BYUI--Take Two

We are all going to keep getting older.

Kids are going to keep growing up.

Time just keeps ticking away.

I guess I better start believing it, because it really is happening.

We dropped Tyson off at BYUI this fall, and it has really done a number on my emotions.  I honestly feel like maybe I didn't really believe my kids were going to grow up.  Thank goodness I have a few more years before Summer sets out on her own...but, I've learned, that day will come too!  

Being a mom is hard...and wonderful at the same time.

Since Tyson and his friend Luke were rooming together, Michelle (Luke's mom) and I decided it would be fun to drive together.  I am glad we did, because not only was it more fun, but it was so nice to go through everything together:)

One funny/sad thing that happened on the drive, was Tyson's bike fell off the bike rack .  Who knows how long we were dragging it behind the van before someone waved to us to pull over.  Luckily the tire was the only thing broken and we could get it fixed once we got to Rexburg.

The boys' new home for the next 9 months...with 6 other boys!  

We met most of them. They were all freshman, and seemed like nice, normal, friendly kids.

The hall of bathrooms for all those boys

Grocery shopping with these boys was interesting.  We had to force them to buy any fruits or vegetables:(  Hopefully they will eat them, but probably a high hope.

A lot of protein drinks--haha

He's officially a BYUI student

Our last dinner together for a while

Saying goodbye

Michelle and I trying to distract ourselves from the fact that we are leaving our boys in Idaho

I asked for a first day of school photo, and this is what I got! I think they're at Walmart--haha.  At least they are together.  I am so grateful that they have each other.

And look at them hanging out in nature together:)  This makes my momma heart happy.

Now I just look forward to the texts, phone calls, pictures...and Thanksgiving!!!

Summer Squish

 It seems harder and harder to squish everything into summer break each year!  

We got a visit from The Lambs

Went on a few outings to the lake

A trip up to Birchwood Dairy is a must

(I love that these two still enjoy climbing on the tractors and feeding the animals)

A couple dips in the hot tub

A day at the beach

A bunch of backyard bonfires

A playdate with puppies

A movie date

Swim Lessons

We painstakingly aquired a wedding venue 

(and a dress, but you'll have to wait to see that one)

An afternoon at The Fair

(Summer begged to go on the swings, so I got us both tickets, then she chickened out.  I forced her to go on anyways (mean mom, I know) but she loved it, and wanted to go again and again--sheesh)

(Summer won this rainbow snake on the water squirt game--only because I was her only opponent haha.  That is the only way I'll play that game:))

And a lot of time in the garden:)

(Mom introduced me to zinnias when she sent them for a bday gift for Summer during Covid.  They have been my favorite summer flower ever since!)

(My front yard hydrangea was loaded this year)

I am grateful for a summer filled with so much goodness.  

I can't wait to see how much more we can squish in next year!

1, 2, and 3

 A very, very long time ago...

...Ginny and I went to see Boyz II Men in concert...not once, but twice:)

It only makes sense to see them a 3rd time, right?!  

This time we brought Kathy along:)

And we were a whole lot closer!

Such a fun night at the PNE.  I forgot how much I love Boy II Men, and what great singers they are...maybe there will have to be a 4th concert;)

Everything in between

It had been 8 years since we visited Mike's family in eastern Canada...we were definitely overdue for a visit.  So, a week after getting home from Finland, we were back on a plane again...or at least waiting to get on a plane again.

The beginning

In order to save $200 a ticket (which is a lot when you are buying SEVEN), we opted to fly out of Vancouver.  So we drove the 2+ hours up to Abbotsford, then Ted drove us the 45 min. to the airport.  We actually waited in line to check in since none of us had seats together (another way to save money).  We managed to get Summer and I together since WestJet has a policy for a miner to sit with an adult, but they wouldn't switch anyone else's seat.

We managed to get there quite early (since I am always stressed about being late), but after waiting our 3 hours to board, our flight was delayed.  We were scheduled to take off at 11:15pm (another way to save money), but we didn't board until 1:30am.  The flight next to ours was cancelled, so we were sure we were going to be calling Ted in the wee hours of the morning asking for a ride home.  Luckily our plane still took off.  But we were all pretty grumpy...and mean...and upset...and uncomfortable...and tired.

Rough start.

Sleeping in between strangers--haha

The middle

We had a great few days visiting Niagra Falls (where we spent New Years Eve back in 1999 right after getting married) and hanging out with family.  

We had all been up all night, but we made it to the falls so we had to take pictures, right?!

The BEST ice cream!  Maybe even worth the $50+ we spent on it:)

We wanted to do the boats again because it was Clayton's first time and Summer was only a baby last time we did it.  We opted to go on the top floor, and it was crazy! We were all completely drenched from head to toe, but still, such a cool experience.

We had a BBQ at Mike's brother Jeff's house with all the siblings and their kids.  Everyone was so grown up since last time we were there!  Here's a picture of Grandma Cindy and most of her grandchildren (just missing Cheryl's 4 and Bradley, I think)

Now with Dan and the parents too

And then just the OG's...missing Cheryl (and of course Denny)

We had a wonderful visit with both Toby and Jackie and a few on their kids.  It was nice to go to their homes and visit with them in a smaller group, I don't think I've ever done that before.  I wish we lived closer, so we could spend more time with them.  

Here's Summer swimming at Aunt Toby's pool

We were planning on visiting Toronto last summer, but when we decided to take the family to Europe, we had to push the trip off a year.  Unfortunately during that time, Mike's Grandma Anderson passed away.  We are grateful our kids got to meat her during our last visit, but sad to not have one more visit with her when they are older, especially Summer who was just a baby last time. 

We also visited the grave of Mike's Grandma and Grandpa Emonts, his Dad, and his Uncle.

The end

Unfortunately the end of the trip was worse than the beginning, ugh.  During the last night Jordan got sick (we are pretty sure it was food poisoning...or something similar), so when it was time to check out, she was still so sick she could barely move.  But we had no choice.  We had to check out and return our rental car.  

We had planned to spend the last day in downtown Toronto and at the aquarium.  Since Jordan was in such rough shape, we skipped the aquarium.  We decided to drive downtown so everyone could at least walk around and Jordan could just rest at the park.  

On the way to return the rental car, Jordan started throwing up.  It was a rough few hours (I will leave out the gory details)...and we still had to get on a plane.  Luckily the throwing up subsided before that...maybe it helped that our plane was delayed again...and we had to switch gates...and then it was delayed again.

We didn't get home until about 3am.

Needless to say, it might be another 8 years before we head out to visit Mike's family again.  But at least everything in between the beginning and the end was wonderful;)

Engagement Day

Clayton asked Kya to marry him 8/17/2023 on Alki Beach. 

What a beautiful, magical, perfect day.  

I am so grateful Clayton invited us to be a part of it:)

(from the planning, to the hiding in the parking lot taking videos, it was so fun)

Afterwards, we all got ice cream on the beach...under pink lights apparently--haha.

I am so grateful for my little family...that is growing.  

I love it when we can all come together for each other.