Before returning to Idaho after Grandpa Manwill's
funeral, we stopped at Mom and Dad Porter's house for a couple days. We hadn't planned to stay quite so long, but when Dad and Cohen stoked the fire surrounded by the stones Zak and his brothers worked hard to install all day, it was hard to leave. Niki and I took Miss V to her very first parade, care of the City of Lehi. Afterward, we tried to surprise the neighbors with sand under their swing set and sandbox, but they came home before we could finish. Since they knew we were there, Dad used the truck to haul the sand instead of us wheelbarrowing it across the street, and then everyone joined in to help. The kids were beaming. Yep, those are my in-laws. When we maneuvered the last of the sand, we pulled out the camp chairs, roasted hot dogs, marshmallows, and starbursts, and sang along to the ukelele and guitar. Carrie and Dad even pulled out the gold-separating sluice. One prime moment was Christian playing the viral song, "Dumb Ways to Die." Sometimes I love just relaxing in the yard, and now looking at the pictures from that day makes me grin from ear to ear.
 |
| Grandma showed V how to drive with the grape bowl and tambourine while Cohen stoked the fire. |
As a scout leader, Zak had the opportunity to go canoeing along the Bear River this summer, so Miss V and I stayed with my parents. They are finishing their basement, as well as building a shed for the back yard, thus have been pretty busy. V kept getting into the tools and trying to get close to Grandpa Hooper as he worked. No injuries were sustained. Grandma Hooper even let us help pick the paint color for the downstairs living room and playroom. V loved bouncing and jumping on the trampoline with Uncle Ammon. My cousin, Jenny, celebrated her birthday that week, so we drove down together, meeting up with Aunt Cassie to spend time with Jenny and her family. Idaho has been a great location, but being surrounded by family was such a pleasure. I even got to re-read Catching Fire and take a nap without making sure it fit V's schedule. Because I lived in that house for over a decade, I caught myself absent-mindedly opening my old bathroom drawer where I used to keep my toothbrush, and walking to the end of the hall to my old bedroom-turned workshop. My parents have put so much work into fixing up the basement; I can't wait to lounge in their new theater room and watch V grab toys from the newly-built shelves when it's all finished. No matter how the basement looks, though, I always feel welcomed.
