August

Divide and Conquer is the theme this month. Started out with a party for Az and the boys wanted to hit up hurricane harbor. Greg took her to the party, and I took the boys. We all met up later at Hurricane Harbor, Az actually walked in alone with her card so she could go on a big ride. The kids are kind of done with lines and they love the wave pool. They each go on their favorite ride, the rest of the time is wave pool. One thing we do at the end of summer is get dipping dots. I tell the kids to remember eating dipping dots, that way when they are adults having a really hard time, go eat dipping dots and remember great summer days as a child.

Mom time: I started the weight loss shot Wagovey. It is a once a week shot that suppresses your appetite.  It makes me fill full faster. I am not doing some crazy diet that I cannot maintain. I am simply gaining self-control. If I am full, I stop no matter. I put very little on my plate, if I want 2^nd’s ok. Also eat slowly and let your body realize it is full. Reminder for mom: don’t show too much crazy people cannot handle it.

Az started tumbling she wanted to go back to the free for all play time she had when she was little. This teacher could have been fun, but she did not know how to smile. I hope Az still plays on her flipping bar and balance beam.  Azalyn also was able to go to a friend’s birthday party. She was the only girl, tell as oldest time, all the boys wanted her to chase them.

Huge Family NEWs: My parents are going on a mission to Central Africa to be family history missionaries. Mom is really scared but I know they are going to be great. They are going to live in Nairobi.  Talking about church, I have really been struggling with our leadership in our ward. I just have to remember two things. 1. I go to church for me because I know it is true, and I cannot do life without it. 2. The lord only has us mortals to work with. Give everyone some grace. I went to a women’s conference; here are my take aways. Jesus loved but he was not accepting of sin. Start simple, scriptures and you are all you really need.  The other stuff is nice but just extra.  Don’t stop just because you stumble or fail keep going. If you don’t ponder past blessing you will forget them.  In the scriptures you here about Moses leading the children of Israel. Our most recent family blessings.  Denali is alive, Greg can walk. Smaller blessings the kids are all loving school, Greg has a job he likes.  I was planning a primary lesson. In my lesson I was going to have my class learn the 4^th article of faith, therefore my kids got the opportunity to learn it too.

We had to get a new AC and with that they fixed the attic space of the old AC it took them 2 full days to get everything done.  Then our upstairs thermometer kept turning off. They had to come back out 2 more times till we figured out what was going on. Upstairs is way cooler now.  I have been trying really hard to connect with the kids. I made me a Roblox account. As a family we have been playing 99 nights in the forest. I just cut trees, but we all have fun and yes cutting trees is helpful.  We went to a sing along for K-Pop Demon Hunters at the drive in. Everyone stayed outside the whole time; the kids danced and sang their hearts out.  We also went to Bad Guys 2. We really love the drive in.

Denali had his 13-yr checkup. He is 5’ 10” 94% 177lbs 90% BMI 95%. He is so helpful. If I need anything he is on it. He loves games, board, card and video.  Denali is the person that Az goes to if she really needs something or does not want to walk. He loves to carrier her.

Colvin: had his 11-yr checkup.  5’ 1” 94% 103lbs 88% BMI 95%. He loves cross country. Lots of driving for me. Poor Colvin every other Tuesday he is home for about 15min till 8:00. Colvin is the person Azalyn goes to when she wants to have fun or is scared. She sleeps with him most nights. We actually moved her mattress to touch his.

I have been making more plastic bag purses. My hand hurts but I am kind of sad that I don’t have more to do.  Since our AC has not been working our bedrooms and nights are so hot. I bought 2 huge standing fans for our room and the kid’s room.  Wow they are wonderful stepping from our bed to our bathroom you can feel the difference. The only bad thing is I don’t like the wind blowing my hair at night, just putting covers over my head. I was able to go to lunch with both Colvin and Azalyn. This year was just as hard and easier all at once.  Hard because lunch was back-to-back, so it was eating rush back, eat again. It was easier because lunch was late, so I did not have to wait for lunch service to start.

Greg finally got his back burning. He was in pain for a few days but then once the initial pain went away it felt so good. He says yes, I hurt but I have to keep moving and doing things or it will be worse.

Let's talk about the Honda, about every 3^rd time I shut it off we would have to jump it. However, it got to the point that if I shut it off at all I had to jump it. Then one day it just would not start till the jumper was on it for about 30min. I finally found a young kid to replace the starter. I have a working vehicle. I went to a new book club with Jen. It is just fun to talk with other women. I hope I warm up to this group. The books they read are way more up my alley. We made sea glass necklaces; they were fun and easy. I hope to make them at Thanksgiving. I was also able to take Jen to lunch for her very delayed birthday. It was great just to talk. On Mondays and Fridays when Colvin does not have cross country, he wants me to run with him. The first time we ran a mile, I was shaking dead legs, Colvin said wow mom that was a fun jog.

The main event for August was going to Utah to a home coming and wedding. I have not been able to be at an airport for a missionary home coming since Trujillo. Here are just a few highlights.  We had one checked bag because of our wedding clothing. We had 40lbs, I had to buy a scale for the trip. 39.8lbs, I rock. On our last trip to Utah, I found huge backpacks that were designed to be a carry on but holds a ton of stuff.  We were able to hold all but (39lbs) in 2 bags. We went to a really fun park by Tana’s; Greg and I miss the Green and the mountains. At a park the boys were pushing me in a swing, and I put my foot down to stop the swing, and I did not break my ankle, BUT it was a BAD sprang. Azalyn found a little friend that lives next door to Tana. Azalyn went over every day. She was only able to play a few times because of our schedule.  I made the kids do school every day. Denali and Colvin discovered that middle school is hard.  Yes, we went to La Casita, it was as good as we made it out to be.  Their Costco had the best chocolate milk.  I did tons of unicorns. I put in just a few.

SPENCER’s home coming. We went to the airport, because the wedding was the next day, there were a ton of people at the airport. Tana saw Spencer coming down the LONG walkway and ran to him. It was the sweetest moment there was not a dry mamma eye.  Spencer also gave his homecoming talk, he has really grown. My kids got to make posters. Mattie’s Husband Steven made a posted that said, “will you be my brother-in-law” technically Spencer met Steven once at primary children’s but really until the airport it has just been over zoom.

MAIN EVENT: Wedding, Greg and I went early with everyone but Sammy to the temple. Sammy brought my kids right as we got out of the sealing. We had to take 2 pictures and Colvin was not happy. He just wants to be out of his clothing.  After the temple was the luncheon, home, had about an hour, and then it was time to get ready for the reception. Weddings are marathons. Tana did such a cute job setting up the reception like Pinterest worthy. At the reception Colvin danced with me and I made Denali go into the mosh pit with me. Azalyn had so much fun running and playing with Cousins and friends. The boys loved having time with Drexal. After the FULL day of wedding fun Colvin decided he is never getting married, or his wife can do it on her own. He even called Denim later and told her to please never get married. Mattie and her dad did a really fun daddy daughter dance. Azalyn eyes twinkled and said dad I cannot wait to dance with you. Greg will do anything for his little one.

We also went to Gregs parents graves. We had to put on his dad’s Veteran plaque, all the Sibling but Troy came.

OVER all TONS of memories were made

Colvin’s Story about his Name 

One day in 2222, I asked my dad, “what does my name mean.” He said “I don’t know” we looked it up. My name is a German author. The weird part is I love writing, and I am trying to learn German. My middle name is the same as my dad’s, so that is cool.  3ish years: later I am getting better at German, and I still love writing, and I still know that I am named after an author.

Colvin’s Memory

One Memory I remember is Six Flags. My mom came and picked me up from school and we started driving. When we got to the hotel we unpacked and went straight to the park. The park was huge. First, we went on a small but scary coaster. My dad held my hand up the chain lift and it made me smile and stopped me from being nervous. Next, we went to the avenger’s part. We went on lots of coasters. It was fun. Last we did a lot of racing coasters, most I lost, some I won. It was a fun day.