August was Clark's big month. At least a big month for having things removed. At the beginning of the month he had his tonsils out and at the end of the month he got his braces off! Everyone had warned us about how hard a tonsillectomy is on a kid his age, but while it was challenging and not very fun, Clark did very well (see a video from the day of the surgery). We were able to keep his pain under control and he was able to eat better than I had thought he would. It was a good ten days before he really ventured out of the house at all, but we just relaxed and watched a bunch of movies. We also spent some time outside where I was able to read aloud a few chapters of "The Princess Bride" that he was currently reading, and then wouldn't you know, he finished it without me! Good thing I know how it ends!
Getting his braces off was for sure a big day for him, but it was an especially big day for me as it brought to a close at least 12 years of continuous orthodontics. Some things Clark does for the last time make me sad...not this one!
This was Elliot's first opportunity to go to EFY (Especially For Youth) a week-long summer camp put on by BYU. He went with his friend Daniel Valentine and they decided to go on the bus up to BYU-Idaho. I had told Elliot that he would love it and I was worried that maybe I had built it up too much. But he loved it — in fact all the next week when he was back home, he kept saying that he missed EFY. He made really good friends with his whole group (most of whom were from outside Utah) and with his counselors who were engaged to each other and are actually being married this week. It sounds like he is already excited about going next year!
This month Alan and I celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary. Since the 16th fell on a Monday, we decided to celebrate the Saturday before by attending the Salt Lake Temple and then going out to dinner. Alan found a new place for us to try that was a house turned into a café with yummy food. Then on Monday the 16th, I decided to surprise Alan at work with a picnic lunch and then our cute kids, Madeleine, Elliot and Clark decided to surprise the two of us with a romantic dinner for two in the dining room that night — candles, music, china...the works. They made us yummy salads and spaghetti carbonara and then cleaned up the whole thing. We have great kids.
We celebrated Anne's birthday with a Sunday dinner, presents and cake. Pretty standard, but always fun. We are so glad that she is part of our family. And we are especially happy that she loves musicals and poppyseed cake!
After Anne's birthday dinner, we all jumped in the car and headed over to my brother Matt's house for their daughter Kate's baby blessing. All the extended family was there and it was so fun to see everyone that we haven't seen for awhile. It was great to see Elasha's parents and her family again too. Matt and Elasha especially enjoy being back here in Utah after several years of living in Pittsburgh and not having much family around for their "special" days.
Tending Matt and Elasha's Kids
Matt and Elasha wanted another "special" day that we were able to help them with. They wanted to take a quick get-a-way to the Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City and see a couple of the plays. So we had the five Morgan cousins for a sleepover. Phillip and Madeleine were here and of course Elliot and Clark, so altogether we had 9 kids including a 5-month-old baby! It was fun to get to know them all better and to feel like we were "back in the saddle again...." Oh, the days of feeding babies and changing diapers, brushing teeth and wiping bottoms....
The summer is over and Madeleine is back at BYU. The boys and I helped her move into her cute off-campus apartment. She took a lot of stuff, but seemed to get everything to fit! She has great organizational skills (I wonder where she got those - ha ha!) She is excited for her new classes, one of which is a beginning Italian class. I hope she can keep her German and Italian from getting mixed up. We will miss having her around to keep us smiling!
Phillip has been working the past couple of months in Provo at BYU's library. He is mostly working on the design for some of BYU's Web sites (his big project is still under development, but you can see his work at The Last Wagon). Phillip is also now starting school again, and will be back in his intense graphic design classes. So between his work, school, and the college social life, we probably won't see too much of him! His goal is balance in his life.
Loren is also starting a new semester, but this time as a Psychology graduate student. We are excited to hear about his classes and his experiences working with his cohort (group of 6 students that will go through the program together). Anne will be such a great source of strength and support to Loren having already been through such a similar experience. We are excited for them as they embark on this new stage of their lives!
This summer I started an exciting crochet project. I decided to try and make a baby crib blanket like a particular one I saw at BYU Women's Conference last spring. I had taken a picture of it with my cell phone and then had to figure out what to do. Once I finally got the brand of yarn chosen, it was so fun to get working on it, trying to get to the next color. I have never changed yarn color before in a project, so I was kind of winging it and I did have a few problems with tying good knots....maybe I should take a class or something???? But, I think it turned out darling if I say so myself. Crocheting baby blankets is not an announcement of any grandchildren on their way — I've been making them for years...in case you were wondering...:)