September 18-24, 2017

Monday didn’t get off to the best start when I realized I walked the kids to school without any make-up on.  That’s not normal for me.

And poor Isaac had to have a wart freezing session after school.

Tuesday morning I went to the church to do some closet content switching and cleaning out with the Primary leadership of a different ward.  One of the hardest things about the boundary shifting and the new ward was figuring out whose was whose and where stuff belonged.  We got everything switched out and put in the correct closets, but our closets were an unorganized mess.  I also had keys for closets I wasn’t supposed to have, and didn’t have keys to closets I was supposed to have.  It took awhile to get that all straightened out!

We were lucky this year to have soccer practice at Legacy Park right by our house.  We could walk, even in the rain!

I still love it when the kids just sit on the couch and read. 

Wednesday night I went on a Covenant Path visit with the missionaries to a family in our ward.  Elder Evenson loved all the animals at this house, and was especially excited that he caught this goose when it escaped.  He was filthy afterwards, but oh so happy!

Emma’s senior year was already making her tired.

Lee gave her a snack!

The sunset during soccer practice on Thursday night was unbelievable!

It’s kind of fun to be out there when it gets dark and the football lights come on. 

On Friday I went back to the church to organize our closets some.  I also took pictures of the stage so we could start planning a seating chart for the Primary Program.  Totally different stage set-up from what I was used to in the Canby building!

Our neighbors, Wayne and Sunya, are always providing opportunities for Isaac and Grace to earn money.  They took care of their plants and yard for a couple weeks this time.  I love seeing them work and be responsible about their responsibilities (for the most part). 

We did some yard work after the morning soccer game on Saturday.  Lee and the twins finally pulled out the stubborn grapevine root.  That thing was heavy and big and always sprouted back.  We were glad to get it out!

Grace and I went to the General Women’s session of Conference that evening.  We were sad that Emma had to work, but we still enjoyed being together.  We also enjoyed chocolate desserts afterwards.  I love spending time with my Gracie.

On Sunday night the Canby 2nd Ward missionaries stopped by so we could say goodbye to Elder McLain who was leaving.  We sure enjoyed those missionaries before we switched wards.  They had fun with the salt gun, this time trying to hit spiders.  Boys!

September 11-17, 2017

This week was the first full week back to school.  It always takes a little adjusting to get back in the swing of things.  The kids weren’t complaining about ice cream after FHE on Monday night though!

Jen Reed made me the most beautiful box out of 100 year old barn wood.  I love it!  When Lanna was at our house doing Emma’s hair we were trying different places to put it and discussing what to put in it.  We left in on the ledge upstairs.  By Monday it had become a toy box.  Not what I had pictured! 

Tuesday was one of those crazy afternoons and evenings. Lee had stake meetings.  Mikayla came over to do Emma’s make-up.  The twins had piano lessons and soccer practice.  I had to make arrangements for them while I took Emma to Silverton for her senior pictures.  We both thought it was crazy that it was time for senior pictures!  It was a fun experience though.  We laughed as Emma made outfit changes in a laundromat, and we loved the location.  We were really excited to see how those pictures turned out!

We rushed back home in time for book group, which was at our house!  I had pushed the time back just to be safe.  I was glad I did.  It gave me time to get everything ready before they came.  We discussed A Fall of Marigolds.  It was a good discussion and a lot of people came.  One of these days we will get a good picture of our book group! I was so glad to have this group as a good connection to Canby 2nd Ward.  We were hoping to get more Canby 3rd Ward ladies to join.  While book group was still going Emma came downstairs and showed me a sneak peek of her pictures that the photographer had posted.  I loudly squealed.  They were beautiful!

I was tired after Tuesday.  Wednesday was a good day to catch up and get Primary stuff done.  On Thursday I went to Jen’s house to help Jill with flowers for Christian Parker’s wedding reception.

It was fun and the flowers were beautiful!

On Friday we got to see all of Emma’s pictures.  I squealed even more!  We loved them.  Emma is beautiful inside and out and the photographer caught her personality well.  So fun!  We were very happy with how they had turned out.

Lee pulled a tooth out for Isaac that afternoon.

Friday night Emma and Sierra were off to the football game (it was jersey night or something). 

The rest of us went to the first Canby 3rd Ward party.  It was a get to know you night.  Each family shared something about them to introduce them.  We took a picture of Emma on a stick, recited our family mission statement, and talked about a few other things, such as our love of chocolate chip cookies on Sundays and playing games.  It was a fun night.  Isaac had already become very good friends with Conrad Ririe.  They switched name tags that night which was funny because they really do look alike.  Conrad wears glasses just like Isaac’s usually, but he had forgotten them that night.  Cute and CRAZY boys!

Early Saturday morning we found a slimy visitor on our window. 

Saturday morning was also the first soccer game of the season, bright and early at 8:30.  The sun was still red.  So pretty and kind of creepy at the same time!

Later that afternoon we went and picked up the cupcakes for the Parker reception and delivered them to the Isom’s house.  I stayed to help with set-up and food while Lee and the twins went back home to change.  Emma was boating for Lauryn Crum’s birthday.

The reception was beautiful and Grace was a great helper.

I ended up taking home my favorite pasta salad.  Yum!  There was enough to take to my dad’s birthday party the next day.  Perfect!

The sun was still red when I drove to church early Sunday morning for Ward Council.  These pictures don’t do it justice, it was RED!

Emma gave a really good talk in Sacrament Meeting about honesty.  Primary was getting in a better routine.  That night we celebrated Dad’s birthday at Grandma Dorothy’s house.  We sure love him!!

Isaac got caught up in this WWII book that used to be Grandpa Russell’s.  Grandma Dorothy gave it to him and Isaac devoured it.  He loves anything about war and history. 

September 4-10, 2017

We worked around the house on Labor Day morning, then  went to see Cars 3 at the theater.

We all liked it and it motivated the twins to get out Isaac’s old Cars cars.  I miss him playing with those toys!

All the kids had to stay upstairs while I prepped for our back to school dinner that we were going to have that night.  I got some balloons as part of the decorations and as I was driving home I couldn’t figure out the weird sound I was hearing.  I finally realized that one of the balloons had tried to escape when I closed the door.  I had to pull over to get it back in the car.  Made me laugh.

Our theme for the school year is “we lived after the manner of happiness”.  The table decor reflected that theme.

The kids chose hamburgers for the dinner, of course. 

During dinner we discussed what the Nephites did to be happy.  Served one another, worked, went to the temple, spent time with family and friends, were obedient, read the scriptures, etc.  We talked about how we could do those things to be happy also.  We also talked about how our choices will determine our happiness and that we have the power to make a happy life.  I had some smiley face stickers made that we put in places to remind us of our theme. 

Then we had a little photoshoot with those balloons.

Lee gave the kids beautiful blessings that night.  My favorite back to school tradition!  Isaac must have been tired, he didn’t make it through all the blessings.

Tuesday was Isaac and Grace’s first day of school.  They scored donuts for their first day breakfast.

It’s hard to believe they are in 3rd grade!

But they aren’t too old to hold our hands!

Emma and I went shopping while the twins were at school.  We marveled over the red sun that was still shining because of nearby fires.  Our car was covered in ash when we left the mall.  Crazy!

Isaac and Grace came home with very good reports of their first day.  We celebrated LaLa’s birthday later that night with friends.

Then we hurried to the stake center where we met with Pres. Pederson for my official release as camp director.  Mixed emotions for sure, but I was already in the thick of Primary.  My multiple Primary to-do lists were evidence of that!

Dark and early Wednesday morning Emma was out the door for Senior Sunrise, seminary, and then the first day of her senior year.  I can’t believe she is a SENIOR!!  Where has the time gone?

The sunrise was obscured by smoke, but it was still a good start to her last year of high school.

Later that morning the twins were off to their second day of school.  I couldn’t help but take more pictures.

It must have been exhausting for all of them because they all came home and read on the couch that afternoon.

Thursday I met with my secretary and did a lot of other Primary stuff.  That night I went to Waffle Window with a bunch of ladies for a girls night out.  Oh man, it was yummy, not to mention fun!

On Friday Isaac wanted me to watch him play basketball.  For some reason he looked so old to me while he was playing!

Lee and I went to ward temple night that night.  Our first in our new ward.  Kind of fun that it is the same night as Canby 2nd ward temple night!  We were fine with that.

Saturday morning found Emma taking the ACT.  Ugh.  Not fun for her!  The twins went with Lee to the missionary breakfast.  They love getting to go to that!

When Emma was done taking the ACT Lanna came over to balayage her hair. 

!

She looked beautiful!

That night we spontaneously had the Hawkins over for dessert and games.  The kids jumped on the trampoline in the rain.

They got pretty wet!

The next day at church Anna and Grace were matching, which warranted a picture.  Cute girls!  Primary went well again, but I was ready to have permanent teachers called and things up and running soon!

Isaac worked on a programming website after church.  He is very interested in computer programming and is convinced he will work for the Hawkins and HawkSoft someday!