I found this screenshot while cleaning up my computer today. It’s from a Roy virtual get-together on March 14, 2021. Some of us were having fun with virtual backgrounds.
It’s odd to think that in the five+ months since this shot was taken, two of the three Roy-boy families have moved into new homes.
We spent the final week of July at Camp Du Nord family camp. This was our third trip, and we all agreed that it was our favorite one. The weather was fantastic, despite the wildfire smoke, and the kids were at good ages to maximize their fun. Oliver had no separation anxieties when he joined his age-group for morning activities, often scampering off to get there early before Sarah and I were ready.
Some highlights of the trip included:
The only bummer about the trip was the smoke in the air from the Canadian wildfires. It was pretty intense, often making the sun and moon appear orange or red.
We also had some insane red squirrels who would drop pine cones on our cabin every morning at around 6:00. They sounded like gunshots as they ricocheted off the steel roof!
Thought for just a moment Oliver was silent because he had fallen asleep on the floor behind the couch while I finished some work. Nope! 
My new home office 
The contents of the aptly named “truly random” box: bag of wood screws, pink child hanger, stickers, broken necklace, post it notes, string, sage smudge, bowl of other random things including a fisher price guy, and the top of a side table. Sounds about right
Or at least our family band.
Griffin and Sarah returned this evening from their separate adventures up north. Sarah was preparing for trail crews at three different forest service sites (as part of her job with Mobilize Green). Griffin was backpacking on Isle Royale where he had a ton of fun and apparently fed every bloodsucker on the island (by the look of his legs).
We’ll add more details in the coming days. I’m just glad we managed to locate pillows and sheets for everybody.
We’re all a bit ragged, but thrilled to be in the new house. Now we begin the epic task of unpacking, and, more importantly, finding all the things we need in the interim.
One of the joys of moving for me is going through old boxes of sentimental things I’ve saved over the years. Today, I came across a printout from a dot matrix printer, complete with the holes in the sides, that reads across the top: “Prepared at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Especially for: Andrew & Sarah.” We are guessing we did this the year before we got married, in 2007, when we invited friends and family to meet each other in Santa Cruz, California, before our wedding the upcoming summer. For those who aren’t familiar, Santa Cruz has a famous seaside boardwalk amusement park, complete with a rickety white wood roller coaster and massive arcade. We must have done one of these sideshow games where we pushed buttons and got a print out. I think I saved it because of how accurate it was! Read for yourself and see how Santa Cruz predicted our future:
For those who can’t read the picture, here’s the text:
ROMANCE
Him: When you wake up, and the champagne looks like stale beer, then you consider cutting out and seeking new action.
Her: You possess a remarkable sense of realism. You have deeper emotional needs than most people. When you fall in love, it is it.
PERSONALITY
Him: The need for action and activity is directly related to your personality. It seems you are born with certain frustrations.
Her: You are a very determined and practical person. Maturity is one of your most strongest points. Your[sic] very responsible.
FINANCE
Him: You find non-productive ways of earning money. You can be very self-indulgent about your expenditures.
Her: When it comes to money, you are hardheaded, realistic, and you are willing to work hard for it. You tend to be stingy and cheap.
WORK
Him: You make the most of every minute and force the people around you to move at your own pace. You love being the boss.
Her: You react in a positive way to mental challenges in your work. You constantly need mental stimulation.
FRIENDSHIP
Him: You like to surround yourself with the more successful inhabitants of society than with the average person.
Her: Your sense of realism, your no-nonsense approach and your organization assure that you’ll always be a person in demand.
COMMUNICATIONS
Him: Your restlessness can keep you in hot water. Impatience over any delays makes you investigate anything new that comes up.
Her: Your slightest conversation will inspire someone else to live up to ideals. Your words will give insights to many problems.
HOME LIFE
Him: You are in touch with your own emotional pain. You are able to show a nurturing and sympathetic concern for others.
Her: Since you tend to be traditional in your tastes, you love nineteenth-centurey[sic] chandeliers and marble fireplaces.
MARRIAGE
Him: You need constant excitement far more than you need a mate, but sometimes you take both just to try them out.
Her: Your relationship will be very exciting. You will want to take care of your mate and your mate will want to take care of you.
YOUR OVERALL COMPATIBILITY
On the surface, she is cool and steady, while on all lvels[sic] you are a crazed madman who means well. You think he is nice but know he is from another planet. You excite her with the way you get enghusiastic[sic] over a flavor of ice cream. If you want a mate that is real, then this one is it! You both are to[sic] sensitive to live with only a facade. She doesn’t believe in love at first sight, however, she’s flexible.
YOUR COMPATIBILITY PARTNER
Him: Rachael Ward
Her: Roger Moore
Life was a whirlwind in April with spring break, the long-awaited start of in-person school for Griffin and Maggie, three birthdays (plus Piper’s), a cabin visit, and much that I’m forgetting. Lacking the time to write everything up in detail, here’s a selection of photos to remind us of these many events.
Bonus! Two videos.