September

Our Labor Day plans ended up being very last minute.  We had to wait to see if Stockton's team was going to make it into Monday play before any decisions could be made.  They did not make it to Monday so on Sunday morning we decided to drive up to the cabin after church that day.  My parents, the Moyes's, and the Broadbent's were going to be there as well.  We made it in time to enjoy a beautiful and delicious dinner on the deck, night games, and a campfire.

Ivy, Lucy, Spencer, big kids at the other table

Lucy and Ivy

We decided to do Bloomington Lake on Monday.  The road was closed all last year for repairs although once we got a ways up, we couldn't figure out what they had actually done last year to make the road better.  It was still a very bad, very bumpy, very dusty road.  But worth it when you arrive at that gorgeous mountain lake.  We picnicked, cliff-jumped (Justin, Molly, me from a little lower than them because it was a lot higher once you got to the top), rope-swinged (Molly), and enjoyed the sunshine.  We stopped for shakes on the way back to the cabin, had tacos after we packed up, and headed home refreshed and ready to tackle a new week.

Spencer, Grace, Abby, Ben, Stockton, Molly, Brynn, Gavin, Grant

Ivy and Lucy

Bryce, Abby, Molly, Gavin, Ivy, Brynn, Seth, Grant

Molly

Justin

Molly

Molly and Gavin

Jeff, Grant, Erin, Bryce, Seth, Stockton, Gavin, me, Brynn, Justin, Molly, Ivy, Lucy, Abby, Grace, Ben, Spencer, Grandma, Grandpa, Ali

Wasatch vs. Springville was another win for us.  We played earlier in the day (at 4 instead of 7) and on the lacrosse field instead of in the stadium.  For some reason when we play on this field we do not play as well.  It bothers Molly to no end since this is the field they practice on every day.  But a win is a win no matter how sloppy we come by it.  Molly got taken out pretty bad by one of the Springville players and wasn't able to finish the last bit of the game but ultimately she was okay and had the weekend to recover.

our favorite #13

Ivy had a goal to learn to ride Brynn's bigger bike.  She was nervous for some reason but as soon as I took her out, she hopped right on and took off with no problem.  She might want her own big bike but we have so many bikes around here that she'll probably get by on hand-me-down bikes.

Let's talk Maple Mountain.  We played them last, after playing, and beating, all the other teams in our region.  They are a very good team, but really no better than us.  Every time we play them it is a battle and so, so close but we have a really hard time beating them.  We really wanted it this year.  We played them at their field and went full regulation time with no score.  Then 20 minutes of overtime with still no score which meant penalty kicks.  After five from each team, it was still tied.  Their sixth kicker made her PK and Molly was next for Wasatch.  That is a long walk for anyone and torture for the parents who are watching.  Molly put her kick on frame but the goalie got to it and blocked it which meant the game was over, Maple beat us again, and Molly felt all that weight on her.  She was crushed.  She couldn't even make it back to her team and just knelt down on the field and started crying.  She has awesome teammates who ran to her and did and said all the things she needed so I was grateful for that.  It was hard to watch but every hard thing she has experienced she has been able to turn into something good.  We are so proud of her.

the long walk to take her PK

She was back on the field two days later and we were starting our rotation all over again.  We had had a slew of home games the first half of the season so after playing Spanish again, we had a whole slew of away games.  We beat Spanish Fork at home and then went on to win our games against Timpview, Cedar Valley, Salem Hills, and Springville on the road.

 

Homecoming Weekend-

Homecoming weekend is big for any school, but especially for a valley that all unites under one high school.  It is really cool to be part of that kind of togetherness.  Both Molly and Stockton were in the parade on Friday afternoon so I went to watch them and tried to get a photo/video.  I didn't see Stockton on his float until I went back and watched the video I took and was able to spot him clear over on one side.  I had told him what side I was standing on and he peeked his head around right at the last minute. I always watch in front of the middle school and just so happened to be sitting close to where Brynn's class was watching.  So I got to watch with her but only for a minute because I left as soon as both kids went through.

Libbie Locke, Molly, Regan Heywood

Stockton on the far left (I circled him)

Stockton did his day date that day after school.  They went mini golfing at the bottom of Provo Canyon.  They got smoothies and then went to the football game together that night.  Janalyn Pearson chauffeured them around that afternoon but Stockton and his date, Ivy, ended up at Dairy Keen at some point that night, which is where they got picked up by Justin and I that night. (Also, our Ivy was so excited that Stockton was taking another Ivy on his very first date/dance!)

Timothy Evans, Stockton and Ivy Christley, Draven Logan and date, Dillan Thacker and Ella Hagen, Ethan Pearson and Alyvia Ray, Payton Western (Tim and Payton didn't want to get dates or go to the dance but they did go golfing with the group)

Stockton had most of the next day free since they had already done their day date.  He just had to be ready for pictures and the rest of the night.  They had their pictures taken at the grandparents house of one of the other boys, then they came back to our house for dinner.  They ate dinner and played games for a little while before going to the dance.  They hung out at the dance for a couple of hours and then another mom drove them to one of the girls' house for another hour.  Then Justin picked them up and drove Ivy and Ethan home and that was that.  Stockton doesn't open up too much but I know he had a really great time.

Draven, Dillan, Stockton, Ethan

Dillan and Ella, Stockton and Ivy, Draven and date, Alyvia and Ethan

Molly was excited to go to the dance with Tommy.  She knew him okay and they had tried to hang out a little bit leading up to the dance.  His group had planned their day date for the Monday night before the dance which Molly had not expected and hadn't take work off that day.  She tried to get someone to cover for her but wasn't able to so Tommy went hiking on his own and all they did on Saturday was pictures, dinner, and dance. Since Molly had a free afternoon, Justin took her for her Valentine date which also counted as a birthday lunch.  They got Korean food and both said it was delicious.

 She still had plenty of time to get ready after their date. This is the first time Molly had someone else do her hair and she loved it.  Her dress was also very flattering, just her style and her favorite color (Grandma bought it for her when they did her birthday shopping).  Tommy picked her up right when Stockton's group was arriving for dinner so I got to get some of them together.  Molly and Tommy had pictures somewhere in Midway, went to Midway Mercantile for dinner, had a fun time at the dance, and did something after but not sure what. Molly had a good time with Tommy and enjoyed her whole group.

Tommy Clifton and Molly

Tommy, Molly, Stockton, Ivy

?, Molly, Allie Parke, Libbie, Allie Ackerson, Aedell, ?

Tommy and Molly are third in from left

I took Ivy to the school carnival, mostly out of obligation (it was a night with several other things on the calendar already).  We only stayed for a few minutes but it was long enough for her to see some friends and attempt to dunk Mrs. Hall.

Molly needed some help with her Math homework one night.  Usually we are not much help but this was finance stuff...interest and so forth.  Justin knew the answer but wasn't sure how to show his work and I caught him working on it long after Molly had gone to bed.  He was so determined to figure it out-and he did!

The youth did a temple trip down to the Payson Temple.  Molly couldn't go because of practice and Stockton had a baseball game at UVU so he wasn't able to go either but Brynn went and loved it!  Justin and Stockton were able to meet up with the group after the game when they were eating pizza at a park down there.

Brynn's in a red dress, front and left, Stockton's the only one in a baseball hat, and Justin is right in the middle

Isn't activity days the best program?! Those girls love getting together and are so happy to do anything.  Ivy was delighted to decorate cakes for activity days one Friday after school.

Rocky Crane and Ivy

All year I have been having the kids take turn choosing a Sunday treat and helping prepare it (as a way to make the day less long).  On Molly's turn in September, she chose caramel apple nachos.  Justin and I were gone that night visiting a member of our ward in the hospital so Molly made them and I told her to send me the pictures.  They watched Harry Potter that night as well!

We had a Primary-age girl in our ward have an extended stay in Primary Children's.  It was scary for a few days and touch and go.  It was hard to watch and see her suffer but so amazing to see our ward come together. My service calling was brand-new and I was blessed to be able to "rally the troops" and see so many people step up and serve as I organized for some of their needs. The Primary kids made a poster and signed it for her, the young women offered free baby-sitting, the RS sisters sent food, and the entire ward did a special fast for her. So awesome to see a ward unite like that! 

For her date with me, Brynn wanted to go to breakfast.  It worked perfectly one Saturday morning to drop Ivy at the Primary program practice at the church and then go to Chicks.  Brynn got two huge pancakes with a side of bacon and I got a ham and cheese omelet, hashbrowns, and one of their famous scones.  We had plenty left over that Justin got what was left of my omelet and hashbrowns and Brynn had her pancakes for dinner that night as well!

Brynn helped run concessions at the rec football games that afternoon as a fundraiser for cheer while Ivy went to a Taylor Swift birthday party for Rocky. They both have such fun and nice friends!

most of these girls are on the younger team-Brynn and Shaylee Williams are third and fourth in from left

Rocky, Kallie Gehring, Ivy, Lydia Evans

Ivy and Rocky had the same outfit (Ivy borrowed from Brynn who was T.S. last Halloween)

Our Primary program was the last Sunday in September.  We have a large primary.  They did so good.  Ivy wrote her own talk about the stripling warriors and how her parents and teachers teach her to have faith in Jesus Christ.  She loved all the songs.  My favorite song was "I will be what I believe", which the primary kids sang with so much heart, but also because the youth joined in and sang the "armies of Helaman" part of the song.  The combination was very powerful and a special moment for me to have all my kids be part of that.  We were happy to have both grandparents with us that day!

Grandma and Grandpa Moyes

Grandma and Grandpa Goodrich

Molly asked a boy to Sadie's and got his reply a week later.  Yay!

Brynn spent one Sunday afternoon crafting this cute pumpkin for her room.  Fall was officially here and I had finally gotten around to decorating for Halloween and fall.