Memorial Day Moving Prep

My in-laws are getting ready to sell their house in order to get away from the crowd and try out tiny living. They plan to buy and build on some family land in the next couple of years, but want to live in their RV until that house is complete. Their children and families all came together over Memorial Day weekend in order to help clear items to the dump and to their temporary storage unit. They have some hard-working adult children.

When several trailers-worth of stuff had been loaded, hauled, and unloaded, we gathered for pictures and play time. Aunt Carrie and Aunt Niki even did pretend spa treatments with Miss V, which she loved! We will miss Grandma's and Grandpa's house, but wherever they are, home will be.

Sadness Remedy

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.