School Starts

Last summer Sunday.

I won Catan.

I was introduced to the trailer of "Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris."  I read the book and gathered a few of my dearest friends to go to the theater with me.  We had a grand time interurrupting due to lack of hearing, walking in and getting settled for 25 minutes, deciding the best treats for crazy abdominal issues, and being patient.

When I got home (at 4pm) I found Maisie in her bed sound asleep.  

Tuesday we went to Phoenix for school shopping.  I'm the most smug when I only have to shop for two instead of six.

This store was so disorganized.  The children ran amcuk, but no one could tell because of the choas.

We stopped for our picnic lunch Maisie packed.  So good.  So hot.

On our way home we stopped to register these two for another year at MUHS.

Wednesday Maisie started her phlebotomy classes.  Our cute girl is a senior this year -- ranked #1.

That evening was our ward ice cream social that I ended up making happen.

We picked her up right after gym.

Here is Maisie Thursday morning -- the first official day of school.  She's wearing the pants and belt I wore on my first day of senior year.  The best bit is that I modeled the outfit so she could see how cute it is.

It's way cuter on her youthful body.

Thursday Nick started school.  I gave him a haircut with two minutes to spare.  His hair is still wet in his 10th grade shot.  He's a glower.

I pretended to start school with the younger four, but instead did stake YW stuff for four hours.  We did study history, complete math and read.

Molly is my kindergarten girl -- I'm so glad I'm not puting her on a bus and sending her off for eight hours.

Eddie is my fifth grader.

Maddie is my eighth grader.

Ryan is my 3rd grader.

My little pupils.

Everyday I'm so happy to begin our learning together.  I have big plans for us this year -- all based on relationships.

To prepare for our new school year, I cleaned out the library.  I found several of Maisie's eye doodles.

Friday I also attended Sandy's memorial.  She is my widow woman that I've been ministering to for nine years.  The past two years I've walked with her weekly at a pace of 2 miles/hour, because we chatted with all her neighbors.  I will miss her love and smile.

I found this picture of our paradise bus on my phone.

We decided to revamp the library.  Here is the before.

Here is the during.  I'll take an "after" picture in a couple weeks.

Maddie wanted her hair cut.

She's a cutie.

Another week of small miracles and God's hand directing my path.

Island Park 2022

We traveled 2,000 miles to vacay in Island Park, Idaho.  It was well worth it.

We spent Saturday night with the Cleverlys in St. George.  They housed, fed and entertained us.  We love this family.

Molly gives manicures every week.  I love the difference in their hands: big versus small, hairy versus smooth, painted nails vereses trimmed, and wide fiingers verses narrow.  The similiaries are also grand: thye both use their hands to create, serve and love.

Sunday movies in the bus.

We dropped on Grandma's doorstep, and she was so sweet.  She carefully listened to our piano concert.  She knows all our names and loves us because we're hers.  I've always felt her love for me.

The children took turns using her slim-gym.  She says she does 93 folds front, back and each side everyday.

Her garden tour proved fruitful.  We gathered raspberries and blueberries.

Her apples weren't quite ripe, but she did serve us her bottled apple juice from her basement.

Monday morning we found ourselves in Island Park, ID.  Melijah and the Armstrongs are so good to us.  Lots of cabin games and lots of boating.  

This brown-boy didn't get blocked the first day.😮

Baseball.

We hiked and climbed up a tall tower.  

Those are Molly's legs clinging to Austin.

The big girls figured out how dry-start on the wakeboard.

All phones were put away for the week -- there is no internet signal.  We spent all the evening hours outside talking and playing.

Friday we began our homeward pilgrimage.  It was also our 22nd wedding anniversary.  We landed in Highland, so Austin and I spent the evening where we began our eternal union.  A spiritual reconnection was necessary, so we are blessed that we made that happen.

Driving the final 600 miles of our 1925 mile journey was looking very efficient, until we were stopped just outside of Flagstaff for 2 hours.  Our 2pm end became a 4pm end.

A week together and device free is what every family needs.