Sunday, July 26, 2015

Back to School

School has begun. The boys are in school all day long.
1st Day of School
We are back to a fixed bedtime and wake up time. The boys have had to practice the piano before school and are doing awesome with it.
1st Day of School Ice Cream Tradition
Sweetheart took them to school one day and the rest we've ridden bikes.
Side Car Bike
Real homework will start this coming week. We kept the week rather quiet.

Sweetheart and I have been painting the baseboards and doors in our house for a nice clean look. Three more doors to go, and it feels like miles of baseboard.

We celebrated Pioneer Day this weekend by watching 17 Miracles and talking about our grandparents and their families. We are all pioneers in some way by how we live our lives.
The ward celebrated with a pancake breakfast on Saturday morning with a bike parade. Sweetheart took out the International Harvester Scout and drove it around for the day.

Sweetheart also took me on a date. We saw Inside Out. It's a perfect counselor movie.....all about feelings.

Be Well.

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Packing Summer In

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity. We have squeezed the most out of the end of our summer.

4th of July: We spent the 4th of July in Gilbert with my sister, her family, and my parents, who joined us from California. 
 
We floated the Salt River one day and swam in their new pool the next day with T-Bone's family.
The family brought fireworks which were enjoyed. Mama made a blueberry pie that was yummy!
They enjoyed the new rope swing over and over and over again....
We are grateful for the Founding Fathers who put their lives, their family's lives, and their personal comforts on the line for us to have what we have.
We see that freedom takes work and hope that we will continue to defend the Constitution to maintain our many freedoms.


Swim Team
: Hurricane had one wish this swim season to swim in a freestyle relay. We attend one away meet. The team had a missing member.
Hurricane swam his heart out. Underfoot won a heat. He met his goal.
Underfoot and Hurricane participated in the swim preliminaries for the finals meet of the year. For the Finals, their team took first place. They got to attend Peter Piper Pizza something Mama never does to celebrate with the team. We are pleased that they chose to participate.

Wolf Rank: Underfoot finished his Wolf Rank. He worked to have it done before the Pack meeting in July. He will be awarded his award in August.

Virus to Walking Pneumonia: Underfoot caught a virus from swim team this summer. He has struggled with his energy, a cough, and a runny nose. We decided it was time to take him to see the doctor. He was diagnosed with walking pneumonia. After a round of antibiotics, he is cured. Thankful for advances in medicine and kind doctors.

Kartchner Caverns to Gilbert: This last week my sister brought her family to Gilbert (she lives in Bountiful, UT) to spend the week with my other sister.
Mama, my mom, and my two sisters (along with all the children) were able to visit Kartchner Caverns State Park.
 They did the Junior Ranger Program. Part of the museum let them use bat ears.
I took Friday off. We went up to my sister's home in Gilbert where we swam in the pool and enjoyed being with family.  I was also able to teach my new favorite game to two of my nephews. We picked peaches from our peach tree, and Mama made delicious peach pie.


Good Luck: We said goodbye to some friends who moved to the Charlottesville, Virginia area. We had a delightful evening with them before they left.

Today: Tonight Mama made fish tacos. As we were wrapping up supper, a Hurricane's primary teacher from church and her son stopped by. She and her son stayed for a nice visit. They shared with us some delicious cupcakes. Mama shared a taco with the young man. He and I talked talked board game strategy. (His Dad is the one who taught me to play the board game I've enjoyed so much.)

Adoption: Mama and I should get word this week about certification for adoption. The social worker who performed our home study indicated that we should have no difficulty getting certified by the court.