20th anniversary

For the 20th anniversary of the Lord of the Rings movies.... Jer, Brad, McKay and Seth set up a movie marathon day at McKay's house.  It was fun.  We watched the movies, chatted, ate, colored, worked on projects, etc... It was a fun day. 

 

Missionary

 

We officially have three missionary cousins.  We were grateful to all the neighbors who were willing to step into our callings so that we could listen to Jonathan's farewell talk and visit afterwards.  No matter how nervous he is, he is a go getter and that is a blessing no matter what language is being spoken.   Actions tell your love of other better than words.

Our kids also loved playing with the Hansen's current set of kittens.  I got a kick out of the He-man names.  He-Man, Orco, Skeletor and Cringer.

Go to Elder and love God!

Helping hands

Cousin Aubrey is pregnant but they needed to move before the first of the school year.  Between her parents, in laws, friends, Joe and us... it went really fast.  The kids loved the square donuts that she bought as a thank you.  

 

Grandma Robertson's birthday

 

Grandma turned 75.  We got to go down, swim, cook hot dogs, play games and chat with cousins far and near.  We're sad that not everyone can be there, but we're happy when they can.

Summer

Ada has been going up about once a week to continue painting Grandma and Grandpa's free library.  It's looking really cute. One stroke at a time.

I got to drop Ada off at FSY.  Maybe her last year, maybe she'll get one more year.  I'm so grateful for the FSY program and the learning experiences there.  Teaching our children to reach outside their social comfort and see others.  Teaching our children to be intentional spiritual learns. She said it was her best year yet.

To celebrate school starting.  Ada held a tea party for a couple of her friends.  She planned, set up, decorated, and cooked.  It was really cute.

 

Afternoon picnic

Before summer ended, we took a quick picnic up to Bridal Veil Falls.  It's been a couple of years and the kids forgot how cold the water is.  We threw rocks, got in trouble for throwing rocks too near old people, built a dam, got wet, saw someone carrying a pet parrot, hiked the waterfall, and learned to pick skipping rocks.

 

Pre school start shenanigans

Before school started, we went to both the Lindon pool and Splash Summit.  Fun times.  I didn't burn, but a couple of the kids did.  Beth and Rose burned a lot.

Uncle Seth is going to dress up as Hagrid for Witch fest this year.  I love it.  Little Seth tried on the beard.  Good fit right?

Sharon and the girls came down to take Seth swimming and to a movie for his birthday while I was working.  They had so much fun.  He loves Viv so much.  I hope they can always remember these fun growing up moments.

 

Back to School

I can't believe I have a senior.  I don't think that Ada can believe it either.  She couldn't wait to grow up, but now she feels like she's running out of childhood.  I don't blame her.  I feel like I am too with all these new grown up firsts looming.  She's got good plans this year.  She's graduating in two pathways, applying for all the college scholarships that she can, running the FBLA club and the school store, teaches crochet lessons and is going to start teaching piano lessons in the winter, starting EMT certifications, graduating Seminary, is in the class presidency in YW's, is running with Jer and loves boxing/weight lifting. I love this girl and I'm proud of the woman she's becoming.  She and I just started doing college campus tours.  Next chapter in life.  Yesterday we went to BYU.  I enjoyed it and liked showing Ada different spots that I remember from 20 years ago.  I liked seeing the updates to things too.  I'm a little sad that the art building is completely gutted right now, but we'll hope for a great remodel.  Ada asked to see the business school and the medical program.  The girl that we were doing the tour with asked to see the education program, which included a makers space to create educational supplies.  Next we're going to tour UVU, USU, Weber and BYUI.  All great options.  She wants an in person 4 year college.  There's no shortage of those here fortunately. 

Sam is running into his Junior year with the determination to do well in all things.  He's taking two AP Lang and AP stats. Loves his two band classes the most.  He's going to be on the Esports team again and is pretty excited for the season to start again.  I love the determination I see in him to do well.  He's doing Japanese, and he goes early every Sunday to set up chairs for church.  He's my first kid to hop up and do what I ask or more than what I ask.   He got his first parking ticket and after being upset about the waste of money, he talked to them like an adult and was able to get a $110 ticket reduced to $40... which he happily paid over the $110. We didn't know it was his at first.  We thought Ada had gotten one while at school, but the date on the ticket was from the day before school and from a different city than the school is in.  We finally put 2+2 together and figured out that it was from when Sam went to play LAN games with his friends.  I remember my first parking ticket.  I was running late to class my first year at BYU and parked in a full parking lot in a place that wasn't a parking spot.  I learned my lesson and I think Sam did too.

Evelyn is a 9th grader.  I have 3 high schoolers (even though 9th grade is in Jr High here still.)  She's so excited to be with friends again.  Disappointed that her and her friend Sam don't have the same schedule as before... but happy to have the same lunch period as Maddie.  She's ecstatic to have made it into Symphonic Orchestra this year.  She wishes that she were a first violin instead of second, but I'm so proud to see her progress.  She's been asked to accompany hymns in Seminary.  She came home and practiced her favorite hymn to play and asked to sing with her next time.  I love that she's developing that skill.  Accompanist are a skill that's dying out.  Evelyn is excited to do Spanish again this year, and started Acro Youth 2 and Ballet Foundations classes this week.  She very proudly told me that she did a one handed cartwheel for the first time yesterday.  She told me that she wants to be a programmer like Dad.  She's taking a web development class this year.  I hope she likes it.

And last but not least, Seth is a grown up 6th grader this year.  He has Mrs. Noble, who Ada adored.  So far he's happy with her.  They are cracking down on the dress code, so the pants that he's been wearing the last few years are no long acceptable.  I wish I'd known that before buying new pants.  Sigh.  Apparently they're now considered sweatpants when he's been using the same ones for years.  So far he's liking it.  He loves playing games with friends at recess and he's sitting by one of his good friends for the first couple of weeks.  He's excited for this years' field trips (Biz town and the space center). Our challenges are the same ones from the last couple of years.  He doesn't like to read chapter books, and doesn't like to track his reading minutes.... but we'll figure that out.

On Evelyn's back to school night, she was at the high school helping Ada film a Zombie movie/essay for a scholarship application.  I had to have Ada drop her off for me to take around and talk to her teachers in full zombie makeup... She thought that was fun.  Some of her teachers asked if this was a new style and I'm just glad that it was a one day thing and not an every day thing.  Then I can laugh about it instead of worrying about her in some way.

We pray for a good year and hope that our kids love all their firsts and lasts this year.  First time with a Senior, last time in elementary school and all the fun experiences in between.

 

24th of July

I haven't posted for almost a month, so I'm working my way backwards through pictures.  We celebrated the 24th of July with the Clingers at the cul de sac of fire.  It was a spectacular firework display, delicious food and fun to chat with friends that we see on occasion. 

These are the "kids" waiting for the parachutes to be shot off so that they could catch them.