What a crazy summer...

I have been really bad about posting lately, I'm sorry. It's been kind of insane the last 6 weeks. I'm so glad August looks boring because I might be able to catch up.

June started with us thinking we were moving to Logan to take a new job within Wells Fargo. A week later, Dave lost his job with the bank entirely. It was a huge shock and it took many days and lots of prayers to get over it. But I think we might be on the upswing. (Although I told Dave it feels like I'm in the eye of the storm. Calm for now, but I'm afraid of getting back out!) Dave found a new job with Ireland Bank. They are a small-town, Idaho bank that specializes in agricultural and small commercial banking. Dave enjoyed his first week with them a lot more than he anticipated. He will be working/training in Aberdeen, about 15 minutes away, for the next 3 months. After that, they say they have a plan for him to manage a branch at another location, but they won't guarantee it until other factors fall into place. So our house is up for sale, and we hope that it magically sells before they tell us where we have to move to. I'm just pretending it's not happening for right now....it's a great coping mechanism.

In the midst of all this crazy job-hunting, we were able to spend a week down in Utah when all of my siblings came into town. I have become really bad about taking pictures, but we had lots of fun visiting with Jonny/Marissa, Ryan/Lauren, the Aunties Cheryl, Kari and Di, Grandmas and Grandpas and cousins. Dave was able to escape with all the boys for the Jackson Hole Mountain Biking Trip....lots of fun, and not too much road rash. But poor cousin Bryce busted his collarbone. Ah, it wouldn't be a Vellinga boys trip without an injury, right? I'm just glad I made it to Cafe Rio one day, I got to play lots of Ticket to Ride with Kristen, we made it to the Temple (Thanks Erin) and we just loved being with everyone. We also were able to spend some time with Dave's parents and Melissa and Tom. Love those redheads!

Ogden Dinosaur Park with Grandma Jean and Melissa and Kiddies

My Grandma and Grandpa Bodily gave all the grandkids/great-grandkids a fabulous combined birthday present. They had a magician come and do a REALLY COOL magic show. He had his own baby kangaroo and everything. Then they took us all to Cherry Hill for lots of fun swimming. It's been years since I've been there; it has been much improved and we had a ball. PS: Go after 4:00 and it's half price and much less crowded.

The next weekend was the Pioneer Trek. We have been planning this for months, so it was great to finally get it here. It really was a marvelous experience. I have never been to Martin's Cove. The church has an amazing setup there. If you ever get the chance to go, jump on it. Our drive was uneventful (just maybe a little TOO slow), there were no major illnesses or injuries, the weather wasn't TOO hot and the bugs had gone into hiding just for us. It was great. We had a fun time getting to know the kids in our family, and I hope they enjoyed their time as much as we did. Dave and I can't believe that it was 13 years ago we met each other on that infamous Clinton Pioneer Trek. Where does time go? Dave did ask if I was going to wear the same Pioneer dress from that first trek that made him start flirting with me in the first place. I said, "Well that's a nice thought, but in case you haven't noticed, I'VE PUSHED OUT THREE OF YOUR CHILDREN AND MY BODY'S NOT QUITE THE SAME! He backpedaled quite reluctantly and I think I forgave him later for it. I'm not sure we were the best example of a HAPPY married couple as we drove 16 hours and camped out with 7 teenagers, but hopefully the Bishop doesn't regret his decision too much. He did get me back by making me talk in church last week on Pioneer Day weekend. That's what you get for being helpful, I guess!


PS: If you ever go to Martin's Cove, HEED the advice of the service missionaries and DO NOT have handcart races with the youth. You might find a MA being flung headfirst out the cart and some impressive plow marks in the grass made by skidding bodies. But it sure made for the best LAUGH I've had in a long time. Thanks, Melissa!


The next weekend, we're on the 24th of July now, we went back down to Utah so we could see Dave's twin Stephen from Boise. It was a quick trip, but we did get it some catching up with the cousins, a new family picture that was more fun taking than viewing (Thanks, Michael!) and a trip to Fort Buenaventura for Pioneer Day. That's a great little activity, thanks for the idea Stephen and Janet. It was fun to meet Stephen's new foster daughter, Trish. She's pretty sweet, and I hope things work out for her to stay for a while.

I think we spent more on gas than our house payment in the month of July, but it was a lot of fun and all the activities got our mind off the job situation for a while. Miss everyone already!