Andrew is employed, nature is fascinating, and other stuff

Biggest news first ('cause I'm not patient and want to get to the best thing first):

Andrew has been hired to teach at American Preparatory Academy in Draper, Utah! The first day of class is tomorrow (the 24th). Good luck Andrew!!!

He will teach 2 blocks of 8th grade lit, then have his prep, then teach a leadership class, ending his teaching day with 4 blocks of 9th grade composition. He says he is excited to have his first adult job (a job with benefits). We are excited for him, too.

 Wish they lived closer!

Henry will be blessed in Mesa during Labor Day weekend. Can't wait to see Andrew, Heather, and Henry!

Alex and Glen on the first day (Alex had to wear his metal and a tie...because he promised someone?)

School started on Monday the 17th and it seemed to be a good week. Alex has health, video productions, English, algebra I, geometry, Spanish I, and biology. He's had more homework this past week than almost his entire school career up to this point (and that's almost not an exaggeration--he didn't seem to get teachers that gave homework). He will be on the tennis team with his cousin Thomas. Fun stuff. He start his first year of seminary, too. I think he'll have a great year.

Hannah comes back from Oregon tomorrow and starts at TMCC on Tuesday. Ryan will go back to BYU-I around the 11th. It looks like Eric will be doing a special on-line program with BYU-I this semester. Hoping for great years for them as well.

Glen has 3 world history classes and 3 drama classes (beginning, advanced, and stagecraft). He has had a lot of homework this week, too. But that's par for the course for him. I think he'll have a good year, too.

I think I will have an excellent year. I only knew 3 of my 12 seminary students, but I have several who will participate and answer questions and voice opinions, so I think it will go well. I really do love the topic, Old Testament, and the church has such amazing resources. It really is the best calling for me.

Wednesday was my mother's birthday. Happy Birthday Mom! Wish I could have been there, but I am glad that Hannah was.

Over the past few weeks, we've had some good run-ins with nature. We went out and watched the Perseid meteor shower 3 different nights...including at 3 am and at 1 am. Crazy, but so worth it. I saw a total of 46 meteors. I don't know why it is so thrilling for me, but it really is. There wasn't a moon and the sky was so clear--we were lucky not to have cloud coverage. Wish I could have taken photos.

Glen and I saw 3 wild turkeys on one of our walks recently and then they showed up in our yard the other day, so I was able to get photo proof of their existence. Seems to be a mom and 2 juveniles.

momma on the dead log by our ditch

her babies just next to the log

More "nature" that I've enjoyed lately:

quail on our log (I love cameras with zoom lenses)

sunrise on the last day of our summer walks

I love sunflowers!

Other stuff:

Our new carpeting and flooring are being put in this week! I can hardly wait as the chaos is driving me crazy. Photos next week!

Electric pressure cooker and new carpeting

Our week has been full.

I found out I will be teaching freshmen seminary again, though I won't know who or how many are in my class until Sunday night's Seminary Kick-Off (7 pm Tolas St building).

An interesting program note for Seminary--due to the charter school's 4 day school week, we will only be having seminary Mondays through Thursdays. I'm quite excited about it. They've added 15 minutes to those days (it will start at 6:45 instead of 7:00), so we actually will be spending 15 more minutes a week in seminary. I doubt I'll be able to sleep in on Fridays, but it will still be nice.

While I was at my mom's last month, I ordered an electric pressure cooker from Amazon that was on sale. It does more than just pressure cook. It can be used as a slow cooker, a rice cooker, and it can saute. It also has a yogurt setting, which I used today--it even scalds the milk for you.

I made my steel cut oats in it the other morning--no babysitting the oats while they cook. I've also made polenta and clam chowder in it. I love it. Check it out at:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FLYWNYQ?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00

Making yogurt

While I've been playing with my new toy and working on getting ready for Seminary, Glen and the boys have been busy ripping out our carpeting. We ordered the new carpet and flooring and they should arrive at the store maybe as early as Monday, but we don't know yet when it will all be installed.

the office and hallway after the guys got through with it

the family room is now full of the things we had to move

Ryan didn't get his bed back together in time for sleep the other night, so he slept on a chair. It didn't look comfy to me, but Chloe kept him company.

a boy and his sister's dog

And today is the last day of our 2nd "No Treats Challenge." Wow. I keep thinking how grateful I am that Hannah came up with that idea. Alex wants to wait until school starts before we have round 3. I think the boys might be planning on pigging out a bit this week. That's not my plan, but I'm definitely planning on having some Reese's cups.

And it sounds like Alex is planning on playing a lot of games this week and he is looking for other players. He wants me to invite you all to come and play with him...especially if you are a boy around his age and has the game "Ashes" to bring with you...