Punkin'

Troubadour

Sophie was invited to participate in an open mic tonight. I was her ride and stayed to watch. She brought her ukulele and ended up singing four songs. She sounded amazing!

What Does the Fox Say?

Art Club applications were due this week at the middle school. Everyone had to submit a piece of art to get in. Sophie stayed up much later than was wise and created this beautiful fall scene with oil pastels. The fox is my favorite part.

Fear Not

On Sunday these three sang a beautiful version of How Firm a Foundation called Fear Not. I wished I'd recorded it. Cooper found the song and was the one that convinced his sisters to join him. I took this picture while they practiced before church. I'm so glad they got to sing this before Cooper leaves.

In the Quiet, Misty Morning

We finished our fourth week of school today. I celebrated by waking up with a horrible headache, possibly due to starting each day at 6:00 in the morning, pushing myself to keep working until bedtime, and then going to sleep somewhere around midnight.

I do not recommend this schedule.

Bryan handled all the morning work of getting the kids to school while I laid in bed in my dark room with my hand over my eyes, trying to get the pain to go away.

And then I slept for most of the morning.

The purpose of this post is not to complain, though I've definitely done that. My goal in writing about my early mornings and late nights is to say, yes, it's hard and I'm exhausted. But I really like having a little bit of time with each kid before school. I sit and talk with Phoebe while she waits for her ride to seminary. I sit in the car and talk with Sophie while we wait for the bus. I have nearly an hour of one-on-one time with Topher after Sophie leaves and before he catches his bus.

We have mornings that are rushed and chaotic and contentious. And we have peaceful, calm mornings. Which we get depends largely on how late the kids (even the grown-up kids) were up the night before.

Yesterday morning I was waiting for Sophie to be ready to leave when I looked out at our backyard. This picture doesn't do justice to how beautiful these trees were. It is autumn, but none of these leaves have turned orange yet. That's all early morning sunlight turning the green to gold. It was so lovely that I stepped outside into the chilly morning and took this picture. I would have missed that if I hadn't been up earlier than I wanted to be. And I would miss the time I'm getting with each kid. I think that's even better than watching the sunrise on the trees.

Work It

Sophie had a great game today! I can see that she's improving each time she plays. She's been staying late at practices to work on her serve and it's definitely paying off.

Cheerleaders

I went to the open house for Sophie's school yesterday and the open house for Phoebe's school tonight. The verdict from all the teachers I talked to: they love both girls and think they're amazing.

I agree.

Play Ball

Sophie had her first two volleyball games this week! The first was an away game yesterday, we came to the home game that happened today. She's on the developmental team, which is a fancy way to say the 7th graders are still learning the game. That's just fine with Sophie. She played well, but her real superpower was cheering on her teammates, both from the bench and the court.

Friday Night Lights

On Friday night Phoebe, Sophie, and I had the opportunity to hear the Young Men General President for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Timothy Farnes, his wife Sister Linsey Farnes, and Area Seventy Elder Michael Brady give a devotional for the youth. The talks were all uplifting and spiritual and I'm so glad we made the hour and a half drive to attend. When it was over, the speakers graciously invited everyone in attendance to come greet them in person and take some pictures. So we did.

Back on the Bus

The last time I sent only three kids to school was ten years ago. Here's proof of that. It was Phoebe's first day of Kindergarten, Cooper's first day of 3rd grade, and Peter's first day of 5th grade.

And here we are again, but this time with Phoebe in 10th grade, Sophie in 7th grade, and Topher in 3rd grade.

Until seminary starts, the girls will be on the same bus in the mornings.

Everyone reported that they all had a great first day!

Crazy Days of Summer

I took this picture of Sophie after church on Sunday, she fell asleep while drawing. 

School starts on Monday. This summer has been so busy, going back to school might feel more like a rest than work.

Based on the picture, I think a rest is needed.

Bump, Set, Spike

Sophie spent Monday and Tuesday evening trying out for the middle school volleyball team. Tuesday night the coaches made the first round of cuts and Sophie was invited back to continue trying out on Wednesday night.

On that final evening, the coaches sent all the girls home with a letter in an envelope telling whether they made the team or not and told them not to open the letters until they were in their cars.

This is what Sophie's said:

She is thrilled! When she read the letter she cried happy tears. Each night she came out of the tryout and said that playing volleyball brought her so much joy. I'm so happy that she gets to play this season!

She had her first practice yesterday and this is the selfie she took afterward, the happiness is pouring out of her.

After her practice we attended a volleyball family booster dinner. Her coach came over and introduced himself. He enthusiastically praised Sophie's tryout and told us that for every four girls that tried out, only one got in.

Well done, Sophie!

Ice Cream Evening

This was an evening that felt so idyllic. After dinner we drove Phoebe to the corner ice cream shop to meet her friend. We all got a sweet treat and I brought the other two home to enjoy the ice cream in the backyard. I was overwhelmed with how thankful I am that we live here and were making happy summertime memories.

Way Down to Hadestown

Tonight Phoebe and a friend hung out by seeing the filmed version of the Broadway show Hadestown. The theater is about 30 minutes from our house. Since I had to drive there anyway, I took Cooper and Sophie and we saw it too!

The five principle actors were the same that I saw in the original cast in 2019. It was so cool that I got to share this beautiful show with some of my kids.

Making Music With My Friends*

Sophie and I had a ukulele gig on Saturday. We played in a room with really amazing acoustics.

It's such a blessing to sing and play with this group and I'm so glad we're both in it.

It fills my soul.

*This is a line from one of the songs in our concert set, does anyone know the song without Googling it?

Airborne

Parked

Today was a beautiful day, just the right temperature. Topher, Sophie, and I spent the morning at a park for a primary meeting, the middle of the day at a different park (with Phoebe) for a ukulele performance, and the afternoon at a state park swimming in a creek with friends.

After a shower and dinner, once he climbed into bed, Topher fell asleep almost immediately.

The secret to a good sleep is a day full of parks.

Misheard

Sophie: Did you know that the colosseum was completed in 80 AD? 

Phoebe: 80 AD, not 8080 (eighty eighty) 

Sophie: 8080?

Topher: ADHD

Camped

Phoebe and Sophie went to girl's camp last week. I drove Phoebe up on Tuesday morning for YCL (Youth Camp Leader) day.

Then I drove Sophie up on Wednesday morning.

They both had a wonderful time and said it was their best camp experience yet. I failed to take any pictures when I picked them up, but I did get this amazing shot of Sophie's hair after being in Dutch braids for a few days!

We missed them while they were gone, but we're glad they had such a great time!

Play Ball!

A few weeks before school ended Sophie had the opportunity to sing the national anthem with the other elementary chorus singers at a local AAA baseball game. We went to support her, then stayed for the game. Peter even joined us after a long day of missionary work. Phoebe was on a school trip, so she missed the game.

She did a great job!

The weather turned cold during the game. I held on as long as I could, but I finally retreated to the van during the eighth inning. I took Topher with me and he found several more photo ops.

The game went into extra innings, so Bryan, Cooper, and Sophie (Peter had driven separately and had already left) decided to call it and headed for the van. As they were walking out a hit ball landed right at their feet. It was a pretty cool souvenir.