Back to the Grind

The kids started school early this year. I am sad. I miss them. Especially Cooper. He is in Kindergarten this year. He goes in the afternoon and then it is just me and little miss Gwen. She likes our time alone. She told me so. He is very cute, he hops on his little scooter and scoots his little self all the way to school while I watch from the front yard (super benefit of living right by the elementary school).





This is a big year with Courtney starting High School. It's fine, let's not talk about it. When she leaves for school I totally pretend she is on her way to the middle school and that works out just fine in my head. That is, until I have to drive her there and then I cry all the way home. Wee, wee, wee. I hate that she is growing up, she is such a lovely teenager and so that makes it all right. I guess.



In the car on the way to her first day as a sophomore at Desert Hills High School.

Let me introduce you to Tianna, she is Courtney's darling friend. We want to adopt her. We are filling out the paper work as we speak. She makes us laugh. A LOT.

Jackson is in 7th grade. He is very handsome. Being handsome is not a good thing. I do not like it. I have told him over and over about how evil girls are and he sort of believes me. Am I dreaming? Probably. He is a good kid.





Bowen started third grade this year and got a wonderful teacher. Bowen is getting tall and handsome too. The spattering of freckles across his nose melts my heart. He is a sweet, kind-hearted guy.

I saw this cute idea for pencils in a Creating Keepsake magazine so my mom and I put a few together for her Young Women and for the little boy's teachers. They are made out of a pack of Rolo's. Cute huh? It doesn't hurt to butter up those teachers a bit, just ask uncle Kimball.

I thought I should throw a picture of the father of all these lovely children, just because I think he's cute. He gave all the kids the customary father's blessing the night before school, something they look forward to every year. He is my favorite thing.

PS Cooper is doing so good in kindergarten. He already learned how to fly. That's our Super Cooper.

The Eagle Scout of Young Womens

According to our Bishop, that is what Courtney has earned. It is actually the Young Womanhood Medallion and represents lots of hard work. To earn this award Courtney had to do several ten hour projects, eight to be exact! Some of these projects were Grandma Richard's little history book (mentioned below), took a sewing class, service, more service, sewed, read the Book of Mormon twice, etc. etc. She also had to set and accomplish six goals in each of the value areas(faith, divine nature, individual works, knowledge, choice and accountability , good works, integrity, and virtue). I have personally seen Courtney grow leaps and bounds through this process and I have a much deeper testimony of the Young Womans program than I did before. Courtney is great at accomplishing anything she puts her mind to, and her testimony and love of the Gospel astounds me. She had an incredible knowledge of the Gospel. Court we are so proud of you and love you beyond measure.

100

On July 24th my Grandma Richards turned 100 years old. It was a fun day filled with lots of family togetherness and fun. During the day we had the usual extended family gathering at the Lind's. There was lots of picture taking, eating, swimming, and catching up. It was lovely. Grandma looked beautiful in her purple outfit and was in seventh heaven with all the attention.


The Richards Family



The Bowen family with grandma Richards (yes that is my large noggin covering up the patriarch of our family. Don't worry about it. It's fine.)




Gwen Mathews Richards and Gwen Mathews Cluff. Born 100 years apart.

Uncle Steve had a cake made with her picture on it...she was amazed. We sang and she recited her poetry. Memorized. At 100. Please bless I inherited some of those genes!

A few years ago we gave grandma a book that had questions about her life that she was supposed to answer. She really worked hard on answering the questions in detail and adding some of her own memories. When we go to visit her she always reads to us from the book. It is amazing to listen to her beautiful writing and her life experiences. For one of Courtney's Young Women value projects, she decided to take the book and type it all up. She had an actual book published so that everone in the family could have a copy. It is priceless and turned out so well. A special thank you to aunt Rose and my mom for their hours of editing and to our Alisha who helped us with the front and back covers. Courtney couldn't wait to give it to grandma Richards. Grandma was so overwhelmed and pleased that Courtney made this little book. What a treasure.

The front cover

The back cover. The quote is from a letter she wrote to her posterity.

Grandmas reaction made it all worth it.

Later in the evening we had an open house for grandma at the old sixth ward builiding in American Fork. She lived and taught school in AF for many, many years. We expected to see quite a few people, but we were amazed as the line streched down the hall all night long.

It was amazing. Grandma was in fine form. Mom and aunt Rose sat on either side of grandma and told her who each person was and grandma immediately recognized them and was so warm and congenial. She even rememberd tiny details related to each person going through the line. My heart swelled with love and admiration as I realized how many lives my grandma had touched.

Everyone pitched in to make it a night to remember. Jackie, Ashley, Heather and I did the dessert table. It was a fun project. There were flowers, pictures, food, and amazing entertainment. It couldn't have turned out any better.

Grandma was even featured in two local newpapers. The articles were very well done. You can read them here and here. It is no secret how I feel about my grandma. She has been a very imprtant part of my life (plus, she is responsible for my love of frozen cookies). She is an example of faith, enduring well and testimony. I adore her. Happy Birthday Grandma. You amaze me. I love you.

Bowen Turns Nine

Bowen is getting BIG and fast! He just celebrated birthday number NINE! I can hardly believe it. We are almost always up north celebrating Grandma Richards and Grandma Bowens birthdays so he has to celebrate his birthday there. This year was especially fun because ALL the Bowen side cousins were there, even Bowen's buddy Braxton was there all the way from Alaska(they are only a few weeks apart)! Here is a run down of the events:

Bowen wanted to take all his birthday money and spend it on Legos. We went to Toys R Us and he picked out his favorites. Thanks to our grandmas for birthday money which funded HOURS and HOURS of creative fun!


We met all the Bowen's for lunch and partying at Pirate Pizza. That's everyone in the picture above except for Jackie's clan which hadn't arrived yet. That's my older brother in the middle...not sure how to explain the stance, but that's just Nate.


Here is grandma, Garrett and Jack on Guitar Hero.



This is a very, very common occurrence. Courtney and Kate hanging out together. They were the only grand girls for a long time...before Jane, Gwen and Ashley's soon-to-be-born baby. (Come on Heather it's your turn!)



Here is darling little Luke on the motorcycle ride.



Bowen hit the ticket mother lode!!!! He rocked the machines and ended up with over 900 tickets!

Bowen's fantastic aunts brought him this delicious birthday cake because his mom is a slacker. They are RAD!



Real live pirates sang Happy Birthday to Bowen and he enjoyed every moment of it. This is the same kid that used to hide behind my legs whenever anyone looked at him. We've come a long way baby!



He hates to toot his own horn, but he should because he is the coolest boy ever! He is a peacemaker, he is cheerful and very kind. He never, ever whines when I ask him for help, and most of the time he helps me even before I ask. He is good and worries about doing the right thing. He can play a mean jig on the piano, play almost any sport well and is a great student. His freckles on his nose and his LONG eyelashes melt my heart. Bowen you are one of the best things in my life, and I love you!

5 Months

Gwen is getting fun! How time is flying though. As you can see in the pictures below, there is no shortage of attention on our little Gwennie. She is mugged to death on a regular basis. Gwen is finally getting longer, not fatter, but longer and she is starting to get smart.

Bowen is a taking-care-of-Gwen expert!



I will never tire of seeing these sisters together. Warms my little heart!




The big boys mugging on Gwen.





Look closely, Gwennie is sporting some new bling. Now she doesn't look exactly like her brothers.

Yummm! Don't you just want to squeeze her and all her delicious Gwenniness?




She's getting mobile. Watch out world!






Gwen is our little fish. When you put her in any sort of water she just kicks and splashes and giggles.



Is there anything better than a freshly washed and squeeky clean baby? I think not.



The littles. Hanging out together. Precious.





This little lady invaded his world, you know. But he really doesn't seem to mind. Oh Coops, you will always be my baby.





I am a bit to OCD for this first foods thing. Can you say GUBBY! Gwennie loves applesauce, bananas, pears and rice so far.

Oh what did we do without our Gwennie? We love you to the moon and back Miss Gwen!