Homecoming!

This year Avery was nominated Junior Homecoming Princess! Of course she did, she's the best. 

Her date there is Milo Dahl, nominated the prince. They are funny because they have had on again, off again crushes on each other for years. Currently they are just friends. Awkward friends. 

Me and Milo's mom were discussing they are probably so awkward because this was to be the first date for both of them! That's a lot of pressure for a first date. 

They are both so smart and funny have a great friend group to cheer them on super duper loud throughout the "royalty" traditions. 

At the homecoming game, it was pouring rain. Pouring.

I LOVE watching Evan in the band. He got to play bass for homecoming and he was so stoked. 

He bops to the beat - almost dances over there while banging the drum. 

Jim asked him "do you bop like that to keep the beat?"

and Evan said, "I am the beat."

I just cannot love that more. Cannot. 

I am the beat. 

Meanwhile, there is Avery and the court in the pouring, windy rain at halftime. 

She was in her pretty dress, paired with a bomber jacket. So cute. 

We won the game. 

At the dance the next night: look at these fun kids. 

We took pictures at Semiahmoo, the same place these buddies have been jumping off docks their whole lives. Now they are all dressed up and ready for HOCO.

Avery and her friend group. 

They kept adding more and more friends. I love them all - the smartest most athletic kids at Blaine. 

Milo's mom got some pictures of them exchanging flowers, but she hasn't sent the pics to me yet...

The theme was: A Night Under the Stars

High School is so much fun. 

Roof Dinner

Last Sunday I made roast and mashed potatoes and carrots and gravy.

You know how the house smelled when we walked in the door after church. 

Bonafasio was in the addition painting trim. He would have been staring at us while we ate, which is awkward right?

So I hollered at the kids to put some blankets on the roof and grab a pot, and here we are. 

It's a little bit my favorite thing. 

But also what a weird time of life we are in right now. I swear we are so so close to moving in. 

They are in the middle of creating the shower, the carpet is coming tomorrow. 

Maybe one more week? I'm a big dummy for thinking that optimistically. 

Please please one more week. 

Last week Jim installed a new door. 

It looks awesome. We are going to add frost to the clear windows, don't worry. 

There are just so many projects going on all over this house. 

Beyond house construction, we are in the very thick of soccer season. 

Team dinner at the mall.

The other day Avery had a break away, but no goal.

She also has a mild concussion. blah blah blah, hope that is done tomorrow when she revisits the trainer to see if her brain is good to go. 

I am coaching Andrew's team. 

This is my third year with these kids, and wowee wow do you remember the first year? We lost all games by large amounts of goals.

This year we are winners. Not undefeated, but we have won half the games and almost won the other half. 

They have improved so so much. Also we are one giant team - all the talent pooled into one great whole. But then on Saturdays we split into two teams and I coach two games. It is tiring and so fun. 

This is my women's league team from the summer: Purple Reign. 

This was our last game, and I am so bummed I missed the team picture. 

I got hit directly in the face with a ball, then had to hurry off the field to pick up Andrew from something. 

We are good. Second place.

Let's see...what else. 

Mushrooms, forests. 

Avery drives herself and the kids around to things and I LOVE IT. I didn't realize how much it would up my parenting game. 

Here's the new mural painted in downtown Blaine. 

I love our little town, it is the best. The other day between activities I was walking up and down the street and it was just beautiful. It has come such a long way from when we first moved here. It used to be clap board shut and deserted. Now it is beautified and has so many great places to eat. Come visit. 

OH MY GOSH THIS! 

This is the top best thing of this fall: Evan playing in the band at home games. 

Remember he was for sure going to go to the councilor tomorrow and drop out of band? And then he didn't, and admitted "band is ok"?

Then our football team is actually winning this year, and every time they make a touchdown the band strikes up with On Wisconsin?

Me and Jim went to the last home game (first time!) and it was SUCH A BLAST. Watching Avery and Evan do their high school thing...I just had the biggest smile on my face. 

Evan is on cymbals and he's such a stud over there clashing them together right on beat and right at the correct crescendo. 

I can't believe he almost opted out of this. 

There are a few things as parents we have not allowed our children to quit. 

Avery soccer, Evan band. Both they begged us to quit. 

There was an intuition about it - our adult brains knew the benefit/consequence of letting something go - It would have changed their whole teenage experience. They would have missed out on so many opportunities and lessons. 

Also did you know Avery is a junior and she is almost done with this whole scene. Ugg. I cannot even.

Also, if they don't finish our new house soon she won't even get to enjoy her new upgraded room for very long. That keeps me up at night. lol

And lastly, this is us every night reading scriptures on my bed. 

We set a timer for 10 minutes and they read on their own. It's also my favorite. 

Remember all the ways we have tried to read scriptures together? I've read to them in the early morning, in the evening. Now we have evolved to this level. 

Koda is always smack in the middle of it all, in everyone's way and we love her.

First Day of School

You have to do SOMETHING fun on the last day of summer. 

The high schoolers went to orientation for FOUR hours. Avery is a team leader, so that's cool.

Then we met in Blaine for some Marine Park and Edaleen and wandering around. 

Earlier in the day Andrew was brainstorming fun ideas. 

He mentioned "pic nic on the roof"? and I was like: no I don't think so. 

But then when it was dinner time, and our kitchen/dining table looked like this...

So I whispered to Andrew: let's surprise everyone with dinner on the roof!

So he helped me set this up and it was so fun. 

We spent most of the meal trying to convince Evan not to drop out of band. 

It's been a hot topic in our house for a few days. Just suddenly he doesn't want to be a cool drummer. 

He said he was going to go to the councilor first thing in the morning and change his schedule to art. 

We told him all the reasons for why that's a terrible idea. 

Then they set out their new clothes and Jim gave them each a blessing, and then we went to bed.

The first day was on a late start Wednesday this year, and it has been the best, gentlest start.

Evan said all his teachers are "goated" (that means they are greatest of all time).

He had a great day. AND he is sticking with band. He said it wasn't so bad. 

Andrew has the dream team Higgins/Minkler. YESSSS

Avery is just an old pro. She had to wear this ugly LINK CREW shirt on the first day so that people know she is there to help and give advice. But she also carried around her lanyard with car keys and license. 

Seriously I don't have to manage any part of her life. She has it all under control. 

And she drives them all to school.

This is the first time (besides stupid covid days) that I didn't take them to school on the first day. 

I just waved goodbye from the driveway in my pajamas. 

Avery sent this to me. Eeek! High School is so fun.