13 August 2023
VOLUME 11 – NUMBER 516
Monte asking Hazel to homecoming
What I forgot to say in the last newsletter was that Gloria and I have spent a lot of time talking about school dances, and about Homecoming. Now, this week, I’ve been busy with admiral stuff for the river trip, and let me tell you, it’s not all sunshine’s and rainbows. But I still had some fun doing it.
Now back to the beginning. Since the start of the week Gloria and I have been getting stuff so I could ask Hazel to Homecoming, and what I did was pretty cheesy, but kind of awesome.
On Saturday, I ran into a dilemma. I had to help Dad with urgent river trip stuff, and I had to start setting up my Homecoming invitation. It was kind of a hectic day, but she showed up at our house to hang out with Gloria, just as planned.
I went around setting up a little scavenger hunt, which Gloria told Hazel that it was a practice run for Quinn’s birthday party.
Meanwhile, Aiden and I worked backwards towards our house setting up clues to follow. We ran out of time, and right as we got to the stop sign to set up the final clue, Gloria texted Aiden telling him that they where going to start.
Gloria and Veidi guiding blindfolded Hazel
So, since we were out of time, we just slapped some tape on the clue and stuck it to the stop sign and ran back up to the school. We then set up, and finally and I got changed in my Spider-Man suit. Then we waited while Hazel helped Gloria respond to Riley’s Homecoming invitation.
Then they got to the school, and Gloria and Veidi where guiding Hazel, who was blindfolded, to where I was (by the way, Hazel found a helmet on the way and put it on for fun).
As soon as I could see them, I hopped upside down on my spiderweb, and when she was standing in front of me, I asked her to Homecoming while she was blindfolded.
When they took the blindfold off, she saw me hangin there in my Spider-Man suit! I’m pretty sure she liked the invitation, because not only did she say yes right away, but she gave me a hug as well, while I was still struggling to get my hand unwound from the web, and to get my mask off!
Immediately after that we went to the region dance, which was super fun, and outdoors this time. They had snow cones, that where alright, but it was so good just hanging out with people.
Monte, Zack, Herbert, Jacob at dance
This week was Dad's birthday! On the day of his birthday, we met him at Mom's work dinner. The food that Utah Foster Care had prepared for us was pretty great! We had Hawaiian rolls, pulled pork, BBQ sauce, potato salad, soda, and cookies.
After dinner, we went home and "celebrated" Dad's birthday. In truth, Dad was too tired to do much, but he picked up some ice cream, and we watched some Hannah Montana, for nostalgia. We also watched an episode of The Office. Happy Birthday Dad!
Riley’s homecoming invitation to Gloria
This week I went to Lagoon with Riley, Carson, and Olivia. They are all from our stake. We did the Sky Coaster, and Riley and I were terrified. It's like a big body swing that is super fun. We were the first ones to ride it in the park that day. Then Carson and Olivia did it right after us.
On Friday, I got asked out by Riley to go to Homecoming with him. I liked his idea that he did, using at least 100 solo cups.
Hazel came over on Saturday to hangout. We talked and she helped me do my response to Riley. I did 100 sticky notes that said yes on them.
I also helped Monte with his invitation to Hazel by tricking her into thinking she was helping us with plans for Quinn’s birthday while we led her on a scavenger hunt the ended up where Monte was ready to ask her. Then we all went to the region dance.
Gloria’s response to Riley
So our ward does we go to the temple every month. This tim we went to the Jordan River Temple. It was a really good experience. It is very peaceful going to the temple.
There was also a region dance happening, and I like going there with friends. I said I was going to step out of my confort zone and dance whatever songs got put on.
They mostly did line dances, so I would not just stand there, and Hazel really helped me with that. I had a really fun time there with friends.
5th Ward youth temple trip
Monday was Brooke’s birthday, and Braden coordinated with me to be able to surprise her by taking her back here to the MTC where they met! It was such a fun day, and it was cool to be on the other side since Braden was usually the one bringing people in to the MTC and visiting them.
We got a lot of good pictures, some by the murals, the classroom where Braden and Brooke met, in the cafeteria, and then a four-year comparison picture with me and Braden outside the cafeteria.
Ellie and Charlie definitely stole the show around the missionaries since it is not common to see any children, especially that young at the MTC.
Ashton, Braden at MTC (2019 & 2023)
Tuesday night, we went to watch the Sound of Freedom with Endia and Cougar. Again it was a really meaningful experience being able to see it, and it just makes me want to do more to help everyone around and do what we can to bring people out of whatever challenges they are facing.
Friday night, Braden and I showed the family Guardians of the Galaxy III, since it’s finally on Disney+. I forgot a lot of the funny parts and it is definitely one of my favorite Marvel movies!
Ashton, Braden at MTC (2019 & 2023)
Monday was my birthday, and Braden spent the day surprising me! His plans started at the stroke of midnight. A few weeks prior, I had jokingly said it would be fun to go to the gym super late at night when hardly anyone was there.
So Sunday night, the girls slept over at Jenny and Arkin’s, and Braden told me we would be going to the gym at midnight. It was fun being there at such a crazy hour and having the gym almost to ourselves!
Later in the day, Braden blindfolded me and we went on a drive. When I took the blindfold off, we were at the MTC! The MTC is such a special place to us because that is where we met.
I also love it because teaching there was my favorite job! I had a lot of great memories at that place. Ashton gave us a tour and we had lunch with him. It was so great to get to spend some time there!
Overall, it was a really fun day. A big thank you to Braden and everyone who helped make it so awesome!
Braden, Brooke at MTC in place they met
The Foster Care Dinner that Mom took us to was awesome, the food was great and all, but let me tell you. There were BEES! So many of them!
At first I was sitting in the pavilion and I was just brave and shooed them away, but then I couldn't take it, so I went over to the grass, and started eating there. I thought I would be safe, but then suddenly bees come over to my food and drink.
Everywhere I stopped with my food, they would follow, so I ate fast and went over to the playground to play with Kai and Troy, and get away from the bees.
We had a lot of fun, we played a game where we were on a big slide and we tried to hold onto each other while we made a chain down the slide. We weren't ever able to hold it for long, but we still had a lot of fun. Thanks Mom for taking us to this. It was awesome!
Troy, Kai, Isaac playing at company dinner
So we were invited to Moms company dinner, and there were so many bees! We had pulled pork sandwiches and they were so good. They also had pumpkin cookies and they were delicious!
They had a park with a pretty big slide that me Kai and Isaac would go on. We would do a chain where one person would fall then the other and then the last one would grab on a bar and try to pull the rest up the slide, but we had to wait a long time for the perfect moment when it was all clear. We never actually got each other up because it was way to hard to do it.
Quinn playing at company dinner
Several years ago, in one of mine and London’s past apartments, we did a roommate introduction where we each chose two Disney characters that captured our personalities.
It was so much fun that we still like to come up with people’s Disney combos. So when we were at home recently we came up with Disney character combos for all the family members that were there. So what do you think?
Family Disney character combos
It was so nice of some of my adult children to pool their resources and buy Mom and I tickets to see Newsies at Hale Centre Theatre. This is one of the plays I have most wanted to see.
Part of that is sentimental. The movie Newsies came out in 1992, the year I got back from my mission. When I returned to BYU just a couple weeks after getting home, I joined back up with the BYU Men’s Chorus.
At that time, the BYU Men’s Chorus was directed by Dr. Mack Wilberg, who is now one of the directors of the Tabernacle Choir. During my first semester back, one of the main sets of music that we sang were several of the songs from Newsies.
Dad and Mom at Newsies
Later on, during my last semester with the BYU Men’s Chorus, a beautiful young woman used to come into the practice hall, and sit up near the back to hear us practice. Afterwards, we would walk home together. Eventually, we were engaged, and we married just a couple weeks after my last Men’s Chorus performance.
So only was Newsies an incredible musical to see on the stage at Hale Centre Theatre, but the music of that production brings back wonderful memories of a special time over 30 years ago. ”Open the gates and sieze the day…”
Dad and Mom at Newsies
It's crazy how much one can grow in 91 weeks! This my mission has been amazing so far and these last few months I hope will be special.
My companions name is Elder Urquiza. He's from Cordeva, Argentina. He's a fun companion and we work hard together.
Cabrero is a big branch with 90 or so people that attend on average. There are four of is that live together in a top floor apartment. It's weird to think they this is probably my last area. Time goes by so fast.
I've been getting familiar with the new sector and I am very excited to give it my all!
Caleb with new companion Elder Urquiza