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 That's how hot it was yesterday.  And we got to spend the day at the Lancaster Soccer Complex sauna.  So hot!
Ethan had two games so we were there from 10:30 to 5.  It was actually not a great soccer day.  In fact after it was over E said that was the only time he ever didn't enjoy playing soccer.
The first game the boys were on fire.  They scored 6 goals in the first half.  Then they were told not to score any more and played an 8 man defense with 2 forwards pretty much keeping the ball in the corner.  The rule, which is intended to promote good sportsmanship, is actually demoralizing for the losing team and frustrating for the winning one.  This is not the first time we've ran into this but every time it makes for a tough game.
The second game we lost 1-4.  That one was HOT as Hades out, the boys were tired, and sluggish, and we were happy to see it end.
Bummer.

Evan Gillians, Jon Silva, Ethan, Preston, Levi, Jayce, Noah, Jerry, someone I don't know, and Brian Pincock

After the games no one wanted to do anything but we had a couple hours to cool off (thank goodness for a backyard pool) and then we went to Jayce's eagle court of honor.  It was a really nice evening.  I think Ethan's is next! (fingers crossed)

Today Ethan and Grace each had to teach lessons in their classes. They reported that it went fine. We chatted with Hannah for a while, took Sunday naps, cleaned up some messes.  

sad things..and not sad things

 Grace got her braces yesterday.  I think she looks so cute and teen-agery.  This morning they were hurting.  I anticipate a beautiful smile in 2 years!

Last night Rob and I went to a Jethawks game with some of his work friends, also it was Mormon night so he had invited them.  It was fun but too long.

Sad news:

Luis died earlier this week.

Steve went back to the pound today.

The Steve pound thing was a hard decision.  We've had him a long time now, more than 6 months.  He has never been reliable with the litter box, which has been super frustrating.  However we extended ourselves in every way possible for him because a) we picked him and planned on keeping him for 18 years.  and b)survivors guilt from Percy and c) in every other way he was a great cat, funny and affectionate.  We took him to the vet several times to see if he had a UTI or other infection.  Gave him antibiotics even though no infection was found.  We changed his litter to the most desirable kind.  We gave him HUGE littler boxes.  In several places in the house.  We gave him anti anxiety meds every day because the vet said that might help.  We kept bedroom doors closed.  We bought a special pheromone mister.  What more could we do?  This week had 5+ accidents, the last being on Rob's side of the bed in the middle of the night and that was it.  We can't live in cat pee.  We can't buy new mattresses. We can't trust him.  So it was with heavy hearts, and guilty feelings, and regret that we took him back.  I am done with cats.  It is too devastating. 

same ol same ol...and an epic once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event

Sunday was church day.  We also had a nice fireside with Hanna Eyre, who was a contestant on "the Voice".  She did a good job, she was cute and bubbly.  She sang some songs and shared her testimony and talked about keeping her values and standards while in the music industry.

Monday was the "American Eclipse", which was pretty darn neat.  We only got to enjoy 70% but Hannah was in the path of totality so that was awesome.  I was subbing a 5th grade class and the whole day was devoted to eclipse viewing/ studying about/ etc.  It was a lot of fun.

Today I subbed special ed.  Grace went to the orthodontist, she's getting braces on Thursday.  And that about covers it.

Soccer

We had two games in Apple Valley.  It was HOT.  In the 90's.  And sunny.  Really sunny.  The boys played  well.  This is a new team, and a new season, so it was the first time we'd watched them play together.

They lost the first game 2-4.  Which was disappointing.  Then we won the second game 4-3.  Which was exciting.  Ethan scored! Super exciting and played really well.  He is tired and sore now.  He had some trouble with leg cramps during the second game, which is unusual for him.  I guess we're going to have to get some supplements of some kind and pay more attention to hydration.  He did drink a lot of water, although clearly not enough since he still had an issue.

The last few days have been crazy busy.  Friday I subbed for Ethan's seminary class.  Then I went to school and subbed for 5th grade.  Then I picked kids up from school and Grace and I left for the fair.  That's a 5am start time and a 9:30pm end time with only 15 minutes at home squeezed in.  I'm not used to that kind of a day!

Today we had to get up at 6 for the soccer games and now that we are home we have to go back out and go grocery shopping.  

Tomorrow I am leading teacher council, and we have a fireside, and Monday morning it's back to seminary.  It's good to be busy.

Grace's weekend

 After school on Friday Audrey and I took the girls to the fair.  The first hour it's open, for the season, parking and entrance is free so we made sure to get there promptly.  It was hot but really fun.  We enjoyed looking at the animals and the exhibits.

 The girls rode rides and played games.

 After we  spent 4 hours or so playing we were hungry and thirsty so we found some fair food to end our day with!  It was, in the words of Templeton, a most wonderful fair.

 Today Ethan had a soccer game so Rob and I went with him but, and here's a shocker, Grace didn't want to come.  Also it was the ward beach party so she got to go with the Sherwoods and she enjoyed a very nice beach day.

 Now all the playing is done and she has to do homework.  Last week her Algebra teacher called me and said she wanted to move her to the advanced algebra class.  Grace is a smarty.  She's one of 4 7th graders in adv. Alg.  She's also one of 3 7th graders in concert band.

temple marriage

 last night for YW we had an activity about temple marriage.  Ramona, owner/operator of Sweet Brittle Baking Co & fabulous beehive advisor, made us a gorgeous and delicious wedding cake.

For decorations we (the leaders) had photos from our weddings, we invited 3 newlywed couples to come talk to the girls and they also brought their photos.  Sister Tilden had her great grandmother's handmade wedding dress to display.

Our handout was a mirror with vinyl stick-ons of a temple with the words "See yourself in the temple" and also a pretty ring and ribbon.

 The first thing we did was play some games.  We had a bunch of Disney love songs and their movies to match up. Sister Sweeney won that one!  She knew them all!

Then the girls divided into teams.  Each team got a bride and 3 rolls of TP.  They had 7 minutes to make a paper wedding gown.  Sara Swenson's team won with their modern, fitted design.  It was a lot of fun to watch.

Lastly the girls were given a tube of lipstick and using only their mouths they had to draw a temple.  Charlotte won and her temple looked amazing! A lot of the girls did surprisingly well with that task.

 After the games we gathered and read a couple of paragraphs about what marriage is, then we had our panel discussion.
The couples did a great job and I think the girls really enjoyed it and could relate to them, more importantly I think they heard some really great advice.

We ended with cake and some time to visit.  I was happy with how everything went and consider it a success!

One of the temple drawings.

Today was my first day subbing for the new school year.  I was supposed to be a rover but when I got there I found out I was assigned to PE.  It was me and another sub.  She was great, very energetic and fun.  Very talkative. We had a good day.  PE is generally easy.  It was all outside though and it was SUPER hot so I came home so sweaty and a little sunburned.  I would have dressed differently if I had known. I hopped in the shower and changed first thing after school, even before I picked up E from high school.

So this picture doesn't really have anything to do with anything except it's our cute Sierra, making a face her dad always did when he was sitting on a rock.  Her new hobby is rock climbing so she lives in the perfect place for that and is having a lot of fun with that.

Happy Happy 18th Birthday Hannah dear!!!!!

After a great and fun weekend in SLC with Chelsea Hannah went back to school and then Chelsea went to Idaho!!  What fun!  She posted this picture after Hannah went to the mailbox.  Thanks Chels!!

So today Hannah is 18.  It's been a wonderful almost 2 decades and boy do I love that girl! What a blessing she is to me.

After I got divorced I figured that I would be the mother to 3 beautiful daughters and that was it.  Then Rob and I met and fell in love and got married and the door opened up for a big family.  Rob could hardly wait.  He wanted to make babies right away.  I wanted to wait a little while, I thought maybe a year, but we were only married a couple months when I joined the "right away" train.  We found out we were expecting her at mom and dad's house.  It was a whirlwind time.  I was teaching and R was working and the kids were in school and out of the blue we learned that we were moving to Texas.  In December we closed the sale of our house.  We were staying with my parents for a few weeks until it was time for us to move and I thought maybe we had a wonderful Christmas surprise for everyone.  One afternoon I took a pregnancy test and left it with R then went to the living room to visit with the family.  He stayed to watch the lines.  When he came walking into the room where we were I could tell it was positive! He was beaming and SO excited!! He told my parents and then called his and everyone was delighted.  The girls were VERY excited.  They had wanted a baby too.

Being pregnant with Hannah was great.  Her birth day was great. And being her mom has been great!

As a baby Hannah spent a lot of time crying. That was a tough time for everyone.  She was always in pain and while we all did everything we could to help her really there was little that could be done.  It was exhausting and heart breaking to have a little baby that was constantly suffering.  Thankfully as she grew her hemangioma, which was huge, did start to get smaller and the ulcers and painful lesions went away.

Then we had some really fun years.  Hannah was the cutest little girl and sweet and spunky.  She was also super willful and stubborn so while we had some great times we also had some tough times.  She didn't like to be obedient and was prone to tantrums.  Raising kids is a JOY and also it's hard.  Luckily Hannah's hard times were all when she was young (which is WAY better than hard times with a teenager!)
Slowly Hannah grew (I say slowly because while the days were slow, the years were too fast!) and by the time she was 11 she was just a complete delight.  Cheerful, obedient, bright and kind are all words that totally describe our Han. We moved to MD right about then and that was an awesome move for Hannah.

Middle school and the first years of high school were great for Hannah.  She loved to be in plays, had A LOT of great, fun, friends.  Her love of cooking really became apparent to us and she is a fun kitchen companion.  She was/is a good student.  She enjoyed many neat trips and experiences during those years. She took horse back riding and sailing and piano and voice lessons. Her testimony has always been solid and she loves to go to church.  She is a great example to those around her.  Hannah is a great aunt and great with little kids.  She loves adventures and watching movies and is always up for fun!  She is a girl of many many talents!

Moving to CA the summer before her junior year was a challenge and trial but she was up to the task and grew a lot. Hannah made friends again, continued to do well in school, was a comfort and delight to her mom and a great example to her siblings and friends.  That once stubborn little girl now is resolute in her convictions and is empathetic and goal oriented and obedient.  I could not be happier with the woman she grew up to be.

I am so excited to see what the future holds for our Hannakin.  She is LOVING BYU-I and so excited about life.  I love that.  Heavenly Father has really blessed her and blessed me. I am ever grateful for the opportunity to be a mother and that our family relationships will continue to be a joy and blessing to us forever.

Happy Happy Birthday Hannah!!! Hope it's a good one!