Tess finished up her student teaching (the latest round was teaching at the BYU preschool on campus). While she was trying to apply and interview for teaching positions next fall, she somehow managed to clean and check out of her apartment and then actually graduate!
So now Elliot gets to be ordained an Elder and vote this November! I don’t think there is anything else very exciting that he can do until he turns 21 right? Oh, that’s right…go on a mission!
He is still BYU’s #1 Biggest Fan, so of course he got more BYU paraphernalia for his birthday. Good thing he got accepted to the school 🙂
It’s a good thing we all get older together! I actually like birthdays…they give me an opportunity to be grateful for so many friends and family. I feel so loved!
Kelsey ♥ Elliot
Elliot and Clark both performed duets with their teacher, Dan Chamberland. They worked super hard and played super well! Enjoy watching videos of their performances…it takes a few seconds to download.
Clark playing Trains with Dan Chamberland
Elliot playing Effugonetrom with Dan Chamberland
![Elliot performing \"Effugonetrom\" with Dan.](https://www.brown8.org/blog/wp-content/gallery/percussion-recital/img_9715.jpg "Elliot performing \\"Effugonetrom\\" with Dan.")
After much hard work and diligence, Clark was awarded his Eagle Scout Award at a Court of Honor, Sunday October 29th. He spoke about his Eagle project, his leaders gave great comments and we had a fun slide show “Scouting Through the Years!” It was great to have support from family and friends.
![Clark is now invited to sit in \"The Eagle\'s Nest.\"](https://www.brown8.org/blog/wp-content/gallery/clarks-eagle-court-of-honor/dscf1406.jpg "Clark is now invited to sit in \\"The Eagle\'s Nest.\\"")
Many of you didn’t even know that our son Loren and his wife Anne were expecting a baby. We were waiting to tell everyone until she was a little further along. They went for their first prenatal visit thinking the pregnancy was about 12 weeks along and being concerned about signs of a miscarriage. They discovered that the pregnancy was really 19 weeks along and that due to complications, the pregnancy wouldn’t be able to continue and their baby boy would be born that night.
At 9:10 pm August 18th, their first child and our first grandchild Toby was born. He lived 1 hour and 53 minutes. He weighed 9 oz and was 9″ long — he was a teeny, tiny perfect little boy. Alan and I were able to be there to help name him, hold him, sing to him and love him. It was a surprise, disappointment and gift that none of us were expecting. Loren and Anne were amazingly at peace with everything and while disappointed that they couldn’t have more time with their son, were thrilled to have him to be a part of their eternal family.
A wonderful “bereavement specialist” came to the hospital to provide very loving service. She took prints and made molds of his darling little hands and feet. She cleaned and dressed him, wrapping him in the blue blanket that I had crocheted for him. Then she took some precious photos for Loren and Anne to treasure.
As family and friends have found out about our unexpected loss, everyone has been so kind and sympathetic. We feel so blessed.
Loren and Anne have created a blog for Toby, to give people a chance to express condolences and offer service in Toby’s behalf. If you would like to submit an entry, you can fill in the submission form.
After struggling for over a year with constant congestion, Madeleine decided to have the things that were too small enlarged, and the things that were enlarged, reduced. Hopefully now when she gets a cold, she will just get better like everyone else and not have to take antibiotics for 3 weeks and choose between breathing and eating 🙂
