First Day of School

Wednesday was the first day of school. Jalen started second grade and Baylie started fourth. I was not ready for school to start again. Neither was Jalen. Baylie was definitely ready.

I love this boy.

I love this girl.

I'm glad they get to go to school together.

I also started school this year. I'm teaching Spanish at three different elementary schools as a long-term substitute teacher. Unfortunately, none of those schools is where the kids are. I really miss being at the same school as them. I'm hoping to complete the alternative certification program.

Because of my schedule, my sweet friend April picks the kids up after school. Fortunately, all four kids love it.

Baylie with Mrs. Patton, her AGP teacher.

Jalen rockin' it out in second grade.

Jalen with Mrs. Parker.

My heart still breaks a little bit when I have to drop them off on the first day of school. This year they didn't want me to walk them in. They wanted to just get dropped off. Where has the time gone???

Total Solar Eclipse

Monday, August 21, was an amazing day. We were able to view the marvel of a total solar eclipse. Columbia was in the path of totality, meaning that we got to see the sun completely covered by the moon's shadow.

We had agreed with our friends the Ruppes to watch the eclipse at the church. Word spread and we ended up with several families at the church to watch it. It was an unofficial ward party and it was wonderful to share it with friends.

Waiting for the eclipse.

The unofficial ward party included the Ruppes, Rosses, Cowleys, Harrises, Roberts, Pinsons and Brother Callihan.

Best of all, our good friends the Swansons decided at the last minute to drive down from Maryland in order to experience the eclipse. We hadn't seen them since the kids and I stayed with them while waiting for Jalen's adoption paperwork to clear. They were such dear friends when we all lived in Houston. It was wonderful to spend a couple of days with them.

All of our kids the night before the eclipse.

Trent was a bit eclipse crazy. It was party cloudy and we were afraid we were going to miss everything. Trent checked the weather every five minutes for two days.

Sun gazing.

Jalen, Josh and Ian - waiting for totality.

More ward friends.

Trent and Lukas

David and Baylie

The Swanson kids - Liam, Leyla and Lukas

Brother Harris

Swanson kids

Tia Harris

What it looked like with my phone camera.

Pinsons and Harrises.

The kids played in the church to stay cool since it was hot outside.

It started!

Twilight in the middle of the day.

It was awe inspiring to witness. We all shouted and cheered when the totality occurred (listen HERE). It was very emotional. We couldn't help but make the comparison of the "sun" and the "Son." When even the smallest sliver of sun peeked out behind the moon, it was still so bright. The power of the sun is incredible. And even when it is completely blocked out, the sun still finds a way to shine.

We laid a white tablecloth on the ground so we could see the shadow snakes. We couldn't take a picture, but they were like fog.

Brother Callihan took amazing pictures of the eclipse and was generous in sharing his photos.

Totality.

Bailey's beads

Totality ends.

I hope my children will always remember this day. I will never forget it. It was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen.

Bayles Family Reunion

Every July 24th, we gather in Colorado for a family reunion with my dad and his siblings and their descendants at the ranch where my dad grew up. It's a humble place, but when I'm there, I am surrounded by people who love me. It always reminds me of who I am and where I come from. It keeps me grounded. I love that my kids can run wild and make best friends of cousins. My kids love to go and I love sharing this with them. My sister almost always comes too. My brothers hardly ever come and I'm sad about that for lots of reasons.

Julie's family with Mikki

My sister Tiffani with her twins, Clara and Lauryn. (Don't my sister and I look like twins?)

Clara and her slime

Eating - we do a lot of this

Alisha and Cody - cousins

The men of the family - swapping lies

The women of the family - correcting the lies

Amie and Spencer - proof that if you can survive a reunion, you can marry into the family.

Clara, Lauryn and Baylie

I love that Baylie's best friends are her cousins.

Two sets of twins: Clara, Ali, Camrie, Ivy, Lauryn

My mom snoozing

Lyman, Jean and Dennis. Two years ago, Dennis was given two months to live. Every day with him is a blessing.

Dad and Aunt Julie

Jalen playing football. I wish he could live in this environment year round.

Mikki, Kelby, Camrie and twins

One of the highlights is crawdad fishing at dusk. We catch them on Friday and eat them on Saturday. I didn't fish this year - I observed. Baylie got a bloody nose and had to quit early.

How many Johnsons does it take to put up a shelter?

Mom and Aunt Kay

Lauryn and Sherman

There are always a LOT of dogs.

The kids played "Sheepie, sheepie, come home." This is a game my Grammy taught us when we were little. I love that it is being passed down.

Sumo wrestling was a big hit again this year.

Jett - this year's major heart throb for the girl cousins.

Timber took the wrestling very seriously (until he learned it didn't hurt to dive - then it was all about falling).

Lauryn and Baylie

Jalen won this one!

Baylie and Jalen

Clara and Lauryn

Water balloon volleyball was new this year and was super fun.

Densley - I fell in love with this child. He even called me Grandma :)!

Grammy, Jalen and Aunt Kay

The kids had been really excited to ride horses, but Uncle Erik got the date wrong (even though it's the same weekend every year...) so we went into town - Cortez - for ice cream.

Sad faces

Happy faces

Tiff and girls

Jalen photo bomb

My dad was sharing his childhood memories of different places.

My sister booked a hotel because horrible rainy weather was forcasted. It didn't rain at all! We shared her hotel room and spent some time swimming on Saturday afternoon.

Eating crawdads! (I didn't eat any.)

Sunday morning we always have a family testimony meeting. My family is made up of amazing people. Some are firm believers, some have wandered, some struggle, we represent many demographics, but we all love each other and we all love God.

I'm proud of where I come from and I love these people.