school starts again + our focus for the year

I was in denial that summer was coming to an end and school was starting up again. We left a lot of the school preparation to the end, but it was fine, the kids didn't need a lot of clothes and I like to wait until after school starts to get the supplies their teachers tell them to get (at least for the Jr High kids). Several days before school started though, I knew I needed to think of a simple focus for our family. Something to help us grow and become better people, but one that was not too complicated. 

Taylor gave me a paper that he got from church that talked about how the trees that grow up in windy environments become the strongest. We are so much more precious than a tree. Heavenly Father made our spirits strong and capable of being resilient to the whirlwinds of life.  THIS, this is what I want and hope for the kids (and our family) this year. To become stronger in every aspect of our lives - Physically, Mentally, Socially, Emotionally, and Spiritually so that we can be resilient to whatever comes our way.

We had our feast, which I'll just say this recipe was amazing, and then we each wrote goals for our first month in school. We'll continue this throughout the school year, and hopefully by the end of next May we'll all be stronger.

And now here we are, Corbin is in 9th and Taylor in 7th - both at the Jr. High together! Levi in 5th and Rudger in 1st - both at the elementary school! We made it through the first three days of school and it's fun to see how the two older boys have grown closer together and same for the younger two. Corbin and Taylor have lunch together on their 'A' day and love sitting together (with their cousin Hunter, too!!). Levi and Rudger happen to have the same first and last recess so the two of them play together all recess. This makes my heart so so happy! 

 And since the kids all started school, we decided it would be the perfect time to have Adeline start using the potty. Everyone else is growing up, I guess we'll let her too. She's doing fantastic! (for the most part) :)

And at the end of the school day, for both sets of kids, a huge 5 minute storm passed by. Right as school was getting out....seriously!! The 2nd storm produced the biggest hail storm I've ever seen. It was pandemonium with kids running around crying. :( But one things for sure, it will probably be one of the most memorable first days of school for these kids! 

on the last day of summer

Summer has come to an end. The busyness and schedules of the school year has started. I wish the lazy summer days would never end and when I look into my children's eyes it makes me reflect on those long summer days of my own childhood. Those memories are special to me. I remember turning 17 and wishing life could stay like this forever. I was old enough to know that I would soon be an adult and have more responsibilities than I ever had. I soaked up that last year the best I could. 

On the last day of summer of 2018, we packed up the van and headed to Brigham City to go down memory lane. I drove by all the places that meant something to me growing up and told the kids stories of my childhood. I showed them the places I worked. The schools I went to. The donuts we would buy at Kents on a Friday night and then stop to play at the gumball machine and try to win an extra gumball. We played at the park that may family went to often, I remember having a picnic there with the family and then walking around the pond that seemed so huge to me. I told them how I loved going to mutual at the church house and the night games we would play there. I showed them the 7-11 we would ride our bikes to and get ourselves a slurpee, some bazooka gum, and a tootsie roll that hopefully had the Indian who was shooting a star. I talked about my paper route and the hard work it took. I loved how memories just came flooding back to my mind. This city holds so many happy memories. But the best place of all was home. It always feels so good to go back home.

I think this was a really good way to spend the last day of summer. I'm pretty certain my seventeen year old self would be happy with what she had to look forward to.

rudger's 6th birthday

What a delight this kid is! There is just something about him ♥♥ We have been trying to soak up every moment possible because we know how fast those older three brothers have grown up. I have been mourning the fact that we'll never have a little boy again. 

He gets excited about the simplest things, he loves traditions like crazy, he leaves love notes all over the house. Rudger continues to love warm milk (52 seconds please), the thing that devastates him the most is being told no to warm milk because it's 10:00 at night. 

Earlier this year we watched the movie Zorro. Rudger loved it! The next day I found him in his room marking rows of Z's, with a pen, everywhere. His nightstand, bed, little desk, the wall. Really, everything. My first reaction was incredible frustration, but then I saw his sweet face and how proud he was, there was no way I could be mad at him. It was innocent and I decided I never want him to grow up ever!! To this day you can still see a faint Z in his sheets. :)

Happy 6th birthday Ruggy!!

levi's 10th birthday

It was birthday party year for Levi! For weeks he was set on a Pokemon party. I didn't love the idea, but Pinterest totally came through. Tons of good ideas! Levi and I had lots of fun putting everything together and I realized he is way more creative than Pinterest! It was a fun party and seeing the size of his smile all day just made my heart so happy! 

His actual birthday was a quiet day at home. He spent the day playing with his new toys from his incredibly kind friends. He requested Sweet Potato Nachos for dinner and a donut cake for dessert.

Levi is such a delight to our family! He has done a ton of growing this year and has chosen kindness to be his way of life. He is easy going and welcomes any friend to our home. We love our Levi!!