I LOVE Summer

Yes, even when it is consistently over 100 degrees, I absolutely love the summer!  I love summer sports.  I love summer vacations.  I love summer evenings.  I love summer BBQ's.  I love summer morning runs.  And mostly, I love summer colors!
We decided to take some family pictures up in Pine Valley this weekend.  My family was so kind to oblige as I made them dress in the brightest summer color clothing we owned.

It was a beautiful night.  We had a family party up there to celebrate Father's day, Nana's birthday, the Lund's coming in town, etc.  We ate dinner.  Raleigh made awesome dutch oven apple cobbler that we all devoured.  We saw some deer.  We visited.  And we took a lot of pictures.

The Summer Hyde-lights

 Russ and I just celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary.  It is hard to believe that we have been married that long... it feels like an eternity!  Just kidding.  It has been wonderful.  It truly keeps getting better.  

Russ has been busy building bamboo fly-rods.  He is very skilled and it has been amazing to watch his talent develop.  Russ has also been fishing with his dad and the kids up at New Castle Reservoir.  He sure has enjoyed spending time with his dad.  Russ' big adventures for summer include Scout Camp (not looking too forward to that), his annual trip to Yellowstone (totally looking forward to that), completing his bamboo rods, and spending time with his family.

I am finally recovered from the marathon and my surgery (which took place 4 days after the marathon).  Between the two events, I have been a little low on iron- which means a little low on energy.  I feel as though  it is returning and I am ready for some fun.  My summer adventures will include going to Garrett's baseball tournaments in Cedar, Park City, and hopefully... California.  

Garrett is one busy boy this summer.  He just got back last Saturday from a week at Especially for Youth up at BYU.  He had a FANTASTIC time.  I will have him write a post about that.  This week he is going river rafting in Moab with his Scout group.  He has baseball 3-4 days each week with his club team, baseball 3-5 days each week with his All-Star team, and weight training with the football team 4 mornings each week.  This summer he will be going on the trek in Wyoming, playing a lot of baseball, hopefully finishing his Eagle Scout project (which was finally approved!), and doing a ton of required reading for school.

Grant is having a fun summer as well.  He is still in gymnastics and is preparing to be put on team.  He only has to complete one more requirement... climbing the rope without using his legs.  He is working out on the pull-up bar and getting stronger each day.  This summer, Grant has his first year of scout camp.  He will be going to Thunder Ridge.  One of their leaders told the boys that whoever got the most merit badges at scout camp would earn $100.  Grant is suddenly quite motivated to go to scout camp.  He, too, is looking forward to his trip to Yellowstone and Park City.

Gracie is becoming just as busy as the boys.  She is now in gymnastics 2 days each week for 2 1/2 hours.    She is looking forward to gymnastics camp in July.  She will attend for a week and will learn so many new skills.  This summer she will also have a birthday.  My baby is turning 9 this week.  Gracie is by far my most social child.  She is always playing with friends and will spend most of her summer with Sarah, Dylan a.k.a. "Dilly-Bopper", Rachel, Mia, Emma, and Triniti.