(8/25) Dinner after the funeral at Pagliacci's

(8/26) Last few hours together ... love this friend of mine!

(8/29) Play date at Grandma's

(8/31) Sunday at the park!

Happy girl!

AUGUST

• The crazy kids' schedule has continued, with Seb and I driving kids to and from bball, football, cheer, YM's, Activity Days, seminary, and now school! Sofia started 2nd with Ms. Helewicz (Sloan and Amethyst are in her class). Hannah is in Dr. Taylor's 5th grade class (with friends Rose, Violette, Emmerson, and Chloe). Beau is in 7th (having an especially social year ... even snagging his first girlfriend, Piper). Hudson is flourishing in 10th (he's juggling so many things and doing better than ever in school). 
• My friend Jackie Price taught Hannah and I some basic crochet stitches. We've been working on little lap blankets, scarves, and tiny bibs for Hannah's labubu. 
• August 7th was a pretty big day. Firstly, Hudson turned 15! The kids started their first day of school! And I walked at UNM's graduation ceremony! After the ceremony, Seb and I drove up to the school to pick up the girls. Then we celebrated Hudson's birthday at a noodle restaurant and Top Golf with Colby and Nico. 
• Hannah started band! She chose to play the flute and is doing very well!
• Hudson started seminary (7am at San Victorio) but we had to switch to the online class when Driver's Ed started later in the month. 
• I went on a trip with the girls and my parents to SLC to attend my cousin Nate's wedding. We stayed with Jared and the boys (Jenny was out of town until our last day). We saw the Farmington temple on the way there and surprised the girl with a Harry Potter exhibit at the mall. Jared was so sweet and gave the girls his boys' fancy Harry Potter robes that they had outgrown. It was so fun seeing Jared and meeting his cute little dog Bear. 
• I started walking with my friend Ana and my other friend Megan. Now the three of us walk together. It's become a pretty regular thing. I love those two friends very much. They are so fun, insightful, and considerate. Such great friends! 
• My parents so kindly watched the kids and dogs for us for about 5 days while Sebastian and I flew to Seattle for his uncle Scottie's funeral. My parents stayed at our home, kept things so nice and clean, took care of the dogs after they had a poop disaster, took the kids to Cliffs, and took the girls to their cheer fest. Whew! 
• Seattle was wonderful. Noah came to town as well. Day one was super fun, riding scooters through the city, souvenir shopping at Pike's Place, eating at Beecher's, going to Wings over Washington, eating donuts on the ferry, and ending the night with a mariner's game. We had great seats near first base. The next day, Sebastian planned a beautiful day trip for the five of us to visit Buchart Gardens in Victoria, Canada, but unfortunately Noah couldn't join us because he forgot his passport. He stayed behind when we boarded the Victoria Clipper. It was so much fun exploring the gardens - they were breathtaking! Especially the sunken garden. On Sunday we were able to reconnect with old friends, eating and playing board games then going to the shooting range. On Monday, Noah, Seb, and I carpooled to Oregon where we met up with Mama and Papa D and Sethrina and her kids for Uncle Scottie's funeral. They had pins he had collected over the years laid out and had each family member take a pin. We enjoyed watching a slideshow with pictures from his life. It looked like he had a really good support system while living in Idaho. He was a very happy, cool, spunky kid! I loved the story of him placing a fire cracker into a candle and trying to get one of his parents to light the candle. He finally did, and the wax flew to the ceiling and stuck there. His funeral was a great reminder that life if short and you never know when it's going to be over. Cherish your loved ones - you never know how long you'll have them.

(9/1) Labor Day staycation at Hinckle!

Our tradition of picking games one at a time and watching each other play

(9/6) Listening to the coaches after their game

(9/6) Getting pumped for "Taylor Swift"

(9/18) Fun with the Activity Day girls

(9/24) Getting ready for their second cheer fest of the season

Love Hannah's sass!

Look at those strong girls!

Lots of teamwork!

And trust!

Facing fears!

Supporting friends!

Go Bears!

(9/25) Third season for Beau, second for the girls

This is one great kid

(9/27) Handsome Hudson heading to Homecoming!

Show your teeth please!

My boy's a young man now! Where did the time go?

(9/28) She did her makeup all by herself!

Trading clothespins with other cheerleaders!

This sweet girl came to support Sofia - what a good friend!

They did awesome! Such a fun routine! Good job, girls!

• For me, the month of September was spent studying full time for the NCLEX. After taking the kids to school and going on my morning walk, I'd study until the kids came home again.
• Seb took the girls to a father-daughter campout. They got there late and it was raining, so they stayed for a little bit and came right back home! 
• Sofia made peach crisp for her 2nd grade mini fair. 
• We took the kids to a Popejoy show called the Taylor Experience. A Taylor Swift impersonator put on a mini version of the Era's Tour Concert. It was super fun dancing and singing. I think everyone had a blast!
• I helped with a service project, cleaning up a sister's home who was in the hospital. I was shocked by the amount of mouse droppings and the overwhelming scent of urine. I've never been in a house so overrun with pests before! It was really wild - the ward had us wear N95 masks to enter the building, and even then I didn't feel like it was enough! 
• Hudson went to homecoming with a group of friends (Christian, Cameron, Steven, Neal, and Ryan). They went to P. F. Chang's before hand and Whataburger afterwards. Hudson's pretty convinced he needs to bring a date next time. We bought his a really nice suit and he looked so handsome and grown up! 
• Andrea and I went to Betty's for a spa day! It started out with a massage. They poured hot oil in our hair and scrubbed our feet. They wrapped us in warm towels. It was so relaxing. Then we had a hot tub all to ourselves. Andrea packed a fun lunch (a new favorite combo: Chobani coconut yogurt + chocolate PB granola) and we just relaxed and chatted!