First Day of School 2024

We have a senior, a sophomore, a 6th grader at the middle school, a 4th grader, and two 3rd graders! 

The night before school started I crept outside and painted Quincy’s car. It wasn’t great since it was midnight and I only had a flashlight, but I put a cello and little music notes, hearts and stars, seniors, class of 2025, and the ignite lightbulb on there. She was so surprised in the morning. I also ran to Walmart and picked up pink donuts and strawberry milk for the kids. It was a pretty chill morning! 

Quincy’s Senior Sunrise

Attracts a crowd

A typical day at our house involves a half dozen teens coming in and out to hang out with Corbin or Quincy. I try to have snacks and good music available, and give haircut or solid mother-advice to anyone who asks. It’s important to Aaron and I that our home is welcoming and that our children are inclusive friends. My

Mom always advised me, “your circle can ALWAYS get bigger” and she was so right. I tell my teens the same thing. Social groups are called “circles” because they don’t have edges or walls to keep people out. Circles can always expand.  And so we often have a gathering of young people who congregate throughout our home and I think/hope they all feel welcome and loved here.

The other night, kasey, Brendan and Laura were over here when a group of Corbin’s buddies stopped by to grab basketball shoes or something. All those youth gravitated to Brendan with magnetic force and they kept on coming. It was such a touching moment to see all these youth love their bishop so much that they just want to be around him on a Saturday night. They told stories and talked sports, school, pop culture, Olympics, and everything in between. Every kid there felt super important. As a mother, it means everything to me that my kids have such great and approachable role models in their lives to encourage them, counsel them, and always point their paths toward the Savior.

Utah Weekend

Corbin, Quincy, and I flew to Utah for a very short weekend trip for my nephew, Zach’s, wedding. Zach and Emma are adorable. I love love! I attended their sealing in the Mt Timpanogos temple, Quincy and I helped with decorations for the luncheon and went thrifting with my nephew Tyler and his girlfriend, India. Corbin played 18 holes of golf with cousin Steven and some of his YSA friends Caleb and Jace. Corbin and Quincy also went hiking with Cousin Brock (who just returned from his mission in Torreón, Mexico, well done, Brock!), cousin Steven, “cousin” Joey, cousin Garrett, Caleb, and Jace. My teens loved running around with YSA’s all weekend. Those boys were so good to Corbin and he spent hours playing pickleball, pool, foosball, and swimming with them. Quincy is fast friends with everyone and knew all their life stories by the end of one trip to ice cream. 

We held all the babies and played with great nice and nephews (Parker and Kelsea have baby Rowan, Tayler and McCoy have Hadley, Grayson, and Calvin.) I had arms full of babies all weekend and it was a dream. 

We got to see my brother Scott and his family (wife Kristie, nephew Ben) and we realized it’s been 6 years since we’ve seen each other. Madness. Loved catching up. Mark and Melinda are such generous hosts. It was their son’s wedding and they just remodeled their home(still in progress!) yet they insisted we all stay with them. My parents are at my sister, Amy’s this summer. 3/4 of my siblings plus their spouses together was amazing. Missed Paul and HolleeAnn and Aaron of course! My aunt and uncle Tami and Greg Palmer are serving their second round as mission leaders/presidents. They were in Veracruz Mexico before but this time they are right at home in Rexburg Idaho as mission leaders for the Rexburg Service Mission. They love it! They were able to drive down for the weekend and I loved seeing them! Greg also just retired from teaching mission prep and Book of Mormon at BYU-I. They are so gifted at connecting with young and emerging adults. They hosted Reese when she visited Tommy in Rexburg a couple times, and they spent time chatting with both of my teens. I loved that for them. They are incredible people and wonderful mentors and examples! 

Kristie, my mom, Taylor, Hadley, Greyson, Quincy, Amy, Melinda, Aunt Tami 



Emma and Kelsea—yay more nieces! Speaking of nieces, we got a text that my niece Jordan had her 4th baby this weekend! Welcome, little Isla! 

Tyler with baby Rowan

Quincy didn’t buy this thrifted dress bc it had been altered to have some less coverage. It was so cute but she passed. My mom suggested we just unpick the stitching in the front where it was unbuttoned and alter it back to close it back up….and we don’t know why we didn’t think of that!  The store was closed when we tried to go back and Quincy was really sad. Such a cute dress though! 

Josh being Josh and recording everything. Ty and India behind. They were so fun to go thrifting with. 

Zach and emma need a token pic with all their nieces and nephews. Grey wasn’t having it hahaha 

I love you Ben! 

Zach and Emma 

These two had a lot of bonding opportunities over the weekend. They are going to miss each other so much when Q leaves for school next year

It was a great trip! Mark and I hung out watching the Olympic gymnastics. Mark and Melinda owned gyms in California and LOVE gymnastics. Quincy is has always enjoyed watching gymnastics but is a pretty invested spectator if the sport now that she dates a gymnast lol. Corbin died over Mark’s wall of Nikes and coveted all the Jordan IVs and Travis Scotts. 

We haven’t done a trip in a while where the sole purpose is to connect with extended family. It was so good. Family dinners and BBQ’s, lots of story telling and laughter. Quincy and I hung out a lot with Melinda helping her with wedding reception prep, and with my beautiful niece Taylor (she’s such a sweet mother and person! I love her so much! She’s the same age gap to me as her dad/my brother Mark, and they lived with us when I was in junior high and high school. We calculated that I lived with Taylor nearly as many years as I did with my brother Mark!). I caught up with each of my nephews. I love these boys so much! This pic is missing Zach (who was busy being a groom), Ben (who had just left the reception), and Nico (who gets to live near me, here in Arkansas). 

(Zach, Steven, Garrett, Brock, Tyler, and Parker) 

(Garrett, Steven, Joey, Parker, Tyler, Brock, and Corbin)  I love these boys!! 

And a throwback of Brock, Ty, and Quincy rapping) 



Taylor


(Josh, Garrett, Corbin, Scott, Brock, Uncle Greg) 

Gray and Hadley 

Quincy got to babysit baby Rowan while Parker and Kelsea attended the sealing. They had never left him before—even with grandma (don’t be jelly Amy!) so Quincy felt very honored to be Rowan’s first baby-whisperer 

No pics posted for privacy but it blows my mind how much he looks like his dad! Parker was born when I was Quincy’s age, and Amy worked at my high school, so I had many pics of baby Parker with me and my friends. It’s fun to see Parker’s Mini Me being held by my mini me 

Speaking of Mini Me’s Taylor’s kids look just like little Taylor, Garrett and Zach. What a life.

Quincy and Garrett have a special bond even though they have an 8 year age gap. Garrett is a bit introverted, but will always talk for days with Quincy. He gave her boy advice and college advice and mission advice. Brock and Corbin shared a room at Marks house and Brock talked about girls with Corbin late into the night. Brock says “it’s easy with Corbin, we both have good rizz.” Haha. 

What a weekend. Congrats Zach and Emma! 

Scott and Amy with their favorite sibling. 

Mark and Grandpa twinning 

Ben and Grandpa twinning 

 

Quincy and I made dozens of these tiny bouquets with Melinda and her sisters Andrea and Nicole. It was fun to see Melinda’s Yardley family together! 





Caleb, Joey, Amy, Steven 

Oh baby Cal I could keep you! 

We took a few naps together and they were legit some of the best hours of my life. Babies are the best! 

Big Willies do Orlando-Anna Maria Island

Last day of vaycay! We were all wanting the beach and we all wanted gulf side, so we packed up lunch and dinner in the cooler and headed west to Anna Maria island. 

Aaron rented an umbrella and two loungers and we spent hours and hours at the beach! The water was so warm! It was a pretty perfect day and a perfect end to our trip.