We have a missionary!

The summer stretched before us when Max got his mission call back in April. September seemed so far away. But the last few weeks sped up.

On July 27, he turned 18.

He's stayed busy all summer, painting houses and washing windows and mowing lawns. He's also been spending time with friends before they leave on missions. But JB and I have both also been trying to spend time with him. JB has been golfing, and playing tennis and pickleball with him.

I brought him as a guest to BYU Education Week where he came with me to the media area.

On Aug. 30, he received the Melchizedek Priesthood, and on Tuesday, Aug. 1, he went through the Bountiful Temple for his endowment. We had a lot of family members there and it was so inspiring and comforting for me.

He has been back to the temple to do sessions many times since then, sometimes with us, sometimes with friends. 

On Sunday morning, Sept. 10, he reported to our stake high council and he talked about how he and his friends, Colin and Andy, had made it a goal in the spring when they were preparing their mission papers that they would go to the temple once a week. How grateful I am for these two friends. Andy is now serving in California and Colin is heading to Argentina soon.  This is before Andy left.

And this was Sunday morning with our stake president.

Then on Sunday, Max gave his farewell talk in sacrament meeting and he spoke about God's love. We were so thankful for all the family and friends and neighbors who came to hear him and support him. So many people who have been there since he was a baby! And many thanks to those who brought food and helped dish and clean up.

JB and I grabbed some photos when we remembered. Here he is with cousins Emily and Jane and Jack.

With a bunch of his friends from Highland High.

With our dear dear friends, Linda and Jeanine (Linda is his best friend Andy's mom, and Jeanine was his tennis coach. She changed his life!)

With JB's sister Sarah's family, who came from Idaho.

With a dear Young Men's leader and longtime friend Tim.

With my brother Peter's family.

With sweet sweet Jill, who taught him in Primary.

Cousins Millie and Millie and Kaylee being silly as they eat under a table.

Trying to get cute cousin Lou to smile for the camera.

Then Sunday evening, our stake president set him apart as a full-time missionary in our home.

This morning he starts his classes and studies with the home missionary training program, and next week, he enters the Provo MTC!

Museum visits and ward campout

I won a multi-museum pass for July from the library and took the three younger kids to a few places. 

We also did a lot of swimming with the passes we got for finishing the county library summer reading program but I didn't take any pictures, I was being the "mermaid mom" for Millie and watching James and Andrew chase each other through the water.

And we had a ward campout in July. These things helped a lot to stay busy over the summer!

This was a visit to the Leonardo Museum on July 29. These were supposed to be noise canceling tools so you could listen to your thoughts or something (it was not our favorite display).

The flight simulator is their favorite, though there was a long line that day.

We went to eat as a family one day and I noticed Ben holding Millie's hand.

The Chick-Fil-A hot air balloon landed on our street on Saturday, July 15. This was so bizarre and really also quite amazing.

On Monday, July 10, our family went to the Minerva Teichert exhibit at the Church History Museum. These paintings are so beautiful and I love her faith. I took a picture of the plaque so I would remember her words when she was near death from the flu: "I promised the Lord if I'd finish my work and he'd give me some more I'd gladly do it. With this covenant in my heart I began to live."

Afterward we got a treat. Max was with friends out of town.

On Wednesday, July 12, I used the free passes to go to the Natural History Museum in Salt Lake City. We look at everything but spend the most time by the dinosaurs.

These two work together well to finish this fossil puzzle any time we go.

There was also a show with a couple animals.

And this fake alligator.

And this lifesize baby elephant.

Friday-Saturday July 7-8, our ward had a campout in the mountains east of Kamas. Max was on a trip with his friends to North Carolina at the time, but the rest of us had good burgers at Hi-Mountain for dinner on the way to the campsite.

I brought rocket copters for an activity for when we first arrived.

Then we had great S'mores.

Andrew shot arrows.

Waiting for their turn to shoot arrows.

Millie borrowed Ben's sweatshirt.

So he borrowed her sleeping bag.

Pioneer Trek

 Andrew, Max and Ben all had pioneer trek experiences this summer. 

Andrew participated in the day trek for 11, 12 and 13 year olds at This is the Place Heritage State Park on Saturday, July 15. Here is his pioneer outfit the day before.

The day of, other parents sent us these photos and I'm so grateful! They told me he did great.

He waved the Utah state flag proudly. (I like this flag and don't see why we need a new one.)

The day was hot and there is an uphill climb, but he said he was fine. 

August 9-12 was the pioneer trek for 14-18 year olds at Martin's Cove in Wyoming. Max and Ben were in different families and each said their Ma and Pa and others in their groups were "the best." 

Once again, I am grateful for other parents sending us these photos. JB and I went on the last three stake pioneer treks, but I'm glad other people got the opportunity to go this time. We went in 2010 when I was five months pregnant with Andrew, in 2014 when I pumped along the way for James, and in 2018 when we had a 2 year old Millie.

In this photo, Max and Ben are singing in the youth choir during a fireside. Look at that Wyoming sky.

Here is Ben with some of his friends on Independence Rock.

Ben is on the back row, second from right.

We greeted them at the Stake Center on Saturday afternoon. I was anxious to see them, the house felt empty without them and I wanted to hear all about it. They had changed on the bus ride back to more comfy clothes and Crocs. 

I think they slept really well that night back in their beds!