Back to School and other August Randomness

It's NOVEMBER and I still haven't finished blogging August.  Something has got to change.  Ready, set, super speed, go!

Coming back to Salt Lake, we were lucky to have NomiAnn with us for a few more days.  She had helped Callie and her kids make the long drive back from Washington DC.  It was wonderful having her there as we transitioned out of summer and back into school.

One of our adventures included a trip to the Museum of Natural Curiosity.  The museum had a fantastic interactive exhibit all about pollinators.

Of course, the foam blocks are always a favorite too.

Afterward, we treated ourselves to ice cream at the soda fountain.  Yum!

The next day these creative entrepreneurs wanted to have a lemonade stand but I didn't have any lemonade.  So instead, they created the BFBG Club (Bug Friendly Boys and Girls.)  They searched the yard for interesting bugs like praying mantis and grasshoppers, then invited people to come have a look while they shared all the interesting facts they knew about bugs.  The stand was free, but people could make donations if they wanted. They also gave away free Sprite since I didn't want the soda hanging around the house.

In the spirit of caring for the insects of the world, they promised half of their proceeds would go to entomologists.

A few days later NomiAnn even helped Annika and Eila sew bug shirts for their club.  So fun!

Meanwhile Anders was an astronaut in a cardboard spaceship.

Loving on NomiAnn.   It's hard to get much rest when you're such a popular grandma!

That evening Annika had her Back to School night.  After listening to the books all summer, she wanted to go dressed as Harry Potter.  Fine by me!

I was not surprised when she arrived home with a snail friend.  I'm okay with her picking up snails as long as she washes her hands well, but she's not allowed to touch the three large black widows that live under the beams outside the school library.

Annie lost multiple teeth in August, but seems to be lacking patience for the dilatory tooth fairy.

First day of school!  August 22nd, 2023.  Annika's 5th grade teachers at Wasatch Elementary are Mr. Haslam and Ms. Thorne, with Adriene Kumik as principal.  Annika felt a little nervous going back at first, but warmed right up to the school routine.

And here are Eli (Grade 8) and Talia (Grade 11) on their first day of school at West High, with our friend and neighbor Dr. Jared Wright as Principal.  

Eli is taking Advanced Math with Ms. Bustamante, CCA (College and Career Awareness) with Mr. Matthew Rodabaugh, Spanish for Native Speakers II with Ms. Susana Anderson, Language Arts 8 with Ms. Algarin, Advancd Art with Ms. Delfin, Science with Crystal King, US History with Sandy Twiggs, Chorus with Ms. Andrea Hernandez, and PAC with Mr. Jefferson Packer.  (I'd tell you what PAC stands for, but I don't even really know.  Some sort of home room.)

As for Talia, she's taking AP art with Mr. Evan Smith, Woodworking with Mr. Rodabough, Anatomy with Garth McFarland, IB Spanish with Ms. Susanah Anderson, IB Biology with Dr. Hilary Thirlwell, IB Literature with Justin Thompson, and IB Math with Ms. Malia.  All of this is far more information than you probably want to know, but some day Talia and Eli might want to remember, and the deets will be here!  

I'm super proud of how hard these two work in school, even when it's not easy.  2023 has brought lots of changes at West High, not all of which we like (hello metal detectors.)  It's a big school, and I think it might be easy to feel lost, but these two have found a great niche.  I love that out of Eli's eight classes, six of them are taught by teachers that have taught his sisters as well.

August 24th--our brave Brooklyn got her wisdom teeth extracted with the Wisdom Teeth Guys.  They pulled all four teeth lickety split, but my heavens!  The poor girl was SO drugged when they brought her back to us.  Coming off anesthesia is not easy!  Brooklyn was sweet as could be, but oh so weepy.  And puffy.   

Wonderful mother that I am, I made her some tomato soup.  Sometimes I'm not a very attentive chef...

Other random sights.  Our backyard isn't very much to look at...truly.  It's a project for another year.

Fortunately, if we walk a ways up the street, we can access a magnificent backyard that is shared by everyone.  

So close to the city, yet so wild.  It really is my dream location.

I am so grateful for hills and sunsets!

Sometimes the most spectacular views can be found right out your front door.