September - Off to College

Xela started school in the middle of September. After an earlier college application crisis regarding her acceptance to The School of Art in Chicago (SAIC) and its scholarship (which wasn't a full ride as we originally assumed), she decided to go to BYU Idaho and move in day was Sept 14.

After several months of harassing her to make plans for the move, we finally had plans and they came to fruition on Wednesday Sept 12. That morning, Xela and I picked up the rental car at 7:30 Wednesday morning, with the purpose of her packing it while I was at work so we could leave as soon as possible after I got home. Xela had it packed and then Eric apparently unloaded and repacked the van. That didn't make her very happy. Anyway, I got home, we packed the last of the items, loaded food, said family prayer and we started out on our 26+ hour drive.

I started out driving and the sunset was BEAUTIFUL!! I only took one and then Xela took the camera from me so I could be an undistracted driver. The picture does NO justice to the sunset's color and majesty.

We drove the night through and stopped in Salt Lake to spend Thursday night. We got five - six hours of sleep before getting up early to make the last four hour stretch of our drive to Rexburg.

I had to take this picture;
it's a LONG drive,
even if you're passengering

We arrived in Rexburg about 8 - 8:30, found her house and started unpacking.

Xela's bedroom is the rectangular window

Unpacking and trying to find a place for everything...

...it's a small space...

...but everything found a spot.

After the unpacking, Xela had to go get her I-Card so that she could get her books. Her house is a five minute walk to campus - fabulous location - so off we went. The long line went faster than I thought it would....

Printed cards tossed on the table
for the freshman to find

...and we got her books and headed back to her house...

Books in tow, headed home

...where she dropped things off. It was close to 1:30 when she was supposed to meet her "Get Connected" group, which consisted of freshman (maybe 10??) with two mentors. She was gone for three hours. I wanted to go to the temple; it would have been perfect timing, but when I looked it up...

...under renovation. Drat. Now we had three hours to kill. We got a bike helmet for Xela and then hung out in the van in her house's driveway. We had dropped her off at her gathering place for this "Get Connected" tour, but I hadn't given her a good by hug before we dropped her off at the Cafe Rio, so I wasn't about to leave for home.

She got back around five and then we went grocery shopping. The Walmart was CROWDED! The shelves were ransacked, but I guess that is to be expected when thousands of people descend to drop off their children for college. Xela had brought money to pay for groceries, but Eric said we would pay for it as a last thing we could do before we left.

Got back to her apartment, unloaded groceries and then there was a talent show that was only for new freshman. The Get Connected group was meeting again at the Cafe Rio at 7:00. Before driving her to the drop off point, I made sure I got a hug. I will admit that I got teary-eyed with that last hug, and then watching her jump out of the car to her new independent college life.

I know she is a good kid and will make good decisions, but I also know I will miss not seeing her every day. Thankfully we have the benefits of modern technology and quick communication so I can reach out to her in instant ways. I love my sweet Xela and look forward to the woman she will become in the next few years.

September - Playing with the Pooch

On September 8, I wanted to do something for Patience Gaydos' birthday as a surprise for her, so I had purchased some balloons. In our efforts to blow those balloons, in the kitchen, in the dog's presence, we found fun.

First the photos:

Opal: "Can I please play with the ball?"

Opal gets closer with increasing hope
of obtain her objective

Now, the pictures are cute, but the videos are smile and laughter inducing.

Having Opal has been a good thing for our family. She drives us crazy sometimes, but she often brings smiles and laughter to our home.

August - Indiana State Fair

I love going to the Indiana State Fair and we have been going nearly every year since we arrived in Indiana. Eric is not a fan and thinks it's frivolous, but I and the kids enjoy going. I always go when their are discounted ticket prices. This year, Patience Gaydos had extra tickets and gave me four, so I took the younger kids (Ro and Xela had to work). We went on the last Saturday of the fair as our schedule didn't allow for it until that Saturday.

The theme was based on the circus and they had a one ring circus show four times a day. We got there in time to see the first one on that day. It was AWESOME! We had a good time.

Thought about waiting around for the the free popcorn,
then took some pictures and moved on

At the girl scout venue;
they had an obstacle course

Graigry's turn

After the obstacle course,
on to the golf course
waiting for the circus to open

Waiting outside the circus tent
for the door to open

Waiting inside for the circus to start

The circus was a GREAT show that we very much enjoyed. We had to wait an hour, but there was some fun music playing and so the kids and I, in our tight row of seats, line danced to YMCA,  La Margarena, and the Cupid Shuffle. I think that was my favorite memory from this year's state fair visit.

Leather work necklace making

Visiting with the horses;
the animals is half the fun of the state fair

Elephant Ears are a State Fair tradition staple

A mouthful of deliciousness

We always get elephant ears before leaving. They are huge (thus the elephant), so one is split between two. We savor the cinnamon sugary fried goodness and then head to the car for the drive home. This year, we drove home and then Graigry had something so Nate, Neta and I went mowing. It didn't finish until almost nine, but Nate and Neta were fairly good humored (especially after getting a lunchable to eat as "dinner").

It was a long day, but a good one. :)

August - School Starts

If you don't count summer school for Aurora and Graigry, Nate and Neta started school first on August 2. My kids aren't fans of getting their pictures taken, but humored me.

Nate - grade 7
(see what I said about humoring me?)

Neta - 6th grade

On their bikes, ready to ride

Paramount School of Excellence is less than a mile up the street from our house so they ride their bikes, as long as it's not raining.

Graigry and Aurora, at Herron High School, got another week before their first day. Graigry is a freshman and hates being photographed. Aurora is a senior and doesn't so much mind pictures.

Thumbs up and smiles on their first day
(we'll see how long that lasts)

And then Graigry's arm disappeared
(I think this is my favorite photo)

Here's to a summer gone by and another school year of routine days, homework on top of the regular stresses of life.

July Fun - the 4th and the Dunes

July was full of activities from scout camp, girls camp, trek and hanging out while the others were gone. That's a quick recap; here are the photographic representation of happenings at home while the others were away at youth events.

July 4th Fun

Tradition has been that we go to Highland Park, which is just east of I-65 and downtown and we watch the downtown fireworks. The boys were at scout camp and Eric is not a fan, so I took Aurora and Neta. Xela met us there as she was already hanging out with her boyfriend, Colin, who lives across the street from that park.

Playing Skipbo waiting for time to pass

Robinson Family showed up;
spent time playing with them.

I don't know what is happening here -
Ro tickling Xela? tackling Xela?

View of Downtown fireworks;
with Xela and Colin watching

Indiana National Lake Shore

A picture of me in Lake Michigan

While Aurora and Eric were at girls camp the week of July 9th through the 14th, I took two days off. That Tuesday, July 10, I decided to take the three younger kids to the Dunes. I wanted Xela to come, but she had to work.

We haven't been there in years and I've wanted to go. Eric doesn't think we need to drive three hours to go camping, and there is some truth to that, but I wanted to play in the water with the kids so we went when it wouldn't bother his schedule. 

We left home around six and were the first ones on the beach just before nine. We spent the day playing in Lake Michigan, on the beach, munching on food and cooking ourselves. Yes, we left much redder than we entered. We got home around 7, just in time for mutual and then went home to relax and realize how red and sore we were.

Unattended life guard chair
with a seagull lookout

Scotts are the first ones in the water

That log was used as a floating device for about an hour
sometimes as we swam out to the buoys.

Graigry wanted to be buried;
I made a shark...

...it even had sharp teeth and an eye

Graigry making his own lakeside pool

Nate & Neta found a little frog

Nate becomes a sandy lobster

More water fun;
We had a fun time jumping over the waves

More sandcastles and surf

My sandcastle creation

A sand princess

Beach Buddies
I loved watching the kids
play and smile together 

Here are a few videos from our fun that day.

 We pulled ourselves away from the sandy, watery goodness around 3:30 - 4:00 and headed back home. Due to construction, we got home a little later than I expected. We made a quick stop by the house and then headed to mutual. 

Nate's face nearly matched his shirt
This about sums up our feeling
upon return to Indy:
red and exhausted.

I can't wait to go there again and when that event comes, we will apply more sunscreen. I did it once, and put some on Nate and Neta. Graigry didn't want any because he "only tans." That night, we were all burned, and lay on the couches watching television and trying not to move, even after aloe vera was spread on tender skin. 

June - Birthday Month

June celebrates the birth of two of our daughters, which lends itself to plenty of picture taking (lucky you!)

Neta turns 11

One week in, we celebrate Neta's birthday. This is her last year in Primary and her last year without her own phone. It will be her first year of middle school and her first year of girls' camp. Life just gets more exciting from here on out.

Eric and the younger kids were working, so they met us at McDonalds (Xela came with us, which was awesome!) where we went for dinner and presents. I can't remember if that is something Neta suggested or I suggested. Doesn't really matter; that is where we ate for her birthday dinner.

Birthday Girl too into her Happy Meal toy
to smile for the camera

Hungry Hippos Game miniature
(Coolest Happy Meal Toy I've ever seen)

Could it be....Legos??

From Aurora - it's a purse

Her's to share with siblings

We got home in time to try out the slip-n-slide in the back yard. 

Neta taking the first slide

Trying to find the "bump" in the road

Working out a game

Sibling Crash

Friday night of that week, Neta had three friends over to use the slip-n-slide and two were able to spend the night. Neta was excited because these friends included Halyn from Little Flower and her good friend from church, who is now in the other ward and a 20 min drive away instead of around the corner, Natalie Robinson. 

Ice Cream Cake - some of the "cones" fell over

I have no idea what Neta is looking at

Loving Legos

Sliding with Friends
(I felt bad for Alice who had red stripes
on her legs from sliding)

After slipping and cake, Alice Rygg went home and we went inside where we watched "The Greatest Showman" and then they went to sleep. In the morning they played and then Halyn headed home around ten before Neta, Natalie, Aurora and I headed to Fishers building to take Ro to a camp work day and Natalie to her mother who was going to be there.

Aurora's Birthday Drive

Two weeks later, it's Aurora's turn. She is going into her senior year of high school and for Xela's senior year she wanted a laptop. Ro said she wanted one as well, and even though Eric thought we should do something different, it's what she wanted so that's what we got (again with the help) of grandparents. 

Because her birthday isn't during the school year, I asked Xela to help me put together a scavenger hunt of sorts with different clues to take her to different places throughout Indy that have been part of her life. Together we came up with 17 clues that did a loop, ending back at our house with the laptop under our bed. It was a good opportunity for her to get some drive time in. Some of the clue were easy; couple of them caused her and Eric to pause and figure it out. 

Finding a clue
at the park that Eric (& his family) built
when Neta was a baby

"It could be the library?"

At Irvington Elementary School playground

The sledding hill
at Ellenberger Park

This is at Herron High School

Grandparents' backyard

"Really, Mom?"
Last clue found in the bike shed

FOUND IT!!!

She seemed to enjoy the drive and was obviously happy with her computer, which she has named LoKi (after the Marvel character, after my recommendation -"low key" - ha!ha!)

I was going to hide the clues early that morning, but then when I couldn't sleep Saturday night, very early Sunday morning, I went and hid things then. For some reason I knocked on Patience's door (I saw the light on), maybe returning her iron, and asked if she wanted to come help. She set aside her homework and we went for an hour drive on the near east side hiding clues and talking. It was good for me to have someone to express some frustrations too, who knows Eric well enough to understand, even though she is not married, and she vented some frustrations regarding my daughter who is rooming with her. Good drive, good day!

Other June Snapshots

Aside from birthdays, there were a couple other photographic worthy adventures in June. On June 20th, Graigry, Aurora and Eric (for the first two days) were at Trek, so after work, we went for a bike ride on the canal and then, as is tradition when Dad gone, we had ice cream sundaes/banana splits for dinner.

At the Zoo side of the Canal

Photo recreation time!

June 13, 2014

June 20, 2018
(I think she stepped up on someone's back;
she isn't that much taller than her freshman year)

Dinner!
(they always fill their bowls; they always can't finish)

The next day, we went with Xela to the Circle to be treated to ice cream at the chocolate shop there. I have no opposition to free ice cream! Collin met us down there and then Xela went home with him.

Ice cream cones at Monument Circle

June was a good month! Then came July.....