July 2022

 

July 2022 ... there were some smoky skies one week, and a couple big, beautiful rainbows the next.  Basketball, getaways, food and fun. Here's a run down of what the Blackham Bunch has been up to this summer: 

• Getaways: L&S started the month in Mexico. Grayson had a Bear Lake weekend with work buddies, Colton went to Las Vegas for basketball, and the whole family made it up to Pineview.
• Beach Day: We got the whole crew up for a day at the beach/Pineview, first time the waverunners have been out in a couple years (water levels and Covid complications). We forgot the paddle for the paddleboard, so Grayson rented a paddleboard. Ironically enough, Keaton then found a paddle buried in the mud in the lake ... could it be the paddle we lost a couple years ago? It looks the same! It was hot, but we had fun. Coop didn't go in the water but there was a lot of frisbee and football throwing going on.
• Lagoon with Livi: Aunt Olivia planned a day at Lagoon and got most of the nephews out (Coop and Cal didn't make it). Another hot day, but the group had fun on the rides and taking an old fashioned photo. 
• Anniversary: Gray and Jen celebrated 30 years. A big, beautiful bouquet of long stemmed roses arrived, and then there was dinner at Market Street followed by a movie (Topgun) ... Jen's first movie in theaters in over two years. 
• Basketball: Callahan is playing in a men's league over at Gene Fullmer, so Jen went to watch a couple of those games. Colton played a team from Chile with his Wolves team, then they went and spent a weekend playing in Las Vegas. He also participated in a 3x3 tournament downtown.
• Colton's First Job: Colton put in an application at Home Depot and got hired right away. He begrudgingly took a photo in his cute orange apron. He is a "lot" employee, gathering carts, helping customers load items, etc. He's enjoyed having a little money of his own.
• Food: We had a big burger night ... Gray ate his with a lovely lettuce "bun". Cal requested corn on the cob. We had Grayson's fried green beans another night, and Jen successfully made Mongolian Beef (a recipe Gray found and made that the boys really like) so that will now be in the recipe rotation. Jen is still making sourdough, 12 loaves a week. 
• Staying Active: The pickleball Jen and Cooper were attending at a local church ended, so they have tried the group at the local rec center a few times. Coop finished up the "Ring Fit" quest, but still gets plenty of steps with his treadmill time. Jen uses the home gym a lot too, treadmill, elliptical, bike ... and while weight workouts haven't been happening, she's been doing her physical therapy for her shoulder. Still Zumba-ing three times a week - Red/White &Blue for the Fourth of July holiday. Gray has been jogging too, treadmill (home and at work) and outside.
• Family History: It was "Christmas in July" on the Westra Way blog, with 10 posts, covering Christmases from 1991-2000.  Cal and Kate also enjoyed looking through Callahan's "box" where Jen has kept many mementos from the past years. 
• Room Rearrange: Working on shifting things up again, there was a lot of time spent reorganizing, taking trips to DI and the storage unit, and lots of garbage to go. 
• Medical: Jen had another trip to the dentist for a troublesome crown (the dentist said he'll just redo it next time it falls off). Still doing physical therapy for the shoulder. Keaton got in to an orthopedic specialist for his hand (carpal tunnel) and got a shot in his wrist, which has seemed to help. 
• Cal and K8's New Car: After a couple years living with one car (Cal has a van for work) Cal and Kate added a 2022 Subaru Crosstrek to their family.

So there's a peek at some July activities from the Blackham Bunch. Cooper was on dog duty as the neighbors had a weekend away, and had fun blowing bubbles with Oreo kitty. Derek ran into Cal and Kate at a Bees game and snapped a selfie with them. The Blackham Boys (sans Cal) had breakfast out at Kneaders. The dang winds/weather have kept Keaton from jumping out of planes. Colton is all registered and ready to start school again next month. August awaits ...