Today is the end and the beginning. The end of an amazing summer. From the point that we packed the van, and signed over the house to someone new we have been on summer vacation mode. We got to visit with Lon and Marsha, Adam and Emma (and were there for Adam's graduation and Preston's blessing), Kevin and Pam and their family. We played in St George, Disney Land and San Jose. Then we went to a fairytale wedding in Redmond and spend 3 weeks at Jean and Liz's house (sans Jean and Liz for two of those weeks).
We had a very part time flexible job babysitting Hannah while she was between sitters, which meant we got to see Kelley and Dave everyday for the month of June, which was awesome. Michael took me on an amazing surprise to LA for our Honeymoon, and we saw Hollywood, the LA temple and the Reagan Library as well as the beautiful touring production of Les Miserables. (I still can't believe that we went on that trip!) We attended a great family reunion in Bear Lake, Utah and caught up with all my Leavitt cousins and aunts and uncles.
We were spoiled by Michael being around most every day. He allowed me to run and workout each morning without having to worry about the boys, because he took care of them. We got to hang out with Megan and Jared several times all together and Megan and I took our boys to Flight Museum and a summer concert in the park. Our little family went on a hike. We also hung out with Lauren and Russell and went to Pike Place Market, the Science Center, and Bainbridge Island. I took Joshua to Saturday's market and took the time to sit and eat a shaved ice. In addition to our amazing trip, we got to go on several great dates for sealings, a reenactment of our first date (almost), and to Harry Potter and dinner.
We got to bask in the love of grandparents, especially my dad who truely savored the experience of having Daniel and Joshua as his little every moment companions. They got to build a tree house, plant in the garden, feed the chickens, run through sprinklers, jump on the trampoline, go on a bike ride in the bugger, camp in the back yard in a tent, roast marshmallows, help with fixer projects, go on errands just to get ice cream or to get crickets for the frogs and then watch them being eaten... pure grandson bliss. We spent time with Mary at the Locks and saw the fish ladders, at Houghton Beach (on the most perfect day weatherwise), and went to Molbacks and got frozen yogurt another day. They also got several fun tractor rides with Grandpa Jean and loved the playground in his backyard, and they picked huckleberries and found robin eggs under his deck. They loved Emma and my mom too. Daniel is still talking about Emma. I took just Daniel to the grocery store on Saturday night and he was constantly jabbering, about how "Emma sang that" or "Emma likes these" (mushrooms) and he pointed out Emma in almost every picture, even one of a black girl drinking milk-- it was Emma apparently :) Daniel adores Emma.
I got to take a break and go to Musikgarten training which was a very inspiring experience not only as a teacher, but as a mom. I thoroughly enjoyed it and now I have a new task of actually putting a class together and doing it... I hope I can!
We also got to move into this fabulous house and get settled, refinish grandma addams' table (cross your fingers, 4,000 coats and resandings and a week later it worked out alright...) and a free desk that I painted and antiqued (trying to copy Kim McConkie's tv amour that I loved). And to finish it off, we went camping at Clear Lake, which included a movie in the park at dusk with free massive smores and hotdogs, a boat ride the next day on a fishing boat (for a great price), and a swim in the lake to cool off. Oh and Joshua got to take swim lessons at Strattonwood before we left Redmond and to say he loved them is an understatement. He blossomed in the water this year, he is so brave, the bravest in the class and first to jump off, slide down or volunteer out of the group of 6 kids. We were so proud of him! Last night we went to Amy and Mike Heppler's (on South Hill) for dinner and games and laughed and had a great time! It was wonderful to be with an old wonderful friend.
So today begins the next chapter. Mike needs to have study time to finish his orientation homework and then tonight we got out to dinner to meet all of the others that got the same scholarship and their families. I am excited and nervous about it. Nervous and terrified to begin.
Michael gave me a blessing last night per my request. He blessed me to know that my attitude will be dependent upon my faith in Christ. To study his suffering and mission. To call and seek counsel and friendship in Abbey. That I will finish my education at the time that I feel right about. That he loves me and will have time for us. That I am a good mother and was handpicked for our specific children. We both were awake with the sun around 5 and had some time just for us that was much needed and then went back to sleep. And so we slept in today, we will check out the library and see what else we can do so Michael can study and then tomorrow a new chapter begins: Law School. (stolen from Kim's blog) ...Deep breath.
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