Deer Valley Music Festival

I purchased ticket to the Deer Valley Music Festival this year. I thought it would be fun to take the children, listen to great music outdoors under the stars, picnicking on the grass, and having a summer experience.

Turns out, neither of the children was interested in my summer experience idea. They both said thanks but no thanks. As a result, we had two extra tickets to Classical Favorites, an evening of lots of well-known and loved classical pieces including Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody On a Theme of Paganini.  And who to invite to join us? I asked Chris and Sandralee Jensen if they would like to come and they readily agreed.

We had such a great time, probably lots more fun than we would have had with the children. We talked and talked and talked all the way to Park City, had a yummy picnic, thoroughly enjoyed the music, then talked and talked and talked all the home from Park City. It was just a terrific way to spend an evening, even though it got chilly sitting outside in the mountain air. We made plans to do it, or something like it, again very soon.

WATCH OUT! A NEW DRIVER!

Brandt got his driver's license today. I'm so pleased we won't have to drive him about anymore, but I'm also terrified because he can drive himself about, without a responsible adult in the car. I hope he'll pay attention to the road and not his phone or music. My prayer for safety throughout the day will be much more pleading from now on.

Work Excitement

I'm new to my banker position and get to sit at my own desk. A young man came into the bank today, sat down in front of me, and told me he wanted to open an account. He had tried to do it online but the system couldn't verify his ID so he was told he had to come into the branch. I told him I was happy to help him, asked for the ID, and started to look him up. He presented me with a check he wanted to deposit, and I had to stop myself from laughing out loud. The check was clearly a fake. It was printed on paper with perforation to make three separate parts but was printed across the perforations. When I asked him where he got it, he said a friend had given it to him and he wanted to use it as the opening deposit. 

Tyler happened to walk behind my desk as I was looking at the check and I asked him to look at it. He and I exchanged a look, and he went back to his office to call the police. Anytime someone is trying to defraud the bank, that's considered a crime and we are supposed to call the police. Tyler sent me a message on Teams and told me to keep him there as long as possible. I messaged back and told him to tell the police to hurry. 

I chatted with the client, a young man with a box of perforated check paper sticking out of the pocket of the backpack he was carrying.  I made copies of his ID, talked about benefits of the account he was opening, made up all sorts of ridiculous bank procedures I needed to do as part of the account opening, and generally dawdled at my desk waiting for the police to show up.

After probably ten minutes of my nonsense, the police arrived. His back was to them, but as they came up towards him, he turned his head and jumped up out of the chair. They had him sit back down, I stepped away, and they talked to him. Eventually they handcuffed him and took him outside. They were in the parking lot for several minutes before putting him in a squad car and driving away. The whole experience was very nerve wracking! 

We heard later that he was not charged with anything, mostly because it was small beans. Because I identified a fraudulent check (not difficult!), I later got $100 for protecting the bank from being defrauded. Small beans for me, too, but I was pleased to have done my part.

Pioneer or Pie and Beer Day

For Pioneer Day, Sharae suggested we celebrate Pie and Beer Day. We don't drink beer, but we do drink root beer, and we always eat pie, so this sounded like just the ticket. We all made pie and Mikayla made homemade root beer (the very best kind). She actually made root beer twice because the first time, the table the cooler was sitting on fell over and spilled the whole five plus galloons all over the ground. 

After a lovely swim, we indulged, enjoying buttermilk, lemon fluff berry, Snickerdoodle, German chocolate, and apple pies. Here's to a holiday where we can celebrate those who crossed the plains with such yummy goodness.

Root beer round one

FIRE! FIRE! FIRE!

It was near catastrophe at Mom's house today. 

Mikayla, Sharae, and I as well as our people, got together for swim dinner this afternoon. We were going to have hamburger and hotdogs for dinner and planned to grill them. Mikayla opened the propane tank and lit the grill then heard an unusual hissing sound. She pulled the grill away from the house to investigate and discovered that the gas line wasn't completely connected to the propane tank. As she moved to turn the grill off before fixing it, the line came completely off the tank and the propane coming out of the tank caught fire.

The fire flashed in Mikayla's face and caught the whole grill on fire. She yelled to me to get the fire extinguisher, and I dashed out to see what was happening. I yelled at her to get the grill away from the house, then threw open cupboards looking for the extinguisher. I couldn't find one. In a panic, I called Mom in California and without preamble, asked her where the extinguisher was. She said she didn't know so I hung up and dashed around some more. I had the thought to run next door and get one from Steven Cox and with one last "GET THE GRILL AWAY FROM THE HOUSE!" I dashed next door. I pounded on Steve's door and asked for an extinguisher as quickly as possible. He ran to the deck where he thought one was, but it wasn't there. He ran to the laundry room and grabbed another, and then I raced back to my mom's house.

While I was dashing over to Steve's, Mikayla had seen the extinguisher on Steve's deck and had Blake go grab it. While I was racing around the front of the house, Blake raced around the back and sprayed the grill as I burst from the inside of the house and sprayed the grill again. Overkill, yes, but I was seriously concerned the grill was going to explode and start the house on fire. 

As soon as the fire was out, I called Mom back to reassure her the house was not on fire. All was well. Then we promptly ordered four new fire extinguishers: two for Mom and two for Steve. It was far more excitement than we wanted in the evening, and we had to cook our burgers and dogs in the oven. Mikayla had singed eyebrows and had burned away part of the hair around her face, but fortunately was otherwise uninjured. It could have been so, so, so much worse and we are grateful nothing worse happened.

Pool Movie Night

Today is my dad's birthday and while he is no longer with us in body, we still celebrate. For the past couple of years, we have scheduled pool movie night on his birthday, enjoying the pool he put in on the day of his birth. Choosing what to watch is often a trick because finding something we can all watch, adults and children, can be hard. Tonight, we watched Goonies. It was as silly as I remembered. It was also the third movie night for me this week. So lucky!

Work Training

This week, I have been training in Salt Lake as part of a new position I've taken at work. I have been made our Branch Relationship Banker, a step up from teller and a step below manager. Amy and Tyler have been pushing hard to get the position at our branch and pulled hours off a teller line position so my position could be full-time. I have been grateful for their confidence in me and their desire to help me progress professionally.

I have been learning all about new account opening. It has been nice to do training in person, rather than over Zoom. There is a different sort of energy when you are in a room with people than if you are just speaking to them through the computer. And while I don't love the commute, I have been listening to audio books as I have driven to and from Salt Lake and as I have eaten my lunch which makes the time pass quickly and has been a nice break from the training.

Movie Night

I had another movie night, this time with Blythe, Mikayla, and Blake. We went to see Where the Crawdads Sing, based on a book I read some years ago. Blythe had seen the trailer and really wanted to see the movie, so it wasn't a hard sell to get her to come with us. I had hoped she would come see Mr. Malcolm's List, but she wasn't super interested in a romance. There was romance in Crawdads, but it was also a mystery, so there was more appeal for her. The movie was good. Mikayla would tell you it was better than the book which she thought was really slow. We had a good time together.

Girls' Night Out

There is a new movie out, Mr. Malcolm's List, a Regency romance, that I have wanted to see. I suggested to my sisters that we go see it together. Girls' movie night! With niece Ava, we went to dinner and the movie. We had to travel all the way to Lehi to see it because it wasn't showing anywhere closer, but that didn't matter because we all rode together and talked and talked. We ate, did a bit of shopping, then went to see the movie. We found a couple other groups of women doing the same thing and even knew some of them. The movie was fun and the company was terrific. 

At the end of the night, Sharae needed a ride from Tysen's house back to my mom's house where she had left her car. Mikayla and I had driven to Tysen's house together, so we volunteered to take Sharae, but we were in the Mini. Mikayla crawled into the back of the car with the seats down and rode the short distance all scrunched up. It was a trick folding her in and even trickier unfolding her.

A Girl and Her Dog

 

Awww Blythe!

Awww Moo Moo!

A girl and her pooch.

A Comfy Dude

 

Not one, but two girls fell asleep on Brandt.

He must be a comfy dude.

He's not comfortable, but Thea and Ruth certainly seem to be.

Group Shopping

I went shopping at Maceys with lots of people today. We were something of a spectacle. I have no idea why.

Children's Entrepreneur Market

This morning was the Children's Entrepreneur Market in our neighborhood. From my perspective, it was a fantastic success. Mikayla and her people had a sucker booth, others sold cookies, Brazilian lemonade, shaved ice, jewelry, barbecue spices, sodas, jam, salsa, and all sorts of other stuff. I got $100 in one dollar bills and spent all of it as well as using Venmo more than once. I walked around with Freya and Thea and did shopping at every stand. Kal and Cora would often appear to ask me to get them something, and Brandt and Blythe came along to buy and help in the booth respectively. There were lots of people, many of whom I did not know, which seemed to indicate that the word got out. Sales were brisk. It was so fun and I hope they do it again next year.

Mikayla was extra, as always, and made a darling balloon arch to go at their booth.

The Johnsens sold most of their inventory and made $120 bucks!

Sucker Production

My friend Janie Rasmussen wanted to do a Children's Entrepreneur Market in our neighborhood. She put out an announcement to the neighborhood and asked if anyone wanted to participate. Many did, including Mikayla and her children. They decided to make suckers, an activity she used to do in her youth and which she is now doing with her children. 

Because she has needed to make so many suckers, Blythe was recruited to help with production and I even went over one evening this week to help package. It should be fun to see how sales go tomorrow.

Movie Night: Thor Love and Thunder

The new Thor movie came out and I told Brandt we could go for his birthday. I suggested he might want to take friends and have it be something of a birthday party, but he wanted to go with me, Mikayla, Guy, and Blake which is really a party in itself. So tonight, the day after his birthday, we went. It was not as funny as other Thor movies and it was too woke for Brandt's taste, but we had a good time. 

Brandt is 16!

Amazingly, our boy turned sixteen today. For several days I have felt some pressure to do something amazing for this significant birthday. Brandt, however, has been fairly unconcerned about the whole thing. I have suggested he have a party, that we do something big, that we mark this day with something noteworthy. He's said no to pretty much everything. As a result, because I'm a working mom, I've let it go. So today, Brandt turned sixteen without much fanfare. 

I got Brandt balloons and we laughed at all the ages he could be with a 1 and a 6 balloon; sixteen, nineteen, 61, 91. So old and so young! I made him French toast for breakfast, and we went out to dinner. We got him a couple of things, but even then, I was ill-prepared because I don't plan in advance very well. He did swimming in the pool in the afternoon and we planned a movie night for tomorrow. We are hoping he will get his driver's license soon.

In spite of all the non-celebrating, I can say I am incredibly happy that Brandt joined our family sixteen years ago. Below are sixteen things I love about Brandt.

1. Brandt is kind to others.
2. Brandt has a soft heart and easily feels the Spirit.
3. Brandt is wicked funny and makes me laugh all the time.
4. Brandt will hug me all the time.
5. Brandt wants to do what is right.
6. Brandt is an excellent techie and works hard on tech crew.
7. Brandt is good with little kids, especially his cousins.
8. Brandt is confident in speaking to adults.
9. He has dimples that always make him look like he's teasing.
10. I love to watch Brandt as he administers the sacrament and does other priesthoody things.
11. Brandt is always willing to help someone else, just like his dad.
12. Brandt calls me his "best friend" which I love because he's a sixteen-year-old boy and isn't embarrassed by me.
13. Brandt is trying to be a better eater, so he's trying more things.
14. Brandt likes to spend time with family.
15. Brandt has big plans for the future.
16. Brandt is my best boy.

Shopping with Blythe

Blythe and I went shopping for Brandt's birthday today, mostly to get balloons. We went to Zurchers which is always a good time. So many ridiculous things to see and want to purchase. Blythe selected a thoughtful gift for Brandt.

4th of July Celebrations

The 4th of July is an exhausting holiday. I love it, but I'm always tired and sort of cranky because I never get enough sleep. This year was no exception, but we had a wonderful time celebrating all the good things.

For several years now, in sort of tradition fashion, Mikayla and I have spent from 11:00pm to 3:00am along the parade route, saving a spot. We do it at our neighbors, Nelson and Hilary Davis' place of work which is on Center Street. While they can rope off the yard, they can't reserve the mow strip until 5:00am. So, in order to ensure a great watching seat, Mik and I go and sit up, making sure no one tries to move in on the space. Tonight, we played a couple of games, munched on some snacks, froze homemade ice cream so I wouldn't have to do it after the parade, and talked and talked and talked. That's the best part. Uninterrupted, long, thoughtful conversation with my sister does my mental well-being so much good, even if I'm getting that boost in the middle of the night. 

It was good we went tonight because someone had set up a cot like thing and some chairs right on the sidewalk so that at 5:00am they could step onto the mow strip and take the spot. The police wander up and down the street, or drive slowly back and forth to make sure that no one is violating the 5:00am rule and we hailed a couple of them to ask if we could move the stuff. They said we could. We didn't move it far, just off the property, next door, and behind the sidewalk. Our time there was worthwhile.

Not a brilliant picture, but it was probably 2:30am 

so we didn't have to look stellar.

We went back for parade watching after I had slept. The parade starts at 9:00am and I like to leave the house by 8:15ish so we can get downtown, find a parking spot, and get to the house. Kent usually drops us off on 100 North and then goes to park. While the parade is long and slow moving, it is fun to be with family and neighbors, watch for the horses, yell at the enormous balloon walkers to spin, and cheer on armed forces members and the missionaries who always walk in a huge group. The Davises made shaved ice so we had cool yumminess as we watched. All in all, a good time was had by all. Ruth joined us in Blythe's place; she didn't want to come this year. I was fairly certain I took a family picture, but I can't find it. Maybe I'll add it in later. Until then, here are lots of pictures from the parade.

Freya and Thea wanted to return home with me after the parade, and as I needed to make food the afternoon/evening festivities, I told them they could come help me. Here is a what I'm calling "Helpful Children: A Story in Pictures."

Thea and Freya are helping me make potato salad.

Thea is mixing the sauce.

Freya is peeling a hard-boiled egg.

We were practicing "clean as you go"

so after making potato salad,

Thea and Freya helped with clean up.

They were both in their cute 4th of July dresses 

and I didn't want them to get soaked.

They ended up naked.

The floor ended up wet.

We wound up at Mom's house for swimming, barbecuing, and some very tame fireworks, especially compared to years past. But it was all a good time, with tasty food, wet fun, and a late night. We were all exhausted by the end of the night. But here's to the United States of America, our freedoms, and living in the Promised Land with all we need and much, much more.