I can't believe that it's the last day of August! We've had quite the month! We returned back from Michigan and found out about 5 days later that Stephen's Grandpa passed away. So we hopped back onto the airplane and headed back out to Michigan. We had a quick trip to visit with family and say our goodbyes. It was good to be there and we were so grateful we were able to see him just a week earlier, when we were out there originally. I'm sad I never knew him when he was in his prime, but I've loved having a grandpa again even if it was for just a few years through marriage. He was such a happy man, even when things were hard and his was very sick. He always greeted you with a big smile and a positive attitude. Something I want to do more of! :)
In the midst of traveling to a funeral. I tried to unpack my classroom and get ready for the little kiddos to start school. I would have to say, I would much rather move my house than an entire classroom. It was such hard work and took tons of time. My poor husband didn't have a wife for about a week straight. Sorry sweetheart! I've been back to the grind and busy as ever, since the kids started school a week or so ago. I have a great little class this year. There's only 10 of them, but boy they are such a handful. I am so grateful I have two full-time aides in my classroom this year. I don't know if I could do it without them. They are truly lifesavers. I'm sure there will be many more funny stories to come with this group. One of my little boys struggles a lot with language and keeps calling me "Mr. Holden" Hey...at least he has the last part right. We'll work on the rest!
Also, Stephen is back doing the school thing too. Only he's at BYU working on his MBA.He finished his last day with his "real job" this month and traded in a brief case for a backpack full of books. In a small way, it made me really miss the college life of classes and being on campus. But only in a small way. I guess I now have to become some-what of a cougar fan with him getting his MBA there. However, I'll always be an Aggie at heart.
We also have his little brother James living with us for a semester. It's been fun to have him around too. He's a great kid and just got back from his mission this summer. So we're easing him back in to "real life" and are very excited to have him around.
What a crazy end to such a relaxing summer! It was a good one though and we're enjoying life and all that it brings!
8.31.2009
8.09.2009
Memories Made in Michigan
I'm feeling very relaxed as I soak in my last week of summer vacation! We were able to spend a few weeks with Stephen's family out in Michigan. We had a great time with the WHOLE family, now that his little brother James is back from his mission. We played hard 
and were able to travel around the great state of Michigan. I really got to see everything. I'll try not to make this too long, but we packed everyday with something fun!
We spent a day up in beautiful Riffle River. (a favorite family place their grandparents always took them camping) We played on swinging bridges, climbed amazing trees and waded in the river.
We also drove down to the big city and did a session in the Detroit Temple. It was about a 2 1/2 hour drive each way and truly gave me a taste of not living 5
minutes from the temple. And yet they feel they are so close and are grateful they don't have to make the 8 hour trip to Chicago or Toronto. I love the temple and it was neat to do a session with the Holden's.
The next day, Stephen's uncle and cousin's came up from Ohio and we all drove up north to Mackinaw City which is right by the U.P. (aka...Upper Peninsula). Where we spent some time and then took a ferry over to Mackinac Island.
It was beautiful with all the sailboats and lighthouses on Lake Huron. Mackinac Island has banned motorized vehicles for 
more than a century and remains a living Victorian community. So we rented some tandem bikes and rode around the island. It's also famous for being the place where the old classic movie "Somewhere in Time" was filmed. And of course we had to get some of their famous fudge!
Then off onto another road trip where we drove down to the Au Sable River. We rented canoes and kayaks
and went 10 miles down the river. It was so green, I realized how much of a desert Utah really is. We had a great time catching frogs and saw lots of mink and turtles in their natural habitat. A first for me!
Stephen's brother Jeremy is starting the Police Academy next month and
just got his gun. We decided to go shooting and brake it in. They also had a small 22 rifle for those who were too chicken to use the 40 caliber hand gun.(Like me!)
We also went paint balling to some field in the middle of all these Amish Farms. It was really a random place, but we had a fun time. It brought out the kid in all of us, but I had forgotten how much those little balls hurt when you get hit. Both Stephen and I were sore and had many bruises all over our body, one of which on my
leg was blacker than black and bigger than my hand. It was crazy and a good thing that was towards the end of the vacation.
It's always hard to leave and to live so far away. We had such a great time laughing and hanging out with each other.
and were able to travel around the great state of Michigan. I really got to see everything. I'll try not to make this too long, but we packed everyday with something fun!
We spent a day up in beautiful Riffle River. (a favorite family place their grandparents always took them camping) We played on swinging bridges, climbed amazing trees and waded in the river.
We also drove down to the big city and did a session in the Detroit Temple. It was about a 2 1/2 hour drive each way and truly gave me a taste of not living 5
minutes from the temple. And yet they feel they are so close and are grateful they don't have to make the 8 hour trip to Chicago or Toronto. I love the temple and it was neat to do a session with the Holden's. 
The next day, Stephen's uncle and cousin's came up from Ohio and we all drove up north to Mackinaw City which is right by the U.P. (aka...Upper Peninsula). Where we spent some time and then took a ferry over to Mackinac Island.
It was beautiful with all the sailboats and lighthouses on Lake Huron. Mackinac Island has banned motorized vehicles for 
more than a century and remains a living Victorian community. So we rented some tandem bikes and rode around the island. It's also famous for being the place where the old classic movie "Somewhere in Time" was filmed. And of course we had to get some of their famous fudge! Then off onto another road trip where we drove down to the Au Sable River. We rented canoes and kayaks
and went 10 miles down the river. It was so green, I realized how much of a desert Utah really is. We had a great time catching frogs and saw lots of mink and turtles in their natural habitat. A first for me! Stephen's brother Jeremy is starting the Police Academy next month and
just got his gun. We decided to go shooting and brake it in. They also had a small 22 rifle for those who were too chicken to use the 40 caliber hand gun.(Like me!) We also went paint balling to some field in the middle of all these Amish Farms. It was really a random place, but we had a fun time. It brought out the kid in all of us, but I had forgotten how much those little balls hurt when you get hit. Both Stephen and I were sore and had many bruises all over our body, one of which on my
leg was blacker than black and bigger than my hand. It was crazy and a good thing that was towards the end of the vacation.
It's always hard to leave and to live so far away. We had such a great time laughing and hanging out with each other.
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