Faith's 15th Birthday

 

I don't know why they let me take these pictures of them?  I mean they know what I'm going to do with them!  Ha ha ha!  This picture cracks me up.  

It has been birthday season at our house-- next up was Faith turning 15.  This is shocking to me.  How is Faith 15?  And check this out--

She got her learner's permit the day after her birthday.  I give her a hard time, but both Abe and I admit she is pretty good behind wheel.  She's rather pleased with herself.

Sometimes weird traditions get started for no particular reason.  The Mom and Faith chicken tender birthday meal at IKEA is one such tradition.  Last year it was closed because of COVID-- so we were  overjoyed to get to go this year.  

Her first trip through the drive-in.

Congratulations to Faith-- Female Rookie of the Year!!! She was so happy and it was well deserved.

She was happy her friend Braxton won for the boys-- they've been on several swim teams together over the past couple of years, so that was fun for them to both get the awards.

She was the only freshman to letter-- by medaling at regions and swimming at state.  She was one of two girls to swim in an individual event at state.  So all in all, it was a pretty rocking swim season for her.

The simple joys of family and a birthday cake.

Sisters gymnastics time:)

Greta is so lucky to have Faith work with her on her tumbling.  Faith is working magic with her.

6 am practice on a snowy Saturday morning.

Bethany's birthday gift to Faith-- because Faith's favorite song is "9 to 5" by Dolly Parton.  She's also a big fan of Frank Sinatra.  She's an old soul like that.

Holding her newest Fox cousin-- Wesley.

Elinor and Faith created this gem for me.  I love it so much.  THIS is Faith age 15.  How lucky are we to have her in our family!

Welcome to Adulthood, Elinor!

 

Elinor celebrated her 18th birthday at the end of February.  I am so proud of Elinor and where she is at and the choices she is making.  She has been on a tough road for the last year as she has battled some mental health issues.  She has been so brave and so strong as she (and we) keep trying to find answers and get the resources we need.  As always she is smart and talented and beautiful and we love her so much.  She has a unique way of thinking about things and a sense of humor that always catches me off guard-- sort of random and hilarious at the same time.  She is diligent and a top student in her pharmacy tech program.  She is completely dependable at her job in the pharmacy at Walgreen and she has a passion to learn more each day. 

She got a set of luggage for her birthday-- for the many adventures awaiting her.

She got thirsty on a walk.  We all have very fond memories of our "COVID walks" -- long walks we took back in the early days of COVID when everything was shut down and we were all supposed to stay home.  Multiple times a day we walked.  It was the closest I'll ever get to living in the Regency Era.  So occasionally we'll still walk one of the longer routes we walked back in the day.

She was happy to go to Prom last weekend with her friend, Tommy.  It was a rainy day, but I think the umbrella pic is pretty cute.  By the way, where did we get this giant umbrella?  I have no idea.  Seriously, it was in our closet and I don't think I stole it.  But I have absolutely no recollection of purchasing it or even of someone giving it to us.  Is it yours, perhaps?  If so, please claim it.  

A little relaxation before the date.  Ha ha ha-- both Bethany and Elinor get (got) really nervous before dance dates.  This was a lighter moment.  Sometimes the dates are a lot of fun and sometimes there is a lot of drama leading up to and during the evening.  So their fears haven't been entirely unfounded.  Either way, Elinor was okay with this being her last high school dance. 

It's interesting when you finally become a senior-- and especially towards the end of the senior year.  You've always looked up to the seniors and you've spent three years of high school dreaming of how awesome it will be to be at the top.  And once you arrive, you don't quite fit there anymore.  It can be uncomfortable because you are ready to move onto the next phase of life-- college and adulthood.  Teenagerhood sits more comfortably on some kids than others.  Elinor loves independence and being responsible and being treated with respect.  I think adulthood will suit her very nicely. 

Happy 18th birthday, Els! 

   

Cool Pics and Fast Swims

 

Let's start this post with this awesome picture! This is from Cannon's recent ballet performance of an excerpt from Swan Lake.  

And this was from the Junior Company's contemporary piece.  I love how Central Utah Ballet uses the boys in the dances.  They are different from the girls and they really make the a part of the story.  

Faith just finished up her first high school swim season.  She was one of five swimmers at Riverton to qualify for an individual event-- the 200 IM, and she was on the 200 freestyle relay.

Faith is on the far left-- she was the only freshman to qualify for state.  Speedy little thing that she is.

The high school season had lots of twists and turns thanks to COVID.  The swimmers had limited interactions with each other-- no team dinners, boys and girls separate meets, assigned seat mates on the bus rides to meets, no overnight team trip to Box Elder, and swimmers were supposed to stay with the kids in their lanes at practice.  It didn't make for lots of opportunities for Faith to get to know the other freshmen and sophomores as she was usually grouped with upperclassmen.  

The older kids were very good and welcoming to her-- and of course she made the best of it and had great experiences, but I think we're all hopeful for a more traditional experience next year.

In the meantime Faith switched to a new USA club team-- Lehi Aquatics.  We figured we are driving to Lehi so much anyway for the boys' dance, what's another drive (or two or three) a day?  Actually, it's quite a bit, but it's worth it.  Faith is really enjoying the coaching and the kids and that she got to be on a couple relays that both placed sixth Utah Age Group State Championships.    

Here is one of her relays on the first day of competition.  Faith is in blue at the back.  This team has a lot more kids that are her speed or faster-- which will be good for her competitive spirit:)

I think lots of good things await her at Lehi Aquatics.

February Happenings

 

A couple weeks ago Cannon had ballet and contemporary performances down in Provo.  The ballet part was excerpts from Swan Lake and his contemporary number was Roses.  It is such a joy to watch the boys dance.  To see the improvement from year to year.  As the only boys in their classes, they get really cool parts and solos.  Looking forward to their next shows in May.  We feel so fortunate to have landed where we have with Central Utah Ballet.

Even though Greta is young, we don't hesitate to take her to performances, because she is enthralled by the dancers or actors.  The hardest part for her is not getting up and dancing in the aisles herself.  At intermission she raced out to the lobby to dance and practice for "when she does the Nutcracker".   Here is a link to her lobby dance.

And now for my favorite picture of this week-- Greta giving a fully committed performance of "Let it Go".  Here is a link to the whole inspiring performance.  Maybe you don't want to watch the whole thing, but don't miss the last note!  It's worth it.
Cannon is changing from kid to teenager right before my eyes.  

Living with Cannon is a lot of fun.  

This moment was on a Friday night when he was bummed that none of his friends were available to hangout.  So he put on the song "All By Myself" on our Echo Dot and poured himself a glass of chocolate milk and dramatized his despondency.  Of course it ended with all of us in hysterics. 

How cute is this?  Faith has a side hustle teaching gymnastics with little girls in our neighborhood.  She is such an encouraging, energetic teacher.

Peter and Greta with his latest Kiwi Crate creation.  They are all fun, but he really enjoyed this one.

Greta is really embracing the cheetah print.  The are kitties, after all.

Greta was my little yoga buddy.

Our family performed a musical number-- "I Will Walk With Jesus" in our virtual stake conference last weekend.  A member of the Stake Presidency asked us a couple of months ago and so we had plenty of time to prepare.  We figure they wanted a choir, but since that wasn't an option because of COVID-- they asked the biggest family that was at least halfway decently musical.  Enter the Fox Family:)

People were very kind and complimentary and even if that's just the being nice, we'll take it!  Some of us were pretty nervous to do it. 

Bethany came home from school for the weekend to sing with us, because let's be honest-- we were not  about to sing publicly without our best singer.  She also had some mission interview business to take care of.

Abe went with the Deacons quorum on an activity to Scales and Tails where one of the Priests in our ward works.  Considering how I feel about spiders, just putting this picture on here feels very brave and yet disturbing to me.

Funny to think that in Clark's day, our basement was basically a reptile rescue center.  That seems so gross to me now, but it's amazing what parents will do for their kids.

Camille and me  on a very cold and snowy morning walk. So committed.  I am very fond of walking-- even in inclement weather.

Greta and her best gal pal.  They had Elsa and Anna hairstyles. 

I could eat them up.

Abe and I thoroughly enjoyed a date night with our dear friends, the Johansens.  They lived in our neighborhood until about four years ago.  Now we are down in their neck of the woods often with our drives to Utah County for dance and swim.  Also she was my morning walking partner for years.  This morning I took Faith to early swim at 6:15 and we met up and walked and talked like old times.  Since it's looking like I'll be down their for 5 AM on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 6 AM on Saturdays, hopefully we can walk again more often.

When Bethany was home last weekend we went to go see Alta High School's production of the The Little Mermaid.  It was a lot of fun and now Greta has been watching the movie over and over.  It is such a treat to go to any kind of live performance these days.

You know what else is sounding really good right now?  A date with Abe!  He has been gone since Wednesday and I'm READY for him to come home.