Bowens : June 2019

This is my favorite month to revisit so far! It was so great! The main events were Brooklyn's baptism, Isaac doing his first scout camp overnight trip, and then our family going to Delta, Rexburg, Island Park, and then Fergus Falls (with Doug flying in to be with us in Island Park and then Minnesota).

Brookie's baptism program

We did a photoshoot in the desert right by our neighborhood.

I still have this picture framed in my kitchen by an "I Love New York" mirror.

This was her baptism announcement to text family.

We got in a good routine of going to swim lessons and then having free lunch afterward.

Lucy's beautiful fox picture!

The weather was already climbing into three digits at the start of June.

Cute Corban barely making it to the water fountain. The metal was so hot that he gave up on going alone and begged me to take him several times during each lesson.

He decided some dress-up was in order during swim lessons.

Doug spent the night one of the nights at camp. This was the picture proving that our son was still alive.

Baptism morning!

Brook and her daddy

She got baptized with Tyler Smith. Her comment was, "Wouldn't it be so funny if we got married and we were also baptized together?!" Too bad Tyler already had a girlfriend!

with McKinley, whose baptism Brook attended a few months later

family photo at home after the baptism

Brook with Ashley and Wade's family. It's pretty awesome that they came right after that same scout camp.

Brook with McKelle and Emory

All the letters people wrote to Brook during the intermission after she was baptized. We saved them and took pictures of a few of them in her baptism book.

Kayla and Dave couldn't come to the baptism but they gave us the towel and scriptures for Brooklyn before they even went on their mission to New York! We saved them for her until her baptism.

More goofy poses at swim lessons. I haven't seen him do this look since June.

I kept tweaking what I wanted the daily jobs to be for our kids. I finally settled on body, mind, spirit, and family service. Interestingly, the church just changed its program for youth and young adults to be physical, intellectual, spiritual, and social growth. I'm pretty impressed that our family focus was already on three of the four categories.

This is so typical and constant. Usually, Brooklyn is in that mix as well.

There was a gorgeous golden eagle or hawk on the Angel Moroni when we went to the temple. He was there another time as well.

We began our big summer trip on June 17th (the day after Father's Day, per Doug's request) and didn't get back until July 7th so the kids could start their Mary Poppins, Jr. production the next day. The kids and I began the journey by driving to Delta. On our way, we drove right by a memorial of my ancestor Levi Stuart and we had to stop by and take pictures. This family was so incredible.

Our big surprise was that Derek and his girls were in Delta, as were Jen and Dwight. It was so great to see everyone.

Grandpa and his grandkids

Having fun at a park in Delta

A little rest in the grass

We came back to Jess and Matt's house and i was just starting a nap when Jess came up and told me the bad news that her neighbor had backed into my van. Big bummer! We used duck tape and hoped it would hold until we got back to Arizona. It did!

I dropped kids off with Peanut and went up to my BYUI conference. I got to stay at orri's house. Her home and Hibbard, where she lives, are just so beautiful.

This is their amazing barn suite! I want to stay here every time I come!

Me with Torri and Tracy

And then we got Doug and he got reunited with Coffee Pot. That man is such a happy fisherman.

The fishies he caught and then fed us

Cute boys on the dock

Family hike on a Targhee national forest trail while Doug was probably fishing.

Taking his firstborn out for a fishing adventure

One of the most unexpectedly awesome things we did on this little trip was going into IF early before we had to take Doug to the airport and enjoying Funland and the zoo. It wasn't cheap, but it really was awesome.