Be-UTAH-ful!

Will decided not to try out for the high school basketball team so he could focus on golf. This freed him up to not only do a few summer golf tournaments, but attend his first BYU golf camp. Unfortunately, he had to miss the entire last week of Middle school to do so but he said it was totally worth it! We flew Will out to SLC where grandma Stewart kept him Saturday and Sunday night and then was able to drop him off in Provo at camp. The best part was that Karsyn was still there finishing up her last week of spring term classes! Will liked his roommate well enough, which was his biggest concern going into this and he actually played really well, which was his other concern. He ended up taking first place in the Sand Shot competition and 3rd place in the Stroke Play Tournament!

After spending a week in Helaman Halls for golf camp, Will had a couple days reprieve back at both his grandma's houses over the weekend before heading back to Heritage Halls for a week of EFY (Especially for Youth). He wasn't worried about his roommate this time because he was rooming with his cousin Andrew. Alli also went and was able to room with another cousin, Kerrigan. 

 I drove out to Utah with Harley just after Will started EFY. We left late on Sunday, Father's Day and made it as far as Pendleton (3 hour drive). We stayed in a really cheap little motel with no carpet, so I heard Harley's nails clicking on the floor as she nervously wondered around all night. But even without a great nights sleep, I was glad to only have to drive 8 hours the following day. 

My goal was to arrive in time for the Stewart Father's Day cookout at the Seal's house. I felt bad leaving Scott on Father's day (though I stayed until 9:00 p.m.) but it was nice that my family delayed their Father's Day celebration by a day so I could join them. My mom even talked my dad into wearing a nice non-Jazz t-shirt!

Soon after arriving in town, I got a text from Will that he ripped his dress pants at EFY and needed a new pair for dressy day and the formal dance. Grandma and I hit up a thrift store to find him a new pair and then I was glad for the excuse to drive to Provo and meet up with him, even if it was just for a couple minutes. This also gave me an opportunity to take a full load of Karsyn's stuff from her dorm before completely moving out the following day. 

Then the following day, it was time to head back to Provo and grab Karsyn and the rest of her stuff. She said her final good-byes to her roommate, Delon, and a few others that were still on campus. She was so glad she stayed for Spring term and ended up having a really fun time. And even with all the fun she had, she was still able to maintain her 4.0 GPA. 

While the kids were at EFY, the Rushing girls planned a trip to the Payson temple since none of us had ever been there before. What a beautiful temple and such a wonderful afternoon! After the temple we stopped off at Red Lobster for dinner. 

Then Julie took a bunch of the cousins, including Will, right from EFY to do baptisms in the Provo Temple with Ty since it was his first time. 

Harley had a blast at grandma and grandpa's house because she too got to play with her cousin all week! Scott, Jolie and Ryder were all headed on Trek that same week so their dog, Brindie, was staying with us. They kept each other entertained and worn out each day. Harley wanted to play a little more often than Brindie did - so sometimes Brindie would do this thing where she would lay down, then roll over and play dead. She didn't fool Harley though!

Trying to pack light, I did not bring Harley's bed with me. I put down some pillows for her the first night hoping that would pass for a bed. The next morning, I didn't see her on her pillows and couldn't find her, until I noticed my suitcase looked fuller than it did when I went to bed!

Karsyn and I had fun laying by the pool some and meeting Lance (Cassidy's boyfriend she met while studying together in Jerusalem)

We turned a family get-together into a surprise birthday party for Sommer! She felt the love!

 It's always great seeing the kids spend time with their grandparents! They were all so accommodating and took really great care of us!

...and then it was time to head home! Will decided to drive home with Uncle Bobby (Shane) and Andrew and Ty and golf each day on the way home for an additional five days! So just us girls (Mom, Karsyn and Harley) put on an audio book and hit the road!

 The guys took five extra days to get home, playing 18 holes of golf each day along the way. 

Day one was at Fox Hollow in Provo, Utah

Day Two and Day Three was at Falcon Crest in Idaho

 Day Four and Day Five were at Wildhorse in Oregon

But I think everyone's most memorable moment was watching Will eat the Fat Elvis after day two and trying to guess if more made it onto his pants, or in his mouth!