Letters to Caleb: Lovin' the ☀️

Dear Caleb & Jacob,

It's been a great week here. It started out with the "Great American Solar Eclipse" (I think that is so funny how they call it that). The 95% blackout or coverage that we had here was not as impressive as I thought it would be. I think we all regret driving up to Rexburg or at least Idaho Falls to see the 100%. But it was fun none the less. Sariah felt it an eventful enough occasion to set up a lemonade and fresh fruit stand for our family on the back patio. Dad came home a half hour before not with solar eclipse glasses, but a welders mask from Ipaco. I guess we got in in the hype a little too late and the glasses were all sold out. (We should've gone to Idaho! They had plenty! 🤔)

The next day was kind of Adam's 1st day of school and Dad's 49th birthday. It was basically a fun orientation for the Freshmen and Sophomores only. He loved it! That night we celebrated Dad's birthday with one of his favorite meals: baby back ribs with buttered grilled corn on the cob. Then we had homemade fresh peach pie. He ended his day just the way he loves...a night ride up Green Canyon.

Wednesday was the real first day of school for everyone else. They were all excited. It's so weird because I don't ever remember being excited for the first day of school...ever! It must be the excitement of all new schools. Samantha is the only one who rides a bus but they all came back happy after their first day.

I have been given a new calling as the 2nd counselor in the Relief Society. Kelli Burnard, Joe and Carma Hawkes' daughter is the president. It will be a challenge for me that I'll really have to "grow" into.

We said that the dogs are doing well but we've been a little concerned about them both, actually. Snitch has some sort of growth above his left eye. We're not sure what it is. It's getting bigger but doesn't seem to bother him much unless we push down on it. Baxter seems ok but has episode where he's just wheezing a lot or has certain days where just throws up water. It's weird and we're not sure how serious it could be. He's still a puppy at heart and wants to play but just doesn't have the stamina to run around for more than a minute.

Well, that wraps up the latest news from home. We hope you're both doing well and feel successful in your everyday efforts. As always, we love you and pray for you many times a day! By the way, It was our neighbor, Ben Duncan's mission Farewell yesterday. He's going to the Ivory Coast in Africa. We'll all go over and say goodbye to him tonight. He's a good kid.

Love you!

Mom