Clare's May-hem was packed! School was a whirlwind of musical performances, finals, projects, and social events. Clare was stressed to the max but did all the things and finished strong.
She went to a fancy church dance called "Mormal" formal for mormons. She had fun getting ready with her friends and her date, Andy, was kind. I was a super mom who made Clare's dress and a pile of boutonnière for Clare's date and other girl's dates. The night was a success.
Since Clare did all the things, we got her a car. Well, it is a kid car...especially since it is the size of a circus peanut with wheels. Clare went to seminary every morning without a fight, had "good" grades (A's and B's), and participated in extracurricular activities. The deal all of the kids have had in order to have a car. Clare is the first kid to do all the things. Wyatt was doing all the things for a little while but we didn't get to getting him a car...and maybe if we had he wouldn't have done drugs. Ah, regret...it is everywhere.
Clare got her license on May 19th, Colter's birthday. Fitting since she got her permit on Lorien and Wyatt's birthday (November 8th). We had to push her license day back because she was sick on her last driving lesson day. We canceled (stupid COVID...it wasn't COVID but we couldn't risk it) and it was impossible to get a rescheduled lesson! Finally, we got it done and Clare passed the test! She drove her self to and from school every day for the last couple of weeks of school. I still made her take the dance carpool for dance. I didn't think she was ready for freeway traffic driving.
June was just as busy and wild as May...and school was out?! First up for Clare (and Adell) was a week at a church girls camp. Clare had the time of her life with all of her best friends. She is at a level of camper where they spend the week doing big adventures: ropes courses, horseback riding, a lot of things I cannot remember. She really bonded with a group of girls she was already bosom buddies with. She had a great week.
Clare came home from girls camp Friday afternoon and rushed to get her camp-dirt-covered-self clean and up to Walnut Creek for her dance recital. This was the first in person recital since COVID. Everyone was happy to be sitting in the audience. Clare, with her dislocated kneecap didn't not get to dance in any competitions this year. So the show was the firs time she got to preform with her team. She was in heaven and her dancing was perfection. I truly love watching her dance.
Will asked me to plan a family experience for his birthday. I booked one night in Yosemite and one night in Columbia. Yosemite was perfectly spectacular. We live so close to this wonder and we have only been once. Part of that has to do with the inability to make advanced plans and get reservations and part of that has to do with the mandatory windy drive down into Yosemite valley that results in 100% of our people getting sick. Alas, we put all of that aside and made the trip. It was pretty smooth...almost too smooth but we only got a little bit sick.
We stayed one night in the Curry Village tents. We need to go again when we have a few nights. It was so beautiful. We wandered around the lower valley the first night we arrived.
The next morning Will's wish was to hike Yosemite falls. We headed up as a family...it is miles and miles of switchbacks and stairs. It was hard! Colter and I called it a day 1/2 way up at the first viewing of the falls. Clare and Adell agreed to keep hiking ALL THE WAY UP with Will. The views were even more amazing (naturally) and the girls had a really special time with their Dad. I am so glad they did and so glad I didn't have to go!
The second day of Will's birthday celebration was spent in Columbia. Columbia is a preserved mining town from the gold rush days in California. We stayed in an old timey hotel that was supposed to be haunted. No paranormal activity was witnessed by any of us. We slept through the night and then spent the next day exploring the town. The kids dressed up at the museum, we bought candy and the shoppe, we dipped candles and had a wagon ride. It was a blast. I really nailed the birthday planning this year!
That's a wrap on Clare for May - July!
Ha! Just kidding. I forgot to include July...so here it is...
Clare did all of the cousin things over 4th of July at Johnson Fest. One of Clare's best cousin friends, Clara, was there. Clare and Clara are always the youngest of the oldest cousins. They usually fall into a fun patter with the slightly older cousin boys. Like everyone, they had an awkward start due to the two year COVID break but once everyone was comfortable a great time was had by all!
Clare also spent time getting to know our new Aunt Debbie which was lovely.
Clare had the most fun on our wicked quick trip to Utah to see Wyatt, Emma, and say farewell to cousin Evan. Clare got to see lots of her best cousin friends over the weekend. Clare a on my side of the family, and cousin Andrew on Will's side. She also enjoyed catching up with the Danville friends who had moved to Utah. Some of them were surprised that Clare was so grown up!
Clare's final July activity was EFY in San Diego. We committed her to this week-long church camp back in February. We didn't know she should have done summer school and an ASL course this summer. Because we had committed to EFY she didn't do summer school or ASL...which turned out to be the best decision. Clare had a super busy summer and adding school would have been crazy.
EFY was the best week of the summer for Clare. She went with a few friends from church but met lots of new friends. She had lovely spiritual experiences and laughed a lot. I am really happy for her. If you are brave, ask her how her last morning of EFY went. It is a story!
Clare flew home from San Diego just in time to come cheer her sister on in a hopeful finals race for breaststroke.
There, that's a wrap on Clare and July!
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