September

Brynn had been complaining about a tooth bothering her and when I looked at it, I could see an obvious cavity.  I took her to Justin's dentist here in Heber, trying to squeeze it in and be quick, but all they did was confirm what I already knew and sent us off with an appointment for a different day and a payment paper.  I looked at Brynn and asked her if she'd just rather go to Uncle Jeff and she very much wanted to do that.  So we took a day and had Jeff fix her cavity.  He was so gentle that, in the process of giving her the numbing shot, Brynn asked him when he was going to start.  We had made plans to meet my mom and dad for lunch after the appointment but got done early so killed some time by walking around the Ogden temple.  The flowers, as always, were beautiful!

 

Trampoline + roller skates was Brynn's silly idea one afternoon.  She had a hard time staying on her feet!

 

Molly had a free Saturday and decided to spend it cleaning the truck, inside and out.  She had no trouble recruiting Brynn and Ivy to help.  Justin had replaced the brakes and done a few other repairs so it was all ready for Molly.  12 days...but who was counting?? 

Ivy and Molly took a turn balancing on the car jack while Justin lifted them as high as it would go.  Ivy was so calm and cool about it, just standing there with her hands on her hips the whole time.  Molly had to go up on one foot since both feet wouldn't fit. 

We didn't do anything for the long Labor Day weekend.  Molly worked Friday night, Justin worked Saturday, Molly worked Monday.  So, we stayed home.  I mowed the lawn, cleaned bathrooms, canned a batch of salsa, weeded my huge flower bed that I can't grow anything in (it needs some good soil), and braved Walmart with all the kids.  Justin did some work on cars (oil changes, etc) and got the garaged organized and ship-shape like he likes it.  It was hot so Monday was a great day for soap clouds and sprinklers under the tramp.
 

Powder Puff game.  Molly thought she would play so she signed up and went out with the other sophomores.  Then she pretty much stayed on the sideline.  She told me later that she didn't really want to go out and play but was fine cheering everyone else on and that it was just fun to be involved.  Brynn, Ivy, and I went to watch anyway.

?, Jalynn Pough, Molly, Regan Heywood

 

I am teaching preschool again this year.  There were a couple of meetings before Labor Day and then we started in earnest the week after Labor Day.  I am teaching this cute little three-year-old class on Wednesday and Friday morning.  I don't have to do any prep.  I am also helping once a week with a 4-year-old class Thursday afternoon and another 3s class for an hour Tuesday morning.  I am there four days a week but it's totally manageable.  As long as I have a few hours in the day to prep dinner and do other random necessary things, it's all good.

Senora Burns, Mac Coombs, Hank Willett, Lucy Coffman, Addison Greaves, Millie Merrell

*I have 16 piano students.  I didn't take any new students and have Wednesday's off because when club soccer starts back up, that is when Molly will have practice in Orem. 

Molly was in the homecoming parade.  It was a fun "small town" kind of thing, with all the high school sports and clubs walking or riding in floats.  Stockton was playing percussion at the middle school and the parade route went right by him so I got to see both the kids.  Molly never saw me, despite me yelling.  Guess I'm not loud enough.

Kelton Webb and Stockton

Molly's on the opposite side of the street, with the soccer ball at her feet

Molly was super bummed that Homecoming was held so early this year.  It's traditionally been a little later in September but it was held on the 10th...5 days before her 16th birthday.  We asked her to wait to date but let her decide and she decided to go with a group of girl friends.  She had heard that a few different boys were thinking of asking her but she's not sure if they would have followed through.  This was a great option for her!  They went to an escape room for their day date then went back to one of the houses to get ready.  A mom took their pictures, they went to dinner, and then went to the dance.  Molly wasn't sure if she would love the dance but she ended up having a lot of fun!  I'm so glad for the decision she made and I know it's one she will remember and be happy she decided to wait.  This group of girls is so good and so fun and they had a great day together.

Carolyn Ritchie, Jalynn, Regan, Molly, Carolyn Ritchie (yes there are two girls with the exact same name)

she borrowed a dress from Callie Bingham

Sarah ?, Carolyn, Kayli ?, Molly, Jalynn, Regan

Molly, Regan, Kayli, Jalynn, Sarah, Carolyn

Jackie Bingham and Molly

Brynn wants a phone or a watch so bad.  I am getting closer and closer to her being ready for something, just so I can get in contact her when I need to.  All her friends have phones and they have added me to a group chat.  Lucky me.  I have it on mute so I don't get the notifications but I will often look at my phone and see that I have 30+ unread messages.  All from that friend group.  Yikes.

Mari Freeman, Ellie Graff, Brynn, Layla Baird

**Update 10/16: after needing to get a hold of her a few times and being unsuccessful, we decided to get her a T-mobile kids watch.  She's had it for one week and it has been great.  I have an app on my phone so I can control everything.  I add contacts then she can text or call anyone in her contact list.  I can set time limits and I there is a camera there too.  It's been perfect for what we were needing and I know that she enjoys being a little more connected.

I love when I see a peak of one of my kids on one of the school's social media page.  I saw one of Ivy making toothpick and marshmallow structures with one of her best friends, Luca Delorey; another of her pushing another best friend, Raina Cottle, on the swing while Hannah Reynolds watches; the last one of music class.  She loves specials and music is one of her favorites.  I'm so glad that elementary is so much fun and they she has so many good, cute friends.  She is in such a fun stage of life, full of excitement for so many things!

Nadia, Ivy, Luca

Hannah, Ivy, Raina

in the blue and white dress on the right

I've been making salsa as soon as I have enough tomatoes to make a batch.  Ivy helped me one Saturday afternoon.  This was my fourth batch out of five.  I kept making it until I ran out of jars and didn't want to buy anymore.  We ran out of salsa in June this year so hopefully I've made enough to last all year.

 

This is our kitty, Pumpkin.  Or "Punkin'" which is how Ivy says his name.  We have had so many litters of kittens that they aren't that special anymore (although still fun and always cute) but Pumpkin is special because we lost his momma, Mango.  We found her in rough shape one morning and it looked like she had been attacked or in a fight with another animal.  Justin had to put her down.  We had given all of the other kittens away but Pumpkin hadn't been claimed yet so we decided to keep him.  Luckily, he was old enough to be eating solid food.  We did keep him inside in a crate in the laundry room at night for a little while and then moved the crate to the front porch and kept the door open so he could go in an out (door to the crate, not our house).  Brynn and Ivy were very solicitous to his every need.  He is a really cute kitten.

 

When Molly played in Spanish Fork, they introduced the JV team, something that is usually only done for Varsity.  Since Molly is a starter, her name was announced and she had to step forward and give a little wave.

third one in from the right

America First brought their Management Seminar back this year, after two years off for Covid.  The last time we went, three years ago, was when we won our trip to Hawaii!  It was held at Little America this year and we were happy to be back.  I did the partner classes on Thursday while Justin had his meetings and then we skipped dinner to drive down to Spanish Fork to watch Molly's game that night.  There was a speaker for management and partners Friday morning but then I had free time all day while Justin had more meetings.  I walked to City Creek Center that morning, went back for lunch, then did a session in the Jordan River Temple that afternoon.  We hung out with work buddies and their spouses before dinner and entertainment.  Saturday morning was the closing session and it was over after lunch.  It is always a nice getaway for me and a good change of pace for Justin to get out of the branch.  He's also made so many friends over the last 17 years (!!) so it's fun for him to spend time with them.

 

He went home after seminar but I stayed down in Salt Lake.  We were having a very belated girls day for my 40th birthday and going to see The Unsinkable Molly Brown at Hale Theatre in Sandy.  Everything I've seen at Hale has been magnificent and this was no exception.  They always have the most talented performers and it's so enjoyable.  We had dinner after the show and then went our separate ways but I'm glad we finally found a time to do this and am always grateful these people are my best friends.

Mom, Ali, Erin M, Erin W, me

Our Primary Program was held the last Sunday in September.  It was Brynn's last one.  I tried so hard to get Ivy to wear a different dress but she was set on that one and that was fine.  Brynn spoke about giving as Jesus gives and Ivy spoke about making covenants.  They sang my favorite new song, "I Will Choose to Serve the Lord" and they knew all the words.  Justin ended the meeting with some closing remarks and all three of my people did a great job.

 

Justin's always takes the most random and weird dinner pictures.  These pictures are from three different meals and were almost the only pictures Justin took from the entire month.  1-Stockton and Ivy tickling Brynn who has a mouthful of broccoli.  This ended in tears.  2-Ivy found some fake glasses and wore them the entire day.  3-A corn on the cob eating contest between Brynn and Ivy.  Dinner is much more fun and exciting when Justin is joining us!

 

The youth had a combined activity where they went to a big barn in Charleston that was filled with old historical items.  I wasn't there so couldn't expand beyond that but Justin, Molly, and Stockton came home saying how cool it was.  This is an old dentist chair and dental tools.

 

We waited almost one whole year to find out where our temple was going to be located.  It was an exciting day when the church announced the location and we drove over that very night to see.  We are not really that far from the Provo Temple but our Heber Temple will be a mere 7 minutes from our house.  How amazing!  The kids are excited about the prospect just as much as Justin and I are...we have been talking to them about how easy it will be to get a group of friends together and do baptisms before school starts as much as they want.  This temple will even have two baptistries to accommodate all the youth.  We are so blessed to be able to watch this temple be built right in our midst.  Molly told me that she can feel a change in the youth, a strengthening almost, as they anticipate the new temple.  So amazing.

someone had made a poster that said "if you build it, they will come" and that has been very true so far!

Molly is living her best high school life.  I love it!  She is not home very often and we miss her when she is gone but she is so happy so that makes me happy.  I like getting onto her icloud and scrolling through her photos.  They make me laugh.  Oh, the life of the teenager!  There are a lot of selfies and silly faces.  I hate selfies and feel so awkward taking them but these kids are so natural at it.  I won't always raid her photos and post them here but September was such a fun month for her so it seemed fitting.

Molly and Callie after a downpour

Molly, Callie, Jackie

holding the phone

Game day

Regan and Molly

Addy Bonderant, Molly

Callie, Jackie, Molly, Regan