Brodey is Home

Our nephew/cousin Brodey got back from the Kingston, Jamaica mission. We're so proud of him. We went to Henderson, NV to eat some Jamaican food and hear Brodey speak in sacrament meeting. He still has a little accent. He did a great job on his talk. I loved hearing about the families and individuals that he served in Jamaica. He has grown and changed and become a great man of faith. 

Here are some pictures of our quick trip there, including some before and after pictures. 

We're so proud of Brodey for leading the way for Sayre and Bruce.

42yrs. Old + High Priest

On September 13th, Robert turned 42yrs. old. He didn't want to do anything major, and with our busy schedule I'm not sure we could anyway. His favorite soccer team played and we had his favorite chocolate chip cookie sandwiches filled with vanilla ice cream. Happy happy birthday to Robert!

Also, Robert was ordained a High Priest by his dad today during church. He will serve as the 2nd Assistant in the High Priest Group.

1st day of school....again!

About a week and a half in to school I saw an opportunity to get Claire in to a new charter school that was just opened. I really felt like Claire was in need of a change of scenery and pace from her current school. So, we took the leap and enrolled her in Scholarship Preparatory Academy. It's a very small school and it's actually held at the San Luis Rey Mission. She's been there for 3 days now. She likes that her classroom is upstairs and she is already making friends. It'll definitely be a change for her. 

Miss. Valdez - No, it's not a student. It's the teacher. :)

We knew it was meant to be when we saw that Claire's class was in the Saint Clare building. Claire's initials are C. S. T. so she loves that her initials are on the building. 

Ivey Ranch Volunteering

Earlier this year the girls were invited to a birthday party at a small horse ranch here in town. We didn't even know there was a horse ranch around here. The girls loved it and they signed up as volunteers. Jane and Linda volunteered before summer. Claire turned 9 and now she can volunteer too. They all volunteer together twice a week. They clean out the stalls, feed the horses, and groom the horses. They absolutely love it. It's been so good for them to go work hard and also be around the beautiful horses. I never thought I'd see the day that my girls would volunteer to clean up horse poop. haha

 There's even a pony that is Claire's size!

School Is In Session 2017

Well, another first day of school is in the books. (August 14th)

They keep shortening summer, so it feels like we barely got a break before going back. 

Bruce - 
Freshman year at Oceanside High School
Among his classes, he is taking AP Computer Programming, pre-AP English, and pre-AP math II.
He also started early morning seminary from 6:10am - 7:00am at the California Building. His teacher is Sister Shirley. 

Linda - 
8th Grade at Lincoln Middle School
This is her last year of middle school! She is excited to have made it to advanced orchestra this year. This will be such a fun year for her. 

Jane - 
6th Grade, first year in middle school at Lincoln Middle School
Her elective is Applied Biology (gardening). She likes middle school better than elementary school and hasn't needed any adjustment time.

Claire - 
4th Grade at Palmquist Elementary School
Claire's teacher is Mrs. Smith
She was nervous, shy, and excited about her first day back. 

The best thing about the first day of school was that dad was home and could go with her for the first time. She was so excited to have him there. 

Jane is 11!

Jane turned 11 on August 16th!! For her gift from Robert and I she got a week at horse camp a couple of weeks before her actual birthday.

We celebrated the night before her birthday with cake and a present from the girls. (Hogwarts t-shirt)

The actual day of her birthday, she took the day off of school and Robert took her up to Universal Studios Hollywood. She LOVES that place, and it was the end of our season pass. I think she had a very happy birthday. We love her very much. (Claire went along so she'd have someone stand in line with.)