Keeping Up With the Joneses

Summer ended early this year when the kids returned to school on August 12th (way too early). Mason is in 8th grade at Centennial Middle School. Myles is in 6th grade at Wasatch Elementary. Max is in 3rd grade at Edgemont Elementary. McKay is starting his 3rd year of preschool at It's Fun to Learn Preschool with Miss Linda.

This summer I was accepted to present some research at a conference in Amsterdam, so Marshall and I decided to make it a fun trip and ended up spending 2 weeks in Europe. We started off in London, then took a ferry to Amsterdam, then flew to Scotland where we spend a week driving through the  highlands before flying back to London for a day and then flying home. It was a fantastic trip. We went to a "Evensong Concert" in Westminster Abby. Marshall captions this photo "smells like urine." I LOVE fish and chips and these ones by the Tower Bridge were by far the best I've ever tasted.  In London we took a Big Bus tour so we could make sure we saw everything. This is the parliament buildings (Big Ben was under construction).  15 years of traveling together.  The Canada House in London.  We got to see "A Midsummer's Dream" in the Globe Theater in London. This English major's dream come true! St. Paul's Cathedral. ...

During our last trip to Waterton we got to spend time with the entire Goates family and have an "epic" water-fight. The kids were shocked that Marshall was coming with us to Waterton (finally).  After the Water Fight. Grandpa's (losing) team. The cousin team. Fortunately everyone was still friends after the water fight. 

One of my favorite things that I do in the Spring term is teach Introduction to Global Women's Studies at BYU. This year was no exception. It is amazing how much I love every moment of preparing and teaching this class. This year we ended the term with an "activism lunch" at my house where everyone wrote their wishes for the future of feminism and wrote to their local leaders.

The kids spent a lot of time in Waterton this summer with absolutely no complaints. Our first trip of the summer to Waterton is always so magical.  The park had a "learn to fish" event.  Max caught a "seer-toothed sucker" or something like that. Turns out it isn't native to the park.  One of the times we went to Canada, Mason brought along his best-friend Daniel. We had a great time showing off Waterton.  We bought a few paddle boards this year and Mason has become a pro. 

The kids told us one Monday morning that they wanted to be in charge of Family Home Evening that night. They made up this list of laws and threatened us with their nerf guns. The lesson ended up being about how contracts signed under duress are null and void.

Marshall had to work over Spring break, and I took some days off. We planned on going up to Canada to visit my parents, but the roads were closed for bad weather so we ended up going to our second favorite vacation spot instead--Scott & Annie's house in California! We had a great time at Magic Mountain. It was McKay's first time on roller coasters and the kid is a dare-devil! Castaic Lake had a free "learn to fish event" where they gave the kids a tackle box with gear and helped the kids catch fish.  Myles wasn't exactly thrilled with catching a fish and wouldn't touch it.   One of my favorite things is seeing how much my kids love their cousins! The big boys were really nice to indulge McKay and start off with some "baby rides" before we figured out how brave McKay was.  The kids' tried funnel cakes for the first time and declared them "almost as good as crepes." I love my boys!

Myles' birthday began with a fun Laser Tag party and then ended with a surprise trip to see Hamilton the Musical the night of his birthday!