SOLAR ECLIPSE!

Since this hardly ever happens and everyone kept talking about it and Jared had the day off - we figured what the heck! We got some glasses and pulled these boys out of school and watched the eclipse! They had a lot of fun, but it was weird they didn't want to go back to school afterwards! Love making memories with my family!

NATE'S CABIN!

We spent the weekend up at Nate's cabin. All the boys left Thursday after school and then me, Emma and Maddie headed up Friday after school. We shot guns, played games, watched movies, ate lots of food, and rode quads and rhinos. Did I mention quad riding?! It was such a great weekend to get away before crazy sports schedules started. Love family time! Check out the picture of all the boys blisters from quad riding! We can't wait to go back again!

FIRST ARM PIT HAIR...OR NOT!

Here is my conversation tonight:

Tyler: Mom I grew an armpit hair

Me: no you didn't

Tyler: uh-huh Tyson saw it (then he sticks his arm up into the air)

Me: oh my gosh I see it

Tyler: (gets a huge smile on his face)

Me: oh no sorry buddy, its just a fuzz

Tyler: oh man, what about this arm?

Me: no sorry

Then Tyler leaves the room to go back to Tyson

Tyler: Tyson mom looked and I dont have any

Tyson: oh man (said in a very sad tone)

Bahahahahaha!!! These two!

JAKE JOE PICTURES!

Emma finally got to do dance pictures with Jake Joe! We regret not doing them when she was a little younger and more flexible. The pictures are amazing and she left on a total high because he made her feel like a model!

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

First day of school - it always makes me so sad - I hate that my kids are growing up! Emma started her sophomore year, Eli started 5th and the twins started 4th! Since we were in Utah last week - we missed Meet the Teacher night so I felt unprepared and I am sure the kids did too! Note to self - don't miss those nights anymore.

Emma was up bright and early - 5am to get ready for school! She got picked up around 6:15am and headed off! She LOVES her schedule and came home super excited about all the friends she had in each class!


Eli was a little nervous I think going, but didn't say anything but when we walked into his classroom he didn't have his normal relaxed attitude and completely happy smile. But he came home just fine and loves his teacher and his class!

Tyson just smiles and goes with the flow. I think it makes things a lot easier knowing Tyler was in his class and his friend Cody! When we got there and met the teacher he knew most of the kids so he was doing just fine! His teacher loves superheros so I think the twins are in the perfect class!

Tyler had some struggles - apparently he gets this from his daddy. Every year we go through this with him, but I think this year was worse since he didn't get to go to meet the teacher. He went off to bed and everything was great, but then an hour later he came out and was crying and couldn't tell us what was wrong, but we knew he was nervous. So we hung out with him for a bit and then he went back to bed. Then around 4am he came into our room and was crying - he says he had a nightmare, but I know he was still nervous. I let him get in our bed and sleep with us. He still couldn't calm down so I just laid there scratching his back and talking to him about our Utah vacation until he fell asleep. I started our conversation with "what was your favorite part of the trip?" He didn't answer me so I just babbled on and on. When we finally got up to get ready for the day he popped right out of bed and said "my favorite part of the trip was the water place in the museum!" So I thought, "yes this is going to be a good day!" We got ready and headed out the door and all was well! As we started walking down the hall of the school, Tyler grabbed my hand a little tighter and walked a little closer. We got to his classroom and he kept doing this weird fake yawning thing - I finally figured out it's his way of fighting off tears. Jared took Tyler to his desk and I took Tyson and then I stepped away to meet the teacher for a minute. I went back to take Tyson's picture and then went over to take Tyler's picture and as soon as he had to write his middle name he broke down into tears and started crying. I felt so bad for him and just wanted to get him out of there ASAP before kids saw and made fun of him. We grabbed him and I looked at his teacher and said he was having some anxiety issues and we were going to take him to his brother's classroom and we would be back. He took Eli to his classroom and then it was time to head back. He was still crying. We talked some more and he pulled it together. He walked into his classroom, put his head on the desk and sat there. We waited a couple of minutes and then said his name so he would look over and we waved goodbye and lifted his hand and then we left. We hated leaving him there like that, but knew his teacher would take care of him and we told Tyson he had to watch out for him. School ended and all was well! He came home just fine! Poor little guy is gonna have to figure this out. Bless his sweet little heart!

We got some fun pictures of the kids at an assembly and video of Eli dancing at the assembly! We love our school and the teachers who watch out for our boys!

BACK TO SCHOOL BLESSINGS!

I love how my kids just know this is what we are doing. We come home from church and all gather up on the couches and someone runs over and grabs a kitchen chair and places it in front of the stage and we wait while Jared prepares himself and then we get started. It is a very peaceful and happy time in our home - minus the fighting over who is going in what order - ha ha! I am not the note taker my mom is, so here are some highlights from each one. I love how each one is personalized and very specific for each kid.

Tyson:
- You are a choice spirit of our Heavenly Father.
- Your cheerful countenance brings joy to many.
- You are a good young man.
- You will be blessed with confidence to participate in the classroom, sports and cub scouts.
- You will be blessed that as you work hard to learn new things, you will be able to as you apply yourself.
- Come to your mom and dad as you need help.
- We all struggle, no one is perfect, lean on each other for help.
- Recognize the spirit to know good and bad.
- All of your extended family love having you be apart of our family.

Tyler:
- We are grateful to have you in our family. You are always a great help.
- You have a wonderful ability to put the needs of others in front of your own.
- While you may struggle, it's through your generous spirit that you are able to receive those blessings that as you focus to help others you will be helping yourself.
- You will be blessed for serving others.
- We are grateful to your spirit you bring to our family.
- I bless you that your capacity to learn in all areas of school will continue to improve and to grasp the concepts being taught to you.

Eli:
- Recognize how blessed you are for your eternal family.
- You are blessed to be able to participate in school activities both physically and mentally.
- I bless you with a strong capable body.
- Continue to grow your testimony as you prepare to receive the priesthood.
- Be an example to your friends and stand up for what is true.
- Be open with your parents and talk to them.
- Focus on being a strong and worthy young man.
- I remind you that our home is a sacred place with the spirit in it; be kind to your brothers and sister and loving towards your parents.

Emma:
- As you begin your sophomore year, I bless you that you will more fully understand what it means to be a daughter of God.
- I bless you to know that while there are many temptations from all sides (school, dance, cheer) no matter what difficulties you are facing in school or activities or life, remember you can always take time to shut off electronics, close your books, and find a quiet space where you can bow your head and close your eyes to communicate with Heavenly Father. He is always there. There is always time to talk with him.
- Your family loves you very much.
- You have many responsibilities and you handle them very well.
- I encourage you to remember to keep yourself healthy, not just physically and mentally, but spiritually.
- The Sabbath is a day of rest. Rest form studies. It will renew you to face the week .
- Focus on the needs of your friends and those around you. They will see your shining spirit and it will build up your circle of friends around you.
- Please pray to Heavenly Father to make good and proper decisions about dance and cheer.
- We have great admiration for all that you have accomplished.

UTAH!

We headed up to Utah for the last week of Summer so Eli could do BYU soccer camp and Emma could do BYU cheer camp!

On the way up to Utah, we stopped at a gas station to get gas and go potty - I walked out of the women's restroom and standing in line was my cousin Mary!! What the?! Of course we had to take a pic, cause that is just insane - did I mention she lives in Florida and I live in AZ And we ran into each other in Utah?!

We stayed with Ashley and Blake for a couple of days in their new house. We played in their freezing cold creek, went to the American Fork parade (kids LOVED it cause they walked away with a ton of prizes and candy), went to the American Fork party at the park, watched fireworks, a fire on the hill, went to a giant splash pad park and drove around a saw a couple of temples!

Emma went up with her freshman coach's daughter, Taylor and they were roomies! They had the best time. Lots of Swigs, sweets, cheers, texting boys, etc!

Eli also had the best time at soccer camp! He didn't stay the night in the dorms because we thought he was to young. The first day he got separated from his group who had to stay for a dorm meeting so he was all alone in the Cannon Center, but luckily Emma and Taylor saw him and had him come and eat with them - that melted my heart. This boy LOVES soccer and is so good at it. The second day he came home with a girls phone number and told us that she told him to call her for privates. I figured she just wanted our money. But he was on me to call her. So I texted her - she just wanted to tell us how great he was. So proud of this boy! We are sad there isn't room for soccer in his sports schedule anymore, but he was having the best time!

While the two older kids were at BYU we got to spend some fun times with the twins. One day we just hung out with Bryant's kids at their house, we went to the movies, BYU creamery, we went to Thanksgiving Point, Taryn and I ran around trying to buy fabric to make goosebump blankets, Provo Rec Center, date night, J Dawgs, etc. The boys just love being in Utah and the weather, slugs, etc.