Back to school and September happenings

Tuesday, Aug. 19, was the first day of school. James left before everyone to catch his bus, then Max took a picture with the rest before they went to their schools.

Millie is in 4th grade with Ms Miles.

James started middle school and 7th grade.

Andrew started high school in 9th grade

Ben started his last year of high school as a senior!

Other seniors (I think the cheerleaders) decorated "his" car. It's our car but he drives it to school with Andrew.

Andrew rode his bike back and forth to football practices a lot, all through the summer, and then when school started. What a beast! He was locked in.

Here's Millie, walking down the sidewalk on her own for the first time to elementary school by herself!

JB and Max walked with her to document her first day.

We took Max down to BYU for freshman orientation and move-in day at his apartment on Thursday, Aug. 28. This was very exciting and also sad for me!! We just got him home from a mission and then days later, moved him out of the house. But I had so many great feelings rushing back from my time at BYU and my freshman year and couldn't wait for him to have that experience.

Here's Max's first BYU football game as an usher on Friday, Aug. 30.

On Tuesday, Sept. 23, I was assigned to write about a BYU devotional, so JB drove me down and we saw Max in the Marriott Center and then took him to lunch afterward.

Friday, Sept. 19, was the fun run/ jogathon fundraiser at the school. Millie loved getting chalk color on each lap. It's so weird to have only one child at the elementary school! 

Papa took Andrew to a Utah football game on Sept. 6

On Sept. 20, more of the Richards boys went to a Utah game.

Sunday, Sept. 21, we had a great family dinner up the canyon for cousin Millicent May's birthday.

On Sept. 26, JB took the boys to the temple.

Max comes home!

Friday night, Aug. 15, almost 10 p.m., Elder Richards came through the doors of the Salt Lake International Airport after flying for almost two days home from Cochabamba, Bolivia!

In between all the hugs, Ben and Max stood back to back to see who became taller after two years. Both of them have grown but Ben really shot up.

Thank you to Nona and Papa and Bart and Collette's family for staying up late with us after all the flight delays to greet Max!

Here we are with the signs we made for him.

His former companion Isaac Evans was there.

And his longtime friend Andy Loosle, who got home only a week or so before him.

We went right to In-N-Out Burger, for the best first meal home for our burger fan.

Sunday, Aug. 24, was Max's homecoming talk and we invited people over to lunch afterward. Here's baby Sarah with Andrew.

And then Peter and Mindy's family.

Bart and Collette's family (missing Emily on a mission!)

Joe and Sarah's family from Idaho.

Suzanne's family.

Sunday morning, I was at the stake center for Max's report to the high council and didn't have time to do Millie's hair. I showed up to our ward and Jane was doing these fantastic braids.

 

Our dear neighbors the Bells.

Our great friends the Peters.

Tables in the garage.

Tables outside under our neighbors' canvas tents.

Cousins!

Former companions and friends from his mission.

Ben's homies.