Life after school started

 

So reverently taking selfies while we were trying to do a "Come Follow Me" lesson one Sunday morning. 

Lila and Rosie, doing their thing! These two are too cute.

She came in like this and announced she was on her way to a meeting and I needed to watch her beloved bunny until she could get back. Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.

One final cookout of swim season! 

After only one week of school, the germs found us! Davis, Chase and Lila all came down with strep throat! And to make things worse, because no one had a sore throat until several days into it, I didn't even realize that was what was going on! They had fevers, headaches and body aches. So I assumed it was a random virus. Then Chase got a sore throat and sure enough, it was strep! It was exhausting to have so many sick kids at our place and we were so happy when they were all better!

Somehow, Hudson never gets this stuff! Knock on wood! There was a super blue moon and he dragged me out to admire it with him. I love that kids make us slow down to appreciate stuff like this!

Lila has a whole variety of princess dresses she's wearing these days and really nothing could be more fitting. She's our little princess!

Our neighbors generously offered us 4 tickets to the BYU game over Labor Day weekend! It was an 8:15 start time, so we decided to use a free Marriott night we had to get a hotel down in Utah County and they made a whole boys night out of it! Davis was mostly entertained by Cosmo and loved cheering along with everyone. The boys had a great night and it was perfect timing to get out to do something fun together. 

Ben sent this from their breakfast the next day on their way home. I have no idea why he crossed out the girl in the picture but he sure seems proud of himself!

Davis continues to just be delightful in every way. He was talking to Heidi on the phone and told her that he missed bringing his library book back because "I'M JUST NEVER PAYING ATTENTION! I gotta work on that!"

Evenings started to really cool off and we found ourselves outside after dinner most nights. Ben was always working- but the kids and I got some time outside. I just love our neighborhood! Lila spent like 30 solid minutes balancing on these rocks one night. Saying "focus! focus!" to herself to balance. 

Back to School 2023

After an amazing and very busy summer, the first day of school arrived! We did our traditional feast the night before. I love this tradition. It really helps us celebrate and prepare for the next day- and gives us something to do instead of being anxious for the next day. Ben gave the boys the sweetest blessings and we had all their favorite foods that have unofficially become our menu every year. Mostly they want salmon and creamsicle jello. They told me I could pick the vegetables. And Davis really wanted a chocolate cake instead of our usual poppyseed cake. I told the big kids that since Davis goes to school now too he really does get a say. So they compromised and I made the chocolate cake and not surprisingly they all loved it.

Chase started 7th grade! Jr. High is such a big change from elementary school and he was definitely nervous. We went to orientation a few days before and found all his classes. He carpools to school with our neighbor Fred, and I think it helped him to know a few older kids there. Fred and Bridger were both really nice about helping him adjust. He's already made a bunch of new friends and totally rocked keeping track of 8 different classes and teachers. He comes straight home and gets right on his homework every day. He's awesome!

Hudson started 5th grade. He was most excited about his new shoes! He got Mrs. Walker for his teacher. She's in our neighborhood and super awesome, so he was stoked about that. None of his close friends got in his class, but he's quickly made new friends and really thrived. 

Davis started first grade! He has Mrs. DeMoux which is a great fit for him. As a neighbor said "Oh good! She's an energetic redhead too!" He's loved it! Doing full days is exciting and exhausting for him. He loves eating lunch at school and alternates home/school lunch every other day, regardless of what the school's menu is. He loves having three recesses, has spent a lot of time working on his monkey bar skills, and really hates doing his homework once he's home. Also, he comes home positively famished! He needs like a big meal as soon as he walks in the door! Overall, he's doing great! 

I'm so proud of these boys! New things always come with challenges and adjustments, but they've all had awesome attitudes and have really working to rise to new expectations. I love their enthusiasm for life! 

We ran into the Joseph boys while we were waiting to go in the first day. I love our whole school community!

 

Bear Lake

 

We had a magical weekend at Bear Lake in the middle of August- right before school started! After going through all the emotions with Grandma's funeral right before, it ended up being perfect timing for us to all be together and make fun memories together.

We stayed at the cabin of one of my dad's friends. He built it with his own two hands and just finished it. It was so beautiful and big enough to fit us all comfortably. We already have plans to go back again next year!

We spent lots of time down on their little private beach. We did lots of paddle boarding (Hudson and Nora were the paddle boarding champs!) and some kayaking. Lots of splashing around and digging huge holes in the sand. We spent hours there every day and it was just beautiful!

Every night we played games- which made for lots and lots of laughs. Telestrations was our favorite and even the tiny girls got involved and had a great time (and made it even more hilarious). 

The kid was so worn out he was randomly asleep on the couch in the middle of the day.

These guys made a little "clubhouse" for quiet time.

Dad brought up his four wheeler and spent a lot of time giving kids rides. Chase, who isn't a huge beach fan, was especially delighted with rides and got several more rides than anyone else. 

We did the puzzles multiple times.

We got shakes at Le Beau's one day and they didn't disappoint. Also- Heidi's had says "Not on Strike Today"- a little nod to her time in Paris and the frustrations with so many strikes happening.

This weekend was just perfect. The weather was dreamy. We laughed a lot and relaxed a little and spent so much good quality time together. I especially loved having this time right before school started and life got crazy in a different way. I just love my family!