July 2008

In July Joel's company, which is targeting a fall release, moved into crunch mode and few were spared. So Jenica and the boys took off for Bear Lake and left Joel to work away. They camped on the beach with Jenica's extended Nielsen relatives. Lots of kids, sand, boat rides, and (unfortunately) mosquitoes. The showers and electrical outlets made it easy. Having lots of family around made it even easier. Hopefully the boys will remember seeing how crystal clear the water was and hearing an older cousin play "Come, Come Ye Saints" on the harmonica by the campfire just like their Great Grandfather once did.

A few days after their return Jenica and the boys left Joel again for more fun in the north country. This time they drove up to Mack's Inn in northeast Idaho and met up with Jenica's brother and family. The lodge that gave Mack's Inn its name was originally built at the beginning of the Prohibition Era just after the US highway to West Yellowstone was completed. Jenica's great grandfather - Harvey Schwendiman - bought the place in the early forties and opened a new lodge in 1948. It was a grand lodge in the old style and families would come to vacation there for a few weeks at a time during the hot of summer - like the old "hill stations" of India you might read about in a novel, but in Idaho for wealthy farmers and upscale out of staters. Jenica spent some wonderful times there as a child canoeing on the Henry's Fork and staying in "Nana's cabin". Unfortunately the Inn burnt to the ground some time ago, and a swarm of dilapidated cabins stand there now. Fortunately the river is still glassy and absolutely pristine. So they rented a raft to accommodate the 4 adults and 6 kids and paddled down the river. It's probably as close to heaven as is possible on earth.

Utah, as far as we know, is the only state where you get two fireworks holidays in July (unless Louisiana does Bastille Day). On the 4th we celebrated Brad's birthday and that night drove out to the construction lot to watch the Thanksgiving Points fireworks display. Sitting on the cement stoop under the unfinished wooden porch we actually felt quite comfortable - far from the endless line of cars we usually join along the frontage road. We could see neighborhood sparks flying up here and there. At one point a mysterious little group of men carrying a pyrotechnic (was it?) bundle walked down to the end of the cul-de-sac and down onto the river trail. To do what exactly? The night seemed full of possibilities. On the 24th we hiked up in Little Cottonwood Canyon to an abandoned mine shaft along with all of Jenica's siblings, her mom, and a host of Mortensen relations. The Motensens seem to have made a minor tradition of anchoring their family reunions to some grueling physical trial and this was the first time Joel has had the "pleasure" of attending. Hale napped and Silas was laid up with a sliced toe from some mishap at Mack's Inn, but Koen and Jonah hiked well. Jonah was even among a much whittled down ground that went all the way to Honeycomb Cliffs up above the mine. Meanwhile Koen suckered his aunts and uncle into carrying him practically the whole way back down the trail. After the hike, and a meal, and a little break, it was time for... fireworks! Traditionally Joel lights up all the fireworks in the street to our south, Jenica warns him not to catch the ailanthus tree on fire, and the kids all watch from the lawn above the little retaining wall. This year was no different but with the added excitement of having both Nielsen families over to help us test Joel's nerves by throwing pop-it's at his feet as he was setting fuses. And we ate apricot gelato made by Jenica.

Speaking of apricots... we had such a cool, wet spring that the apricot tree waited until the very end of July to ripen. We will dearly miss our tree (and the gelato) next year. It's like the 7th member of our family - *sniff* - the closest thing to a pet we'll ever have. *Whhaaaaaa*

Hale update: he's started walking for real this month and by the end of the month he was driving Jenica crazy climbing up on the kitchen table and every other flat surface he can reach.

Overheard at 517 N Center St.:
K: "King Link is going out on a date to fight his evil enemies."

Jenica Joel Jonah Si Koen Hale