08/31/2014 Mr. Ivie and Cliff Jumping for AJ

It's been a busy week here. School is keeping Katie busy with homework most days, Holly just a little. Holly seems to really like Mr. Ivie and it seems like a good fit so far. She brought home her Eagle paperwork and has started working on getting that Eagle award (memorize star spangled banner, constitution, states, presidents, etc). You did that right? Do you remember if your other brothers did too? 

Mr. Ivie said Holly's class is ... challenging. SO they don't get to do as much cool stuff as when you were in there. Plus with a new principal they aren't allowed to play outside as much during class time. Sad. 

Monday night last week while we were chatting with you we went to Dad's friend Dave's house for Pizza and swimming. They live in Little Valley and have a really nice pool. (and home). Their kids are all grown up and live in Chicago so they really seemed to enjoy having people to hang with.  They just moved here after working in Chicago their whole lives so they are looking for friends.  Dad and Dave had to go do an interview for Dad's job so me and the girls hung out with Debbie, Dave's wife, for awhile. It was fun.  A wee bit chilly but fun!

Tuesday brought another major lightening and thunder and rain storm but seems everyone still had sandbags out from last rain, didn't hear of any further flooding problems. I missed most of it because it happened while I was in court. Which didn't get out until almost 8 p.m. 

Wednesday AJ and buddies from BYU came and stayed over on their way to San Diego.  He begged and begged until we finally just said...FINE...and met him at Sand Hollow with sloppy joes and fixins. He couldn't even get there until 7 p.m. so we had not quite 2 hours of day light for cliff jumping and eating. We ate first and then they jumped. Me and Dad and Katie just watched this year.  Fuddy duddy's! I think they had fun.  Then we had boys sleeping all over the living room upstairs.  From what I can tell they are having a great time. Gone to ball game, Jack Johnson concert, beach, temple. I'm sure he'll fill you in.  They should be coming back through today. School starts for BYU Tuesday. 

Thursday was a surprise party for Sister Clark (Chauntelle's mom) at laser mania. So we went over there (just the girls) and played laser tag, 4D movie, glow in the dark golf and bumper cars.  They had some food too. There was quite a few people from church there. 

Friday was girl scouts and then the riley's came and hung with Holly all night while Katie went with Dad.  So far I don't think she's quite getting football or stat taking but she's trying.  

Someone gave me a big bag of pecans which we shelled and made 2 pecan pies. We will try them tonight. We used 2 recipes and Holly made one and Katie the other. Gonna see what we like better. It was kind of fun. Holly's actually looks better (but we overfilled Katie's pie so it's not her fault!)

We also made some fresh salsa to send back with AJ tonight when he comes through. I didn't have enough nor the patience to cook salsa for an hour and bottle it.  SO we'll just be eating this up and giving it out this week. 

I hope that you are doing great and keeping super busy up in Washington.  Really love seeing the pictures on facebook that your friend has been sharing.  It really makes things come alive and seem real to see them. You look so good! 

Were you able to use the cord I sent to plug your camera in to a computer?  I sent an additional card too so you could just mail home your other one if you can't find a computer to read that. 

Do you need anything? We love you and pray for you daily. The girls continue to try to read the book of mormon. You have a good influence on your family.  Dallas seems to be doing great. He is working every day and going to school every afternoon and he can often be found at the kitchen table with his noise silencing headphones on doing homework. He really seems to be making better choices and it makes this mama's heart happy. Thank you for your influence there too.  

You are an amazing kid! I am so thankful for your influence and example for good in our home. And the girls really do miss you thanks to you being such a super brother before you left. 

Keep up the good works! LOVE YOU!!!! Mom

08/31/14 Laurito's visit

8/31/2014

It's been a busy week as dad winds down his sports year.  He has been working super long days and getting very little sleep. I think 3.5 hours a night has been typical lately.  But I think he survived and can slow down a little bit now.

The girls have been busy too.  It's so weird to think in a week we'll be done with elementary school forever!  WOW.  We are getting old!

Grandma and pa Laurito came and have spent the week with us.  They got here Tuesday night and will leave tomorrow.  They have kind of been doing their own thing and us ours and then we have dinner and the evening together, maybe.

Friday Holly got a trophy for 2nd place in the science fair.  She sang so long, farewell with the choir and got to sing the last part solo.  (the sun, has gone to bed and so must I...goodbye...)  She was also recognized as getting the Eagle award (4 kids in the school so far have done it but they said 2 more are trying to get done and they will actually award the shirts and eagles next Thursday at 5th grade graduation.)

Saturday gma and pa Laurito and the girls and I went down to St. George and did the walking tour of Historic St. George.  We only did about 1/2 of it.  We went through the daughters of the Utah pioneers museum (grandpa bought taffy for the girls) and then through the Brigham Young house.  Afterward (about 2 hours of walking and museums) we went to iceburg and grandpa bought us milkshakes.  I thought the girls might be bored with it but they said they really enjoyed it.  And at dinner they were repeating a lot of the things we had learned from the tour guides so they were apparently paying attention!

Then we went to charming charlie's and had Suzanne pick out jewelry (2 necklaces) for mother's day and the girls picked out a head band and earrings and 4 bottles of nail polish.  They all loved it and it was under $16 for all the stuff.  You'll have to check that place out when you come home...great place to buy gifts for the women in your life!  

Grandpa took us to Golden Corral for dinner ($86, OUCHY!) and it was pretty yummy.  Everyone was pretty starving by the time we went because we had eaten a late breakfast and then a milkshake but we never really had lunch and we didn't eat until about 7:30 p.m.  So it was probably even better than it really was, haha.

(Darin) Seminary graduation is today and Bryce Taylor's farewell and then (Darin) graduation later this week (the Taylor's have a LOT going on in their family!!! We got invited to all 3 events and afterparty's for them this week.  

Anyway it's a busy time of the year -- I think I have 3 things I have to leave work for this week to go see the girls at school stuff.  

Hope everything's going well and you are settling in and loving your new area.  Can't wait to hear all about it!  

Love you!!!

 

 

08/25/14 FLOOD

8/25/14

Dawn Wright alerting neighbors that help is needed!

Been a super busy fast week.  After we talked to you Monday afternoon a big flash flood came through our town.  Several homes got major amounts of water in their homes.  Do you remember the Olsen's from Pioneer Circle (truck drivers that lived behind us, Felicity Olsen's grandparents)?  They had recently redone their basement from a flood a year ago and they got hit again.  Not happy campers.  

Flooding yards in hobble creek

Keith Jones yard, across the street from us

Ali Lane became Ali River

Holly Lane and Ali Lane 

Carnevale's driveway is in the street

Sister Rae working hard to clean water out of the house

Also the Carnevale's (our primary president's family).  They just moved in to Hobble Creek in March and live up against the dog park almost...next to Clark's house.  They got the whole of Washington City dumped into their home.  It was awful.  I'll send some pictures in a separate email.  So we were going to have a swim party on Monday night.  The storm cancelled it.  So we were going to go to Grandma's and make Jelly and the storm cancelled that too.  Instead we spent hours at Carnevale's house sweeping water out of their house and trying to clean and dry the mess.  

They had to remove all the base boards and dry wall up to about knee high.  And all their carpet and pads.  Probably $15k worth of damage.  Sickening really.  

Carnevale's backyard

I got to go to the dentist this week and got out without any cavities (of course Dr. Hall didn't even come in so maybe I have some but nobody saw them!)  My appointment was 8 a.m. and they said he sometimes has a hard time getting there for the early appointments.  Silly, huh. 

Marlee came over for her birthday for a little while.  We got her some "grown up girl" presents for her birthday.  Some of the grab and go laundry soap tablets, dishwasher soap and dish soap.  Not really fun at all but I think she needed all that stuff for her apartment.  She was excited and nervous.  She was leaving the next morning to go up North.  I'll have to ask her how she's doing.  I saw her post that she made it up but haven't talked to her to see how she likes the roommates and stuff.  Should be a busy day today.  First day of school. 

Nice pool if you like murky water...

Dallas' first day of school too.  He seems pretty ready to move forward with education and stuff now.  He has his schedule worked out so that he can work 8 - 2 every day and then has classes from 3-9:30 (not every day...)  He is signed up for 18 credits but I think he'll drop at least 1 class.  He is just trying to decide for sure which one.  He has to take 12.  And he has to get good grades to get $500 scholarship from Discount Tire.  They pay at the end.  So he has to put out the $ first and if he does well get paid.  His grant is paying for his tuition but he has to buy all his books, parking pass and like $35 of tuition or something.  So not a free ride completely.  He is signed up to take Math, Philosophy, Photography, History, coop (work study), and an online computer course.  They are all 3 credits each. 

Barefoot Holly working hard with Sister Rae

Holly just started working on the American Eagle Award (didn't you earn that?)  Do you remember, was that really hard to earn? I found some songs on the internet that sing the constitution, declaration of independence, Gettysburg address, states and capitols, presidents and the star spangled banner.  They are like mostly 2 minutes each.  I told her if she'll listen to them every night before bed she should have everything memorized in no time.  She loves to sing anyway. 

Andy working outside with the guys

Katie is a reading fool.  She is on book 7 of that Ranger Series she was working on and every time she finishes one she can't wait for the next one.  She read for 4 hours yesterday morning. 

The young men and women went to the temple Saturday.  They had a really good turn out.  Like 20 with adults and kids. Last day the temple is open for 3 weeks so a pretty busy afternoon. 

Crew hard at work

Katie and Genesis

Grandma and grandpa are doing good.  Did you hear about their a/c leak? They had to have their whole inside living room ceiling torn out, dried out and replaced.  Holly found it the day we left her there to take you to the MTC.  They just this last couple of days finally finished cleaning up that whole mess.  (Carpet cleaning, re doing the ceiling, painting etc.)  Can't even tell anything happened although it was pretty big mess for a little while.  Lots of dust and stuff.  

Fire Department came to help out too

Well I hope you are doing great and working hard and staying happy.  We love you and miss you!  Really enjoy being facebook friends with Nakita Cuevas.  She rocks.  Tell her thank you so much for sharing pictures of you. That has been so fun to see you hard at work!  

Assessing the damage

Can't wait to hear about your week! Love you XOXO mom. 

08/03/14 End of life as I know it...Bryce goes in the MTC

8/3/2014

Hey, I saw that you called or texted. We drove Bryce to the MTC on Wednesday.  Dropped off at 12:45. It was REALLY hard. Harder than last time. (Maybe 'cause we knew what was coming?!) Bryce was really emotional as were we. I think sending an 18 year old was also a contributing factor. It just felt like we were sending our baby away and I wasn't ready and neither was he!

Last meal with Marlee

Katie gonna miss her bro

Brother love

Emotional parting

Wearing sunglasses so you can't see us crying

Awe.  Mamma gonna miss her boy. 

Of course I think we are and we'll be fine but WOW.  Hard.

Funny thing. When Andy got home he looked at Bryce's cell phone.  There was a calendar evening popped up that said, 12:45 July 30, end of life as I know it.  Haha. Ain't that the truth!

Goodbye son, I'll miss ya!

Anyway, Andy and I drove from Provo down to Cedar City. Cried and talked most of the way down.  And then Andy took me up the mountain to girls camp.  Girls camp was a great distraction. Didn't dwell on the loss I was feeling. And the talks and activities were so spiritual and wonderful. I felt like I was really inspired and motivated and filled up with the spirit of it all.

Parting in sweet sorrow

We have a ward that has a lot of new move-ins so the new girls didn't really know each other that well and the other girls have known each other since they were babies. They meshed really well and truly bonded and grew.  It was just such a super experience.  

Came down off the mountain yesterday afternoon and went to late lunch/dinner with Andy, played some games with the family and then started working on Bryce's blog.  elderbrycegriffin.blogspot.com   It felt good to get that going. That has been weighing on my mind that I needed to get it up before I forget things or miss things. My memory is terrible!

Before I knew it the day was gone and it was almost midnight.  SO, needless to say, I didn't call you!

Bye!  See ya in two!

Well, there you have it.