Weekend in Utah

 Makenna and I got to make a quick trip to Utah to visit Brayden and just have a little fun!  We arrived on Friday night and spent that evening visiting my cousin Ginger. We went to dinner and then made some pumpkin chocolate chip cookies to take to Brayden.  Saturday we woke up and went to breakfast with Ginger at Kneaders.  Then we drove down to Provo.  Brayden wasn't back yet from camping so we killed some time shopping (which was fabulous).  Then we met up with Brayden,  went to lunch with him and his "girlfriend" Kaitlyn, did some shopping at Walmart, did a little walk up to Bridal Veil Falls, ate some cookies, and then went to the Hemas which is where I was staying.  They are friends of ours that used to live in Texas.  That night Makenna did a sleepover with her friend Evie Biggs.  Sunday we visited and went for a hike up into the Uintah mountains.  Then later we got to see Braydens dorm room and spend more time visiting.  It was a really lovely trip and so nice to spend some time with Brayden again. We miss him but we are glad he is having a good ol time at BYU (despite Covid trying to ruin all the fun).

Sweet 16!

 Makenna had a fabulous 16th birthday!  She started the day with crepes and presents.  Then she skipped school to spend the morning at the DMV and walked away with HER DRIVERS LICENCE!!!  Wahoo!

As always Makenna was happy to share the birthday spotlight with our two birthday doggies.  Gracie turned 2 and Dallas turned 7.  Dallas seems to have caught on to this day with presents for her and presents for him.  He was so excited.

This is her just after passing her test!  She did it!

For dinner we went to the Cheesecake Factory and had a delicious feast.

Other birthday festivities include a dinner with her friends at The Yard in McKinney.  And she just got instagram and got an abundance of birthday wishes on it.  And one of her presents was going to Utah to visit Brayden so more pics of that to come...

Makenna's new gig

 Over the summer Makenna got a job at "The Cookie Rack."  Its a super delicious and cute shop that we heard was opening in Prosper.  So Makenna started to work a bit at the Frisco location until the Prosper shop opened and now she works just five minutes from home.... and she gets to bring home all the extra cookies when she works a closing shift.  So we have all been enjoying her new job ;)

Referee Brielle

This year Brielle has started working as a referee. She is super good at it and even though its a bit nerve wracking for her she does it and does it fabulously.  Heres some pictures from her very first time.

And just because I have a cool new camera on my phone and it was a beautiful evening- here's some pics of Emmitt enjoying his baby bottle pop too.

 

Brayden's Mirror

 After Brayden left for college I did a deep clean of his room which included wiping this mirror which he has used to track his weight the last four years.  It was kind of sad to erase it so I took a picture first so we could always remember.

Off to College

 Kevin and Brayden made the long 16 hour drive to drop Brayden off at BYU this week.  They had a great time and we are so excited for Brayden!  He got to be reunited with his friend Isaac who lives there in Utah now and his roommate is Ammon so Brayden is blessed with many friends.  Across the hall he has Adam and Gunnar too.  

This is the morning he left- Emmitt had to get in his last Brayden snuggle.  A few tears were shed that morning... maybe more than a few...

                                            Heres Brayden checking out the campus with Isaac.

Brayden and Ammon at their new dorm room.

Brayden, being the super thoughtful loving brother and son that he is had written us all notes and left them under our pillows before he left.  It was sure a nice surprise and as you can see- brought a smile to Emmitts face (and all of us too).

Back to School 2020

 So this is a big and different year for a few reasons. The coronavirus is still wreaking havoc in our lives and school is not left untouched.  The kids will have to wear masks full time and there will be social distancing put in place.  Its going to be a bit different.  Also because many kids are choosing the online option so crowds will be down which will actually be nice.  BUT despite the drawbacks the kids get to GO!!! Which is a pretty big deal since most districts around here are started entirely online only.  So its a blessing.  My kids are anxious to get back to school after a five month long spring break ;)

The other big deal that makes this back to school unique is that Brayden isn't "back to school". At least not here in Prosper.  He heads to BYU in a week but for this big morning- he's just chilling in his PJ's.

Emmitts teacher sent us this last one of him sitting at his desk because this year- no parents in the building 

I'm sure we will all make the best of this new normal and have a fabulous year!