Finally, Summer 2017 Ends!

I'de like to think that we made the most of this summer... but by the time the Utah schools finally start up again, my will to engage in meaningful summer activities is virtually nonexistent. And so, in an answer to the prayers of every summer weary parent in Davis County, Utah, school finally started on Wednesday, August 23rd.  7:30am for high school. 8:10am for junior high. A weekend 8:45am for my elementary school friends. And in an effort to ease into the transition of not losing my mind anymore,  the elementary school had early out. All week. All three school days of this week. Mercy and Uncle.

Calvin - Sophomore.

Simon - 8th grade.

Annie - 6th grade.

Owen - 4th grade.

The little one in the yellow shirt, sitting in the stroller is going to have a pretty long year without his summer play friends.  On the plus side, all three school days were celebrated by a nice long toddler nap. 10 points to Norman!

What a blessing it is to have access to high quality education.  

Here's hoping my kids make the most of it!

Preston Out. Mic Drop.

Preston Edward Albert Smith moved out of his childhood home tonight. He is headed to UVU, a freshman in college. Classes start tomorrow, but his apartment isn't going to be available until Saturday, so he's crashing with his roommate at a relatives home. Mercy, time flies.  Lots of tears were shed as he hugged all of his siblings goodbye, and many of the tears were from my giant man cub, Preston.  The whole darn family will be meeting him at his apartment on Saturday to help him get settled/ get in his way. I'm just super duper excited for him, for the many adventures he is going to make, for the opportunities that are coming his way. We love you P.E.A.S!

Hugs goodbye. My 6 crazy pigs.

Preston turned 18 just a few weeks ago.

Here he is checking out one of his "moving away" gifts from his grandma... both sets of grandparents were thinking along the same lines:~)

His siblings saw this little gem and knew it would prove useful in college.

For his 18th birthday, we did a scavenger hunt around the neighborhood... 18 different locations, 18 clues, and 18 random photos from his childhood.

Mercy, Ryan and I were young when we had him.

The hunt ended at the Cheesecake factory where we met up with some of his friends (still missing a few pals who are now serving missions for our church.)

All his bags are packed. He's ready to go. 

Please, Preston, don't text while driving, keep the speed limit, brush and floss, be kind and adventurous, attend your classes, come home occasionally to do laundry and have a home cooked meal, pray, sing, exercise, eat breakfast, work hard, put some money regularly into savings, call/text your siblings every once in a while, call/text me more, sleep well. All my love forever,

Mom