21 April 2024
VOLUME 12 – NUMBER 552
Kai and Troy swinging at grandparents house
This week I went with Mom to Jen's work. I helped Mom with Mable while Mom was teaching the boys at the group home where Jen works. I also carried the training things she needed for her lesson. While Mom was teaching the boys and letting them get to know Mable a little, I played Ticket to Ride on my tablet, did some Among Us, and listened to my book until Mom was done.
Then we went home. Sophie was there, and we played games with her. I had a fun time hanging out with her.
We went to Grandma and Grandpa Hill's house. While we were there, we played spikeball. I don't usually play, but I did and it was pretty fun.
Grandpa also taught me to drive a lawn mower that I can sit on and it was really fun also it was very bumpy I had a great time at Grandma and Grandpa's.
Ellie playing in a ball pit
Braden had a work trip this week in Georgia from Tuesday to Friday. Four days without him doesn’t sound very long, but it felt very long to me—ha ha! That’s probably because he works from home, so I’m used to seeing him all the time, but I tried to keep us busy to help time go by faster!
We went out to lunch with my aunt and sister, went to the trampoline park, had play dates at friends’ houses and a picnic at the park, but our favorite thing was probably going to State Park. There’s lake access and a sandy area, so it feels like you’re at the beach. The weather was hot, but the water was cold, so it felt super refreshing.
Ellie had fun playing in the water and sand with her friends. Charlie was a bit more hesitant with the water at first, but ended up loving it and was sad when it was time to go. It was fun to get a little taste of summer!
Charlie playing in the water
This Friday and Saturday was Zions Camp for Mom and Dad, along with a lot of the other parents and adults in the stake, so we invited Sophie to come over to our house, since her whole family was gone at Zions camp too. We had a lot of fun, and played Clue Conspiracy with her.
I think she liked it, but I also felt bad, because every time we played, she was the main bad person, and she was still getting to know how to play. She wanted to ask questions about how to play as her role, but also not give up who she was.
We had a really fun time, and we also played Curses. Then we went over to her house and had S'mores and watched a movie.
Grandpa Arnold with Joanna on the mower
Last week during Yarima’s baby shower, I had to slip out for an hour or so to pick up some friends, Sebastian and Eliseo, that are staying at our house for a few days. They are visiting from Chile and didn't have a place to stay. You might know Sebastian as “Elder Miranda” from my missionary days at Los Sauces. We spent six months together as companions.
This week on Monday they came up to the church with my brothers and me, and we had a giant Nerf gun war in in the gym.
Boys in nerf gun war
Misha turned six this week! I can't believe that it's been six years since I first held Misha. At that time, her temporary name given to her by the breeders was Lift.
I love Misha so much, and to see her getting older makes me a little sad. I remember when she was just as big as her head is now—just an adorable little puppy. But as much as I miss little puppy Misha, six-year-old Misha is even better.
I'm not sure what our life would look like without her, and I'm thankful for the life we have with her. Love you Misha!
Misha
After a year of having my drivers permit I finally got my license on Monday! On Tuesday for our young women’s activity we made necklaces out of clay for Mothers Day. After I finished mine, they put it in the oven along with some others.
Wednesday was Misha's birthday, so I did a little research and made her a birthday cake out ingredients that are okay for dogs to eat. Misha, Mable, and Max all enjoyed pieces of the cake. They all loved it, but Misha was the only one who took her time to eat it. Mabel ate it in one bite, and Max gobbled it down in just a few quick bites.
On Thursday, everyone except Monte and I went to Malad. We stayed home so I could do school and we also watched the dogs. Monte had to go to work at 12:00pm, so I was home alone for a few hours. Later at night Monte and I went to Aiden's to hangout.
Playing spikeball at grandparents house
On Saturday we had Sofie come over to play games. It was really fun playing Clue Conspiracy because she had never played and was the main bad guy both times. At around 5:00pm, Riley and I got to hangout for a few hours before the region dance.
We got Panda Express for dinner and ate it at his house. After we ate, we played Uno, and Ethan—Riley’s younger brother—played with us. Then we headed to the region dance. It was fun, but there was a lot of people and the gym was so hot!
Children playing games
Misha's birthday was this week, so Gloria and Veidi looked for cakes to make for her birthday. They ended up making a peanut butter and oats cake. Veidi also bought her a little binkey and a stuffed bone. Misha loves binkeys!
Another surprise was that Misha got to sit on the counter chairs. When we gave them the cake, they had to eat on the floor. Mable ate hers in a blink of an eye, so did Max, Misha ate hers calmly. And now Misha is 6 years old, Happy Birthday, Misha!
Quinn and Joanna shredding papers
When Sebastian and Eliseo, Caleb's companions, came over, we played Switch and Among Us with them.
This week Dad also had me and Joanna shred paper to earn Coochie Moochie coins. We would have to shred a pile of paper that Dad gave us for one Coochie Moochie. With the Coochie Moochies, we could buy treats like Hershey bars, crackers, and fruit leather.
Quinn spending his Coochie-Moochies
A holiday not everyone remembers or celebrates is Earth Day. This year I decided to celebrate it! I was in West Jordan so I took some people to the store to pick out some flowers that we could plant. I think it turned out nice, and the next time I visited home they had grown a lot and the flowers had tripled in number! I love earth and nature and I feel God in the big beautiful mountains and the small flower petals.
I also got to watch and hang out with the Nate and Natalie’s kiddos this week. They are so cute and so much fun!
Endia planting flowers with children
This week was the last of classes of a semester that flew by. On Tuesday we had our group presentations for MCOM 320, and that was surprisingly fun! Me and my group practiced beforehand and felt pretty confident about it all. Wednesday night was the last night of my science class where we took our final midterm.
I had one scheduled final from 8:00–10:00pm on Saturday night. Right as I finished, I saw someone that looked like Charlie Hill (my cousin) walking past the science building. I called out, “Is that you, Charlie?” He turned around and recognized it was me.
It was great to reconnect. It’s wild to think how fast time it flying. I gave him a drive back to Heritage Halls so he could finish studying for a stats final. What a dedicated man—ha ha!
Ashton and team prepping for presentation
My second semester as an MCOM 320 instructor at BYU ended this week. Things were definitely more smooth this go around than my first semester, but I still have one or two more things to tweak before I feel like my course is truly polished. I am looking forward to having a couple weeks off. I’ll start Spring semester on April 30.
It was nice to visit my mom and dad in Malad this week. It was a short visit—about half a day, but very enjoyable. Every time we go, our children get so excited about Grandma Arlene’s food!
I don’t say this enough, but I am so grateful for my parents. I was raised in a kind and loving home where the gospel and the atonement of Jesus Christ were interwoven into everything we did. Everything I am today starts with the good home I was raised in. Thank you Mom and Dad. I love you!
Grandpa Arnold reading to children