Field Trips and First Date

With Homecoming next week, Bryant was down to the wire to take me out as his first date.  He called me Thursday night to ask me out for Friday.  The plan was for him to "pick me up" at 5:30 for a bite to eat and a movie (which we discourage on real dates but allow with Mom).  I was hurrying back from town to make it home by 5:30 only to find him reading in his track clothes in the office.  "Bryant, you are supposed to be picking me up right now!"  I quizzed him about his shower, he told me he would just wear extra deoderant.  He "dressed up" in his hawk squad T-shirt.  I coaxed him into a collared shirt for this picture.  On the way into town he decided there was too much traffic on Rd. 68 and he wasn't going to drive to a restaurant.  I practically begged to go get some food, but he wouldn't have it.  Finally he told me there was a granola bar in the glove compartment.  Really, Bryant!?  All I could do was laugh thinking about him offering a real date the granola bar from the glove compartment.  The granola bar was old and we laughed some more.  We went and watched the computer animated "Lion King."  By then I was really hungry and I tried to tell him that I thought it would be an important experience for him to order off a menu and pay for a meal.  Consenting, we drove the back road to Applebee's.  Once he saw how crowded it was, he changed his mind.  I begged again, but to no avail.  James had texted that we needed some milk so I went into Walmart by myself.  On the way home we stopped at Little Ceasar's.  He did go in and buy the pizza.  Then he insisted we go the back way to get gas--again to avoid traffic.  I told him I didn't think the back way went all the way to Maverick.  He insisted it did, "Pretty sure Talmage went this way."  Before long we were in the dirt going up and down hills in the green bean--laughing again at the thought of this happening on a real date.  Needless to say, it was a memorable night.

We were the only ones home at the time so it had to be a selfie.

On Tuesday I had texted Talmage several questions with no response.  In the afternoon, I walked outside and saw two praying mantis.  Thinking of Talmage, I took a close look and took some pictures and texted him.  I got a response in a few minutes.  That kids needs to go into the life sciences.

That evening on our way to Pack Night, we decided to grab some bike helmets since the boys would be driving soap box cars down Bleazard's driveway.  When Rex pulled a bike helmet out of a black garbage bag in the garage, these keys hit the floor.  We've been missing them for almost 2 months!!  I still have no idea how they got in a bike helmet, in a garbage bag, in the garage--but I'm grateful!

Wednesday we surprised Bryant in Walla Walla at his XC meet.  He ran strong, I was really impressed.  Only one Chiawana runner beat him in his race, he took 20th overall which was fantastic.

Bryant is in the front in the dark jersey right between the two flag poles.

Vard came and slept here that night when he missed his flight to AZ to visit Kase and Brielle for the weekend.  It was nice to have his company.

Friday was Field Trip day at Sacajewea Park for Rex and Lyle.  It had potential but was kind of a let down with organization and having to leave early because of bus schedules.  And...Rex really did not like the fact that he got stung by a wasp.  (He was the unlucky one at Palouse Falls during Spring Break too.)  So, Megan Woolf, Saralyn Campbell, and Jessica Perkins and I kept our kids after the bus headed back to the school to watch the indian dancers since we didn't get to see them.  After we watched them, Rex and Lyle insisted I take them back to the school for fun Friday.  I think they were more excited about that than the Field Trip.

Their bridge they had to make in 10 minutes with 20 straws and scotch tape.

The starting line in the bitter cold Connell Invitational.  The course was name for Dan Colby, and rightfully so.

Sariah coming in 4th.

The weather turned from the beautiful Wednesday at Bryant's XC meet to yesterday that hovered in the 40s.  Brrr.  Didn't stop our girl though!

We've got some runners!

Monday night after family home evening, James and Talmage were video conferencing, looking up Youtube tutorials, and trying to work through Talmage's first Calculus assignment.  After quite awhile and several problems left, they decided that maybe Talmage should make a schedule change and take a refresher course (he hadn't taken Calculus since he was a Junior) or wait until after mission.  Tuesday was a scramble to change classes and still make sure he had enough credits to maintain his scholarship.

This weekend Bryant traveled to Boise to run Cross Country with the Chiawana Varsity Boys.  He was excited and had a good experience.  Out of 5000 runners, it just happened that he lined up right next to his cousin Tyler Rhoads from Draper, Utah!  It's a good thing we had a family reunion this summer or he probably wouldn't have recognized him.

Sariah traveled to Yakima and took 8th in the Girl's Race.  I've heard from so many people what a great runner she is.  I was at the 11-year-old Scout Camporee as part of my calling, and James was holding down the fort, but we are excited to watch her run in Connell next week.

Part of "holding down the fort" was installing the projector mount he got for his birthday.  He has wanted to do this for a long time!  Have to admit, it's pretty slick!
Friday night we went to Costa Vida with Dave and Taneil and Haley for James's birthday.  I am so blessed to have him in my life!!

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch...

James and Bryant got a good laugh out of Bryant's first wash job.  Talmage usually washes the outside and Bryant vaccuums, but now Bryant is on full duty.

One morning Rex was reading from one of our family books and exclaimed, "Dad, did I really take steroids!?"  James had to explain that they were medicinal steroids that helped to develop his lungs.

When I got home Sunday night, James had the house cleaner than I have had it in a long time.  He stayed up late on Saturday to clean our bathroom.  No doubt though, Talmage's vacancy is a huge hole--especially at the dinner table.

Off to BYU-Idaho

Grandma Wells helped us make the trip to Rexburg.  We left on Thursday the 12th to go to Blaire and Kioa's house.

Friday morning we got his I-card, found his classrooms, got some things at the bookstore and checked him into his new apartment, Brighton Townhouse #9.  It was remodeled this summer so it had new paint and carpet--very nice.

Super proud of him for being brave enough to audition for the talent show.  He wasn't disappointed when he didn't make it, he wanted to go to the St. Anthony football game with Cole that night anyway.

Got to spend some time with Gigi.

All set up and ready to go!

New Home Sweet Home.

Talmage's Final Days At Home

Talmage's last day of work.  These clothes went through the washing machine every night.  After this last day, they went in the garbage, including the boots.  Talmage had a lot of long, hot days this summer.  Grateful he had a consistent job.  So grateful he is such a hard worker.

Finishing up his room and getting packed up was a major undertaking.  He had to say good-bye to a lot of memories.

Nobody wanted to let him go.

Talmage wanted to take these guys for Sonic shakes before he left.  No wonder no one wanted to let him go.  I told the kids that Talmage has learned what he needed to learn at our house.  He learned to be patient, kind, and unselfish.  Now, he needed to go learn some other things.

Football Season Opener

Rex and Lyle were looking forward to the first football game, Richland vs. Chiawana at Fran Rish Stadium in Richland.  James took them and Talmage.  James was rooting for Richland, the others for Chiawana.  Before the game, one of them came to me and said, "Someone else will be number 24."  Yes, Talmage won't be #24 this year.  Rex and Lyle have loved football every since Talmage's first year as a freshman.  He never missed a practice--even to go to the solar eclipse which he would have LOVED.  They have idolized their big brother.  Talmage has been a great example of endurance and doing hard things.  Chiawana won pretty easily.

Bryant had his first cross country meet that afternoon.  I was at Makenna Price's wedding reception and Sariah and Hyrum were at Specht's watching Zorro.

James and Bryant spent the day working on the Accord at Phil's shop.  I was home trying to teach my two 8-year-olds and my 10-year-old how to work, to stick to a job, and to finish it completely.  I don't know if James or I had the tougher job.  Fortunately, James and Bryant had great success. Hyrum, Rex and Lyle got their garden weeding, washing the car, Saturday chore, kitchen job and their bedroom done in time to go swimming at Stock's one last time this year.  It was a very pleasant evening, a little overcast, and they had a hard time getting out of the pool, and I had a hard time making them since I knew it would probably be the last of the year.  Not to mention, Talmage was swimming with them and he was enjoying it as much as they were, and those moments are numbered.  But, we still had showers to take for Sunday.  Hyrum asked me if swimming counted as his shower.  I told him not on Saturday night.

Sariah had decided to run to Stock's instead of swim.  At the reception the previous night, Kiersten Price had told me, "Sariah is stinkin' fast."  It is a joy to me to hear Sariah recognize what a gift her body is and what it can do.  She has discovered how good it feels to run. 

Speaking of Bishop Stock.  I was at a Ward Conference but after church in our ward today, they recognized Bishop Stock for his service at the linger longer.  He really is a great man whose love is felt by all.

Hyrum got excited about making animals with pony beads.  He looked up the patterns and figured it all out by himself.  Then he taught Rex and Lyle how to do it.  This dragonfly is one that he designed and made by himself.  We had a lot of beaded lizards and snakes at our house this week.  I was really impressed how they took it on and figured it out without really any help from me.

An Elder!!

It was a special day.  James and Talmage both bore their testimonies in sacrament meeting.  After church, James conferred the Melchizedek priesthood on Talmage and ordained him to the office of an Elder.  Grandpa and Grandma came.  Talmage also invited Brother McBride who stood in.  Bishop and Brother Allen of the High Council were there as well.  I felt a sweet spirit.  Bryant testified of the same to our family on the way home from church. 

Grandpa and Grandma joined us for lunch and Come Follow Me.   We are so blessed to have them so close and have their influence in our lives.

Back to School

The kids rocked their first week back to school!  It's the only "first day" that I can remember without someone in tears.  We are up to read scriptures and have family prayer at 5:55.  Sariah catches her morning ride with Bishop Freeman at 6:20, James leaves just after Sariah, Bryant heads to Chiawana at 7am, Talmage leaves for work about 7:15, and the three little guys and I walk to the bus stop at 8:10.  These kids were up and getting themselves off all week.  The little guys jumped on their "Family Economy" and got their piano practice and reading done before school.  It's a good thing too because they don't get home until 4 o'clock.  Then everyone starts trickling in until James and Sariah get home about 6:25.  We are trying to have a family meal at 6:30, then do chores and get little guys in bed by 7:30-8 since they get up so early.  It's kind of a mad rush while still trying to have some quality family time each day.

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Sariah actually spent the night at Grandpa's house on Sunday so that she could go as a WEB (Where Everyone Belongs) leader on Monday with the 7th graders.  She started Cross Country on Wednesday and outran everyone except one boy, Jacob Freeman our neighbor.  It has been a happy week for her.  She has come SO FAR in one year!

And... by the second day, she was on the NFSD website (middle back).
Friday was picture day.  Last year she forgot (and so did I) and she was wearing a ponytail and a Markham T-shirt signed by all her friends.  We have laughed a lot about that.  This year, we were up at 5:30 curling her hair.  Beautiful girl--inside and out.

Lyle actually woke up with a fever Sunday night that lasted until Monday afternoon so he missed the first day of school.  He really was feeling okay by Tuesday though so he is all smiles here.  He really did want to go on the first day.  Instead, he, Bryant and I went grocery shopping.  Sure nice to have their help.

Waiting at the bus stop.  They were grateful to see that Stanley returned as the bus driver.  They got a brand spankin' new bus, route 166.

Guess I didn't get a picture of Bryant.  Just know he is a handsome kid.

Sure proud of these kids and their courage facing a new year.

One morning just after scripture study as we sent Sariah out the door there was a full rainbow in the backyard.  Looks more like a pink orb in this picture, but it was a beautiful, full rainbow on a peaceful morning.  We don't see those in the west very often.