It was our last full week without school. Because of COVID, I feel like we've been on summer break FOREVER! Will we even know how to go back to school? Ha ha! In this family, everyone is glad to be going back and excited for it, although this week has seen some of the first jitters since the closeness of the date is causing reality to set in!

The good news is that after multiple class change requests, the twins both have schedules they are happy with. Yay! That can make a big difference. Bethany starts at the junior high this year and was nervous about finding her classes, but the twins took her to the empty-but-open junior high and helped her walk her schedule. So, Beth is feeling better about things, too!

Ben has a backpack and shoes (they did go missing this week, but we found them at his friend's house!) and some new shirts and I've sewn him lots of masks. The last thing he needs is a nice haircut, but we haven't been able to get that done because his friend Nico, who will be moving soon, has been able to play alot this week. By play, I mean play computer games but that is what they like to do, and Ben just earned his computer and its what a perfect day entails for him and school will start soon to end it and Nico will move away, so I've just let them be on the computers--for this week anyway!

The twins started match play for the tennis team. They played on Monday in Alta (about an hour away). Their team did take a bus but they were required to wear masks the whole ride. The twins report that wearing masks does not make a bus quieter--louder if anything--but still harder to hear! They also had a tournament on Wednesday close by in Spanish Fork where they played four games each. They were exhausted by the end of the day but still managed to come to our first YW activity in forever--a back to school pool party. I think for the twins, even if it was exhausting, that is what entails a perfect day: tennis all day and gather with friends at the end of it! They have gathered with their friends often this week:  night games in the park, an outdoor movie another night, and frisbee at the resevoir last night.

Cheyenne tried out a new look this week.

Beth had friends over this week, too, and twice went to the Springville pool to swim with some friends. At Beth's urging, I also took her to Walmart with me to get some school supplies and new shoes. Her backpack is packed and I think she is ready to go!

I planned a family hike this Saturday and Savannah and Mariah both came with us, the twins, Beth, Ben, and me. Kevin couldn't come because he was helping our new neighbors move in. I wanted to do a hike that I'd done just a couple of years ago with Robin, but since then, I guess they've had high water in that canyon and they've got the road closed until they can fix things. Bummer for us! Still, we walked the road into the canyon for awhile. Santaquin canyon is very pretty! It was super fun being with Savannah and Mariah. Afterwards, we got some food and sat at the church next to the Payson temple watching the new brides and reminiscing about past temple trips. I am glad to hear that my children love and miss the temple. It was a fun morning!

When we got back from our morning adventure, we went over and helped our new neighbors unload their last truck. Mariah had her tag on and was standing by Savannah so, Heidi, our new neighbor said, "Oh! Hello Sisters!" thinking maybe the missionaries from the ward had come to help and Savannah said, "Actually, she's the sister," pointing to Mariah, "I'm just the sister of the Sister." Ha ha! Funny moment. Our new neighbors seem really nice.

Last Sunday, we all took a drive. We wanted to go to Bridal Veil but cars were lined along the streets at both parking lots, so we drove up to Squaw Peak instead. None of our four youngest remember ever going, so it was fun to show them this famous look-out point and it was really fun to be together. The kids played "Can you guess what primary song I'm humming?" while we drove. They're the greatest!