3 days to celebrate

Owen turned 18 on Monday!  It is so surreal to have an adult child now.  He spent the day in typical "adult" fashion and went to work.  For the next 3 weeks, we get to work at the same place.  Being an adult now, he thinks work is important and he doesn't come visit me in my room.  I liked it better when he was skipping school and came to visit me.  He is also helping coach the football team at Rocky until he leaves so he thinks that is pretty cool.

Just because he's 18 doesn't mean he's too old to get balloons.  And no one is too old for a treat either.  

The majority of his friends that aren't serving missions moved up to Utah State on the 20th, so Owen spent the rest of the day in Logan with them.  It is rough with them all either leaving on missions or to different schools.  I'm grateful Owen isn't the last to leave in the group, this is hard on him.  We celebrated some more on Tuesday by going to the stake center and having Dave ordain Owen with the Melchizekek Priesthood in preparation for going to the temple this weekend.  Afterwards we went out to ice cream.  And tonight we finally were able to go to dinner as a family.  I was in charge of a team dinner for the football team, so Davis got two dinners, (nothing wrong with that when he's trying to put on weight for football) so we went to a later dinner.  It was the only day we could all go together, and I wasn't going to leave someone out when our days of going out with all 5 of us are numbered anyway.  What a busy week  going back to work, school starting, turning 18, the priesthood, temple, farewell, and team dinner.  

10th, 5th, and 3 weeks

Our schedule changed this year.  I have always gone to work at the same time as Gator starts school, 8:30.  I knew that I wanted the earlier shift when she started Jr High so I could just go in at the same time as I took her to school.  That 7:15 shift came open this year and I figured I better snag it now while it was available so that means Gator is alone for an hour in the morning.  Today she was nervous, but I think she will come to enjoy the hour of quiet time and she can get her reading done in the morning.  So I wake her up at 6:30 to get her ready for school, then set an alarm for when she has to go out to the bus, today to help her smile I teased her that she was the one sending me off to school this year.  I'm glad she didn't decide to take the day off and go back to bed.  Davis has to be out the door at the same time as he was just getting out of bed last year.  This kid is my sleeper.  He loves to stay up late and sleep all day if he could, so school mornings just about kill him.  He's got some long days with school and football practice, so we'll see how late he still wants to stay up tonight when he finally gets home.  He needs a great year this year, Jr High is not a good time, but he is excited to be in High School.  I'm just sad not having any one with me at the Jr High anymore.  I've got some friends with kids there, I'll have to be their school mom.  Owen is still working this week, plus he's helping coach the Jr High football team.  But he doesn't have to be to work until later, so he gets to sleep in this week.  I love seeing him at work at least, but he will be quitting at the end of the week.  He wants to take the 2 weeks before he leaves to finish up getting ready for his mission and do some reading and studying.  I am praying for a happy, successful year for these amazing kids!!
(He may or may not have been saying "mom, you are such a dork.  I'm not going to hold up 10 fingers to represent 10th grade.) 

Playing with Frank

We miss Frank so much.  He was with us all the time until he moved, and it's just been so sad and quiet in our neighborhood without him.  He came for a visit today and him and Gator got to go to Toads and out to lunch.  It was so fun to see him again. 

Puppies

Our neighbors have a silver lab and she just had puppies this weekend.  Gator is very close to this dog and she cares for her when they leave town, and the dogs owners Kipp and Karma are her close friends.  She is over there all the time, so add puppies to the mix and they will never get a break from Gator.  I was surprised when Karma sent me these pictures today, I didn't think Sami would be so comfortable with Gator holding her puppies, but Gator was over there cuddling puppies or checking on Sami for 3 hours. 

Demolition Derby

I don't know who the crazy one was that planned a lake day and the fair in the same day, but it was probably the mom who is trying to hold on to every last bit of summer before going back to work, and making the most memories in these 4 weeks that she possibly can before her world changes. 

Willard Bay

We normally go to Pineview for our lake days, but today Colin brought his sons boat and he wanted to go to Willard Bay, so we weren't going to tell him no, he had a boat.  The kids had so much fun on the boat, and when it wasn't their turn on the boat, they played on the paddleboards. Willard Bay isn't so bad, I wish the air had been cleaner, but we have wild fires burning all around us.  It is so dry and hot, the water is a great place to get some relief.  I still prefer Pineview, it is in the mountains which is my favorite place to go, and I like how the boats can't come right up to the beach.  It just makes me feel a little safer with all the kids.  But I do enjoy living around so many recreation spots.  Willard Bay did the job and provided us with an awesome and fun day!

Still around

I haven't posted anything for a couple weeks, but we are still chugging along trying to make it through the end of the summer, but dreading going back to school.  We've had the strangest leak pretty much since we've lived in this house.  We've made a hole in the ceiling numerous times, but we've never been able to see where the water is coming from.  We've fixed the toilet, tub, and floor in the bathroom, but it always comes back.  It is so frustrating.  And since it has been torn open this time, absolutely no water?????? 

2 a days have started for football, and Davis enjoys napping with Joey in between practices.  

One thing I never miss about summer is the heat.  I've reached my limit and I am so ready for the fall cool air.  I bought myself a new Fremont jacket for football games and I'm ready to trade in my swim suit for that jacket. 

Owen crashed on a friends moped the other night.  He is doing a bang up job hurting himself before he leaves on his mission.  First the finger and now this.  

                            

I wasn't going to, but I'm glad I got a pass for Gator and I to Lagoon.  I miss having the boys there, but we are still enjoying going with cousins. 

Gator has been doing a volleyball camp.  She really misses soccer and wishes she tried out for another team, but we're sticking to the trying new things and hopefully she finds something else she likes.  She is enjoying the volleyball, so I'm happy about that.  

Lots of driving practice.  Funny thing about Davis, he craves things worse than a pregnant woman.  His license will come in very handy so he can drive to the store to get his latest craving.  

Dates with Owen.  He leaves in just 4 1/2 weeks.  Gator loves her brothers so much despite how rude they are to her most of the time.  She earned some money cleaning up the neighbors horses while they were on vacation, and she wanted to take Owen out to ice cream.  

Two things Owen is trying to fit in before he leaves.  Dates and concerts.  He loves concerts and went to this one at the Tooele fair and has tickets to a couple more.  

My favorite time of year.  Football season is here!  Tonight Davis had a scrimmage, and he has been working so hard he played both sides of the ball.  He is loving that they are giving him the chance to play defense, but they don't have another center, so he is afraid once games start they won't want him hurt so he won't get to keep playing defense.  He is working so hard and it really shows!

I sign Gator up for an art camp in August at my friends center.  It is a good time because the boys have always been busy with football come August, and this camp is a good way for her to stay busy.  

 Joey is one very spoiled dog.  He is very loved.

Owen had been working as a custodian all summer.  He was offended that his own Jr High didn't have an ISU flag in their hall of college flags.  He took it upon himself to buy one, sign it, and hang it up.  

I'm getting my dates in too.  

She's done dogs, cats, chickens, flowers, and gardens and now she has found some neighbors that let her take care of their horses when they are gone.  If this girl is anything but a vet when she grows up, I will be so shocked.