Whirlwind Summer with the Cluff Clan

Here is a brief catch up of whirlwind activities since school got out.

• Son-in-law Cody Heimberger graduated with his associate degree from Dixie College.  We had an ice cream party after with all the family and some of his.  We are proud of him and they are anxious to get their baby here and on to the next college to complete his Aeronautical degree.
• Memorial Day and three days on the mountain officially started summer for us.  Brandon and children were up there with us.  He is building a huge deck.  We loved the cool air, did a lot of four wheeling, and had a camp fire at night for roasting marshmallows. 
• Girls camp was the next week.  Walt is the councelor over Young Women, so he is involved every year, but this year I got to go for one evening.  I was asked to do the Stake fireside for the leaders and fifth year girls.  Due to so much snow at the regular girls camp, they used a camp site just about 10 miles from our place on Cedar Mountain.  Knowing it would be just over the hills, I asked granddaughters Taiha and Lesley to go with me earlier in the day.  I left them at my camp for a few hours while I did the fireside and returned to some spooked girls.  It had started to get dark and they thought every little noise was a "thing".  We spent the night there and next morning put rocks around a fire pit.  They worked hard and it looked good after we were done.
• Cluff Reunion was that weekend on a different mountain, the Kiabab in Arizona.  Not all of our children could attend, but Natalie, her boys Morgan, Brad, and our daughter Jessi took my car.  Walt and I took Brandon's, Jade, Josie, Sheena's Taiha and Jaxon.  Brain, Cori's husband braved it with all their children, even though Cori could not attend.  The reunion was fun and it was great to see every one, but the weather was horrible.  Our big RV was set up on Cedar Mountain and Walt did not want to move it.  So we put a camper shell on the back of his truck.  It leaked like a sieve!  Eleven year Morgan summed up the whole experience while we were huddled in a borrowed trailer trying to get warm.  He said, "This is the best reunion ever.....except for the rain,  oh, and the snow,  oh, and the hail!"
• Two more weekends of mountain.  We even got to go to Alton church.  Walt arranged to miss his Sunday meetings in our ward.  Grandsons Jade and Justin were up there with us most of the time.
• 4th of July weekend on Cedar Mountain at our place.  Cori's entire family came up.  It was so fun and the air was cool and pleasant.  The four wheelers were going almost constantly.  Cori and Brain have two, Walt has one, but mine was down needing repairs.  They prepared the best bbq ribs and chicken ever.  What a treat.
• Two day Victim's Advocate Training with Cori at Midway near Heber City, Utah.  What an awesome place.  I have never stayed in a five star hotel!  Wow.  The convention center was impressive.  The entire town and resort is all Swiss themed.  All the employees were dressed like swiss people; little nickers, knee highs, vests.  We could have stayed for a week, but Cori's had to get right back.
• Baby shower for Jessica was Saturday.  There was a huge turn out.  She was given everything she will ever need for her baby girl. My girls are absolutely awesome.  They sent out the invites, planned the food,  prepared the games, and did not leave until my house was completely clean.  They came a couple of hours early to prepare everything.  All they asked me to bring was the dinnerware, a strawberry salad, and the place to have it.  It was so fun and everyone seemed to have a good time.  A couple of cousins and Aunt stayed for a quite a while after it was over.  It was just sweet to sit and catch up.   I have managed to raise hard working, generous, and supportive daughters (and an awesome son).  While I was getting ready in the bedroom, I could hear them talking with one another.  They made suggestions to one another on the decorations, would correct one another, and then laugh a lot while they completed the preparations.  I think that there is no better feeling for a mother than to know that her children can get along very well without her.  At least, I can't speak for every mother, but I find that thought to be gratifying.

Every week has been crammed full of activity since school got out, and it seems to have no end in site with a new baby coming at the end of this month.  I have managed to keep the garden weed free, not an easy task with the business of summer life, but I set a personal goal last spring.   The garden has been fun this year.  I bbq  a lot of squash yesterday.  What a treat.  Steak, fresh bbq squash and fresh tomatoes.