Changing Seasons

Favorite time of year! We cannot capture the glory of the mountains changing colors on our iphones...well, I can't because I'm not a great photographer, but we do try and capture it in our minds as we do some drives, 

hikes and especially spend our Petrick week at Snowbird.  

Katelee came down just for the weekend, since she is a busy college gal now.  Brenna had very little time to get away with it being football season and homecoming week.  

She got asked to her very first dance by a boy named Cayson.  

She had a ton of fun with her group, especially the girls since they are all good friends.  She may have even got a few words out of her date!  

It was a little unreal sending this gal out to do the high school things.  But so far so good, she is eating it all up and loving it.  

We've been able to support her dancing at half time and the pregame, including the week we had Iron Blosam.  We came down for the performance and Harrison and I headed back up as soon as she was done.  But not before we snapped this pic because 6/7 is the biggest hype right now.  He was absolutely blown away.  

Harrison and I got the most time at the Bird.

We tried to do photo shoots that would make his sisters proud. 

It's a good thing I've got this kid to do stuff with still.  

He is a good sport, super pleasant and fun.  And we are coming to terms with all his 'lasts of elementary.' Like the color run...

Bro looked like a Smurf, in the best way possible.  

Everyday he thinks he is taller than me, everyday (thus far) he is disappointed, but he is a giant among the 6th grade, he is definitely not a little kid anymore.  He comes home saying how baby-ish the principal was talking or how some of the activities are.  I've missed him in primary at church, but he probably would think my games are silly now ;)

I mean, it's hard to not feel like you are totally cool when you have this aura.

Still adjusting to our change of life seasons here, while every season may not be my favorite initially, there is beauty in each one that's for sure.  

Pieces of My Heart

August came around with just a couple of weeks to smash in some fun and a few more outings.  We drove up to the new Layton temple and hope to be able to go to some further temples soon as well.  

  Brenna got to start her Dance Company year with Dance Camp the first two weeks and she was in heaven.  Her back is lots better.  It still gets sore, but she can dance and couldn't imagine a better way to end summer/start off her school year.  We did a lot of packing up and boxing up for Katelee to head north to Logan.  

She moved up a little early so she could get the credit for an orientation type class and meet people.  Katelee is rooming with a great friend she met on her HXP trip to Tonga last year- Liv.  Liv was over one night before they took up residence in college, and I warned her Dave would not always remember her name and may ask her a bunch.  So, when he walked in the door, she immediately teased him and asked if he knew her name.  He assured her he did but couldn't come up with it!  Haha.  After begging for a clue, and being told it was 3 letters, he called her Nah.  We had a good laugh, but all will remember and be grateful for cute Liv being Katelee's first college roomie.  

Liv didn't go to week before festivities, so Katelee ventured out on her own and met so many people and has already established an incredible group of friends and fun...no surprise there.  

She is going to live up every second of this phase of life.  I, however, spent the drive home after moving her up, with the passenger seat reclined sobbing.  We did really well unpacking, trying to cuten up their olden lodgings.  We ran to Walmart and Dave snagged things right off the display so we wouldn't have to assemble (much).  Katelee and I would just walk away and avoid the checkout when he did his work.  But there was one giant thing to put together.  Her kitchen had no pantry or place to store food, so we got this giant bookcase we thought would look nice and add shelving to the area.  We unloaded the pieces and told Katelee she would be able to do it and to find some cute boys cuz we are terrible at it.  I felt awful seeing her eyes fill and looks of panic, so I told Dave we couldn't head home til she was settled with it.  Luckily, she remembered our neighbor Breanna was also moving up that day and had offered Katelee tools and help.  Bre was in the same complex as we took a peek/visit at her place, her older brother was there.  Dave immediately offered up $20 to Easton and he assembled Katelee's bookcase.  We cheered on the Smith family from the couch as they hammered.  It was a win for everyone. 

I asked her to send a first day of school pic.  Here she is with her new besties- (another) Izzy and Maddie.  She is thriving and we can't wait to see what this experience brings for her.  

 

So, with a piece of my heart now residing in northern Utah, we continue on back at home base.  Grant was in Logan and is now moving home as his lease was up there and we will see what is next for him.

Katelee was the first to start, but the younger sibs were just a few days behind.  We first helped other

students with the annual United Way event to stuff the bus.  I look forward to this every year as we help assemble school supplies for kids.  There's something exciting about a fresh start with new school gear.  Brenna is starting something brand new with HIGH SCHOOL! 

She was nervous, of course, but so ready to be involved in all the fun that these next few years have to offer.  She is taking some difficult classes so managing studio dance, dance company, learning to drive (yikes, that is going rough) and school work, she is going to be hoppin.  

She kicked off the year with fun lunch with friends.  I think she's going to love what's ahead! 

Harrison is wrapping up his last year of elementary school! 

This cute kid is going to rule the school.  He is pretty busy with basketball-we've moved him to a new location that I swore I'd never go to because it would be an inconvenient drive, but with peer pressure and the teams falling apart nearby, it looks like I will be making the journey.  But at least we can carpool, so once a week isn't bad.  Honestly, I am being a baby, it's like 20 min away...but that's on a good day, with rush hour, it doubles it.  Dang traffic.  Anyway, our little baby started up school and then it was his birthday right away! 

In our true sport loving son's fashion, he put together a birthday party that would be games and fun.  

He invited some neighbor friends, school friends and basketball team kids to play dodgeball, 

9 square and basketball at the church.  It was athlete heaven.  Those kids not so competitively inclined, were good sports and made the party a huge success.  

We still got to celebrate with the fam and per the recent tradition, Harrison decorated his own cake (thanks to Costco for providing the palate to work with)

He got some fun gifts (yes lots of BYU, basketball, football items.)  One is a basketball hoop you hang to the ceiling above his bed.  He is always throwing a ball up and catching it while he lays down, so at least now he has something to throw it into! 

He also got a big new bike

and has already been riding it to school.  Paxton didn't last very many days because he said riding that far hurts it butt.  But Harrison is enjoying it so much, he heads out on that bike nearly every day and skips the bus.  

We've said it once and I will say it again; this kid is the hope of the McArthurs...no pressure.  He is kindness and joy and goodness in a tweener's body.   He was always making us crack up as he was a kid and now he has developed into a caring young man with a great sense of humor and empathy.  He always is the first to run over to a basketball player and help them up if they are on the floor, his team or the opponents.  He is a good friend to a variety of kids and someday, he is gonna have the confidence to talk to the ladies...esp one in particular ;) 

And so life has thrown another path for a piece of my heart to take.  Katelee is no longer in permanent residence here and who knows if she ever will be.  I mean, Grant is back for who knows how long, maybe she will make a brief return, maybe not, I don't know.  What I do know is the future is bright for all these peeps.  I can't believe we are at this spot where Miss Kate is launching, but she is so ready.  And Brenna, is so ready for HS and a dance team she has had in sights for 10 plus years.  The year looks promising for all these people starting...except for me, who for the second year in a row had a wardrobe malfunction the first week of school.  

The universe is determined to provide me with unlimited mortifying situations in a high school setting.  But, while pieces of my pants will never be back together, I know the pieces of my heart that I send out to school each day, each year will always be with me.  

 

Summer Sun

We were feeling hot and happy in July!  Like all summers before, we are packing in the fun and adventures, probably especially Katelee.  She's living it up with her friends as the 'last summer' together kind of vibe.  Fourth of July was a winner with Dave and the 2 youngest running the Riverton 5k again.  

Really, we can't imagine a better place to celebrate our country than in our own town.  We love being there with our community and family and watching fabulous fireworks!

  

Grant and his friends met up with us later, Katelee as well and it was fun to be together.  The next day, Brenna and Dave flew out to Arizona for her to compete with her studio team at Nationals.  The first few days were classes and not their competition, so he worked from the ADP office while she had workshops and fun with friends.  

One night they had animal print outfits and games, and another night was their Alice in Wonderland party.  Brenna and her bud Hadley were Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb. 

They won something for best costume and had to do a little dance down the catwalk.  It was funny.  I flew in the night before they performed but came down with pneumonia so sorry to all the greater Queen Creek area for bringing that to your sweltering state.  The dances were great and Brenna had a momentous time.  Katelee and Harrison flew down a day or two after to get some time with cousins and support their sis.  It was the first time Katelee had to fly not as a minor and did she forget that she would need her ID?  Yes, yes, she did.  So, in true McArthur flying fashion, she phoned a friend to save the day, break into our house and find her driver's license in time to run it to the airport so she and Harrison could head south to the 115-degree sun.  Seriously Arizona, why so brutal? 

When everyone was back, Katelee and I did a little over nighter in Logan to attend USU orientation.  College and moving out is getting real!  We met up with Grant and his friends the night before and they took Katelee hiking.  Afterwards we all went to ice cream where Katelee kept saying it felt like some dirt got in her eye when they were exploring up in the canyon.  We start looking and legit there was a large sliver of wood in her eyeball.  She is ready to go though!  She was feeling confident and even met nice people as we toured the campus.  

The girl and her adventures always bring excitement!  She and her great gal pal, Ellie decided to embark on a road trip months ago and had the greatest time anticipating and planning the vacation.  Embracing their new 'adulthood' and independence the girls set off for California to explore Disneyland, the Channel Islands, 

and Yosemite.  It was all they could have hoped for and an epic first road trip for the wanderlust duo.  

They originally came to us with their plans that included sleeping in their car somewhere along the california highway.  We nixed that idea in the bud and gifted them a hotel stay and allowed them to camp the other nights.  There's only so much worry we could take.  

We love how outdoorsy Katelee is.  They had the coolest adventures in Channel Islands, exploring a kelp forest and surrounded by dolphins as they boated out.  They loved hiking Yosemite and thought they would be swift driving straight home, but alas, they needed a pass to drive the route that would get them home in time for our flight to Idaho and had to flip and lose a couple hours.  So, we were a bit on edge as to whether Katelee would get to accompany us on our Coeur d'Alene getaway, but she pulled in the driveway just in time to switch suitcases and replenish the undergarment supply.  

We love getting away to northern Idaho when we can so these two brousins can bond and we can visit Blake.  Really, he lives in a most glorious place.  Dave had to catch up on work since he did the whole Arizona trip with Brenna, so it was me and Katelee, Brenna and Harrison.  

Caleb and Adri took us around on the jet ski's they used to work the summer before on the river.  There was no flipping this time, so that was a win.  

We hiked 

and disagreed on the pace- leisurely seemed to suit some (me) and breakneck speed like a race for others, but we all loved the views. 

We were dripping sweat and found a dock to jump into the lake right off the trail where Katelee assured everyone she would be good because she used to dive.  

We went to a movie we all anticipated that turned out to be ridiculous and Harrison and I burst out laughing at an intended serious scene.  It probably ruined the moment for anyone else in that theater but we just couldn't contain it.  We hit up some great breakfast joints, where Brenna kept the bacon orders going and when I restricted her one morning there was a mild meltdown.  When someone asked her what Jesus would do or reminded her to be kind like Jesus, she said she would worry about him later and just wanted bacon now!  

This dancer can be a diva and we adore her!  The kids stayed at Blake and Lindsey's remote house off the grid right near this lake where Brenna practiced her strokes and imagined herself to be on the show The Summer I Turned Pretty that is all the rage at the moment.  

The last night I intended for the three kiddos to sleep at the hotel with me but Blake assured me they could stay with him another night and Caleb offered to drive them to Spokane.  They had to squish in Blake's car with Caleb in the hatchback trunk, but all is well and the police officer in the parking lot didn't notice despite our greatest fears.   Good times for all, per Idaho's usual.  

Of course, Utah offers it's own amazing fun.  There are trails and festivals galore.  Brenna spent many nights going to the city days events- the carnivals, the fireworks, etc for each city.  We especially love the Kamas ones and the Demolition Derby there! 

We grabbed burgers and headed out with our friends the Sanchez's for a night of car busting. and it was awesome.  

I took Harrison and his friend Cameron to the Days of 47 float preview.  

But the turkeys thought they were too old for the face paint and balloon animals.  What is my life coming to? I would have stood in line for my own benefit...but it was way too long.  At least they would still go with me, so I got another year of that! 

The final adventure of July was an overwhelming event-painting our house.  We, of course, did not do the said painting, we hired it out, but it was all consuming none the less.  The main floor, up the stairs, down the stairs, all the ceilings in the basement, etc. It was a big ol mess.  But the golden walls are gone now updated with Greek Villa cream.  If only the painter had primed, we wouldn't have stripes of various shades we tried out still visible, but for now it is good enough! 

It is so fun to have a fresh update.  Dave took the brunt of it, helping the painter, being there as needed.  I entertained the kids and took them out of the house.  We journeyed down to Cove Fort one day, which, much to Harrison's dismay was not a real military fort.  While disappointing, it got us out for the day.  

The finishing touches for the paint were all done while the kids and I were in Idaho, so we got to come back to a fully painted home!  Not only that, Dave had carpets cleaned, wiped everything down, returned furniture and solicited our Vietnamese neighbor Hong to re hang everything on our walls.  Google Translate came in handy, but mostly Hong's genius.  Dave tried to pay him or offer lunch, but Hong to Dave out to burgers after instead.  We are so lucky.  Me especially.