Presents from Mawmaw

Mawmaw brought up some special presents for the boys.  Cayden got a new Lego set and Kyle got a big stuffed horse we named Charlie.  We love our Mawmaw!

We Love JCW's

One of our favorite places to eat in Provo is JCW's.  We love their hamburgers.  We love their fries and fry sauce and we LOVE LOVE LOVE their shakes.  After our real family pictures in Lehi we went to JCW's while we waited for them to get out disc ready.  That was only one of the many times we partook of their greasy artery clogging goodness.  

Seven Peaks Part 2 and 3

On our third trip to Utah we wen to Seven Peaks twice.  Don took the boys for a few hours earlier in the week after he got done working.  I didn't really want to go but Don took Kyle for about an hour. The second time on that trip we all went together.    We didn't get there until around lunch time but it was not super crowded.   We didn't have Aunt Suzanna's super awesome shade only 2 big umbrellas.  We didn't really use them that much anyway so it was fine.  We love using our Pass of All Passes.  We never would be able to go to Seven Peaks as much as we do without them! Best Christmas present ever!

First Day of School 2015-2016

School started bright and early Monday, August 25. Don gave the boys father's blessings Sunday night like he has every year since Cody started school. I didn't get to be in there with them though because Kyle was out of his mind tired and after we did scripture and prayer I just had to put him to bed. Cayden was quite excited to go to school this year. He is a big new 6th grader at Mack Lyon Middle School. He had a hard time falling asleep Sunday night, hard enough that Caleb went and slept in Kyle's room because Cayden was tossing and turning and talking too much. Caleb was not as thrilled to be starting school again. Home school is just anti-climactic I guess. Cayden made his lunch and got his clothes set out the night before so he was ready to go. As it seems almost every year someone is sick on the first day of school. I don't know why that happens but it does. Caleb had gotten sick the week before and he graciously shared it with Cayden so Cayden woke up all stuffy and coughing Monday morning but you just can't miss the first day of school so I had him shower to help clear his head while I made him breakfast (egg in a basket). We are in an awesome carpool for the mornings to the middle school so we made sure he was ready to go even though it took a little cajoling and encouraging to get him to hurry. After 11 weeks of no schedules and staying in pj's till whenever, the first day of school can be challenging.  Grandma and Granddaddy came down the Saturday before school started to spend a little time with us since we hadn't seen them in 3 whole weeks!  Cayden and I went to his school open house the Thursday before so we could get his schedule and walk around and see all where all his classes were.  I took Connor and Cayden into their school that Tuesday before school started for their mandatory orientation.  

Don took Connor and Caleb into Beacon Academy Monday morning so they could get their computers.  Our friends the Dorsey's are having their son Brayden go to Beacon as well this year so Don took him in as well on Monday because Serena was super sick-probably from Caleb the week before when we all went in to orientation together!

Cayden will start tutoring again the week after Labor Day with Mrs. Parker.  She doesn't usually tutor kids when they start going to middle school because the middle school starts at 7:25 but I asked her if she would be willing to tutor Cayden still even though he will only get 35-40 minutes and she said that she would.  That will make for a really really early morning 2 days a week because he has to be there by 6:30am and it's in Overton but we feel it is worth it for Cayden to get the extra help.

I didn't spend a ton of money on new school clothes and supplies this year partly because Caleb and Connor didn't need a lot of brand new clothes to sit home in.  I did get Cayden some new shorts and a few pair of pants because he was just getting too tall for his others and I got him a few new shirts and socks and undies.  In years past I have spent hundreds of dollars on new clothes, shoes, backpacks and supplies for the kids but I have decided that they really don't care all that much and if they don't need it then we don't need to buy it.  Cayden got a really nice backpack last year and it is still in great shape so why spend the money on a new one when it isn't needed?  Connor and Caleb did get new shoes and a couple of shirts but that's all.  I will need to buy new winter clothes for Kyle since I don't have any hand me downs any more.  I was really not thrilled about school starting up other than the fact that it signals that weather should change and it should start getting cooler again.  I had a hard time at the beginning of the summer with the horrible heat looming ahead but when August came and we were done traveling, the days just seemed to fly by and then it was the week before school and then it was school time.  Part of me wants to get back on a schedule and get up early because I can get so much done but most of me doesn't want to mess with the hassle and the stress and worry that school brings.  Here's to another school!  May we all survive it!  

I Love To See the Temple

This was Cayden's first experience doing baptisms for the dead.  The youth had a temple trip to the St. George temple on August 16.  I had been doing some family history research and several names that needed baptisms.  Grandma and grandpa kept Kyle so Don and I could go with the youth.  Don did the baptizing for our kids and several of the youth.  I felt the spirit so strongly in that room while I was watching my boys and the kids from our ward doing ordinances for their own family members.  The temple was very accommodating and got the cards stamped quickly after the baptisms and confirmations.  I was able to take 5 female cards and go upstairs and do those 5 initiatory ordinances.  It had to wait about 45 minutes to get in but the youth were finishing up and I really wanted to have some of those names ready for endowments.  It was a great experience and I am so glad that I could go with my boys and Don.  

Goodbye to Abuela

Connor got to be a pall bearer for 2 funerals this summer.  This one was for Sister Hortensia Morales who was in his ward and he and grandpa were home teachers for the daughter's family that she was living with.  He was asked by the family to be a pall bearer and he was so good at it.  I went to that funeral with him and it was in Spanish and then English.  It was quite a long funeral.  Sister Morales was an sweet old Columbian lady who didn't speak English but she was the happiest and sweetest woman.  She lived with he daughter and her daughter's 4 kids.  They were very poor but hard working and they moved around Logandale too many times to count.  Sister Morales' daughter, Osiris used to clean our house a long time ago.  I can't even remember if it was this house or our other house.  I'm thinking it was this house because she started having back problems and couldn't work anymore but she always found me lots of other ladies who needed work to come and clean for me.  When they moved into Grandpa's ward a few years ago Connor and grandpa became their home teacher.  There used to be Spanish branch out here where this family would go to churhc but they disbanded it about 5 years ago.   At the funeral there was an amazing musical number by Kristy DAlley and Jill Greig who are sisters and are amazing violinists.  They played How Great Thou Art and there are no words to describe it.  Sister Morales was such a great lady and will be missed by all who knew her even though most of them could only communicate with her heart to heart.  

Hortencia Morales

La abuela, my dear momLa abuela, mi querida mami

Hortencia Susana Morelo Morales, passed away at home in Logandale, Nevada on Thursday, August 14, 2014 at age 83. She was born in San Antero, Cordoba, Colombia on July 24, 1931 to Inocencio Morelo Castaño and Gregoria Morelo.

Hortencia grew up in Colombia and began working at a young age making and selling candy, chocolates, cookies and many other types of food. She was very generous and over the years had many family and friends stay in her home while they went to high school or worked. She came to the United States in March of 1999, she moved to Moapa Valley in 2003.

She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she loved attending General Conference in Salt Lake City. She also enjoyed traveling and visiting new places. If there was dancing at a party or quinceñeara she would dance all night.

She is survived by her daughter, Osiris Navarro and grandchildren: Salvador, Teresa, Diana and Angelica all of Logandale, NV; one son, Jairo Buelvas and grandson John Jairo Buelvas both of Colombia; two brothers: Pablo Morelo, Gaston Bonifacio of Colombia and many extended family members.

“Mami this is not a good bye it is just see you again. The time is coming when I will see you again. Mami este no es un adios, es solo un hasta luego.El tiempo vendrá en que te volveré ver.Tu hija Osiris. Te amo, Gracia”

Funeral Services were held Monday, August 18, 2014. Friends and family are invited to sign an online guestbook at www.moapavalleymortuary.com.

PS-for whomever is reading this-I would like God Be With You Till We Meet Again as the closing song for my funeral.  Not that it should be happening anytime soon but just and FYI!

Saying Bye to Our Cuzzies.

This was the last day we had to all be together before we all had to leave.  We of course had to go to JCW's one last time.  We eat there as much as possible while we are up in Provo because there is nothing like it here in Nevada or in New Mexico where Laurel is or in Oregon where Chris is.  Kyle and Ella had been inseparable and Cayden and Owie were best buddies.  Collectively I think me and Cayden and Kyle spent 42 days in Provo this summer.  Don and the boys went back and forth a few times because of work.  We had lots of fun and made lots of memories with our cuzzies and ate out way too many times!