16 April 2023
VOLUME 11 – NUMBER 499
Dad, James, Isaac, Israel swimming
Dad, James, and Israel, and I all drove to Washington. It was a lot of fun. On Friday, Dad went to work, and in the afternoon, Mom drove us up to Park City in Jen's van with James and Israel. When we got there we swapped cars, and we went to eat at CupBop. It was so good. Then we picked up some trip treats at Walmart and headed off.
We stopped at the Clarion Inn Hotel, somewhere, I don't remember, and we watched White Collar in the hotel room. I tricked Dad the first night while I was changing Israel on Dad's bed, getting him ready for bed, and I said, "Oh no! Israel peed on the bed!"
Dad looked over with the look of panic on his face saying, "What?!" Then I told him I was just kidding, and he was kind of annoyed. It was really funny though!
On Saturday we started listening to a Lord of The Rings radio show thing, and it was really good. That night we went swimming, and while I was changing Israel's diaper again, Dad was changing James' diaper and he said, "Oh no! James pooped on the bed!"
I looked over and I said, “What?!” Then Dad said “Gotcha!” I was also kind of annoyed, but again, super funny!
Dad, James, Isaac, Israel on road trip
A couple weeks ago Mom and I were brainstorming with Jen about how to get her two boys and her van out to Washington, DC, where she is staying with Ian’s aunt while going to school. We decided the easiest way would be to have me drive the van out with the boys, and then fly home.
About seven years ago, Isaac and I went on a road trip to pick up a couple sets of sectional couches from two Costco’s in Idaho and Colorado, and we have great memories of that trip. So, since I also needed someone to go with me to help care for the boys on the drive, Isaac came with me on the 2200-mile (one way) road trip. Isaac invited Kai to go with us as well, but Kai felt like Isaac and I needed some one-on-one time together.
What a fun time we had! We stopped in Rock Springs Wyoming on Friday night, and then in Grand Island, Nebraska on Saturday night where we took some time to go swimming with the boys. Isaac did an amazing job of taking care of the boys while I drove.
Dad, James, Isaac, Israel on road trip
About a month ago I found out that the third movie of the Lord of the Rings trilogy was being re-released in theaters for its 20th anniversary. I knew a few guys in the ward who are big LOTR fans and so I organized a weekly watch party to watch the first two movies in preparation to go see the third one in theaters.
This week we went to theaters for Return of the King. It was the extended version of the movie, which is over four hours long! I’ve never been in a theater that long, but it was awesome! The theater was pretty full too—a bunch of fans who wanted to see it on the big screen.
Lord of the Rings has recently become one of my favorite movie franchises and it was awesome to see part of it in a theater.
Braden, Ellie, Brooke, Charlie
I’ve been watching Master Chef lately, which has made me want to be better at cooking. Braden’s birthday was coming up this week so I figured I could make him a nice dinner and dessert. But when I asked him what he would like, he told me Chick-fil-A for dinner and Bojangles blueberry biscuits for dessert.
Typical Braden, ha ha! So I decided I would make a “fancy” breakfast instead. It turned out well, but I still have a long way before I reach Gordon Ramsey status.
Jenny resting with the children
I finished school! I am so excited because now I am free from school and I can't wait for summer. When I finished school I played with my Legos that I got for Christmas and my other Lego ships I made from scratch. Kai made me a Lego guy or made one for me to by my pilot.
I also played with my Chinese yoyo that Kai gave me for my birthday. I also read the fourth book of Fablehaven and I am so close to finishing it.
Isaac shopping for swimmers for boys
This week we started stake basketball on stake sports night. I had an amazing time, and just had fun with it. My team contained the more casual players—in other words, they didn't play basketball to much—but I made sure that I made basketball fun for them.
We didn't win a single game, but we had something so much more valuable. We had fun while losing. I really enjoyed getting to know some new people that were on my team, and I had some people that I already knew.
My team consisted of Crew Horner, a kid named Hunter, and Ethan Danielson (Riley's younger brother). I am glad that I have stake basketball to look forward to every Thursday.
Isaac swimming with James and Israel
Hannah and I have really enjoyed going to the men’s volleyball games this season, and they have won every single home game, which is awesome!
Their last home game of the season was on Saturday, so of course we had to go. They were playing Stanford, and the sets were pretty close, which made for some really good energy from the crowd.
It’s also fun to keep going to games even after graduating, but it makes me feel kind of old when I realize that I’m not a student anymore.
Isaac and Dad left for their DC trip. They left with James and Israel, so that they could reunite them with Jen.
While they were gone, everyone else stayed home and partied! Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, we didn't capitalize as much, but I swore that we would capitalize and have some fun! This does not mean that we can only have fun with Dad and Isaac, but it's just different when one parent is gone. You have to party.
James, Isaac, Israel eating breakfast
Esta semana tuvimos una experiencia super genial con nuestro amigo José, el abuelito que se bautizó hace poco. Le invitamos a acompañarnos en una cita. Asi que fuimos a su casa para buscarlo.
La cita fue super buena! Usualmente, cuando visitamos a José, le cuesta mucho hablar (hasta que una vez pensabamos que habia muerto en frente de nosotros en la cita!), pero cuando estuvimos en la cita, el empezó a compartir su testimonio y él literalmente estaba hablando perfectamente y con mucha confianza. Fue épico!
Después de la cita, le preguntamos cómo se sentió por acompañarnos y él nos dijo "Totalmente bien!" El estaba super feliz.
Él es un hombre viejo que en el pasado ha hecho muchos errores. Por lo siguiente él está completamente solo, menos nosotros y los miembros de la iglesia. Cuando le encontramos no me puedo imaginar cual difícil que era su vida. De hecho, él nos decía su único deseo era morir ya.
Pero ahora es un hombre arrepentido! Y la felicidad que mostraba al acompañarnos en una cita, testificando del arrepentimiento, fue hermoso.
Amo ser misionero. Amo tener el evangelio en mi vida! Y amo ayudar a otras personas aprenderlo y vivirlo! Estoy agradecido por un Dios que nos ama y nos ha dado tales enseñanzas!
Les quiero mucho! Sorry for those that gotta use Google translate. Here’s a quick summary: We went to mini Germany, some caves, and found a cow head in a park!
Dad and Israel swimming
Mom, Veidi, Troy, and I went to Walmart to grab supplies for the next few days. We got food for the days until they got back, and we made sure that the food was all very delicious! We got a few treats for our movie nights.
Mom introduced us to Frasier, which is an awesome sitcom! We watched it on Friday and Saturday, but on Monday, I decided to get over my fears, and we decided to watch A Quiet Place. We watched the first on Monday, and then the second on Tuesday.
Tuesday night until midnight I watched Frasier in Mom's room. Yeah, I love it okay! Don't you judge me. Mom left at about 12:00am to go pick up Isaac and Dad from the airport. This concludes the end of my party week. Later!
Veidi, Yaretzie, Gloria playing a game
Having James and Israel is so much fun. They were with us for about two weeks. I loved having then with us, I am going to miss playing with them. They are leaving and going home with Jen in Washington, DC. The day before they left I spent more time with them.
School has been my focus so I can finish early. I am so close to finishing I only have two more classes.
I also got my response on Saturday from Riley and he said yes to going too Morp with me.
Joanna, Gloria shopping for ice cream
Not too much to report this week, other than that it was my last week working at Raintree. I've worked there for six months now, and decided it was not the best fit. It was a hard schedule to follow, and it was hard working on my own, rarely ever having any in person interaction with the management as well.
It's always kind of hard being in a situation like that since I don't like to "quit" anything unless there is a real need, and there wasn't a specific need here other than just doing what I felt like was best for me.
I don't know if I have been creating all the habits daily that will lead me to becoming the person I want to become, even though I don't feel like I am doing things that are bad for me.
Cougar enjoying warming weather
As I thought about what I could change, I realized this second job I had, while it helped me financially, was depleting me in almost every other area, not because of the work itself, but because of the things I prioritize and focus on that make it kind of challenging to balance with that job.
I look forward to getting better and longer sleep, and also have more time to focus on things that really matter, rather than feeling like I am always playing catch up!
On Friday, the highlight was definitely going with my cousin Tommy to get his mission stuff. It was so cool to have that reminder of what it is like preparing to go, and I am so excited for him.
We also got to go to Mo’ Bettah's afterward, which is a Hawaiian-style fast food restaurant, and Tommy helped show me what to get there, and it was delicious!
Luckily we were able to get all of his stuff at one place, which I didn't think would be the case, but the prices were definitely best at the missionary mall, so it was a fun time!
Dad swimming with Israel and Jemes