7, 5, 2, K

The first week of school for Mary, Sam and William was the week after our McCall trip, and two days before Ben and I left for Presidents club.  A little crazy, but we made it work.

All of the kids get to go to brand new schools this year!  The elementary school is directly in front of our house.  It is so awesome!  The night before school started we went to Back to School night for Sam and William at their school, Daniels Canyon Elementary.  It was the first time we were able to go into the school, as it was just finished being built days before.

It is such a nice school!!!  Wow!  We met with Sam's and William's teachers, and they seemed really nice.  Luckily, Sam and William both have friends in their classes that they know.  I could tell that they were getting excited for school as the evening went on. 

Sam is the oldest grade in the school, 5th.  Before now, 5th and 6th graders went to an Intermediate School.  This year, due to the new schools that were built, 5th grade is back in the Elementary school and grades 6-8 are now Middle Schools.  It is much better in my opinion.

I left from the boys back to school night, and drove over to the brand new Middle School, where I met up with Mary for her Back To School Night.

I found Mary with wide eyes and a pale face.  She was holding her schedule of 6 different classes, and she was completely lost.  The new school, Timpanogos Middle School, is amazing, but huge, and VERY confusing. 

Mary and I spent the next 90 minutes walking her route to her classes, over and over and over again.  Kids and parents were everywhere with school maps, trying to figure things out.  Kids were crying, parents were frustrated, and the place was chaos.

Poor Mary cried on and off, and I could tell she was overwhelmed.  She had printed off her class schedule, and a school map the night before.  She had written down all of her classes, her teachers, her room numbers, and had color coded everything.  She had 3 papers taped together, to make one giant master map.  This girl was prepared!  haha!

The killer is that they switch schedules every other day.  We only had enough time to go through her "Gold Day" schedule before it was time to go.

Mary was in a panic that night, but with a lot of talking, and going over her map, she finally calmed down.

Ben gave the kids their school blessings that night, the kids set out their new school clothes, and we all went to bed, nervous and excited.

I checked my email around 11:00 that night, and saw that I had an email from Mary's school.  The email said that they had to change some of the kids schedules, and to make sure that our kids had the right schedule.  As I was checking Mary's schedule, I was praying like crazy that hers was not changed.  There was no way she could handle it.

Sure enough, Mary's schedule was COMPLETELY different!  School started in the morning, and Mary was going to have no idea where she was going, who her teachers were, and what classes she had.  Holy crap!

I had to decide whether to drop the bomb on Mary in the morning, right before school, or to wake her up and help her make a new "map" and try to somehow help her out. 
I decided to wake her up.

I woke her up, told her that her schedule was different, and she flipped out.  I don't blame her.
We spent the next hour printing out her school schedule and a map of the school.  We wrote everything down, color coded everything, figured out the route she would take to her classes, and so on.  The poor girl was a mess.

the map

The next morning, Mary was up early.  She has to be out the door at 7:00am.  Geesh!  I found her in the kitchen frantically looking for her new map.  What the?!?!  We couldn't find it anywhere.  I couldn't believe it.  Seriously. 

So...while Mary ate, I made yet ANOTHER map and schedule for Mary.  ugh.

Finally, it was time for her to go.  I knew she would be just fine, but my stomach was in knots because she was so sacred.  I gave her a huge hug, and she took off to the bus stop with her friend Bailey.  I said a lot of prayers in my heart that morning.

Right after Mary left, I woke up the boys.  The scene with them was very different.  They were excited and ready to conquer the world.  It's so great to be in Elementary School!

I was still worrying about Mary and not thinking quite right.  I combed Williams hair, and as I went to hairspray it, William started yelling at me to stop.  I could not figure out why.

ummm yeah, I was going to spray his hair with the vegetable oil I had been using while cooking pancakes for breakfast!  hahaha!!   Oh my goodness. 

Ben and I and Molly and Luke all decided to walk with the boys to school.  Yup, we live so close that they get to walk or ride bikes to school!  How cool is that.  Sam and William were excited, and ready to go.

5th grade for Sammy boy

William, Tyson Muhlestein and Sam Welch.  Best buddies off to 2nd grade.



Once the kids were off to school, and Ben was off to work, it was just Molly, Luke and I.  It was weird. 

Mary arrived home first, and I was really anxious to see how she was.  She ended up being just fine! Few!  I knew she would.
She did get lost, but so did everyone else, and all of the teachers were there to help. 
She seemed much happier and at peace. 
So glad to get the first day done for her!

The boys came home an hour later.  They had a great day, and loved the new school.

Luke had his first day of Kindergarten a week later.  He has 1/2 day, which is good for him. He looked so cute!
 

He is in the blue class, so he gets a blue necklace.



Luke's buddies.  Luke, Kai Russell, Luke Phillips, Joey Goates

Luke is in Duel Immersion, and it definitely takes some getting used to to only hear Spanish for half of his time at the school.  He really likes kindergarten, and his class, but he is also very homesick, and is working through that.

When I picked him up after his first day, he told me that he had fun, but that he missed me, and then he missed me more, and then he missed me so much that his eyes watered.  It about broke my heart!  I love my Lukie. I hope he can get more comfortable and confident as the year goes on.

And so the new school year begins....

presidents club 2017-arizona

Presidents Club this year was at a resort in Scottsdale, Arizona.  Ben made Diamond Level...which is amazing...so we got an extra day!

My mom came to our house to watch the kids for us.  She is such a lifesaver.  The kids had a great time with her, and it is so much easier to relax and enjoy a trip, when we know our kids are in good hands.

Honestly, we didn't really do much, and it was exactly what we wanted.

It was so flipping hot, that even sitting in the shade by the pool was uncomfortable.  We spent time in our room reading, watching TV, and taking naps.  We met up with some of Ben's team members throughout the trip and ate with them and hung out.

We worked out as well.  I had a 13.2 mile run to do, for my training, so I did that one morning while Ben was at a meeting.  I did it in the gym they had there, but I seriously thought I was going to die of heat stroke!  I sweated through my tank and my shorts...completely!  Not kidding.  It was insane!  The gym had no air flow at all, and the heat from the outside somehow felt like it was seeping in.  I got it done though, and it was a work out that I was very proud of completing.

On Friday night, we met up with Ben's friend Shem and his wife.  They took us to a place called Coconuts.  They are known for their fish tacos.  I was not thrilled to go there, it sounded gross to me, but holy moly...it was soooo good!  I could eat there every night!  It was great food.  It was fun to see Ben catch up with an old buddy, and his wife was fun to talk to also.

We got to go to the fancy recognition dinner on Saturday night.  It is always fun to dress up, and eat with friends.  The best part though, is that Ben gets recognized for all of his hard work.  I am so proud of him. 

They normally don't announce where President's club will be until January or February, but this year, they announced it at the dinner.  It is going to be at an amazing resort in Florida next year!!!  Right by the ocean.  There will be beaches, ocean, pools, and the place looks unbelievable!  It got everyone really excited to work hard to make it there next year. 

It was a great trip, and just what was needed for us to recharge after summer, and build up our energy for a very busy fall. It is great to have a get away with Ben.

Ben works very hard for our family, and he is great at what he does.  I never take these trips for granted, and I am so grateful for all that he does for us every day.

President's club rocks!

little piece of heaven

 

 

Our McCall trip this summer actually started out with the K&K Reunion.  I love this reunion with my Belnap relatives.  I don't get to go every year, but whenever we do get to go, it is always more than worth it.

 

I come from some amazing people, and the spirit that is present at these reunions always touches everyone who is there. 

 

This year was particularly special, especially the Sunday testimony meeting.

William got up and bore his testimony. 

He gave a very short version of the story of how we lost Penny, and how we prayed and prayed, and after a month, we were able to find her.

 

It was one of the most special experiences for me, so far, as a mother.  It was the first time one of my children has publicly born their testimony.

 

There was my sweet 7 year old, tender hearted, son, bearing testimony about something that he truly believed in....the power of prayer.

 

He cried a little, because he felt the spirit.

 

It was such a sweet and special moment.  Every heart was touched.

 

William is a very special boy, with a big heart, and a strong, faithful spirit.

 

 

 

the primary age children singing an opening song before the testimony meeting

William bearing a sweet testimony about prayer

The reunion was Saturday and Sunday.

We headed to McCall Sunday afternoon.

This year, it was my family, my parents, and Kelsey and Taylor.  The other siblings and their families.

As much as I missed my other siblings, it was pretty cool to have some time with just us sisters.  It is so incredibly rare to spend time with just the girls, and it means a lot to me to be able to just hang with my sis sometimes.

We were in McCall for just 4 and a half days, but those 4 and a half days were about as close to perfect as you can get.

There is just something about a cabin on the beach on a lake, in a place with so many memories that they go back as far as I can remember.  All of the memories are happy, peaceful and good.

We crammed in as much as we could during our time there.

Right off the bat, the first day there, we picked huckleberries.  There were patches right next to our cabin...score!!

Sammy helping Molly reach a branch

Luke found, "the biggest one ever!"

 

That evening, Kelsey and Taylor did the devotional.  They talked about families, and at the end they had us open a box.  In the box was an ultrasound picture!!!  My baby sister is going to have a baby!  That seriously made our whole night.  I am so excited for Kelsey and Taylor.  They are going to be amazing parents.

The next morning I got up and went for a run.  I am currently training for my second marathon this summer.  Leading up to our McCall trip, I was in serious burnout with running.  It was bad.  I was just plain sick and tired of running.

I got up that morning in McCall, put my shoes on, drank some zipfizz, and just started running.  Not sure how far I would go.  I just ran and smiled and ran and smiled and ran and smiled.  I could see the lake during my whole run, right next to me.  The air was crisp and smelled just like pine trees, and the mountains.  The scenery was gorgeous.  I ended up running 8 miles that morning, and it felt like 1.   This was what my finish line looked like.

ummm, yes please!

We spent the day at the beach.  Not the beach at our cabin...it was TINY, but at Ben's best friend's beach.  The kids just played and played and played.  It was so much fun!

Mary



William LOVED this kid kayak.  It was just his size!

Luke

the hot tub was a huge hit!

Miss Molly

Luke is the only one in the tube, because he likes to go so fast and hit such big waves, that his older siblings are too scared to go with him!  haha!!!  This kid LOVES speed.

 

the inflate-a-bull was hilarious!

sisters

William

 

Aside from playing on the beach and behind the boat, we went cliff jumping one day.

uncle Taylor

William, with his knees perfectly bent...haha!

William

Yup, that would be my dad.  Still got it, at age 62!

back flip for Mary

Back flip Benny



I have no idea why Sam's picture is upside down.  ??

Ben and I jumped together too. I can't find the picture...darn!  

 

We also went to treasure island, where the kids tried to find Black Beards treasure.  Luke was completely into it, and absolutely believed it was the real thing.

at the end of the treasure hunt, William fought Black Beard for the treasure.  Luke got his sword out, but definitely got scared.

Black Beard

Luke STILL talks about this.

Black Beard is telling pirate stories and talking about how family is his greatest treasure.

It all started with a message in a bottle that washed up on the beach.  Mary is reading the note that started the treasure hunt.

the bottle that the message was in

 

Luke was so amazed and slightly scared with the whole thing. 

reading one of the clues

 

We had to anchor our "pirate ship" out a ways from the island, so it wouldn't hit rocks.  In order to get back into it, we had to jump a little bit.  My mom jumped, and then she got stuck....just like this!  She literally couldn't move.  I thing we about died laughing.  It was hilarious!! Her pirate bandana just tops it all off perfectly.  hahaha!

 

The second morning there, I decided to get up and run again.  I didn't set a distance, I just wanted to run again.  I ended up going 10 miles!  These runs in McCall were game changers for me, and pulled me out of a pretty big running rut.  I just needed some fresh McCall air, to get some pep in my step again.

 

One evening, we had PERFECT water. It was totally glass, so we all jumped in the boat, and got in some great ski runs.  I had an awesome ski run, which ended with an epic double summer sault crash that completely knocked the wind out of me.  It was pretty awesome.

 

My dad even got the ski bug in him, and decided to try to dock start!!!

He actually had it, but ended up drinking the lake.  It was so cool to see him out there though.  He did end up getting up and have a great ski run...short, but awesome.  I haven't seen my dad ski in years.  It was one of the best moments of the trip for me.  I love seeing my dad in his favorite place doing his favorite thing.  He deserves it.

 

 

 

We have so many McCall traditions.  I love sharing them all with my kids, and watching them love them just as much as I do.

 

Along with all of the playing and fun traditions, we definitely have food traditions.

The pancake house is one of them.  It did not disappoint!

 

We also went to Ice Cream Alley.  I dream about this place and their Huckleberry Ice cream all year.

My favorite girls in the entire world.

my mom and I both eat low carb, and we would talk about this ice cream and text about it, to try to remember a sweet reward we would be getting for our hard work.

When the day came to leave, the sadness in the air was so thick, you could almost feel it.

The week we were there was almost magical.  There was complete peace and harmony with everyone.  There was love.  There was fun, so much fun.  The spirit was there.  There was laughter, bonding, talking, enjoying, and just a feeling of freedom from the weight that the world can sometimes bring.

I definitely cried as I hugged my mom and my sister goodbye.  My girls.

My kids did not want to leave either.  It was sad for them to say goodbye to their grandparents and to Kelsey and Taylor.  They were so great with my kids.  They had so much fun with them.

  Luke kept begging to stay.  He even built a tower out of soda cans, sticks, tools and nick knacks, and told me that it had to stay there until we came back.  It was his way of making sure we would be back.

I found Molly out in a little shed crying.  She told me she wanted to stay.  I just held her, and cried with her. 

Even the littlest one there felt something peaceful and special.

I am so glad we have a place like this to go to.
I am so glad my children and my husband hold it special in their hearts too.

We will definitely be back.  We have already started looking at cabins for next summer.  :)