28 Jul 2024
VOLUME 12 – NUMBER 566
Mom making lunch for the kiddos
London came over to visit, and I sat with her while she worked. We were watching Brother Bear together. There was some funny parts that we laughed about, like when the old woman says, “No trading!” The mooses were also really funny. We smiled.
Before London came, I played with Troy and Quinn, and did some school on Bright Thinker. I did some math, language arts, and phonics. I had a really fun day, and I'm so happy that I got to play with London! I also like being in first grade!
London and Joanna watching a movie
We had Emma, Mac, Brigham, Mateo, and Sophia stay at our house, so that Natalie and Nate could get things done. I like having them over, because they are fun and funny. They always make me smile.
This week we had a dog named Jagger. He was a ball of energy, so we had to tire him out. To do that, we had to walk him so many times around the block to just get him tired for a couple of hours. He was super adorable.
We also had mission prep on Sunday for the 16 to 18 year-olds. I like going, because every time I go, I learn something new. I am grateful for that.
Gloria sleeping
I got to hangout with Hazel this week. We made some Oreo cheesecake. It was super easy to make and tasted super good. While the cheesecake was in the oven, I brought stuff to make bracelets, and we spent most of the time doing that.
On Tuesday, we went to summer seminary. I really enjoy going to that. I really liked the lesson I chose. It was about how God and your friends got your back. That made me realize I'm I really am a pretty good friend.
Children eating hamburgers in back yard
After summer seminary, I had a triple date with Austin and his date, Crew and Annie, and Riley and me. Austin and I planned the date because Crew had never gone on a date before, so we wanted to make it fun for his first time.
We went to Walmart and got some lunch, and then we ate it at the park next to Jordan Landing. Then we went to Rush. I had only gone once, and when I went before, I had only done laser tag and mini golf. This time, we decided to do go carts, and that was really fun. We had to end at around 3:00pm, because Annie had to work.
For Pioneer Day, I got to hang out with the Danielsons. We went to Riley's mom’s side for dinner and fireworks. I had so much fun getting to light some fireworks. There was one firework that got my hand a little, and it hurt for a little while.
Mom washing Sophia’s hair
Also, Mom, Veidi, and I cleaned the attic. It took about four hours to get it super clean. It was super hot, but it was really worth it. On Saturday, I went with the Danielsons, and we did a kickball tournament.
Our team was really fun, and I really enjoyed seeing other teams play. There was one team we went against and they were “try hards” (people who take things a little seriously), but they were really good. Our team got third place in the tournament.
Later that day I had a date with Riley, Riley’s Uncle Josh and Aunt Cayenne. We decided to do an escape room, and we were really close to making it out, but we ran out of time, with only a couple more clues left.
Children making Oreo cheesecake
While we were doing school, Gloria came into the kitchen and said that we could make cheesecake with Oreos. She learned the recipe when she was with Hazel. It was lunch time, so we ate lunch first, and then we started to make the cheesecake.
While making the cheesecakes, I crushed the Oreo's in the bag, for the topping and the crust. It was kind of fun.
First we made an Oreo one, and then we did a mint Oreo, and other flavors. The next day in the morning, we had some cheesecake. It was delicious!
Family visit to Provo City Center Temple
Ashton came over this weekend, and to my surprise, we as a family decided to do something a little spontaneous. We decided to go and watch a movie called Fly Me to the Moon.
I'll tell you this, I really enjoyed the movie. It was a really well rounded film, with the right amount of romance, comedy, and just the slightest bit of suspense.
The movie itself is a historical fiction—a story about the first moon landing, and how a shady government official hires someone to fake the landing, just incase the real thing failed.
Fly Me to the Moon is a movie that I would want to go see again, which is crazy to say compared to a lot of movies that have released recently. Thank you, Ashton for recommending that movie to us!
Family eating after visit to temple
So now that the weather's nice and hot, I've been going on a lot more bike rides. Troy and I usually ride on the Mountain View Trail near our house, next to Mountain View Corridor.
It's really refreshing to take a break from worldly stresses and just ride around. You can feel the nice breeze cooling you down from the heat, and you can smell the fresh smells of summer! It's really relaxing too. I love it when I decide to go outside and enjoy summer!
Family watching TV
I have been wanting to go to the Taylorsville Temple, since I never made it to the open house. I decided I would make a trip up, and I invited Mom and Dad to go with me. Well, I was running a little late that morning, and then we got caught up talking before we left.
We were just gonna do walk-in appointments anyway, so it wasn't a huge deal that we were late. We finally got in the car to leave and Dad remembered that Grandma Arlene and Grandpa Arnold had planned to stop by for a quick visit.
We went back inside, and it was really nice to chat with them for a bit. I haven't seen them in a while, and I felt like it was a nice coincidence that I was up at Mom and Dad's in the middle of a weekday, so that I could see Grandma and Grandpa.
Brooke, Ellie, and Charlie at library
Once we were finished visiting with them, we headed off to the temple. When we got there, we asked if we could do some initiatory ordinances and they let us go back to change. It turns out the wait for initiatories for the women was almost two hours just to get in, and I couldn't take off that much time for work.
Apparently all of the endowments and sealings were closed due to them replacing the carpet upstairs (not sure why), so we guessed that was the reasons for the back up with initiatories.
It was a bit of a failed attempt to go see a new temple, but we went and got lunch instead. We did have a fun time despite our failures. I guess that just means I'll need to go again another time!
Troy reading with Mckay and Mateo
Mom told us that all of Natalie’s children are coming over and Isaac went with Natalie to clean out her house. I think they all had a good time because I had a good time with them.
Later that week, Mom announced that she was wanting to go to the Sundance Amphitheater for her work to watch Newsies, but none of us children wanted to go, so we said that Mom and Dad should go to the amphitheater on a date.
Mom agreed, and they both left. We were left home and we mostly watched Monte, Isaac, and Kai play Fortnight. It was okay, but I wished I would have gone with Mom when she first asked us to go to the amphitheater.
Dad and Mom at Sundance Amphitheater
This week I went over to Natalie's for the weekend to help clean out her house. Nate and Natalie left their children at our house so we could get more work done.
We started with her “Anne Frank” room (a storage room behind a bookshelf), and then moved on to the food storage room. The result of cleaning both of those out was so satisfying.
Joanna sleeping
We did find a couple of dead mice. It was funny how we found the first one. I moved a box and didn't see the mouse, and I was about to accidentally step on it, when Natalie screamed.
When I heard the scream, I yelled, and then I thought she was just pranking me, but she pulled me away and pointed to the dead mouse. I was so glad that she did—otherwise I would've stepped on it!
We worked a lot of the day, and I also did some of the kids’ laundry and put it away. Next, I helped clean out Sophia's room. I also got to watch a show while cleaning, and surprisingly I really enjoyed the cleaning. One of the nights, Natalie, Nate, and I went to Olive Garden for dinner, and it was delicious.
5th Ward river trip preparation activity
We are now one week away from going on another river trip. To help the 5th Ward young men, we had one last preparation activity.
We had skippers and their gilligans practice the unpacking, loading, unloading, and re-packing of their rafts. This will make it easier the morning we pack up, and also when we assemble and disassemble rafts on the river trip.
The activity went well, and I think Monte, Isaac, Kai and I are feeling a little better about this river trip. We did have one pair of young men skip out on about half the activity, so they will probably be a little less prepared than the others.
This week Jenny invited me to go on a date with her to the Sundance Amphitheater to watch Newsies. It was fun to get away, and the venue was beautiful, with surrounding mountain views that cannot be matched!
Sundance Amphitheater