Red Canyon/Hat Shop Trail (Bryce Canyon)

On Friday (September 1), we left pretty much right after school for Bryce Canyon. Annette had left at noon and her parents had actually gone to the campground on Thursday to make sure we would have a spot.  Traffic was pretty heavy in spots as we drove south so it took a little longer than we were hoping.  But it was a good drive and fun to spend time together.   We stopped for a few minutes in Red Canyon because it was so beautiful.

 Once we arrived, we quickly set up our tent and got ready for bed...we were all tired.  Michelle and I had been up really late the night before (she had AP Human Geography homework and I had a lot to do to get ready for our trip).  Annette's family had gone to a cowboy dinner and show but they got back to camp right about the time we were heading to bed.

These stellar jays were all over Bryce Canyon.

The next morning, we made breakfast and then we headed off on our first hike: Hat Shop Rock Trail.  It was a 4 mile hike.  The kids didn't love the hike and weren't super impressed by the Hat Shop rocks, but I thought they were pretty amazing!  I'd like to learn more about how they formed.

This stick Gabby found totally looked like a sword!

What magnificent views!!  How blessed we are to live in such a beautiful land created by God for us!

Gabby's 9th Birthday

Gabby had a really fun birthday party.  We rented this fun bouncy house/waterslide for her birthday from Alfredo's cousin, Patty.  Her friends loved it and so did she.  She has the cutest friends!  I sure love my 9 year old girl!

Playing "Dead Mummy" on the trampoline.

9 Things Gabby Loves at age 9:

*4th grade and Learning about Utah.

*Her friends:  Sofie, Alyssa, Gracie, Claire, Braden, Julian

*Dancing.

*She feels older.

*She likes Supergirl and Flash.

*Harry Potter.

*Ice skating (although we don't go often).

*Oreo ice cream.

*Her dogs.

First Day of School

Yesterday was the first day of school for all of us.  We were all pretty nervous.  Excited.  Afraid.  It was a momentous day...Michelle started high school.  Ella began junior high.  Gabby went to 4th grade.  I no longer have any early elementary aged children!  My oldest is in high school.  I'm a little overwhelmed by all of this.  And it was also a solar eclipse which made for an especially exciting/interesting first day of school.  1/3 of my students didn't come to school due to the eclipse.  Here in Utah, we had between 90-95% eclipse.  It was pretty spectacular...and also a bit nerve wracking.

Gabby was super excited to wear her "phases of the moon" shirt in honor of the solar eclipse!

But overall, I think things are going pretty well.  Mornings are a bit hectic...Michelle and Ella both have to leave earlier than they have in the past.  But Michelle seems to really like nearly all of her teachers.  She is excited about most of her classes.  She's got French 2, Dance, Math, AP Human Geography, Biology, English, Seminary and P.E. She seems especially excited about French, Biology and Dance.  She's nervous about the AP geography class...it's going to be a lot of work.  But they took a test on Monday and she got 60/63 questions right.  So I think as long as she works hard, she will be fine.

Ella says she has met several new people.  She has the same lunch as our neighbor/friend DJ so she has been eating lunch with her.  She seems to like it so far.  She doesn't talk as much about school (or anything) as Michelle, so it's a little harder to know exactly what she thinks.

And Gabby is excited to have Gracie, Alaina, and Braden and a few other friends in her class.  She says her teacher has a soft voice (not hard to hear...she just doesn't raise her voice).  She seems to be okay with school but not really enthusiastic.  I suspect she has been tired.  But hopefully it will be a good year.

Tonight our home teachers came.  We had a nice visit.  I'd asked Chad about a week ago if he would be willing to give my girls blessings for the beginning of the school year.  He did.  I'm going to write more about that in my personal journal...but what stood out to me was how personal each blessing was.  It was obvious that the blessings came from Heavenly Father and were meant for each girl with their unique mixes of talents and weaknesses.  They were such special blessings.  I'm so grateful for the power of the priesthood and for blessings.

So far my class is cute...but so talkative.  I had been told that by last year's teacher.  And she wasn't kidding. They really are good kids... a bit challenging...but nice.  They just don't stop talking.  Bless their hearts.  It's going to be a fun year.

Fiddle Concert

I really love Michelle's annual fiddle concert.  I love the music they play and love seeing her continue to progress.  It's my favorite.  This summer we were out of town A LOT, and so she honestly wasn't able to practice as much as she usually does.  But she still did such a great job and memorized more songs than I expected.  (Most of them were songs she has learned in previous years, but still I am proud of her effort and the progress she makes each year.  I love hearing her play!!)

Michelle is blessed to have a truly wonderful teacher, Linda, and I am so thankful for her!