September 2019

SIX FLAGS HURRICANE HARBOR

A couple times a week during the summer and almost every Saturday now that school has started you will find us at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor. It is super fun, right by our house, and it makes the heat much more bearable. Thank you Mom and Dad Collett for getting us passes!

 SWEET SISTERS

Audrey started taking piano lessons from Maddy and she teaches Brooklyn what she is learning.  

 MAKING MESSES

I think Brooklyn and Audrey are having a competition for who can make the most messes every day.  Here is what Brooklyn did while I left her eating lunch so I could help Maddy with some math.  Audrey doesn't make as much of a mess eating, but she manages to make a huge mess with all her papers and coloring.  

 DANCE CLASS HULA

While it is still to hot to go outside, Audrey needed a little something to help her get her energy out.  She has enjoyed taking some cheap hula classes from a member who teaches out of her home.  

 COOKING

One morning Audrey and Brooklyn wanted to make apple crisp so Maddy helped them cut up apples and sprinkle some cinnamon sugar on them. They were very proud of their cooking.  

SEWING

Maddy is learning to sew for a Young Women value project. She made the shirt with Grandma Collett's guidance last June, and sewed a matching skirt on her own this month.

Abby has also been learning to sew for her Young Women's project.  Here are some cute panda pajama pants she made.

DADDY-DAUGHTER CAMP OUT

 Brooklyn insisted that she wanted to go with the big girls on the Daddy-daughter campout. I was nervous because she has never spent a night away from Mommy, but she did great!

Our little Texas/Arizona girls don't really know how to handle the cold, but they sure were cute cuddling by the fire.  

 NATHAN OUTING

While the girls were off camping with Dad, Nathan had fun with mom. On Friday he had a friend over for a Star Wars movie night (his sisters never let him watch it). On Saturday he had fun visiting Barnes & Noble with mom. We had fun getting ideas for new books to read, building LEGOs, and seeing all the cool Harry Potter items for sale.  

 DRESS UP

 Maddy helped Audrey dress up one day. Audrey told me, "I am dressed like an adult, but I am actually a medium big girl."

 Brooklyn decided to act out a silly book called "Blue hat, Green hat" where a silly turkey puts his clothes on wrong.

 

August 2019

PLAYTIME

Audrey loves to sit with Brooklyn and read her books.

Brooklyn loves climbing in her water table and playing bath.  The water gets so warm from the hose here, it actually feels like bath water.

Brooklyn having a tea party with Abby and Maddy's doll stuff.  

Brooklyn loves to "Daw" (draw)

SCHOOL STARTS

The big kids on their first day of school (August 7th). It is still strange to me how early they start school here. Abby and Nathan are trying out public school for the first time since Kindergarten, and Maddy is continuing to homeschool. Abby and Nathan were nervous at first, but they found that public school isn't as horrible as they feared. It was definitely an adjustment to get used to the strict schedule, homework, and tests, but they are both doing really well.

DADDY COMES HOME!

The kids and I were beyond excited to have Jared finally come home from his training! Audrey made about 10 welcome home signs that she put up all around the house.  

PRESCHOOL STARTS

Audrey is super excited to start up preschool co-op again.

She loves having her preschool friends come over to learn and play.  

DRESS UP

Audrey was thrilled that her dad got back in time to take her to the Daddy-daughter princess ball that our Stake puts on every year.

The girls love playing dress up with friends.

They had fun dressing up like cowgirls after a friend's birthday party.

One of their favorite games to play is going on a trip.  They pack clothes and items in their backpacks and pretend they are going on vacation.  If you ask Brooklyn where she is going, she tells you "Bears" (referring to our trip to Yellowstone).

Nathan's 10th Birthday

Nathan was thrilled with some new Harry Potter LEGO sets from Mom and Dad, Grandma, and his siblings. Audrey wanted to give him her own gift so she bought him an Almond Joy. Nathan lucked out by having his birthday the day before school started so he had all day to build his new sets.

Nathan decided to wait and have his cake a few days after his birthday so Jared could be home to share it with us. Having his Dad back after being gone for 5 weeks was one of the best gifts of all.

NATHAN AT 10:
Favorite color: blue
Favorite books: Harry Potter and Brandon Mull books
Favorite movie: Second Hand Lions
Favorite food: chocolate and fruit
When I grow up I want to be: a dentist
Things I enjoy: reading, playing LEGOs and board games, hiking, bike riding, and rock climbing
Favorite animals: Dogs

Nathan has a kind, quiet, calming presence that we really missed when he spent 3 weeks in Utah this summer.  Nathan is a great big brother to his 2 demanding little sisters. We are proud of what an obedient, diligent, kind young man he is becoming. Nathan is such a joy to have in our family! 

Officer Development School

I attended Navy Officer Development School (ODS) in Newport, RI from July 7 to August 9, 2019. The first week and a half were a difficult adjustment to military life, but I soon learned to love the routine and the things I was learning. It also helped that we started getting weekend liberty after a couple weeks! 

Newport had great sunsets. This is the view from my window in King Hall.

At a pier in Newport while out on liberty with some of my shipmates.

Several of us toured The Breakers, which was the Vanderbilt's summer home.

The grand staircase, modeled after the Paris Opera House

The main hall, which the Vanderbilt kids used to ride tricycles through

A very old Steinway in the music room

The library

The backyard--ready for a Gatsby style summer party.

Views from the cliffwalk near The Breakers

So many mansions, and so much old money in Newport!

 
Learning to put out fires before heading into a simulated ship hatch on fire (which I don't have pictures of).


Learning to shore up holes in a torpedoed ship, the USS Buttercup (aka wet trainer). This was actually a lot of fun, and was a nice relief from the summer heat. At one point the water was up to our necks!


DON'T GIVE UP THE SHIP!

The last week of ODS, we got to tour Battleship Cove in Massachusetts.

 

Our church group from ODS class 19050, pictured here at a reception the day before graduation. There were usually 3 or 4 others from OCS who joined us at the Newport ward every Sunday.

Sierra Company, ODS Class 19050

By the end of ODS, I was excited to see my wife and kiddos again, but I miss wearing the uniform every day, and I miss hearing colors every morning.