"Bless that Grandpa will have a good time in Heaven."

These are the words from Kate's prayers the last few days!

 

Jon's dad, Jack Bowen, passed away late Thursday night - September 20, 2012.   He was 87 years old and seriously, the kindest, most wonderful father-in-law anyone could ever have!   I just love Jack!   He died at home - his sweet wife, Diane, had cared for him at home.   He had a few days in a hospital bed that was brought it, but thankfully, wasn't in a lot of discomfort or pain.

 

Jon said goodbye to him on the phone on Thursday morning and tried and tried to get his Thursday evening shift covered so he could drive to Oregon.  No one took it, so he went to work and got a call from Jon's brother Tom around 10:30 that night.    He told me on Friday morning and also told Lindsey, Jack, Kate & Hannah (Emily had already left for school).    Lindsey, Jack & Kate were all crying.   Jon left late Friday morning to drive up to Oregon, so I told Emily when she got home from school.  Emily was crying too.

 

Jon came home late last night and we'll head up again for the funeral.     What a great man Jack was!  We are so proud that Jack was named after his grandpa Jack.    As Kate would say "Please bless that Grandpa will have a good time in heaven."   I'm sure he will!!

 

 



October 2009

Back to School

 I'm still amazed that summer is already over and the kids are back in school!!!   I love having them home, but I do love the structure that school brings and they were all excited to go back.

I guess I am old enough to have a Jr. High kid!  What??!!    Yes, Emily is in 7th grade!   The 7th graders went to their first day on the Friday before everyone else.  That way, only 7th graders were at the school.  The 8th and 9th graders went on Monday and then they all went on Tuesday.

Emily was excited, but nervous. She got up early and got all ready.  It was hard to eat anything for breakfast.  Then, I said prayers with her and she started to walk to the bus stop.  I could tell she was holding back tears and I reassured her that I felt the same way on the first day of Jr. High and cried as I walked to the bus stop.    She had a good day and came home happy!  She's doing really, really well and seems to be liking it - although there is a lot of swearing at the school.   Argghh!

Kate, Lindsey & Jack were all excited to start school!   I could eat them all up, they are so cute!

 1st grade

 

 3rd grade

 

 5th grade

 

And this little one, was super excited to start preschool again.  She had to wait about a week and a half after the other kids went, but it was well worth the wait and she's thrilled to be going Monday, Wednesday & Friday mornings.

Best of friends - so cute!



BYU fall sports something or other

As many may know, Jon & I have a mixed marriage - he is a BYU graduate and fan and I am a University of Utah graduate & fan!  Over the years, we've encouraged our children to attend our alma mater's, but Jon has had much more success in this than I have.  I've resigned to the fact that our family are BYU fans!  I love BYU too (and would be thrilled if our children went there), but every once in awhile, I remind them of another great school, the U of U!

Every fall, BYU has a fall sports thing, so this year, Jon rearranged his work schedule so that we could go.  It was a fun family outing, a beautiful summer evening, and we treated ourselves to the BYU Creamery for dinner & dessert.  Very fun!

It was cute to see what each child migrated to...

Lindsey getting women's soccer team signatures



 Emily getting her BYU soccer ball signed by the team.

 

 Kate watching the cheerleaders and asking for pictures with them.

 

 And Jack, getting signatures on his new "Every Day is Game Day" shirt from football players.

 

 And then, playing a little..

 

 Lindsey playing volleyball with the women's volleyball team.

 

 All of us!