YM's camp

The next week was YM's camp.  It's Seth's first and maybe Sam's last.... I'm glad that they had a chance to go together.  They were so cute.  They each got there and went to chat with their friend groups.  Sam said that the testimony meeting was amazing.  They also did a 7 mile hike out to a lake and did a survival test... they had to build a fire, structure and boil water.  Sam's group won that challenge but failed the putting up a tent challenge.  I asked Seth how it went when he got back, he said, "Amaze, amaze, amaze, amaze!" (which is a quote from his current favorite movie 'Hail Mary Project'.)

While they were gone, Beth took Evelyn and I to an art night at BYU museum.  It was about movement in lines and making personal works of art as testimony to share with others.

Ada and Jer went hiking with the Tarkingtons.  Timp had too much snow, so they only made it about 1/3 of the way up.

Jer cleaned the garage and the cats were worried about all the activity out there.

Evelyn passed the drivers test after spending two days reading the drivers manual.  Now to drive together a lot.  She was so nervous driving home for the first time.  I'm glad that we're on to the next step.

I went and got Tigress shaved for the very hot summer.

 

Last two weeks

These next 4-5 months are going to be busy and hectic, so I'm just going to drop a few words on the amazing things happening lately. 

Evelyn loves doing diamond dot art. Since it's not a daycare approved activity, she exiled herself to my craft room (which is currently half daycare napping area and half storage area).  The cat thought that she'd help keep her company.

Sam has been asking Jack to play pokemon with him.  He's so sweet.

Officially accepted to three colleges and had one official scholarship offer for $3,500/year for 4 years.  We'll wait on pins and needles to see what's next.  She's still waiting for one more college to respond and another couple months to see if she qualified for any other scholarships, then the hard part.... making a decision.  I think she'll know by April what she's going to do next. 

On Sunday, Jer and the kids played marbles.  It was emotional and cute. 

Helping me with the laundry.

Evelyn and I went to the parking lot and took her first driving lesson.  She was so hesitant, but now she's pretty excited.  I think I'll just have to jump in with her and not wait for her to ask me.

The youth went to the temple for their activity this week. (Payson temple) Jer went with them to help Seth with his first time.  It was a good experience. 

I was the "treat" parent for Seth's play practice last week.  It was fun to watch all these kids (especially my own) to have so much fun singing and dancing. 

Evelyn's class is being evaluated for pointe shoes.  It's time to do some serious consideration on whether its's what she wants to do or not.

The kids' charter school was inviting alumni to come and introduce themself to the current student body. It was fun.  Sam had AP Stats that he couldn't miss.... but we'll miss this school.  13 years here and we love them.

I trapped the cats in my room while the electrician was climbing in the roof.  They kept eyeing the hole in the ceiling.  

I woke up from my nap and had another napper on me.

On Friday, we got to go to the Orem Temple together as a whole family.  My heart was so happy. It was one of the truly joyful experiences of my life.  Watching everyone being witnesses, being the baptizers and the baptizees. All three of us girls went to wrong way in to the dressing rooms.  The temple has theirs on opposite sides than the ones that we usually go to.  I loved seeing Seth's happy face surrounded by his family and doing service for past family. 

Ada cleaned the microwave in preparation for our chocolate party.

We held our neighborhood chocolate party in Jan instead of December.  It was nice to get some space for festivities during Christmas.  We got to visit with our nephew, James.  He's a delightful man and it's fun to hear about all the things he's planning and wants to do someday.

Seth has been wanting snow all winter.  There was a tiny patch in front of McKay's house.  He was thrilled.

This last Sunday was a day to appreciate and celebrate.  Our beloved, Devin, is now an officially missionary.  He's the first in his mom's line for 3 generations.  He's kind and compassionate.  He'll work hard and grow amazingly.  We drove up to hear him speak and then sat in the parking lot and listened to our amazing nephew, Henry, give his welcome home talk.  You can tell that he his Christ centered and that he has the love of God emanating from him.

Jer bought a new fencing jacket.  Him, Ada and Sam decided to try it out in the front yard.  It was fun to watch. Especially with the daycare.  They were fairly excited to see swords.  Sam and Jer also went to the park to play pickleball.

The kids went with me grocery shopping.  They went to help me.  I usually go by myself or with Jer.  Seth almost didn't know how to handle it.  He was very impressed with the receipt, and the kids had fun trying to guess how much money I'd be spending. I did spend more with them there, but it was fun to have their input.

Magic game break.

Emma, Evelyn, Maddie, Rose

 

misc

Sly properly accompanying me while I submit my daycare food claims.  She was sitting on the one little tiny slit of table that was clear of all my papers and projects.

Poor Sam learned a hard lesson this week.  To back up slowly and check your distance in the parking lot.  Sam's Jazz band played at the city's farmer's market.  I didn't know about it until last minute, so Sam went on his own.  He was pretty tired and in a rush to get home.  He backed up into a truck in the parking lot.  The truck got a scratch on the bumper and light, but our van was a little worse for the wear.  I tried to get the window replaced, they said they couldn't replace it without fixing the dent.  We had an appointment for the mechanic to fix something else so we took it there first.  That took a week and didn't get fixed.... so we took it to the body shop.  They popped out the dent and put in a windsheild, but there is broken glass in the door so it rattles when you open it now.  Now it's sitting waiting for the mechanic.  The life of an old car.  We almost bought a new one, but we're hoping this makes it through Evelyn learning to drive next year.

Seth and I had our Primary Program.  We had a whole bunch of visitors and it was so nice.  My parents, Jer's parents, Joseph Brasher and Joe Tarkington.  It was Seth's last Primary program and the Wed after the program, they released me as the chorister.... so it might have been my last one too.  I've been so lucky to have been able to serve in callings with all 4 of my kids.  I was Sam's Primary teacher for two years, Ada's and Evelyn's Young Women's leader and Seth's Primary chorister.  I loved being with all of them.

Ada crocheted a hat for her Perry the Platypus, but it fits the cats pretty well.

President Nelson died this week. I love the testimony that he's left with us.  The three High Schoolers were invited to wear their Sunday best to school in remembrance.   I only got a picture of Evelyn, but they all three said that it was a great experience.  Evelyn also got to play for Seminary for the first time.  I'm so proud of her.  Accompanying with instruments is a different skill to master.

Conference weekend, Ada and I began the day nice and early with a fall photoshoot up at Cascade for her graduation photos.  Then we listened to the first session in the car and the rest with our family at home. We did get to join Jer's parents for the Sunday evening session and my parents for a Conference chat and dinner for family night.  I love this tradition.  It's so nice to be with Grandparents.

 

Last couple of weeks

Ada left for State FBLA competitions. She's worked so hard all year on it.  She and Alexx prepared the Chapter competition presentation and they won a trophy for first place for Chapter of the year.  They did amazing!  Ada said that they had the whole chapter in the hallway cheering and making noise.  She also got two 2nd places and a 4th place... which means that she's going to be getting $100/2nd place for her trip to Nationals.  And she's been working in the school store and will be able to pay the rest of the fees out of the credit she's accrued there.  I'm very proud of her for working towards the experiences that she wants to have.

Sam finished his drivers ed courses and his test.... now he just has to pass the driving test with the DMV before his birthday and he's golden.  To celebrate, I took him to Red Maple... this is how much our kids like this restaurant... He had a D&D session with his friends scheduled for right after his test.  I told him that I took Ada to Red Maple when she finished hers.  He immediately called and told his group that he wasn't going to make it and asked if we could go to Red Maple too.

While Ada was at her competition I had just these two cuties on a day off of school.  They wanted to go to Nickle mania.  We went and I played pinball and they played mostly Minecraft Dungeons.  Evelyn likes to collect the cards.  Seth played games to collect tickets.  He and Ada have a goal to save up 6000 tickets before they spend them.  We only go about 1-2 times a year so it will take a while.

We also took an afternoon bike ride to see how the temple's getting along.