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!

August

August was...in a word...wild. Right at the end of July my Grandma Smith passed away. It was definitely an emotional time. Heidi was planning to come for a visit in August anyway, but she ended up coming a week early to make it in time for the funeral. She brought an entire suitcase full of fresh, French croissants and we had a little croissant party right when she got in!

These pictures are from the funeral. Katie snapped this one at the cemetery. Our kids sang "I am a Child of God" for the musical number which was very sweet and cute. My dad and I both spoke. Funerals are weird and hard and I think we were all emotionally exhausted by the end of this.

The next day we did our cousin Lagoon Day! This was planned before the funeral happened, and it ended up being a perfect distraction. My mom's friend gave us super discounted passes and a free picture at her old time photo studio and we all just had the best day!

Davis kept yelling "I AM AFRAID OF NOTHING!" and he wasn't. He rode everything he was tall enough to ride and couldn't get enough. Lila loved the little kid rides and especially loved riding them with Nora, Anna and Rosie. 

The kids had a blast all day. It was miraculously cool that day and the park wasn't crowded at all! So we got lots of rides in with hardly any wait. These kids had so much fun with each other and their grandparents! 

Taking these pictures was a hilarious experience in and of itself! The results were too cute!

Lila finally potty trained through the month of July so Aunt Heidi delivered the promised princess dress! Lila picked a Belle dress and she was delighted when it came!

Chase got to play a lot of baseball this summer! He was on an awesome team this year and they won almost every game. He pitched a lot and improved so much. He also got so much better at hitting and even hit a home run! It was so fun to watch him play!