Back to School

I can't believe how fast this summer has gone.  It's already time for school to start.  I "made" the boys orange rolls for breakfast.  Chase is going into 10th grade.  He'll be a sophomore at BR high school.  Bridger is in 6th grade at the intermediate school.  He's really excited to be out of elementary and switch classes.  They ride the same bus to school which is so nice!!  They catch the bus at 7:00 and then come home around 3:15.  It makes it so Chase is really early to school in the morning and then Bridger is on the bus for about 40 minutes after school.  I threatened Chase that he needed to be nice to Bridger.  Chase is a little nervous about going back to school with his knee brace on but at least he's not on crutches anymore.

I love this picture of Chase and Bridger.  They look so handsome in their school clothes.

Fair Week

 We went to the B E County parade.  Some friends saved us a spot in our usual location so we had great seats.  Ardell and Charlene and Sammee and her friend Justin came up and went to the parade.  Ardell came home from his rehabilitation place for his knee surgery just yesterday but he's doing so great that they came up.  He was determined to come to the parade.  Tanner was out in the front the entire parade.  He and Bridger got so much candy!!!  They filled a ziplock bag.  They also got seven frisbee's and four balls and two shirts.  They were spoiled!  We ate lots of popsicles during the parade.  Chase was on the football float with the BR high school football team.  They threw candy to Tanner and Bridger.  Chase finally waved when the cute neighbor girl called out his name.  At the end, there were lots and lots of tractors.

This week, we went over to the horse pull finals.  We watched it for about an hour.  At the end, they brought out a carriage pulled by 24 horses!! They set a new record.  It was worth it just to see that.

Bridger and Chase hung out with their friends at the fair and went on some rides.  Bridger got really bad motion sickness.  He ended up coming home because he was so sick and was out for the rest of the day.

Then on Saturday night, we went to the rodeo.  We had a great time at the rodeo.

Rachael's Birthday

For my birthday, I wanted to eat lunch at R. L. and go see the latest  "Mission Impossible" movie.  Matt was off this week so he was able to come with us.  We met Mom, Dad, and Marilyn at RL.  I was craving the little popcorn coconut shrimp but they don't make that anymore.  So I had the big coconut shrimp with the Pina colada sauce and it was so good!  I love their mashed potatoes and cheesy biscuits.  They brought me a few scoops of ice cream with chocolate sauce on it.  I was so full that I let the kids eat it.

Bridger is holding up "4-1" for 41.  I love our boys so much.  They bring so much joy and happiness into my life!   I love that Mom, Dad and Marilyn were able to come with us.

I love this selfie with Mares.

Mylissa had a busy day so she couldn't pull off lunch but they came to the movie with us.  It was a really long movie so she and Julie had to leave during the last 10 minutes to get Julie to soccer practice.  I love spending time with my family.  It turned out to be a great birthday.

Drive In Movie

 We've talked about going to a drive in movie all summer.  I was thinking that it wasn't going to happen but then Mylissa called me and threw it together really quickly.  We went with the W's to the Winnie the Pooh movie.  Mylissa was so sweet and surprised me with my favorite cake (yellow cake with chocolate chips and chocolate frosting).  Before the movie started, everyone sang to me and then we ate cake.  Mylissa and Rob bought a new Honda pilot over the weekend so it was so fun to see their fancy new car.  I'm so happy for them.  They've waited a long time for a fancy car.  The movie was a little hard to hear because we were right by the freeway and then big air force jets kept landing.  The movie was a little slow but it was still fun to be together!  After the movie ended, the W's went home and we stayed and watched "Ant Man and Wasp." We didn't get home until 1:30!  But what a great way to wrap up the summer.

Sleeping on the Tramp

Matt finished getting the trampoline all set up in the ground.  It's been a big project!  After the hole was dug, he leveled it out, then installed the walls and then put the frame in.  Then he brought in some gravel to settle the ground.  On Saturday, Bridger asked if we could put the trampoline back together so the two of them put the springs and the pad all together.  Tanner and Bridger were so excited to finally sleep out on the trampoline.  I was a little worried about them but they snuggled next to each other and stayed warm.  Bridger taught Tanner about the sun and how the earth rotates around the sun.  They saw lots of shooting starts and satellites.  During the night, Tanner slid to the bottom of his sleeping bag and was crying. Luckily Bridger heard him and pulled him up to the top and got him settled.  They had so much fun sleeping on the trampoline that they slept out there two more times.  They got a little cold the first time, so we zipped their sleeping bags together so they could snuggle easier.  They were toasty warm after that.  Bridger is so sweet to do things with Tanner.

Bridger at the Temple

 Bridger has been counting down the years until he could go to the temple and do baptisms for the dead.  He got his temple recommend with the Bishop on Sunday.  Luckily Matt's schedule worked out for us to take Bridger on Tuesday night.  The B temple is closed for cleaning so we went to the L temple.  We've never been to the baptismal area in that temple.  Matt pulled out a stack of names that Chase did a couple of years ago.  We thought Chase had done all the baptisms but as he went through the stack, he found exactly five cards that still needed to get baptized.  I called the temple and normally they only do reservations in the evening but the lady said she'd squeeze Bridger in.  We were at the temple at 7:00.  A big group was just finishing up.  When we checked Bridger in, the main worker asked Bridger how long he's been a deacon for.  Bridger smiled and said "two days."  He was so sweet with Bridger and took him over to the font window and talked through where you put your hands and how to bend your knees.  They let me come into the font area and give Matt and Bridger their towels.  It was so sweet to watch Matt baptize Bridger.  When we walked out, Bridger said "that was awesome! When can I go again?"  I hope Bridger can develop a love for the temple.  I'm grateful for the love and peace that I feel when I'm at the temple.

Bridger Got the Priesthood

 On Sunday, we invited our families up to celebrate Bridger getting the priesthood.  Grandpa and Grandma R, Marilyn, The W's except Rob who had church meetings, Mike, Grandma A, Jake, Jess, Isaac and Ella were there.  We were so touched that Jake and Jess came.  When I expressed our appreciation to them Jess said "I know how much your boys mean to Jake, so they're important to me."  We could feel their love!  The C's had an obligation with Robby's family so they couldn't come.  Then Ardell had his other knee replaced on Tuesday so he couldn't come.  Amy was in Ohio with Chelsy.  So it ended up being a smaller group.  Our families are always so good to support us!  Our families met us after church.  We gathered into the Relief Society room.  Bishop welcomed everyone there and then invited Bridger to come up and sit on a chair.  Then Matt came up and invited Grandpa R, Mike, Bishop and Brother Christensen to be in the circle.  Matt gave Bridger a beautiful blessing giving him the Aaronic Priesthood.  He talked about what a special heart Bridger has been blessed with.  Afterwards, we went back to our house for dinner.  We ate hamburgers, hotdogs, Mare's potato salad, fruit, green salad and jello.  Grandpa picked up a big cake for Bridger at Costco but during the blessing, he realized that he forgot the cake.  He felt so bad about it but it was no big deal.  I had Mylissa throw together a cake while we were putting out the food.  But we had a good laugh about it.  We enjoyed spending the evening with our families.  We love them so much and appreciate their love and support.  It was a very special day for Bridger.  I'm so proud of him for choosing to get the priesthood.  He's worked hard finishing up his "Faith in God."  He's had the Articles of Faith memorized for 6 months.  Every Fast Sunday, he bears his testimony.  I can always feels the spirit when he shares his testimony.  It's so sweet and true!  He's so excited to get the priesthood and pass the sacrament.