22 May 2022
VOLUME 10 – NUMBER 453
Fathers and Sons campout
Braden
A few weeks ago, our regular washing machine needed some repairs. This meant we got to find the nearest laundromat to get our clothes clean. I took Ellie on an errand date to get clothes washed, make a Costco run, and then got some McDonalds afterwards, since Ellie loves McDonalds fries.
While we were at the laundromat, there was a little girl there named Anila with her mom. She was outside and saw Ellie through the window watching a show while we were waiting.
Eventually she came inside, and she and Ellie ended up playing and watching the show for a little bit. I asked her mom if I could get a picture of the two of them because they looked so cute together.
Braden on date with Ellie
Kai
Some of the people went to Grandma and Grandpa's to help them move. While they were gone some of the sickies and I stayed home because there wasn't enough room in the car.
While we were home, we watched some shows, ate some lunch, and watched some more. Once they got home, we set up Spikeball and started to play it in the backyard.
Ellie with a new friend named Anila
Natalie
We have had some exciting changes in our family in the last year. Nate and I bought our first house in Eagle Mountain as far west as you can get. It has been so nice being in our own space far enough from the city, yet close enough to family.
There are lots of animals out here and our kids love it. The kids’ favorite chore is collecting eggs from the chicken coop every morning, although when it is Brigham‘s turn to collect, we never know if the eggs will actually make it into the house! Most the time they end up broken on the floor, or he likes to do his own Easter egg hunts.
Children playing at Natalie’s house
We also had our fourth baby five months ago. We named him Mateo, and he has been the sweetest addition to our family. With three older siblings, I have had to keep an extra eye on him as they all try to be very helpful. He takes his naps in a locked room for his own safety. They love their baby brother way more than my momma heart can handle. It’s a fine line, but I’m learning how resilient kids are.
Nate started his new job as a territory sales rep, and we are adjusting to his new schedule. It has been quite the difference having a 9-5 job as opposed to the 12-hour days he was pulling before. We love having him home in time for dinner and happy that he now has the weekends to go to soccer games and Saturday chores.
That’s just a quick summary of the last year, giving that it’s been a while since we’ve done an update.
Children playing at Natalie’s house
Veidi
Jen brought her puppy over so that Mom could train her. She is a French bulldog, and is really cute.
I have been helping Mom. I have “puppy duty” where I sleep on the couch downstairs and get up a few times each night to make sure Medusa can get outside to go to the bathroom.
We are also helping Grandma Sharon and Grandpa Lin move and it is a lot of work. Natalie did the girls’ nails while the boys went to Fathers and Sons, and Me, Mom, Gloria, and Joanna went to the dog park with Misha and Max. Max kept chasing other dogs that were bigger than him, and it was really funny.
Jen’s puppy Medusa
Christian
On Friday, we went to the Fathers and Sons campout. Dad had all the boys pack the trailer with everything we would need. Also, Natalie and Jen came over before we left. It was cool to see James and Israel.
When Dad came back from work, we reorganized the trailer and then left. On the way to the campout, we were starting to run out of battery in the Tesla, so we were watching it and making sure that we could make it. We got to the campout with I think 80 miles, so Dad was deciding if he should let us set up the tent and go get more energy for the Tesla, or just do it tomorrow when we leave.
Well, after the campout we left and knew we would need to charge up somewhere, because we were losing energy fast. It took us seven hours to get back from the campout.
Eating while waiting for Tesla to charge
Troy
This week on Saturday it was Fathers and Sons, and it was going to be below freezing at night, so we had to bring extra clothes to stay warm through the night.
When we left, we got pulled over by the police, and we also had low miles. Then we found out that there were chargers at the library, so we went there. We stopped to eat lunch while the car was charging. We also had to stop one more time at a hotel. The trip to go back home was seven hours!
Boys at Fathers and Sons campout
Alex
This week, we went to the Fathers and Sons campout. It was really cold, and when we arrived it randomly started to hail for like 10 minutes. But we all were really glad that we didn't have to set up the tent in the nighttime this time, since Dad got off work early. But we ended up having a great campout!
It was really fun and challenging in a funny way, because we had problems with the Tesla's battery. It took us seven hours to get home. We had to eat lunch and we were in a really small town, so we had to find a place to eat. We ate at I.D.K Barbeque. I really loved it because their meals were HUGE!
We also went to the library while waiting for the Tesla to charge. Me and Isaac wrote books on the computers at the Library. But overall, we had a great time!
Eating while waiting for Tesla to charge
London
Last year when Endia and I went to Shenandoah National Park, I was telling Hannah about our trip. I mentioned that we went to a cemetery inside the park, and she said that she knew the cemetery because it is her family that is buried there. I was shocked and told her that my ancestors were also buried there.
We pulled up Family Search to see how we were related, and it turns out that we are third cousins! Grandpa Lin and her grandma (Joyce Faye Daniels) are cousins.
Roommates with cousin grandparents
I asked Grandpa, and he mentioned that he didn't remember ever meeting her. Well, about a year later, Hannah and I finally organized a lunch where we both invited our grandparents. I loved seeing Grandpa and Joyce talk about their family and their relatives.
As we were all sitting there together, I just imagined Dorotha and her closest sister, Viola, watching all of us get together. I'm so glad that my friendship with Hannah has brought our family closer together! God works in the smallest ways, even something as simple as putting us together as roommates for one semester!
Quinn at Fathers and Sons campout
Vanessa
Natalie and Jen came down to visit us and to hang out. We were able to see Israel and James and they are so cute. We also did our nails and had pizza.
I also spent the night at Natalie’s, and they had a ward breakfast party that we went to. I also helped her clean out her toy room, and we got rid of a lot of toys she had. I had a lot of fun playing with Mateo. He is so cute I love making him laugh.
Gloria at dentist appointment
Gloria
This week I went to the dentist because I had to get my filing. Then Vanessa and I went shopping at Jordan landing. We also started training for the 5K run. I really enjoy doing that because I am getting better every time.
Dad and the boys went to a Fathers and Sons campout, so the girls stayed home and watched a movie and had Chick-Fil-A for dinner. We also went to the dog park. Also, at Falcon Ridge we had a party at work and talked about summer cleaning.
Alex eating at Fathers and Sons
Dad / Arkin
Some stories are great to retell, but a little stressful while they are happening! Our Fathers and Sons trip started out innocently enough. I came home from work early, and helped the boys finish packing (they had done most of it themselves).
After stopping at Walmart for some additional supplies, we were off, towing our little trailer behind Tessie. Even though I hadn’t been able to fully charge the car at work, I figured that we would still be alright, with 250 miles of battery and only 60 miles to go.
Children preparing for training run
However, with eight of us in the car, and a trailer full of camping supplies, we used up 3 miles of charge for every mile we traveled, and arrived at the camp with only 80 miles to go.
I knew we would have to charge on the way home, but figured we could make it to a charger about 30 miles away. Otherwise, I would have been gone for hours trying to get the car charged that night.
Visit from Jen and Natalie
The campout was enjoyable. It only rained/hailed for a couple minutes when we arrived, and then the weather was fine, although it got cold at night, getting down to almost freezing.
In the morning I let the boys go play while I packed up the sleeping bags and cots (Quinn helped me some). And then we were off in good spirits to go find a charger.
Isaac at Fathers and Sons
As we started off, it looked like we were doing okay, but I was so preoccupied watching the battery charge that I took a wrong turn, and ended up in a residential neighborhood in Huntsville, instead of the highway I thought I was on, going 45 in a 30-mph zone.
After a ticket from a county sheriff, and 10 miles of backtracking, we tried to make it through Ogden Canyon, but found it closed for a marathon! Then we made one last attempt by starting over the mountain in another direction, but lost so many miles of charge in the first few minutes that we quickly turned around, ending up almost back where we started with just 38 miles left!
Visit from Jen and Natalie
However, Monte said a prayer for us, and I ended up asking a woman at an RV Park if we could use an RV hookup to charge, and she directed us to the Huntsville Library, where we found electric vehicle chargers! Because it was going to take a couple hours to charge (they weren’t super chargers), we stopped in at a local BBQ place and had lunch.
Then we headed down the canyon, and after one more stop at a hotel near Lagoon to charge, we finally arrived at home, safe and sound, but seven hours after we started the 60-mile return trip!
Kai and Christian at Fathers and Sons