The Big Kids

We are ecstatic about summer.  Eden had a tough last part of the school year, so she is really looking forward to  a much deserved break from the rigors of the classroom.  She read twenty-one novels in seven weeks; yes, it was an actual assignment.  It required tremendous dedication, but in the end she learned that she can do really hard things.  At first I thought this assignment was ludicrous, but I have seen improvement in her reading so I suppose I have become a supporter.  I didn't realize the old saying "that which doesn't kill you, makes you stronger" applied to fifth grade reading assignments.

Here she is at "Hope of America" at BYU.

Swim team has begun.  She's working out with the year round team this summer and will decide if she will commit to year round at the end of the summer.  Wow, I don't know what to say.  That's a huge commitment . . . 6:30 in the morning all winter.  Sounds awful.

Hawk is living the dream.  He fishes and goes on adventures with his friend Oliver most every day.  They have a pretty long leash.  A few weeks ago they casually reported that they had gone to the temple today.  When I just looked at them they said, "It's OK, because we tucked in our shirts and said a prayer."  We had a little talk.

Earlier in the year he read Tom Sawyer.  I'm not sure Tom and Huck were a great choice for me to introduce him to.  He's adventurous and mishchieveous enough on his own without outside influences.  As I type, I'm listening to the torrential rain coming down . . . he's on a bike ride.

Hawk has also announced that he is not cutting his hair until August.  It's starting to get cute in that rugged kind of way.  Just don't mention anything about Justin or Beiber.


Miss Olivia seems to be having a great summer.  We got the Pass of all Passes so we have spent our fair share of days at Seven Peaks.  She is quite brave, but knows her limits.  She has been working up to "Free Fall," which by the way is pretty painful so she's really not missing much.

We went to Lake Powell with the Hancocks and Livvy was a tubing stud.  As soon as the boat would take off she had her thumb up signaling she wanted to go faster!!

And as you might guess, all of the kids are super helpers with Barrett.  They adore him, and it is a blast watching them together.