Catch-Up: Brothers Fox Edition

 

George, our local creative genius, designed and made these cool masks.  I can totally tell when George's creative juices are flowing because he slowly paces around the house with one arm folded and the other hand sort of holding his chin.  He never announces his plans.  He just quietly starts collecting supplies from around the house. Next thing we know, he's made something quite ingenious.

Here's another example.  Using a baseball cap rim, a piece of rope he found in the garage, a plastic hanger with clips,duct tape and a paper towel holder, he created a basketball hoop that clipped onto the kitchen trash can.

So cool!

Peter recently successfully tested for his red belt in taekwondo.

I think that is Master Kim's happy face:)

I don't know the story of this picture, but I like it.

One day George woke up with a swollen eye.  We don't know why, and it went back to normal after a couple of hours.  Weird.

Peter created a board game called "Space Race".  We all got an opportunity to play it with him.  Remarkably Peter won every round of the game he created!  But it was a pretty great game.

We got an official scoreboard for our corn hole games.  Cannon and Peter are good scorekeepers for the Cornucopias.

We went to go see my cute niece play the role of Rafiki in her school's play of The Lion King.  I am not exaggerating when I say she was incredible!  She was, by far, the best singer and actor up there.  Like, really, really good,  I had no idea she had that in her and it so, so fun to watch her.

Peter was recently hanging out with his good friend, Kate, and he got to tag along running an errand to Lowe's to get plants.  

Then he got to go back and help work in their garden.  Hey, somebody's got to teach my kids to work!

Last weekend was Zach's mission farewell.  He's headed to San Antonio, Texas.  These guys have been D&D friends for many, many years.

Abe took George to go see the new Dr. Strange movie.  Cannon had already seen it with a dance friend.  George was excited to get some one-on-one time with Abe.

Once again, I don't know the story behind this picture.  I believe it was taken at an activity days with the 7 to 11-year-old boys in our ward.  One of the leaders sent it to me.  I feel like it needs a really clever caption.

If I deny them video games long enough they will find way better things to do.  Peter built a cool marble run/dominos set up.  

Abe had a very sweet and thoughtful visit from his high school seminary teacher, George Sims.  He said he was at a nearby temple and the spirit told him to go visit Abe Fox.  So he did.  I hope I'm that kind of person.

Two Really Cool Things

This was a really cool thing we got to go see.  This is a replica of the ancient tabernacle of the Israelites.  I am LOVING studying the Old Testament this year and this was fascinating to get to see full size what it would have actually been like.

The exhibit was very well done with volunteers and missionaries hosting and sharing information.

The outer courtyard.

In case there is a concern, I was rubbing Peter's neck in a nice way.  It kind of looks like I am pinching him.  

The holy place.

The Holy of Holies with the Ark of the Covenant.

After the Tabernacle portion of the tour, we went through a display of the history of temples on the earth.  It ended with this medium-sized Christus statue and the words of "The Living Christ".  Greta requested I take her picture in front and she said, "Make sure Jesus is in the picture!"  

Out of the mouths of babes.  

Here was another really cool thing.  Andrea bought and completely renovated a grand historic home in downtown Salt Lake.  It is STUNNING and will be used for a variety of purposes.  We were so excited to be a part of the opening event for Plumfield House.  We enjoyed a potluck dinner with family and friends and an evening of top-notch entertainment.

They are really more like cousins.

Greta made good friends with Tessa Young and proceeded to talk her ear off all night.  Tessa was so sweet with her.  

Raven graduated from SUU and she performed a concert for us.  She did so well and it is a joy to have watched her develop her talent over the years.

After the concert, Raven's husband Elliot performed an abridged version of the play, Every Brilliant Thing that he performed at BYU.  It's a fantastic show and Elliot was wonderful!  

 

The Tulip Festival 2022

 

For me, the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point is just about the best thing about spring.  The tulips were beautiful!  We went first thing on a Monday morning and it was not crowded at all.  It was perfection.

Posing in the giant wooden shoes never gets old:)

Aww yeah... work it, Faith!

With our three oldest children not living at home these days, our numbers were down for our visit this year.  It's kind of fun to get to focus on these younger kids:)

Hill rolling is a favorite element of the outing.

We also like to visit the koi fish-- they seemed to be very fat and happy fish.

We treated ourselves to JCW's for lunch afterward.  Everything about the morning was so lovely.

The day before was Mothers' Day and I felt very loved by my people.  

The day before Abe and Faith planted the traditional Mothers' Day marigolds in the front planters.  

A happy Mothers' Day, indeed:)

Catch-Up -- Foxy Ladies Edition

With so much unexpected excitement with Elinor and Brandon getting married, I could easily forget that life has been marching on with the rest of the family.  Thankfully, the picture taking has not ceased, so I have lots of pictures to look back and remember what else has been going on.  This is one of those catch-up posts.

Faith taught Greta to ride her bike-- starting and stopping and all.

Which meant it was time for Greta's first bike ride to Peterson's (local grocery store).  It's a tradition Abe has with the kids.  It's about 2 miles away, which meant 4 miles round trip! 

It was perhaps a little ambitious for a beginner rider, but she did it, and they enjoyed their treat of doughnuts with Dad.

The young women in our ward have been passing around Tina the Llama as a fun part of preparing for girls' camp this summer.  They are each to take pictures of Tina sharing in one of their activities.  Tina joined the swim team and is working on her dives.

Greta couldn't ask for a better big sister than Faith.

If you want to smile today, you really must watch THIS video of Greta dancing in the backyard by herself.  I had to video her through the sliding glass door, which is why the music is not very loud.  Near the end is my favorite part.  Oh to dance with such abandon!

One of the highlights of each week is talking with our missionary!  Bethany is doing well and loving being a missionary.

It was especially fun to talk with her for a long time on Mothers' Day.  I love that girl!

A couple weeks ago, she and her companion, a couple other talented missionaries, planned and put on a concert of songs all about the Savior.  Thankfully, it was live-streamed and so we got to watch it as well.  It was so beautiful!  If you go to Facebook (Followers of Jesus Christ in North Texas), you can watch the concert.  

When Greta hears the music, she has to dance.  She danced throughout the concert.

Greta took a break for a few months from the violin.  Truthfully I was debating with myself about whether to go down the violin road with another child.  It's quite a commitment and it felt more than a little daunting to do it again.  However, all things considered, I decided, YES-- it's worth the effort!  So Greta is back at it with a new teacher (Diane Peterson in Lehi), whom we love!  Interestingly, Diane also teaches Faith her private swim lessons.  Talk about a multi-talented lady! Greta is enjoying it and I really enjoy practicing with her each day.  I also love to see what outfits Greta wears each day for her practice.  

My heart melted a little while back when I put on one of my beloved Jane Austen movies to keep me company while folding laundry (one of life's little joys), and Greta quickly put on her "Jane Austen dress" (what she calls this dress) and her bonnet.  Then she explained to me that they only wear bonnets outside and take them off when they go inside.  Smart girl:)

Yeah, that's right-- The Cornucopias are back and better than ever!  Faith and I have busted out the cornhole boards for the season.  We are practicing regularly with the intention of entering the Riverton Town Days corn hole tournament.  

She lent me a pair of her Pit Vipers sunglasses so I can look the part of a respectable teammate.  Next up, our matching t-shirts.

Faith, Greta, and I went to a high tea bridal shower at the Grand America for Abe's niece, Kyli.  We had a magical time and Greta was a perfect little lady.  I assume Faith behaved equally well, but she was a different table, so I'll just have to trust:)

A tea party was definitely Greta's cup of tea!

Her mind was blown to discover her little sandwiches came with the crusts already cut off-- 

WHAT JOY!

Here's what Faith's summer will consist of.  Long course season has begun and the team is back to the outdoor pool, which she loves.  She recently got hired to be a lifeguard and she'll be teaching swim lessons again.