July was a whirlwind of greatness! We started it off with celebrating the 4th of July watching fireworks from our porch. Our neighbors always put on a firework display for the houses around us. It was such a chilly night, that the kids and I were bundled up in blankets while we watched the light show above.
We left shortly after the fourth of July for the Clark Family Reunion in Nauvoo, IL. In short, it was a week filled with stories, games, and musicals galore. Then before the month could end, we headed east to Utah for a little Spung time.
Spending time with family is always a joy for this crew of five. It means cousin chaos, sibling catch ups, and a whole lot of fun and laughter. July kept us moving for sure and it was everything we could have hoped for before beginning the school year.
Unfortunately, just as we were buckled up and ready for takeoff, we found out that our flight from Midway to Kansas City was canceled due to storms in the area. Our next flight, and any others headed that way, were no longer available. We were already pushing back from Sacramento, so getting off the plane to find another option wasn’t possible.
Once we landed in Chicago, we asked the airline if there was any way to get to Kansas City that night, but no luck. So, Preston and I booked a hotel nearby, and we all settled in for the night before heading back to the airport the next morning.
The silver lining of the unexpected stop? Portillo’s for dinner! It definitely helped turn things around. Since Preston and I are both originally from Illinois we looked forward to this perk. Thankfully, the next morning went smoothly, even with the canceled flight behind us. Beckham and I grabbed Dunkin’ Donuts at the airport…because, honestly, Dunkin’ makes everything better!
Once we made it into Kansas City we grabbed our rental car and headed toward Nauvoo. It was actually a really smooth ride and we loved seeing all of the trees and green in the area. The entire Clark crew showed up to the Airbnb within like 15 minutes of each other. Talk about timing! It was amazing, since we were all coming from different places.
You can’t beat having the mighty Mississippi right outside the front windows. The view was peaceful and majestic. The kind of view that makes you slow down as we watched the barges drift by. We loved seeing the barges travel up and down the river, knowing that this same waterway has been part of my family’s history for generations.
My great-uncles Ray and Jack worked as engineers, while my great-uncle Larry captained the barges as a pilot. My cousins Vince and Spencer followed suit as deckhands, and my other great Uncle Larry even designed boats for a time. So many in my family built their lives around this incredible river. Standing there, watching those barges glide past, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the view, the peace, and the roots that run deep along these waters.
Nauvoo has so much to offer those that go. There are plays, pageants, houses to tour, skills to learn about, and trails to walk. You can go at your own pace too. We also toured Carthage Jail where Joseph Smith was martyred and made a stop at Liberty Jail on our way to an amusement park. There was loads of history within these few days together. History that is meaningful to us all but also very interesting to learn about. If you are interested in seeing what Nauvoo and Carthage look like and would like to know a little more about what we saw, check this out. If you would like to know more about what we believe at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints click here! Here’s a few photos from that trip.
In keeping with our family tradition, we found a bookstore to settle into for a couple of hours. Every one picked out there next adventure, and we headed to the airport for our flight home.
Once we were home we had a quick turn around and headed back out. This time we headed East again, but to Utah. One of the main reasons we came into town was to celebrate two big milestones. First was my niece Haley returning home from her LDS mission and Cody getting ready to leave for the MTC (Missionary Training Center) and Portugal. We knew it would be a tender visit, full of both happy hellos and heartfelt goodbyes. Welcoming one home and sending another off. What a special moment for the family. Any young woman that chooses to serve a mission, testifies and spreads the gospel of Jesus Christ for 18 months. You do not choose where you serve, you are called to serve in a specific area in the world. As a young man you serve for 24 months, or 2 years, testifying of Jesus Christ and serving those in a specific area as well. Missionaries are not paid to serve. It is volunteer and as a missionary you actually pay to go. It’s an incredible work and brings so many people joy as they come closer to their Savior Jesus Christ in those months. Want to learn more about what missionaries do? Check this out! You can have some of these awesome young men and women stop and tell you more!
The day after we arrived in Utah, we headed up to Heber to celebrate Haley Kay. We all met at the most delicious bakery, where we enjoyed warm cinnamon rolls and egg sandwiches that hit the spot. There were hugs, stories, and so many smiles.
After spending time with the family we headed north to Logan so that I could attend a photography workshop with a favorite human of mine.
I felt so lucky to be invited to another workshop hosted by BreAnne Weston, this one was called The Editory Workshop. It focused on all things lighting, editing, and business. I actually attended one of her workshops last September and learned so much, but somehow, she still managed to exceed every expectation.
BreAnne has such a gift. She makes photography feel effortless in the way she sees light, captures emotion, and brings everything together in her edits is pure art. Watching her work reminds me why I love what I do. I’m beyond grateful to call her a friend and to have her in my corner as I continue to grow in this business. If you are interested in one of her workshops, which I highly recommend, or her work check out her site here!
The entire family actually came up to Logan with me so I could take this workshop. Pres took them all around while I was in my classes. They explored Utah State, ate Aggie ice cream, and then enjoyed some pool time at the hotel.
On our way down from Logan, I noticed that Real Salt Lake was playing at home! I reached out to my old boss, John Kimball, to see if we could stop by and say a quick hello. To my surprise, he treated us to tickets and an incredible Real experience. All of the kids left with new Real gear 🙂 It was so fun being back at the stadium. The memories came rushing in as I watched the match unfold and spotted all the behind-the-scenes staff, doing the same kind of work I once did.
We got to see John for a brief visit, and it felt so good to reconnect. Next time, we’re hoping to stop by on a non-game day so I can give the kids a proper tour and catch up with him a bit longer. We loved cheering on Real as they beat San Jose that night. If you find yourself in or near Salt Lake ever, you have to check out a game. You can get tickets here. Tell Matt Radar, Lesley sent ya. You just might get a discount 🙂
The next evening, Quinn and I headed up to Little Cottonwood Canyon for a family shoot. One of my besties from college, Christina, had reached out about scheduling a session while I was in town, and I’m so glad it worked out! Christina and I have been friends since the good ol’ college roommate days. It is always so fun to catch up when we can.
She and her husband, Scott, invited us over for ice cream and a quick visit before the shoot. The boys decided to stay home with Grandma and Pop for some downtime, but Quinn was excited to tag along. She couldn’t wait to meet Christina’s twin girls, who are a little older than Jack, and Audrey, who’s her same age! Quinn was really stoked to see what I do for work too.
We had the best time exploring the wildflowers of Little Cottonwood Canyon together. The light was perfect, the air was cool, and the laughter was constant. It was one of those evenings that filled my heart so much. A mix of friendship, motherhood, and creativity all in one place.
That night when we got back to Grandma & Pops we hung out on the deck by the fire. We snacked on salsa and chips while catching up from the days events. Taking in the stars above and watching the moon climb while reflecting off of Utah Lake made everything seem so relaxed. It was a great way to end a beautiful day.
One more stop the next day to see my girl Wynnie! I didn’t have much time on this trip to meet up with my other besties Katie & Rhiannon, since my days filled up SO fast, haha. But I made sure to swing by Wyn’s to see her girls and take senior pictures for Rynn. It was the sweetest sister shoot with Lyv and Kyt joining in on the fun, and even their horse, Monty, made his grand debut in front of the camera!
It was such a joy to see them all again and to capture this milestone for Rynn. I love Wyn more than words and adore her beautiful family. Even in the rush of a busy trip, moments like this make all of the crazy worth it.
We celebrated our favorite guy’s birthday! Preston’s big day just happened to fall on the day we planned to leave Utah, so I thought — what better way to wrap things up than celebrating with some of our favorite people! We gathered everyone that could join together, including his sister’s crew, and it ended up being the perfect finale to a crazy busy, yet truly amazing trip. Surrounded by family, laughter, and good food — it couldn’t have been a better way to close out our time in Utah.
Watching videos as the sun goes down. Everyone is comfy and cozy in their jammies. Ready for our long drive home. We originally planned to stop in Elko on our way home, but Pres and I weren’t tired at that point, so we pushed on. I took the reins first, and then Pres pushed onward. Once we reached Reno we decided to stop and get a good sleep before heading the rest of the way home.
Once we were home we had two days to get our crew ready for the new school year! That comes in the next journal entry 😉
July was one for the books! It was full of travel, reunions, laughter, and love. From fireworks on the porch to family hugs in Nauvoo and Utah, every stop reminded us how lucky we are to have so many people to call ours. We came home tired, full of memories, and grateful for the beautiful chaos that family brings. These are the moments that fill our hearts and remind us what summer is all about.
