3rd Day of School

I would have posted a FIRST day of school, but it was too much of a fiasco--there was even blood involved!



The private school that the older two kids are attending requires uniforms (which I LOVE), but the uniform store didn't get enough of the shirts with the proper logo in on time, so even if we pre-ordered a certain amount, we were rationed only some. Eric got ONE! One shirt for two weeks of school! Good thing it was Eric and not Marisa--She got three.



So, Eric had been sick with a cold a few days before school started. He missed the 7th grade ice skating party. I was confident that he would rally for the first day. The first day arrived August 20th, and the first thing that happened was all THREE alarm clocks, that had indeed been set, DIDN'T go off! So we had to be out the door in 10 minutes. Pictures for students cards were to be taken, no time to look very good. I went to rouse Eric, but he was having none of it. The first day was only a half day, so I thought he should push himself to at least try to make it. I put all of his clothes (including the ONE shirt) right beside him, and got myself ready. As he was making a go of it he blew his nose too much and started a massive nose bleed! Where did the blood go? On the new clothes. I got them soaking in cold water and left him in bed. The blood was just too much. I dashed out the door with Marisa, and that was it.



I love the school though. Everyone is so accomodating. The teachers are pretty easy going-yet challenging, and I've never felt so welcome as a parent in any other school we've attended. I think it will be a good year.



Eric has since missed one more day, but he's gone more than he's missed now, and things are settling down into a break-neck schedule!



Marisa-12

Eric-11

Star Valley

After our family reunion in Colorado, Damian went to Utah to do some work there, and the kids ane I went up to Star Valley, Wyoming to visit my mom and dad and sister, Tena, who lives up there.

Here's Damian and my Dad solving all the problems in the universe--one engineer to another.

Grandma Lola reading a bedtime story to Faithy.

Dad and mom and I spent a couple of days helping Tena finish her livingroom redecorating project. I got to use her chop saw and nail gun!

This is me, Trisha, doing some touch-up painting.

Grandma and Marisa out in a boat! Marisa can get mom to do all kinds of things that no one else can manage.

Marisa and Grandma playing "Blink". We were all laughing SO hard!

Colorado Reunion

Damian's Aunt Angela was in charge of this year's family reunion in Denver, CO. Here are some highlights.



First we went to the Denver temple to support our cousin Cameron, but we were too late.





A woman at the visitor center took us on a tour of the grounds, and Faith took many pictures for us.

This is Jared with "Jared" at Subway!

Eric-11, Jared-8, and Grandpa Mark at the baseball game that we only saw the end of--plenty for me!

Shawna set up a cute treasure hunt for the kids and at the end they all jugged Grandma Shawna and got a treat from her. Thanks for that Shawna!

Here's Jared hugging Grandma.

Elitches Amusement Park Day

Faith-6, Marisa-12, and me in the ferris wheel.

This one.

Marisa and her cousin Lauren had a great time running around together and going on everything scary!

The scariest moment was when we lost our Faith! Blessedly our Faith was restored. She was at the lost children station where they had given her a stuffed cow who has become her special friend!

Damian in Marisa's hat! Funny.

Faith with Daddy on the Merry-go-Round

We had some fun with mirrors. Look at Eric's gorrilla-like reflection!

Here's a funny one of Faith!

All that fun was Exhausting for ALL of us!

It was so great to see you all again! Thanks Angela for all of your work.

Family Reunion Video

We were all asked to bring a family video with us to the Strobel Family Reunion in Colorado. Here's ours.