August 2023

 August began with some much needed down time.  We used our time to get organized for the school year, enjoy time outside, and squeeze in as many friends as possible.

Sheri loves a good book...

and her friends!

Sterling started preparing for his senior year!  Here he is with friends painting their parking spaces.  Each senior can decorate their own spot how they want to.

This is his spot below.

Christian and his friends made a ton of money selling cookies in the neighborhood.  We have very generous neighbors!  This day they earned about $70!

The kids were happy to be able to hang out with stake friends!

We also did some more back to school clothes shopping.

This butterfly emerged from its cocoon.   We kept one of the many caterpillars we found on our dill plants and were so thrilled to see it take its first flight!

Before school started Sterling wanted to get his wisdom teeth out.  We were happy to have a few weeks to recover before school pictures were taken.  Thankfully, Sterling made a quick recovery!

School started August 16th.  Here are the kids starting Senior, Sophomore, and 5th grade.

Sterling likes to be funny.

Sheri puts up with it.

"Side Eye"

This year Sterling is taking dual credit (both college and high school credit) psychology, US government, biology, algebra, English, economics, and statistics along with theatre.  He is also taking a medical practicum class where he will earn his CNA along with other certifications by the end of the year.  

Here is his Senior photo for the yearbook.

Sheri is taking band, honors chemistry, honors world history, theatre, medical terminology, honors algebra 2, honors English, and Spanish 2.  Sheri has also started dance again after a year off.  She has been surprised at how quickly everything comes back.

They also started early morning seminary.  They are glad to have each other's help waking up in the morning and I'm grateful Sterling drives! 

They will both have plenty to keep them busy! 

Speaking of busy, here are some of the other things we have been up to this month.

We had a Stake day at the Discovery center.

Christian loves to organize his Pokémon cards and is practicing the piano again after the summer off.

We regularly weed and harvest from the garden.

Of course, Matt works so faithfully to provide for our family and always has a yard project or two going.  I love that he brings home organic flour and mixes.

In August our stake split.  We were so grateful that most of our friends are still in our stake and those that are in the other stake are not far away. We are part of the Amarillo East Stake now.  Here are all the units that were in our stake before.  Our boundaries were over 2 hours east and 2 hours west not to mention north and south.

Christian started outdoor soccer and has been loving his coach who makes practices fun!  Sterling got this pic but is not his coach. :)

Football and Marching Band season has officially begun.  Sheri and many of the other kids convinced Sterling to join for games and competitions (even though it wouldn't fit in his school schedule).  They have rehearsals each Monday night and weekends are full of fun!

Sheri, Isabelle, and Tara

Where's Sheri and Sterling, can you spot them?  Also, our previous bishop and new stake president is in the sunglasses - President Moncivais.

Meanwhile Eve has been soaking up as much summer in Colorado as she can. Here are her highlights.

She has enjoyed working at Farm Box Foods with Joseph Cammack and has learned so much!  The company was great to show her that she is capable and valued.

Eve loved spending time with the Cammacks, Robinsons, and Murrays! A big thank you to all who spent time with Eve and helped her feel so loved!

Here she is shopping with Emma.

She loved Hannah's Taylor Swift party. Everyone dressed up as one of Taylor's "Eras".

Sweet Eleanor was baptized!  Eve was glad to be there to witness her special day!

While staying with my parents Eve ran into her childhood friend Bethany who was giving her farewell talk.  Eve also enjoyed reconnecting with Avery Underwood during her Colorado time.

Eve was super lucky to be able to attend the Ed Sheeran concert with the Cammacks!  

Eve was also able to go to Water world, attend Hannah's baby shower, and many other fun weekend activities!  She fell in love with Denver and is so grateful she chose to work there this summer.  Again, a big thank you to our family for supporting her through these few months!

As the month drew to a close I drove to Colorado to take Eve back to BYU. More on that to come in my September post.

We feel abundantly blessed!  We know that God had been generous with us in our opportunities, our relationships, the gospel, and in the beauties around us.  We do our best to focus on the most important things and are grateful to see God's hand in our lives!

June/July Travels 2023 Part 4 - Colorado, TX, Colorado

 As we concluded our time in the Pacific Northwest we headed back toward home in Texas.  But on the way we took our time to visit family.

First we drove to Logan, UT and visited with Adam, Nicolle and their cute boys.  

We are grateful that we we had the chance to catch up with them and grateful that they let us stay at their house for the night. It was so fun to see how much Brec and Jay have grown!

Next we headed to Denver.  Sheri got some driving practice in.  Driving with a new driver is always nerve wracking, but Sheri did great!

On the way we got raspberry shakes in Bear Lake.

That evening the family gathered at Jen and Scott's pool.  Though we were late we were grateful to see everyone!

We arrived safely at my parent's house and the next day were able to celebrate the 4th of July down in the Palmer Lake area.  First we loaded up the van with kids.

Next we went to a parade

Then we grabbed lunch supplies and headed to the lake.  It was raining pretty hard when we arrived, so we waited out the storm in the parking lot before unloading the younger kids. (The older kids went early with Jen and Scott to get a good spot).

Jen and Scott provided a paddle board and kayak, and Hannah brought a shade structure.

Everyone had a nice time on the lake.

The little boys enjoyed the playground like little monkeys.

Then the rain hit again and so we sheltered in the van again.

Next we headed to another park in Castle Rock where we were able to catch the last few songs of Annie singing with the Denver Dolls.  I LOVE patriotic music and especially watching Annie perform!

Then we got more rain and sheltered until Sterling brought the van to pick us up.

We got some dinner and then headed to Parker for fireworks with Annie and her kids.  It was a late night when we got home!  We are sure grateful to live in this free land and be with family we love.   

On July 6th we were able to celebrate Jonathan's belated birthday.  We went to Pirate's Cove and then back to Annie's for a party. 

 In the afternoon we were able to visit Catherine and her darling family.  I enjoyed looking at her recipes and hearing more about her past few months.

 Then finally, we took Eve to do some much needed shopping. Jen and Hannah joined as well.  That night my girls had a sleepover together at Hannah's.  They were happy to get some sister time after being apart!

On Friday, July 6th we drove to Ft Collins for Grandpa Burns Sabey's funeral.  We were very sad to learn that he got sick with pneumonia and passed away in late June.  He was an incredible man who left an incredible legacy!  We were grateful to be in town for the funeral so that we could reflect on his life and relationship with us!  He will surely be missed!

We also took the opportunity to visit his home in Ft Collins to remember our happy memories there.

On Saturday, July 8th we drove home to Texas after more than 5 weeks traveling.  We were so happy to be home!  We were happy to see our cats, our home, the sunsets, and had the happy surprise of a garden bursting with produce!  The credit goes to Matt who worked so hard to put in waterlines to all the flowers and gardens!  We also had a very wet spring!

Apparently caterpillars love dill!  Look how many we picked off!

We spent the couple week recovering (sleeping in, laundry, cleaning the van, reviewing finances, grocery shopping, getting vehicles inspected/registered) as well as  hanging out with friends, working on church callings, and preparing for the upcoming school year.  We registered, picked up chromebooks, went shopping for school supplies & clothes, and got doctor notes for prescriptions. 

On the 17th we went to the lake with ward friends.

On my birthday I went to lunch with my friend, Melissa and Matt took me to the theatre at Palo Duro Canyon for a chuckwagon dinner and a show.  It was a lovely evening!

The kids got time with neighbor and church friends.  We also had our final Trek Reunion activity/dance.

Meanwhile Eve has been loving her time in Colorado working at Farm Box Foods, living with Hannah and Joseph and surrounded by family.  Here are some of her highlights.

Working for Farmbox Foods

The Renaissance Festival

A Taylor Swift Party with Hannah and the girls. 

 They each dressed up to represent one of her albums.

A Rockies game with the Robinsons

And Water World with the Robinsons and Cammacks

During our final week of July we went back to Colorado for the Smith reunion and Luke's (Matt's nephew) wedding to Rebecca.

Highlights from reunion include...

Dinosaur Ridge and an incredible museum nearby

A lake day

Hearing Grandma Sabey sing her and Grandpa's love song

...a birthday celebration, family history activities, karaoke, games, outdoor sports, and delicious meals.  We had a lot of good family time!  We were sorry Matt could only join us for a day or two before going back to TX for work.  He makes many sacrifices for our family!

This week was, sadly, the last time that Eve and her two closest cousins will be together since Camille will taking a break from BYU to serve a mission.  These girls have become the best of friends and will surely miss their time together while they are apart!

On the Friday following reunion Luke and Rebecca were married. Matt was able to drive back in time for it.  They had a ceremony, a dinner and a dance.  It was such a beautiful night!

Before the ceremony

Afterward...

Mocktails

These guys were awesome to help with chairs, parking, and set up.

I snagged some photos since we were all dressed up.

Appetizers, a toast to the bride and groom and dinner

Cake cutting

Dancing

We absolutely adore Luke!  Rebecca is one lucky girl!  We are very happy for them!

On Saturday the cousins were able to do baptisms and confirmations at the temple.  It was special to have Jennifer working in the baptistry that day! Sterling and the older boy cousins were able to help with the baptismal ordinances and Elijah (who was ordained during reunion) was able to help Jeff with confirmations.  I can't think of a more wonderful way to spend time together!  Matt and I were able to do sealings.

Then we were able to attend the sealing for Luke and Rebecca.  It was a beautiful, joyful day!

Then we went to the barn for a family dinner and to spend some last quality time with extended family.  We drove home to Texas on July 30th and that concludes our summer travels.

We are incredibly blessed with an abundance of love and beauty all around!