Summer 2017

Let's just make note of a pretty awesome summer. Some things that happened:

Summer started with Sarah's birthday trip to San Francisco. Wonder Woman (Beth sitting on the edge of her chair, punching her fist in the air), breakfast at Nini's, Magic Show (How did he DO that?! "I don't know, I don't KNOW!" - Claire), Vivian tickling Sarah ("I. WILL. KICK. YOU."), Rachel unable to wear her contacts and trying to play games while blind.

Carrie/Beth/Viv and crews went camping near Santa Cruz. Jackson tried to drown in the ocean but didn't. Hugo "I threw somebody's keys" Thomas almost caused a vehicular disaster but then fessed up. After spending most of the rainy second day crammed into Vivian's tent with 9 kids ("so, what are we going to do now, Mom?") we packed it in and drove home.

Carrie and Jerry went to see the Mountain Goats. Jerry was so inspired that he quit his job and got a new one in San Diego.

Eric came out to Colorado and behaved himself very nicely.

Theo picked up the wrong thermos and got a mouthful of beer by mistake.

I think there were some scout/sport camps. (Eric went to pole-vaulting camp)

Beth and Viv both went to girls camp. Viv developed a love for giant creepy bunny suits.

There were multiple trips to Big Pools and the river and the caves.

Rachel had a work conference in LA that was pretty terrible but the trip was saved by the weekend visit to the Rees's before.

The Gregorys came to Utah for the 4th of July and met up with Rachel for Mexican food and fireworks. “Remember Thailand? There may have been government censorship but at least they didn’t have this song." - Lucy, re: Proud to be an American

Gregorys took a rafting trip down the Main Salmon river. Carrie rescued a drowning guy.

We all went to the beach. Viv and Tim took the teenagers to jump off of Cayucos pier. Everyone went on an epic kayaking trip. Sand snow-boarding. Hal made the ladies wait to pass him on the path until he finished dancing. Mae was consistently adorable. We saw a whale, otters, seals, sea lions, a baby elephant seal, dolphins.

The Rees family bought a new (to them) car. Welcome to the family, Toyota Prius.


Beach trip quotes:

"Popsicles. Well, they're a thing, but so is salad." -Sarah

Eric: What do you call a cow with 3 legs? Tri-tip!  What do you call a cow with 2 legs?
Lucy: Your mom!
Eric, eyes huge: She's. Standing. Right. Behind. You.

Carrie, punches Rachel in the face.
Rachel: "Mo- om!"

"Hufflepuffalo!" -Rachel, in a series of amazing buffalo jokes

"I think I'll sit here on the chair's lap." -Hal

"Hal, can you count to 10?" "Yes. H-A-L-7...I mean 12!"

"Water Cans!" Carrie, under pressure, trying to name something found at an elementary school.
-----------

Cousins camp was pretty good. Most notably, an amazing game of charades. Ed Gruberman/Boot to the Head skit, the confessional board: "I used the Haskins toothpaste".

After some concern over where Mae was, Carrie finds her in the upstairs bathroom with a toothbrush she has used to slick back her hair with toilet water.

Thomases were homeless all summer, having moved out of their apartment and still being in escrow for their new house in San Diego. Who wants to sleep on the couch?!


What am I missing?