Sunday of last week we went to Heber City to be there when Mandy's baby girl, Mary, was blessed. The blesssing was beautiful, the day was beautiful, and being with family just filled us right up! Kevin and I went as did Beth and Ben, Savannah and Peter, Cheyenne and Tyler, Calianne and Richmond, and Mariah and Kolby! We got to see Amy and Paul and Kayla with her two children and Hannah and Mandy and Parker with Mary. Parker's family was there, too and we had a lovely luncheon afterward in the park. What a special day and we were so glad we could be there!

Monday was Labor Day, and Beth got to stay with us an extra day! Megan, Beth, and I went to see the new Spider-Man movie in the theatre in the morning. It was so fun! In the afternoon, we met up with the fam to have a picnic in the canyon. Yay! This year we played a game of kickball. The goal was to help us all feel like heroes, and I think we did it! It was a great day.

Tuesday, Kevin left to start the retreat he held in Park City this year for couples. He had three couples attend this year and was aided by a fellow therapist and her husband who are partnering with Kevin. He stayed there most of the week only coming back Wednesday night so he could bring the four-wheeler up Thursday morning. I also joined him Thursday morning for the four-wheeling and it was beautiful! He felt like the retreat was a success! He was very tired when he got back Saturday afternoon. Good thing he had lots of football games to watch.

On Wednesday, I had a free morning so I hiked Stewart Falls. That is a beautiful hike! I had a terrific time filling my soul with all the beauty around me!

I also have been helping Cheyenne and Tyler look for places to live. I've looked at a lot of places online and toured a few this week, as well. Rent prices are so high that we are now encouraging them to buy instead. I think it will be a good option! They are both so busy with school and work that it is hard for them to give time to this project as well. I'm glad I have the time to help.

Benjamin ran in a meet in Taylorsville Saturday morning. He was playing a little "two-hand touch football" before the race. He made the touchdown but hurt his hamstring! His race time suffered because of it, poor guy. He had a great time the rest of the day, though, because he and Max took the train up to Salt Lake City to see Kyler for Kyler's birthday. Fun times! And so independent! Wow!

Ben had a busy week as he is trying to figure out homework in addition to school, work, and cross country! So far, so good. I have confidence he will figure out this time management thing! He had a meet on Friday and he placed 4th in the Jr/Sr race and got a free t-shirt! So fun! He did a great job. Also, on Saturday, he went with the bishop and some of the young men to the BYU football game! That was his first time going to one. He had a really fun time.

Bethany had three good days at school and then got pretty sick on Thursday and Friday. Poor girl! She came home Friday for some home-loving and has started to feel a bit better. She's been working on her homework here at home so she can stay up on all her classes and is happy that she can get herself to do them!

Chey is busy, busy with school and work! But she also made time to do a terrain race with Tyler in Ogden on Saturday morning. They jumped obstacles and ran through water and mud and had a super fun time! Crazy kids. We are also making progress on wedding planning and apartment hunting. So much to do!

They ran with two of Tyler's brothers!

Savannah had a lot of days she didn't feel well this week, but she still found time to snuggle with Peter and he always brings her spirits up which we love to see!

On Saturday, Sarah had a birthday party for Miss Lyla! She is three years old! We met at the splash pad and watched the kids play, visited, and ate pizza. Then we watched Lyla open presents and ate cake and ice cream. It was a beautiful day and so fun to celebrate that girl!

Kevin has been busy, busy with planning the retreats he has scheduled for the next two weeks and has been using every minute that being released as bishop freed up in his schedule! He keeps himself very busy.

I have been working on getting invites to the wedding sent out. So far the invites were designed (by Megan!), addresses and names gathered (joint efforts), sorted into who gets what invitation (joint efforts), ordered in the right amounts, picked up, addresses printed, stickers on envelopes, and envelopes stuffed. Whew. Now for sealing and postage! I also had some clients this week, watched some grandkids, did payroll and bookkeeping for Addo, and kept up with my part in getting the basement kitchen put in (ordering things and making payments to the contractor). This was a good paragraph for me to write because when I look back I wonder if I did anything productive with my week. Turns out I did!

Beth started college this week! Right there is a life event we didn't know if Beth was going to get. We are all so excited for her and it is wonderful to see the excitement she has for herself! On Monday, she and I drove down to Snow College. She'll have her own car while she's there so that she can make the 80 minute drive home when she wants. She got there in time for orientation that morning. Afterwards, we got her checked into her apartment and met her roommate and brought her stuff upstairs. Then . . . I left her there! What?? Crazy! She is emotionally ready to be an independent person and I love it! She had a good week. She went to three dances, met people, signed up for institute, ate so much free food that she didn't need her meal plan, and started classes. Yesterday, she came home to visit so that she can keep her connections and support with us alive and she'll go back on Monday, this time with the t-shirt quilt her grandma made for her to put on her bed!

Also on Monday, Cali and Richmond did a gender reveal for their first baby who will be arriving at the very beginning of February. It's a girl! Cali created a tic-tac-toe game board and revealed each square separately until the last square won the game with three pink pictures in a row! We are so excited for them and for this new member of our family!

My mom and dad came to visit on Thursday! It was so fun to see them. On Friday we drove to Heber to see Mandy's new baby and that evening we were back home to celebrate Cali and Chey's birthday. We had such a good visit. We love those two people very much!

On Friday, Cali and Chey turned 22! What?? Crazy. We had Poke bowls for dinner, had brownies and ice cream, opened presents, and played a truth or dare twin version game created by Megan. It was super fun and what a great reason to celebrate having Cali and Chey in our lives! We love them so much!

On Saturday, Ben ran in another cross country meet. It was a beautiful day and he ran well! He even cut another 20 seconds off his time. Go Ben!

Kevin will be released today as YSA Bishop of the BYU 189th ward. So, last night, he and the ward had a party in the park and invited all current and past members of the ward. We had yummy food and a lot of people showed up. It was a fun way for Kevin to spend time with these great young people he has served and loved!

Ben started school this week!! He is in a brand-new school this year right next to where they bulldozed the SHS of years past. I went with him to the open house so I could see the new building. I loved that he was comfortable enough to let me come along! It is a beautiful building – all clean and shiny and modern with lots of brand new tech. Lucky kid! The seminary building is also new and I love it, too! It’s full of light, open, and beautiful. He is going to have a great year!

He started school on Tuesday with early-morning 6:30am seminary. Then he had history, choir, lunch, math, and biology. Wednesday was B day and he started the day an hour later catching the bus for the advanced learning center (ALC) where his first two classes were architecture 1&2! Then he took the bus back to SHS for lunch, economics, and AP Lang (English). So far, he is really liking his schedule. The new seminary building also has a new ping pong table so friend hang-outs are able to happen just like last year! He has cross country practice after school and he takes the car to school so he leaves in the morning and we don’t see him until 5. We are happy to see him busy with good things.

 

First day of school junior year 11th grade.

Beth had her last week at home this week. She and Mariah and I worked on moving her stuff from her room into the bunk-bed room with Chey. That helped her go through her things and get rid of things she doesn’t need anymore to be ready for her new phase of life! She also took a math placement exam that needed to get done and finalized her schedule. On Friday, in some quiet time, we watched all the rest of The Other Bennet Sister together and had so much fun! She also had some fun times with her sisters—watching movies and going to Mariah’s pool. On Friday night, all the siblings got together for dinner and Chubby’s and games afterward. We will sure miss that girl!

Chey continues to be busy with school and work and Tyler. She had a bit of a “que sera sera” moment and is much happier this week as she let some of the stress go from last week and became more accepting of life right now. It’s good to see!

Savannah was not well the beginning of the week but was doing better toward the end. On Saturday, she even got out to take care of her bees—and she got stung! But she still came to Grandpa’s with us that day!

On Saturday we drove to Idaho! Matt and Lynzy’s son, Connor got home from his mission and we went to hear his homecoming report. It was so great to be there and see Matt’s family and also so good to see Kevin’s dad and Maria! We needed some Idaho family connection and were so glad to have this reason for it. Our kids all love Kevin’s family so almost all of them came! Kevin and I, Savannah and Peter, Mariah, Kolby, and Evelyn, Cheyenne and Tyler, Calianne and Richmond, Beth and Ben. What a crew! It was a quick trip but very fun.

Kevin and his dad cooking breakfast together as they do.