the steam engines there. We had a good trip to Utah, that was focused a lot on trains. We also enjoyed some visiting time with our families and friends. Neal organized a dinner with his friends from USU and their families. We had a great evening visiting with them all.
Neal and Andrew did some big hikes in Utah. They were able to hike to the summit of Timpanogos Mountain, even with all the snow on the back side this year. It was a hard hike but they did it. We enjoyed a day at BYU and going bowling with the boys. It was a good trip. (Ruth wasn’t with us in Utah, which was a bit different for us, more about that latter.)
Timpanogos front view from my mom's house
The back side of the mountain and Andrew at the summit
The boys with their layout at The National Train Show
Spencer showing his cousins around the train show
Neal and the boys walking around BYU
Promontory Point UT
Me with two of my sisters.
I realized I didn't take many pictures while in Utah.
In June the kids enjoyed their church camping trips. Ruth loved going to girls camp with the young women. She was a YCL (youth camp leader) and helped the younger girls have fun. Andrew, Spencer and Neal went to a Stake YM camp where they had a theme with “warriors.” They had lots of fun camping and doing the activities around Book of Mormon warriors. They also went on a back packing camp out with the young men in our ward, where they did some fishing.
Ruth at girls camp
Andrew and Spencer at the Stake YM's camp
This summer we were involved with our community Bear Canyon Academy, where we do some classes for each others kids. The boys enjoyed going to some classes with art, hiking, swimming, reading and just some fun. I taught two classes, one science and one with board games. We had some fun at our house too.
I planted a garden. Andrew worked with me on it through the summer. He has an interest in the pepper plants growing. He likes picking them and eating them with eggs or other meals, to spice them up. When we got back from our vacations we found that the insects won over with our squash, cucumbers and two of the tomatoes. We planted a little late and haven’t harvested much yet, but we will soon in the next few weeks with all the green tomatoes and little peppers I see. The fruit trees are doing well too. The apricots and peaches were delicious. The trees are still small, so didn’t produce much, but I am glad that the fruit tastes so good. The apples and pears are getting close to picking time in the next month.
The garden in early June and below in late July
While the boys were busy with BCA and trains, Ruth took a driver’s education class and worked at Kumon. She was able to buy a 2000 Chevy Malibu car to drive. She has her student permit now and is working on accumulating her driving hours to get a driver license. It has been a bit stressful for me to teach her but she is improving every week with it. She is anxious to be able to drive on her own and have more independence.
At the first of July we went to a family reunion in the Taos, NM area. Neal worked hard to plan and organize the reunion for his Grandma Johnson’s family. Because of her funeral earlier in the year many in the family felt they couldn’t make another trip and didn’t come to the reunion. It ended up being more of a Hubbard reunion with us and Neal’s sister’s families, his mom and an uncle and aunt. We had a lot of fun camping and playing at Eagle Nest State park. The lake was a big attraction. The kids loved being with their cousins. Neal and I worked hard to help with the food, which we provided for everyone, so it was a big job. We were there for the 4th of July and they did a huge fireworks show at the State park. It was really cool. I think it was Caleb’s first time seeing big fireworks and he was amazed by them. Andrew enjoyed the fishing and caught a few. He liked frying them up and eating them. I liked that we spent half the week in a little cabin, it was much nicer than tent camping. We brought bikes with us and that was a big hit with the kids. Neal and Andrew took a longer bike trip one day and also some hiking. We were up there for a week. It was a good trip.
Andrew frying up a fish he caught.
Below is Eagle Nest Lake, it was beautiful
Spencer being artistic at the reunion
Our little cabin
At the end of the family reunion Ruth got in the van with her cousins and drove with them to San Antonio Texas. We missed having her with us for about 12 days. She went to EFY in College Station Texas, at Texas A&M campus with her cousin James. That was for one week of her time away. EFY is a program run by BYU for teens. It is a time of classes about spiritual development, games and activities for fun, good food and making new friends in a good environment. Ruth loved it! Ruth also loved seeing her cousin’s house and spending time with them. When we lived in Texas we would visit the Mabey family a few times a year. Ruth has many memories of playing with her cousins there and really enjoyed seeing their home again and spending time with them.
Ruth with her EFY group
Ruth riding the Mabey's horse
We were able to arrange with my brother, Doug, to help Ruth get home. My sister in law, Alisa, picked Ruth up from the Mabey’s home on a Monday afternoon. Ruth hung out with Alisa and her daughter Jenna (who is Ruth’s age) for two days, which she really enjoyed. Especially when they drove through Waco and stopped at our house and Ruth’s old schools and church buildings. She thought it was great to see things. Then on Wednesday the 17th Ruth drove with Doug, Alisa and Jenna to our home in Albuquerque. That was the same day we drove from Utah home from our train trip. We all got the to the house close to the same time and enjoyed an evening visiting. It was also nice to have our family back together. Doug’s family continued onto Utah the next day for a vacation there.
Ruth with Jenna and Alisa at the River Walk in San Antonio.
Below Ruth standing in front of our house.
Ruth and Jenna in Waco
July seemed to fly by. The boys had lots of time to work on Lego projects too. They had fun riding bikes in the open space. We did reading with the library program. This summer the kids didn’t want to go to any of the library activities. I think it was my first summer since Ruth was a baby that I didn’t go to music, puppets or magician shows at a library. We did go swimming a few times. The boys enjoy the water and I tried to help them improve their swimming skills.
Andrew has worked hard with scouting this summer too. He organized his Eagle Project, which we did the work for on July 20th. He did a landscaping project for a the New Mexico Art League. It turned out good. It was also a lot of work and I was thankful for all the help we got. Andrew has worked hard on merit badges and hopes to finish his Eagle rank in the next couple of months.
Andrew participated in the high school band camp for two weeks at the end of July. He was at the school from 7:30-4:30 every day. After band camp they had a meeting for the parents and families were able to watch the band perform. They did a good job.
Neal and I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary in June. We were able to go out to eat a couple of times together this summer. Twice we went out to eat with the intern group that Neal was involved with this summer. We also celebrated Andrew’s 14th birthday in August. He is growing into a fine young man. Literally growing, he grew five inches this last year and is almost as tall as me now. I bet he will pass me up very soon. We had a busy day on his birthday so we celebrated the day before (but he opened gifts on his birthday, that is why he is dressed differently in photos.)
We went for a walk down by the Rio Grande after dinner one evening
Well, that brings us up to August and school starting. I am thankful that the kids are happy with their classes and teachers. It will be a good year. I am thankful for a wonderful family and all the great things they are doing. It has been busy the last week getting all our supplies and attending all the school registrations and “meet the teacher” times. I know the next few weeks will continue to be busy as we adjust to the new schedules and going to more meetings. Today I went to a meeting for the library volunteers. I plan on doing that again this year. I enjoy getting out and being involved at the school in a small way. I also hope to find time to continue working on photo and sewing projects. Neal is busy with work and supporting the kids in their activities. Like last week taking Ruth out driving around the city for two hours, and going camping with the boys. It is a busy time in our lives and I am thankful for the support of family and also church. I feel so blessed to have many friends in church who help me along. I also find strength in my daily devotions and weekly trips to the temple and church meetings on Sunday. It helps a lot to see purpose and meaning in our busyness.
Ruth and Caleb outside of the temple
Spencer on the first day of 7th grade
Caleb starting 4th grade
Ruth in 11th grade
Andrew in 9th grade
