My Journal

 Travel day to Tyler. I had decided it would be good to visit Tara, I just hadn't taken into consideration how long the drive was. It was still good but it did seem a little long for a short day trip. We left early a little after 7:00...at first I wasn't going to wait for the kids to eat, just take snacks, but I am glad I did because we really didn't have many good snacks and in the end we didn't even stop for lunch...so it was a bit of a long day without much eating. We first went to Tyler state park where we went for a hike and played on a playground we also soaked our feet in the lake. It was beautiful there and we left just as things were really starting to heat up. We then drove over to Ron and Tara's where we sat and visited for a little bit. She had some yummy fruit for us to eat and ice cream so we ate those things as we visited and then we started on the drive home. At home the kids watched another chopped and another series of the misfortunate events. It w...

 Today was another teacher work day. We still tried to get a couple of things done in the morning and then Alden and I went to the school. It was another great day there. In the evening we watched some of the misfortunate events and an episode of chopped. It was a nice relaxing day.

 Today was my turn to drive to the temple. We left early and got home around lunch time. Evan stayed home with Andrew and watered the plants. Roslyn and Maebryn still went to the Aston's to play. In the afternoon I started Luis on piano lessons, we'll see how he does as he doesn't have a way of practicing but hopefully he'll still get something out of it. The kids and Andrew have read lots.

 We were still able to do a work project of moving mulch and then Alden and I went to the school for teacher meetings. These days as so low key, it's nice we get paid for really just being present.  In the evening I had lessons so Alden drove to go pick up Andrew from the airport. We found out yesterday or possibly the day before that he would be flying in. We're excited to have him here. The kids didn't waste any time getting started into a book.

 Most people start school this week, it is nice that we have another couple of weeks. I will have teacher meetings but that's about all. We had a fairly regular summer morning and lessons in the afternoon. We've been trying to make better meals which has been nice. In the evening the kids went out to swim and I started making a yellow dress. (Honestly I am writing this a week after the fact, Andrew came on the 11th and I didn't write for the whole week he was here so I am catching up now a week later.)

 I should probably have done more today but I didn't have much I needed to do and enjoyed just a relaxing day. We had a nice relaxing morning with cereal, music and the spoken word, come follow me and getting ready for church. Roslyn and Maebryn sang with the Jones girls the song "Anytime Anywhere" it was beautiful and Karli spoke on lighthouses which was also really good. I loved hearing about what a lighthouse does and about it's foundation. Both are very symbolic. In our primary class we talked about Ester as we ate apples with carmel and nutella that we promised to bring if everyone remembered to read their scriptures. (Not all remembered but we still had it.) We had another yummy steak dinner with sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes and broccoli and then rolled ice cream for desert. Michael had made carmel ice cream with chocolate sauce and Alden rolled it, he's got that down really well. I took a picture after I had already taken a bite but it looked pro...

 We all slept in and had a late lazy breakfast. After breakfast we did a little bit of work in the yard and I ran to town talk to do our grocery shopping. Alden and Calvin went to the homeschool fair to sell Squeaky Kingdoms and Michael worked on lunch for the missionaries. We had steak that had started defrosted in the freezer, it was delicious. I got home just in time for lunch with the missionaries. After the missionaries left Michael and I went to the temple where we got to see Ethan get his endowments. This is the third week in a row that Michael and I have been able to go to the temple together. I big blessing. We got home in time to eat something with the kids and get everyone tucked in for bed. Picture is Roslyn reading to Maebryn. She had read to her a whole stack of books. Roslyn seems to love reading to her and Maebryn loves being read to.