September Starts

Sunday afternoon Maisie decided she would learn the guitar, and so she did.

Monday Maddie made Grandma Goodell's brownies all by herself.

Ryan and Eddie jump off the ledge into the dirt grow boxes.  They come in filthy from shoveling and digging.

FHE Monday night we played Samuel the Lamanite dodge-ball.  We took turns dodging at the top of the stairs.

Molly is quite the scholar.  She learns all our poems and songs.  She colors and counts.

Eddie followed 204 pages of Lego instructions and made this Nijago Mech.  We are very proud of him.

So much heat and sun has come to stay.  We swim and soak and just live outside.

Maisie decided that for "Fun Friday" she would teach us how to find the force of gravity.  

The YW had a campout in our backyard.  Austin built them a lovely fire and sleeping in a tent fullfilled dreams.

Saturday we had Maisie's surprise quinceaneara!  Every moment was magical.   I'll post it on her birthday post.

Andy read two big novels this week -- while studying online.  Nick and cousin Gabby spent hours in their course work.  They take their classes and so all assignments together.  He is so happy learning and growing again.  Austin spent the week stringing lights and working.  

End of August

We drove home all day Monday.  Austin arrived home from work two mintues before us.  He had a lasagna, salad and toast ready for dinner.  Molly begged to swim, so he sat out there with her.  He really is special.

He bought "Mouse Trap" for the kids, and they've played it every second this week.

These two had to get straight to work on their classes they missed while driving.

Tuesday was more of the same -- BCBS.  We wrote our names in Cuneiform and Hyroglyphs.

Thursday Grandma B. was our history teacher.  She is so good at it!  We learned all about the decade of 1860-1869.

This is a good story:  Maddie and the big girls have these terribles bug bites and rashes.  We think they came from the backpacking trip.  In fact, we're sure because some of the other hikers have the same bites.  I was tossing around the possibility that they might be scabies.  Eddie prayed at dinner, "Please bless Maddie and her rabies."  AHAHAHHAHA!  I laughed at loud and loved him.

Happy kitchen helpers make sauces and desserts every night.

Austin built another grow box, and we worked together to fill it.  We will plant our winter crops soon.  

Saturday we found Andy at work!  This was the first time I visited him -- cutie pie.

Just chillaxing in the pool

I finally have Grandma Guymon on my desk; I was missing her.

I have big plans for BCBS this week.  Just you wait!

Summer in Utah 2020

Monday was our official day of school -- at home.

Meg is headed to BYU fot her sophmore year (she only has one class on campus and the rest are online).

Andy will be a junoir  at MUHS -- if he ever gets to go back.

Maisie will be a sophmore at MUHS. For now she's navigating AP classes online.  Poor, girl.

Nick is starting 8th grade at Liahona Preparatory -- all his course work is online as well.

Maddie is staring 6th grade BCBS (Babcock Character Building School).

Eddie begins the 3rd grade at BCBS

Ryan is heading into 1st grade at BCBS.

Molly is three and is our favorite girl that waits patiently to be taught.

Here we are hard at work.  Isn't it glorious?!

Tuesday we left to take Meg back to BYU.  We spent the rest of the week there.  Grandma B. rode with us, so we had plenty of treats and a stop for fresh cookies.

We spent lots of our morning hours in class.

We spent our evening hours quietly talking in twos and threes all over Mom's house and yard.

Thursday we went to IKEA.  I needed five new cups to replace broken ones from the prior year. :(

That evening, Rachelle and Logan invited us to their house to be with the Coons and Brooklynn.  The cousins were so happy together.

We went out as adults, and the bonus feature was dinner with Kit and Kevin.

Late that evening Emily came in from a date, and we noticed the we matched.

Friday these two had to take their COVID awareness class to prepare for BYU.

I braided Mother's hair.  

These are the happiest chickens.  Any living creature within the realm of Mother's nurturing via food is fed like a king -- these chickens and her puppy are included.

Saturday we spent the evening in the yard with all the cousins.  There is really hardly anything sweeter the perfect Highland summer weather, cool grass, and fun uncles who create and facilitate night games.

Sunday Campbells prepared our entire home church together.  Here is primary. They had a lesson, snack and craft.  I mean, I wish Sis and her crew made this happen for us every week.

It was also the last night with Meg.  She drove away for another semester in Provo.  She knows how to love God and work hard, so she's set.  She's on her way.

I 

I don't like that for her to grow up, I have to grow up as well.  She's been such a light in our world for the last five months.  My new born baby is so brave and true.  I'm so proud of her.

Together

Monday afternoons friends come to swim.  The water is 90* and the outside temperature is 105*+.  I mean, I don't ever shiver or get goose bumps.  Ahh, warmth.

I'm still loving my polygamy braid adorned with gray hairs.

Five hair cutt, an hour later, and no tips.  That's how I spent a summer evening.  I spent those moments talking one-on-one to each of my boys and listening.  Ryan's hair is so blonde.

THEN! We spent Fun Friday back backing to Indian Maiden Falls.  Austin invited three other families.

These sorry adults were way behind the kids.

Once we reached the bottom of the canyon, we were cool and wet.

We hiked to a waterfall and jumped off the cliffs.

My family -- minus Molly.  She spent the 24 hours spoiled by Grandma.

We took hammocks, and I read my scriptures in them, while Ryan put his feet all over me.  Nice.

Naps.

5:30 am, and the early morning light revealed that the girls' tent was sliding down the slope.

These two left their tent and hammock to find the soft sand and cool air.

Smiles before the hike up.

Smiles during the hike up.

We made it home and then spent the day in the pool and working more puzzles.

Sunday puzzles at Grandma's.

(I take the pictures that are not blurry.) Grandpa was standing in the kitchen, and they were all gathered around him -- this picture is practically candid.

 Meg's last Sunday home -- saying goodbye to Grandpa.