To Love

Sunday, August 17, 2025

August

A week of forts and Duplos sums up our homeschool extra cirriculars. I need to buy us more paint by number kits.

YM activity in the pool. Austin gave diving lessons and tips.

We swam each afternoon -- our swimming season is coming to an end. Blast.

Austin and I flew to Utah for a 36 hour round trip jaunt. We met up with Armstrongs and Andy for a bit of light shopping and epic J. Dawgs.

Bea loves Andy.

Cute Emma and happy Doug.

My three Cottonhood friends.

After a day full of wedding, we were up early Saturday to relax and play with the babies. Worth it. I asked the girlies to show me their toys. We sat and they actually let me read and sing to them. It's a real treat to be a grandma.

Elijah made a cold plunge -- Andy got it. Crazy. Then, we flew home.

Home with time for swimming and haircuts. Goodbye blond summer locks.

She needed a trim as well.

Maisie birthday gift.

Austin's high school senior photo. He's pretty darling. I was 12, and I know I would have crushed on him.

Sunday, August 10, 2025

School Daze

Sundays always means games. While Eddie was winning, Elder Babcock called, because it was Father's Day in Brazil. He told Austin how much he appreciated him, and giggled and laughed the entire time. He's pretty happy.

Father and Son

Due to our vacation agenda, these people needed basic photo IDs. We spent an hour making this happen. There's hardly a place more annoying than the MVD -- alas, we made it out alive.

CFM

#missionarygoals

More CFM

School. We're studying ancient history. They made a connection with the ancient Greeks and a Phineas and Ferb episode. I was so proud of them.

The primary sang at a local senior care center. Ryan offered the opening prayer, "We're grateful we can sing for the old folks."

Rain came two times this week. Thank the heavens.

My nice mother-in-law wanted me to crochet something for this basket that sits in her bathroom; her rugs are blue and white. So, I did.

I had this grand idea to go on a double date with our favorite friends -- we had less than an hour because Ryan ended up with football practice.

Rappelling was pretty awesome. Miyagi was a breeze for these seasoned athletes. Ryan and I didn't plan our matching outfits.

Molly named this section, "Molly's Corner."

We spent the afternoon at the temple and PF Changs. I didn't crochet one stitch -- I didn't need to. I hung on his every word.

Garden tomato

Cheryl's 75th birthday -- she's a penny collector and organizer. I asked the children to donate all of their pennies to her birthday cause. We gave her 400 pennies as a portion of her gift.

Ryan's hair looks especially sunkissed so late in the season. He fell asleep on my lap during Grandpa's D&C 88 interpretation.

Nick's update:

Butchered his hair
Road a boat on the Amazon to get to zone conference
"I can't understand anyone, so I just smile alot."
"I can't speak the language, so I let the BOM testify for me."
Elder Pimentel is the best trainer, ever

Maisie's update:

Five friends to church
Organized exchanges and taught in zone conference
Loves Sister Hill

Andy's update:

New haircut
Supersets at the gym -- while one muscle group is resting work a different muscle group
Temple time with Austin (my second favorite Austin)
Rock climbing hobby

Armstongs' update:

Cancun vacay all week
Tanned, rested and so happy
Celebrated Elijah's 29th birthday
Twinnies loved the beach and their drinks

Sunday, August 3, 2025

A Plea for Rain

Sunday the week began with a combined fast for rain, for a successful school year and for our missionaries. Austin gave us each a father's blessing, which helped us remember who we are and to whom we belong. Those priesthood blessings are always powerful.

Monday came, and school is in full session. I guess that 6:45am morning comes around pretty early. We took mid-morning naps everyday this week. The first day was laughable -- everything was completed, but I doubt we learned anything.

We also spent the afternoons painting. I'm a bit smug that I've seen several works of Van Gogh in person. (Paint-by-number kits are a vibe.)

One morning the children did not want oatmeal for breakfast -- so I repurposed it for lunch. HA!

Austin spent several evening installing our new weight-rack system. Yipes. We'll see how it goes. I like it because it folds into the wall, leaving almost the same amount of space.

Molly created her own board game -- "Mallopoly." It's patterned after Monopoly, with only a few variations. She explained the set of rules, and caught Ed in her snare.

Carnations. We laid red carnations across my father's casket. His mother's favorite flower was a pink carnation -- I just might add a few pink ones to the mix.

Saturday I make a list of projects and completed them. I was glad they stopped to play.

We all swam for a couple hours. Our dry heat continues on. We need rain so badly. Luckily, the pool water is 90* and the air temps are above 100*, so there is nerry a chill.

Another stake dance in the books. The Sedona building has grass, views and little less heat. Another lovely evening with the youth.

Nick's update:

"How to I fold my white shirt?"
He traveled 28 hours to Brazil, sleeping 24 of those hours.
He feels better having slept off the illness.
He was able to minister to several elders.
"I feel the spirit so strong in the MTC."

Maisie's update:

Transferred to Vermont
New companion -- they are so happy together
I watched her use her scissors and cut up bits of pictures and letters to create her new study space
"I need new white shirts."
"We found a new family to teach."