Apple Picking

I love this time of year. When we set out for Echo and the apple orchard, it was raining, but by the time we arrived, the rain had stopped. The apples were wet and made my fingers freezing, but Sister Sears lent me a pair of gloves and I was able to harvest lots of apples. Over all I think the group did over 750 gallons of juice! It was so good to see Jacob, who made the trip over from BYU-I. It made me miss my Jennifer even more so. I can't wait to be able to give her a hug myself. Only 24 more days until she is home for the Thanksgiving Day holiday.

One of my favorite things

I think I renewed my love of football from attending the games my daughter cheered. It brought back memories of watching football on television with my dad. While I do enjoy attending a baseball game or two, there is something about watching those boys tackle each other, or make a great catch, followed by a frenzied run into the end zone. Maybe it also has to do with the chill in the air. I don't know, but football is definitely my favorite sport. I wish I could be in Idaho to actually watch Jennifer cheer the football teams in Rexburg. She has promised to send me video of their routines. Check out her blog to see more pictures.

Live and Learn

I didn't know that if I posted a picture on my blog site that it automatically became part of the world-wide-web for time and all eternity. Edward came home today and asked that I remove the pictures of him in his football uniform that we took when he first got his uniform. Evidentally the pictures come up whenever anyone googles Union Titans. How was I to know? I thought the things that I posted here were private. Even though I took the pictures off my blog, they remain out in the internet search engines for all to see. I guess I know now. Sorry Edward.

Union Beats Enumclaw and I lose out

Yesterday the Union Titans beat the football team from Enumclaw Washington 38 to 7. It was a perfect day for football, the sun was shining, but there was a crispness to the air. It would have been a perfect day, but we were missing our Jennifer. Watching a game without her cheering, or in the stands with us, or on the field with the boys just isn't the same. We tried texting her and getting her involved that way, but she is mad at Edward and me and is thus 'giving us the silent treatment.'

I did something really stupid Friday night. I told her that I had to paint her bedroom alone. Friday night was our stake's Father/Son camp out. For the first time I was alone on this occassion. Normally Jennifer and I spend the night redecorating her bedroom which usually involves painting it somehow. Well, Edward is moving into the room and wants to make it his own. Jennifer had painted it Union colors, which Edward wants to keep. She had also painted a Union 'U' on one of the walls. He wanted that also, but when she painted it it was slightly crooked. The lines were all perfectly straight, but not perpendicular to the floor. This bothered Edward so he wanted to repaint it. This simple act sent my daughter into a tail spin to which I apologize. I do hope that she will forgive me and stop giving the entire family the silent treatment. It was not our intention to "wipe away all traces of her" in our house, but to let other people do to their rooms as we have let her do to her's. I guess it is all a part of growing up, when we discover that we no longer have our childhood bedroom to return home to. Growing pains are just that, a pain and they hurt. I am sorry.

Jennifer's At BYU-Idaho

Ed and I dropped Jennifer off at BYU-Idaho yesterday. We had teased her that we were just going to slow the truck down slow enough for her to jump out, but we did end up parking and spending several hours helping her unpack and set up her dorm room.

She shares the room with a girl named Cassie from Florida. She is extremely nice and I think will be a good fit for Jennifer.

Everyone warned me how much they cried when they left their daughters at BYU-I, but I think I was as excited as Jennifer for her to start this new chapter in her life. Yes, I miss her already, but I love the fact that she can text me or call me any time. Back when I was in college, we had to call long distance collect - very expensive - so I wasn't able to do it much. This way it doesn't seem as hard to let her go.

Not only has Aaron blown through the Webelos program by earning all 20 Activity pins in 5 months, but now he has earned his Arrow of Light too! To those of you who are not familiar with the Cub Scouting program, it normally takes two years to do this for non-LDS dens (a year for LDS dens). Using the Cub Scouting program for part of his home-schooling helped. At August's Pack Meeting 3 other boys also earned their Arrow of Light (the other boy will get his next month). I am so proud of these boys. They will start graduating out of Cub Scouts now into Boy Scouts as they turn 11. I'll miss the monthly interaction with them.

Triumph!

I just have to go back and brag on the wonderful accomplishment of my oldest son. For the Teacher's Super Activity this summer they went up to the San Juan Islands and biked all over. One of their final days was dedicated to cycling up Mt. Constitution which has a very steep elevation change. Out of the 14 or so boys who tried, only 3 people (2 boys) actually biked all the way to the top. The first one to reach the summit was Jacob Dayley who bicycles in competitions all the time, at 40 minutes. Edward was second with a time of 50 minutes! And Brother Lillie came in third with 55 minutes. The rest of the boys either walked their bikes to the top or hitched a ride in the van.

Jennifer said that the reason Edward made it was because I kept nagging him to practice and he instead told me that he didn't need to. He had to prove me wrong. She said he must have been like the little train that could, chanting "I told you I could do it Mom, I told you I could do it Mom." Whatever it took, I'm glad that he made it. Way to go Edward!!!