14 April 2024
VOLUME 12 – NUMBER 551
Family at Yarima’s baby shower
It’s been so hard to see Aura in so much pain. As a family, we pray for her almost every day. This weekend, Mom and I went over to Aura’s house. When we arrived, Aura struggled to get to the front door, and then just collapsed on the stairs in pain after she opened the door.
Mom just sat on the steps and held her for a while, and after we got her some medication, we were able to get her over to the couch. It was such a relief to see the medication take effect and calm the pain.
While we were there, Mom and I had a sacred moment with Aura when she told us she was glad to have us as her mom and dad, and happy she was a part of this family. We told her how much we loved her, and how happy we are to have her as a daughter. We shared happy memories of those early times together when Aura was still in our home.
Charlie eating a banana
We decided to give Caleb a call to see if he could come over and visit. By the time he and his former mission companion, Sebastian, and Sebastian’s brother arrived, Aura had fallen asleep. Caleb went over and sat next to her until she woke up.
He and his companions were able to have an enjoyable talk with her, and they decided to make her a Chilean dessert. It was so nice to have them come over to help cheer up Aura.
Family at Yarima’s baby shower
This weekend we had Yarima and Selvin’s baby shower, which was so fun! Afterwards, me, Mom, Dad, my mission companion, Sebastian, and his brother, Eliceo all visited Aura. We spent some time comforting her, and talking with her once the pain medicine kicked in.
It was really nice being with Aura. We had some fun conversations in Spanish because Sebastian and Eliseo don’t speak much English.
At one point Chilean treats were brought up, specifically a very delicious treat called “calzones rotos” (translation is “torn underpants”), so on Sunday Sebastian and I made some for her! It was a lot of fun, and it was even more special because we were making them for Aura.
Caleb and Sebastian making calzones rotos
Also, Itzel spent some time at our house, we played lots of throw, throw, burrito as a family. I became slightly famous for my spin moves. However Kai, Veidi, and Isaac usually were the ones to beat. They were a little more well rounded with the card game part of the game, and the dodge burrito part.
For some reason, Monte always happens to have a suit jacket on whenever we play, so he always looked like a James Bond burrito fighter.
Another thing that’s been happening is the sister missionaries assigned to the Spanish ward have been visiting more frequently. They’re great sister missionaries, and it’s been kind of cool for me to be on the other end of always seeing the missionaries working and visiting.
Joanna, Troy, Quinn watching partial eclipse
So today was the day the eclipse was going to happen, and Mom had gotten glasses from her work to look at the eclipse. Then Aunt Amy and her kids came to get some glasses too.
We put on the glasses and stared at the sun, and it was cool because at one point it looked like Pac-man. The sun didn't ever get fully covered.
Then we had to get back to school, and I did Bright Thinker. I had music, language arts, and math and math and language arts, and math was hard because math I learned fractions and division which was hard to understand.
Language arts was hard because it had difficult questions. Music on the other hand was really fun and easy to learn I learned the piano.
Mom snuggling with James and Israel
For the last couple weeks I have been running, and everyday I run, it gets better and better. I have gotten faster, and my running time is better every time.
I signed up to get my license next week. I just need to get a few more night hours. On Wednesday, I dropped off my poster for Riley for MORP. Caleb, and Troy helped me come up with the ask.
Kai sleeping under the ottoman
On Saturday Troy, Dad, and I went to Home Depot so we could get gravel for the side yard by the trailer. I really enjoyed doing it because it reminded me of times when I would go and help my mom and stepdad do landscaping. Now the little ditch along the side yard where the porch potty trained looks much better—filled in the gravel.
After doing that, we went to Yarima's baby shower. I had a fun time, and the food was so good. There was a game where you look at baby pictures and match them to a celebrity photo.
On Sunday night, Mom and I went driving for the two hours that I needed to get my license. We drove around to the temples around Utah County. It was really beautiful looking at them, and it was really nice at night.
Joanna watching Troy on telescope
While I was doing school, Dad came up and asked me if I could help him put gravel in the trough behind the porch potty. Me and Dad started measuring the trough to see how much gravel we needed to buy.
Once we got our measurements, we went to Home Depot with Gloria. Dad also pretended to miss the turn back home, and we ended up at Arctic Circle, where he bought us some lunch. When we got home we unloaded the gravel and filled the trough. It looks really good now.
Endia and Cougar with Owen for first swim
This week we took Owen swimming for the first time! He seemed to not be quite sure how to feel about the water, but after a little while he figured out how to splash his arms and kick his feet and was having a fun time!
Cougar and I took Owen and went to go hike the Y with some of Cougar’s family. It was so nice to be able to get out and go hiking again. Spring is coming!
I have been helping Mom and Dad with their dog training business by taking some pictures for them to post on their Instagram and Facebook accounts. It has been fun to get pictures of all the cute dogs they have and the fun things they are doing.
It is also good to give me something more to do with my day. While Cougar works and goes to school, Owen and I sometimes go and hang out in West Jordan with all the people and the dogs!
Pope family hiking the Y
I finally purchased the tickets to go and see the first Spider-Man movie re-release in theaters. After asking around to see who wanted to go, I needed up getting tickets for Aiden, Hazel, and I. I’m really excited to go to these movies over the next few weeks.
I did work at Swig this week, and I’m really getting the hang of things. It’s still a bit difficult remembering all of the different drink mixtures, but I’ll get the hang of it eventually. That’s pretty much my week y’all. Hope you have a good rest of yours!
Smith family at Yarima’s baby shower
This past week Emma got her tonsils out. We had the most miserable and scary experience with her. She hemorrhaged and ended up at the ER a few days later, and we are just happy to be done with that whole experience!
Emma after getting tonsils out