General Conference Time!

We are all ready for conference to start!  Let the bingo, hanging out at the house as a family and uplifting, inspiring messages from God begin!!

Another Dance!

Homecoming was last weekend and this Thursday I was helping out with a Morgan volleyball event and began chatting with another mom and her husband.  I didn’t realize it at the time, but she was scoping things out for her daughter who wanted to ask Jack to the upcoming Halloween dance.

This is our first time with something like this, so questions like, “Has your son been asked to Harvest yet?” didn’t phase me. Jack didn’t think anyone would drive all the way to our house to ask him, let alone a cute, tall volleyball player!  At Morgan the volleyball girls are more popular than the cheerleaders!

Jack was so excited and couldn’t stop smiling and asking Norah questions about Kenna!  He immediately went to work figuring out a cool way to answer her and then asked her to go hang with him and some friends at a haunted house the following Saturday. 

Fun Group!

Jack was really blessed to connect with another player on the basketball team over the summer and has gotten even closer since the start of school. Nate and Jack formed a homecoming group with a few other friends and they all ended up being super fun. 

Chloe lives pretty far south, but was going to be in Ogden for the weekend, so Jack picked her up at the hotel where they exchanged flowers, and then the two of them met up with the rest of the group at Olive Garden. 

Whoever was in charge of dinner dropped the ball and didn’t get a reservation, so the 8 of them waited an hour and a half for a table and spent that time checking out the Spirit Halloween store next door. 

By the time they arrived at the dance it was almost over. Jack and Chloe hung out at the dance for a little over an hour and then made the drive back to her hotel and then back to our house in time for his curfew. Not a perfect night, but a fun one nonetheless!

Chloe & Jack

Jack asked Chloe to the dance over the phone, so there are no fun pictures of that, but the photos Jack’s group took behind Snowbasin are so pretty!!

Chloe isn’t very tall, but in her heels she is a great height for Jack.  Their coordinating blue outfits look great and very on trend for the theme, “Hollywood!”

 

HOCO 2023!

This cutie asked a girl to a dance for the first time and then donned this sweet outfit. He was skeptical a out the bow tie and suspender look, but with some convincing from his date he rocked it!!

Window Shade with Style!

Ava is exceptionally cool, as are all the kids, and she appreciates little things like window shades that depict a scene from Wayne’s World where the gang is singing their hearts out to Bohemian Rhapsody!!  Might be too much attention at BYU, but I think Ava can handle it!

The Band is Back Together!

It was so fun at the homecoming game with these two chattering away in the chilly night air.  I love how close they are in spite of the 4-year age difference. 

Buddies!

It’s been fun to see these two get closer in Ava’s absence. We met up with Ava for dinner tonight before we all go to the Morgan homecoming football game and while the rest of us were wrapping up, these two headed outside for a little fun!

Misty Mountains

The weather has been chilly and raining all day after the rainbows this morning, which means snow on the mountains. Such a beautiful view!

Full-Double Rainbow!!

Coming home this morning from dropping Ben off at school, I saw half of one of the rainbows. As I got closer to home I saw more and more of it until I got to the top of our driveway and saw the full rainbow and the second one!  It was so mesmerizing, it gave me the chills to see such an amazing sight!  Our neighbor was outside taking pictures as well, his turned out better then mine!!  I stared at the rainbow until it disappeared and the rain set in. What a spectacular display!

Excited for Homecoming!

Jack asked a girl to Homecoming!!  We were in doubt he actually did it until a week ago when he started asking what he should wear and showed me a picture of his date’s dress. I got to work and found some suspenders, a bow tie and matching Nikes on sale!  He will look way better with a shirt pants, but he was too excited after his game to wait to try everything on. 

Driver!!

Norah drove Ben down the street in the side by side by herself today. It felt like she needed a little adventure and then she arrived back home in one piece!  She’s growing up fast!!

Hoodie Huddle!

We had our first s’mores outting without Ava today. We made fun of each other, ate lots of s’mores and enjoyed Kyle’s insightful spiritual thought. Love this ever-shrinking family!

Another Artist!

Ben is taking an art class at the junior high and had an assignment to draw a shoe!  He loves his new school shoes and decided to sketch it for class.  He managed to draw one of Norah’s shoes for this card for his cousin-so lifelike!!

 

FaceTime!

This is a horrible angle and therefore not Ava’s best picture, but it was so fun to FaceTime with her today and get to see AND hear her!  I’ve never been much for talking on the phone, but every time this girl calls, its an enjoyable hour at the least!!

Helping Kyle

In addition to the new-found time I am able to spend walking Ulli, going to the temple and taking showers, I have also been able to help Kyle with a new product he is launching. It’s been fun to dabble im graphic design with a purpose!

So Cute!!

Ulli has been an adorable distraction from the emptiness that seems to be present in the house with Ava at BYU.  He is always ready to give me a look or wag his bushy tail in excitement when I need it!

 Thanks Ulli!

Pizza!!

This deep dish pizza is a family favorite lately. Kyle discovered it before summer started and now we frequently make it to celebrate certain things.  I’m not sure what we are celebrating today, but I was happy to oblige Norah when she requested it for dinner tonight.  

I made one change this time though, instead of making two pepperoni deep dish pizzas, I made some garlic butter and turned one pie into garlic cheese bread!!!  It was melt in your mouth crunchy and cheesy with enough garlic to make it zing!!

Super Clean!!

With Ava gone, I’ve been relegated back to grooming Ulli. He’s not a fan of the task no matter who is manning the hose!

I don’t mind the job, especially if the weather is nice outside like today; 75 and breezy.

He’s such a different looking dog when he is all wet, skinny and spiky!  I love how right when I am finished rinsing him he shakes and shakes trying to get dry again. 

Sweet Norah!

In addition to being a new girl starting in high school taking 2 honors classes and 1 AP class, Norah is also the new girl on the volleyball team and her best friend just went off to college.  With all that’s going on in Norah’s life, somehow she is managing pretty well!!  She has over a 100% in all the aforementioned classes and is a starter on the freshman team.

The coaches don’t know Norah, she didn’t play on their club team, go to the summer open gyms or grow up down the street like the other girls on the 39 player team.

In the beginning of the season Norah was put on right side, never got the ball and was subbed out before she hit a chance to serve. Today Norah is still starting, she’s been transitioned to middle blocker and gets to serve in every game. She’s still not getting a ton of sets, but the ones she gets, she puts down with impressive spikes or strategic tips. So proud of Norah and her resilience and perseverance!

Emotional Support Dog!

Now that Ava is off to college, I need some serious emotional support!  Ulli is definitely up for the task!  I picked him up from our friends who take care of him while we are on trips, then he hung out with me the rest of the day!

All Moved In!

The kids and Kyle went to the church gym this morning after a nice nights rest in our own beds. Once they got back, we packed the car and headed to the airport to pick up Ava’s car and then on to BYU. We stopped at smith’s for some groceries and then helped put some furniture together with Ava before picking up some dinner for her nearby and then finally saying goodbye. It’s a hard thing to say goodbye. 

Love These People!

It has been a fun weekend back together as a family after a day and a half apart while Ava attending new student orientation at BYU.  We spend so much time together, I fear how things will feel when we get home and have to say goodbye for a semester. Life will never be the same again. 

Family Time!

It’s been so fun to stay at Granmy’s house, sleep in the basement and hang out during the day with Aunt Cassie, Perry and Grammy. Today, Aunt Amber came over and we were able to play with the dogs in the backyard, throw balls at a Velcro target, look at Granpa’s old picture album as well as eat an amazing dinner and a fun dessert. 

Big Ole Panzerotti!

For dinner, we stayed in the city, grabbed some famous Garrett’s popcorn and then headed to a highly reviews pizza place that also made our favorite deep fried calzones!  The garlic knots and pizza were ridiculously delicious as well. 

Boating!

After the services were over, we still had some time left on the lake, so the captain drove us over to a place to swim on the lake called the playpen.  There were probably 75 other boats in the area, it was a party!!

The kids rode up front on the way there and I rode up front with them on the way back to the harbor. It was a beautiful evening, the waves splashed us as we bounced our way back. Dad would have loved this afternoon on the water!!

Skyline

Before we spread out the ashes, Kyle said a little eulogy and we sang “God Be With You.”  The Captain Said the song really moved him.  Each of the kids as well as Kyle and I were able to spread some ashes while the boat drove slowly back toward the city. We didn’t go the requisite 3 nautical miles from shore, but Grandpa was a rule breaker at heart. 

Dad’s Memorial

 

We booked this trip a few weeks ago, since it was the last time this year we would have off of school while Lake Michigan was still warm enough. The weather was actually pretty warm-90 degrees and the sun was shining. We booked a boat with a captain on Thursday and made it out on the lake at 5pm after a morning of hanging out with Grammy and Aunt Cassie and eating Portillos after a trip to Woodman’s and Lids to spend some money Grammy gave the kids.