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Hamilton Newsletter
September 2017
FAMILY: Great memories & great fun this month!! Labor Day
weekend we were debating about going up to Richfield to the Devenish property,
but Jason ended up getting sick and was down for pretty much the entire weekend
L Heidi did take the girls, including Zhane up
to the Iron County Fair in Parowan on Monday. It was HOT! So we all got some
huge Tiki Shack shaved ice to help cool us down, but it was fun to pet the
animals in the petting zoo, and see all the booths and crafts, etc. Kezi also
went on a pony ride and so did Noelle (thanks to Ireland paying for her ride J) The 9th was a VERY busy day for
our family. First and most important, it was McKinley’s 12th
birthday!! She had an early morning wake-up because mom had signed almost
everyone up for the trail run in conjunction with the Cedar City Half Marathon.
Grandpa & Heidi ran the half (thank goodness the rain stopped – it was
perfect weather!) and Jason & the 3 olders did the trail run, which was
just under 3 miles. Mom told them the wrong starting line, so they ended up
having to walk up the canyon and start late, but even with that Kezi and Jason
both got 3rd place in their age groups! Great job! Heidi felt good
about her time and enjoyed the run. Afterwards, we headed back, got changed and
packed up & headed to St. George where Keeley watched the younger girls
while Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, and GG took McKinley to the St. George temple
to do baptisms for the dead. It was SO SO neat!! Even GG did baptisms – and we
all had family names. After that we picked up the little ones, dropped them off
at Grandma & Grandpa Potts’ & headed to California! We got to our hotel
at about 10:30 CA time (11:30 our time) and zonked. The next 5 days were spent
having fun! The beach, Disneyland, California Adventure, and Universal Studios
made for a BUSY week, but it was a lot of fun! Some fun memories include:
lighting candles on Halloween cupcakes (& eating Klondike bars) &
singing Happy Birthday to McKinley in the hotel room, trying to go to church & finding out it
was stake conference, Newport beach where we found LOTS of seashells, played in
the ocean (dad even was fully swimming in the waves) & Ireland found a
friend, seeing the Newport Beach Temple, Kezi’s bridal mickey mouse ears,
riding the rides at Disneyland!, making waffles for breakfast every morning,
waiting over an hour for the Roger Rabbit ride L, Splash Mountain – getting on fast &
loving it, watching the show Frozen (awesome! – but had a malfunction in the
middle), the HEAT the first couple days, going back 3 different times to see if
the Pirates ride was fixed, swimming in our hotel pool pretty much every night,
playing “guess that Studio C episode” while we waited for Soarin’ over the
World ride, Ireland leaving her ears at the Soaring ride, buying lots of
souveneirs. watching the Magic Map play while eating sausages and baked
potatoes, having the Harry Potter ride malfunction for a few seconds, drinking
yummy butterbeer, watching a wand choosing, the animal show (and McKinley
almost getting chosen), the World of Color water show (amazing!), riding
Screamin’ twice in a row, sharing a turkey leg while we watched the big Mark
Twain boat, McKinley getting her caricature done, Mom getting emotional as we
had the silhouettes done and found out she could include the little girls – and
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to see
Newsies! Thanks go to the Hamiltons for watching the littles. It was an awesome
play & we had so much fun. On the 25th for FHE we headed up the
canyon. The leaves weren’t as bright as other years, but it was still beautiful
& we stopped by Cedar Breaks – always breathtaking! The ward harvest party
was on the 27th & we all enjoyed eating yummy food, visiting
& playing with friends J The 27th was women’s conference & since Kezia
was almost 8 she came & all 4 of us enjoyed it and the talks were fabulous
– and so were the dilly bars afterwards J McKinley’s birthday party had to be scheduled late so most of
her friends could come, but we had it on the last day of September & it was
a book themed birthday party – so much fun! See her section for more details J Jason & Heidi are also enjoyed taking the
self-reliance class every week at the church. We’ve learned a lot!
JASON: Jason was sick
at the beginning of the month (esptein barr flare-up), but thankfully got
better before our trip! Jason enjoyed taking some time off from work to head to
California for some family fun. He enjoyed Universal in general, Radiator
Springs, Splash Mountain, Pirates of the Carribbean, the Disney train ride, the
beach & swimming with his girls. At work he was busy with a forest POC for
implementing a new enterprise-wide file/database system. He also called a new
member of the EQ this month J
HEIDI: September was
the fulfillment of lots of hopes & goals! She got to do another half with
her dad. He needed to stop so she left him about mile 7-8. Her time was 1:47.
Not a PR by any stretch, but she had a great time and was SO glad the rain
stopped (it was really coming down when they left for the busses!) and it ended
up being ideal running conditions. It maybe wasn’t the best planning on her
part to have Disneyland only a couple days afterwards because her legs were
pretty darn sore the first day at Disneyland, but she survived! J She’s just glad we were all healthy enough to
enjoy the vacation and that it wasn’t too crowded. We made some great memories.
She also really enjoyed the Newsies play! (although the movie is still better J) Heidi continues to enjoy her hiking Fridays.
This month she did the red hills & the bristlecone pine trails. Heidi
thought the thought that she had had her phone for almost a year & no
cracks! And that’s all it took for it to fall flat and crack so badly that the
screen was completely unresponsive L There were some other issues with it, so we ordered another one
(though the requirement was that it had to fit in an otterbox J)
McKINLEY:
-McKinley continues to enjoy middle school, even though she is BUSY! She works hard and still hardly has any time for chores or screen time. We’re hoping that changes in October when volleyball is done and she will have more time on Monday, Wednesday & Saturday.
-McKinley was very brave and stood up in fast & testimony meeting to bear her testimony. She had written in down and did a great job. Mom & dad both got LOTS of comments about how people felt the spirit when she bore her testimony. We’re so proud of you McKinley!
-The plan was that McKinley would walk to & from school. Then dad took her to school. Then she wanted a ride home J So… now not too much walking J
-HAPPY 12th BIRTHDAY McKINLEY!! We are so excited for you to turn 12! It was SUCH a special experience to have so many people there to support McKinley when she went to the temple for the first time, and SO neat to have family names to take. We can’t wait to go back. For her birthday, McKinley finally got a cell phone (though she keeps forgetting to take it with her anywhere), and she got some earrings, and some make up! She looks so pretty with mascara on J Her birthday party was a lot of fun. Addison Bealer, Lizzy (from her class), Micaela, Karmiyah, Truly & Zhane came! First we made our own rectangle “book” pizzas. Then we made bookmarks. Mom even took pictures and printed them for people to use as a bookmark. Then we played “act out your favorite books,” then we played book charades with books from a bowl, then we did gifts (McKinley got an Brandon Mull book with an awesome cover, some colored pencils and coloring book, and lots of candy J) and cake (mom spend a LOT of time and effort making a stacked book cake from homemade fondant) & ice cream, afterwards we watched Ella Enchanted (from a book – kind of).
-She had another “gift” on her birthday that involves turning into a woman J
-McKinley’s favorite memories of California: Finding lots of seashells on the beach, California Screamin’, and World of Color.
-McKinley had a LOT of catch-up from the week being gone at Disneyland, even though she did a lot of it before we left or while we were driving. She stayed up really late a couple times!
-McKinley has started Young Women & is already having so much fun and loving spending time with the older girls. She has generously said she would participate in the primary program, though. Thank you McKinley!
-McKinley is getting better & better on the cello. We can’t wait to hear her perform at her October concert!
IRELAND:
-Ireland continues to enjoy Mrs. Brown’s class. Mrs. Brown is very good about sending lots of updates & pictures of all they are doing in class, so it’s been great to feel connected to what’s going on. One day they had pirate day at school. Ireland put a bandana on her head & an eye patch on her eye J They got to read to the younger grades in pirate-talk J Also, the 5th grade got to go to Mammoth Caves this month! Ireland talked about it a lot & wants to go as a family.
-Ireland’s favorite memories of California:
-Ireland also had quite a bit of catch-up work to do when we got back. One night she was up with daddy until 11:30 on her math L
-Ireland has started wearing deodorant!
-Ireland started gymnastics again & was sore the first couple times, but is loving getting back into it and learning new things.
-One day listening to the girls in the car talk about what they want to be when they grow up. Ireland said she still wants to be a SUBmarine biologist J or a vet.
-McKinley continues to enjoy middle school, even though she is BUSY! She works hard and still hardly has any time for chores or screen time. We’re hoping that changes in October when volleyball is done and she will have more time on Monday, Wednesday & Saturday.
-McKinley was very brave and stood up in fast & testimony meeting to bear her testimony. She had written in down and did a great job. Mom & dad both got LOTS of comments about how people felt the spirit when she bore her testimony. We’re so proud of you McKinley!
-The plan was that McKinley would walk to & from school. Then dad took her to school. Then she wanted a ride home J So… now not too much walking J
-HAPPY 12th BIRTHDAY McKINLEY!! We are so excited for you to turn 12! It was SUCH a special experience to have so many people there to support McKinley when she went to the temple for the first time, and SO neat to have family names to take. We can’t wait to go back. For her birthday, McKinley finally got a cell phone (though she keeps forgetting to take it with her anywhere), and she got some earrings, and some make up! She looks so pretty with mascara on J Her birthday party was a lot of fun. Addison Bealer, Lizzy (from her class), Micaela, Karmiyah, Truly & Zhane came! First we made our own rectangle “book” pizzas. Then we made bookmarks. Mom even took pictures and printed them for people to use as a bookmark. Then we played “act out your favorite books,” then we played book charades with books from a bowl, then we did gifts (McKinley got an Brandon Mull book with an awesome cover, some colored pencils and coloring book, and lots of candy J) and cake (mom spend a LOT of time and effort making a stacked book cake from homemade fondant) & ice cream, afterwards we watched Ella Enchanted (from a book – kind of).
-She had another “gift” on her birthday that involves turning into a woman J
-McKinley’s favorite memories of California: Finding lots of seashells on the beach, California Screamin’, and World of Color.
-McKinley had a LOT of catch-up from the week being gone at Disneyland, even though she did a lot of it before we left or while we were driving. She stayed up really late a couple times!
-McKinley has started Young Women & is already having so much fun and loving spending time with the older girls. She has generously said she would participate in the primary program, though. Thank you McKinley!
-McKinley is getting better & better on the cello. We can’t wait to hear her perform at her October concert!
IRELAND:
-Ireland continues to enjoy Mrs. Brown’s class. Mrs. Brown is very good about sending lots of updates & pictures of all they are doing in class, so it’s been great to feel connected to what’s going on. One day they had pirate day at school. Ireland put a bandana on her head & an eye patch on her eye J They got to read to the younger grades in pirate-talk J Also, the 5th grade got to go to Mammoth Caves this month! Ireland talked about it a lot & wants to go as a family.
-Ireland’s favorite memories of California:
-Ireland also had quite a bit of catch-up work to do when we got back. One night she was up with daddy until 11:30 on her math L
-Ireland has started wearing deodorant!
-Ireland started gymnastics again & was sore the first couple times, but is loving getting back into it and learning new things.
-One day listening to the girls in the car talk about what they want to be when they grow up. Ireland said she still wants to be a SUBmarine biologist J or a vet.
KEZIA:
-Kezia is still doing very well in her 2nd grade class & is trying to read a lot to win some prizes!
-Kezia was brave and got up to bear her testimony in fast & testimony meeting this month. Great job Kezi!!! <3 br=""> -Kezia got her initial assessment back. She is reading at a 6th grade level & on part of dibels she got 143 and the goal is 52. She is quite a smarty-pants! We love you Kezia.
-Even though their race started late, Kezia got 3rd place in her age division at the 5k race. Great job Kezi!!
-Kezia’s favorite memories of California: Her favorite rides were Soarin’ Over the World, Splash Mountain, and It’s a Small World. We were SO proud of Kezia!! She has not been a big rollercoaster fan in the past, but she did SO good and went on every single ride! Even the ones she really didn’t want to go on. She put her fear behind her and had a great time!
-For Daken’s birthday this month, Kezia put a lot of rice in a box along with a bunch of small items for him to find. She is such a great gift-giver!
-Another super-sweet Kezi moment was when she made dad & mom a romantic dinner downstairs. She make a yummy spaghetti meal, and even made dessert. There were candles, music, and a VERY LARGE fire projected onto the wall J It was so sweet & mom & dad had such a great time.
LINK: Looking back
over our pictures from September, you were with us so very much! In a carved
wooden chain at the Iron County fair, in breath-taking sunsets, in books we
read & conference talks we listened to (one talk said “Link” 4 times!), in
our hikes, at the temple as your sister did baptisms for the dead with family
names and your dad baptized her, in McKinley’s drawing about “linking families
together,” in the rainbow and
silver-lined clouds as we drove to California, at the beach, at Disneyland, in
Kezia’s drawings and Ireland story of her Link bear that she did for school,
and at the St. George NICU, where mom went to go see her friend Lena who was
there with her baby. SO many people remembered you Link!! It made that
experience more sweet than bitter, so THANK YOU <3 and="" baby="" been="" boy="" cherish="" day="" every="" have="" love="" note="" o:p="" thank="" us="" we="" with="" you="">
NOELLE:
-Noelle enjoys her time at home with mom and our mommy & Noelle times include lots of block building, car playing, coloring, painting, play-doh-ing, and reading. Mom also loves those times she can cuddle with Noelle & actually have her take a nap.
-While mom & dad & older sisters were at Disneyland, Noelle enjoyed her time with Grandma & Grandpa Potts in St. George (and in Cedar). They got to go to the park, and the HUGE sandbox (a volleyboll sandpit) and go on walks and have fun. One time she was playing with grandpa & he asked about his hair. She said it’s just playing hide & seek!
-Noelle is doing so good with her potty-training. She usually doesn’t say she needs to go, though. She’ll say something like “we have a potty!” or “they have a potty here!” or “I’m potty-trained” J
-This girls still refuses to eat dinner 6 times out of 7 L And if I make an egg casserole for breakfast, she will go hungry rather than eat it!
-One day while we were driving, Noelle said “Kezia! Don’t take your seatbelt off or you will fly and die in the sky!”
-We went visiting teaching one day and across from her house was a log cabin-looking home. Noelle pointed excitedly & said “They built their house with sticks!” (She’s been watching the 3 little pigs J)
-One afternoon mom gave grapes & mac n’ cheese for lunch. Noelle said she liked her grapes in her mac & cheese & she did!
-Mom poured Noelle a cup of milk and then gave her some yogurt to eat. She said “But if I eat my yogurt than my milk will get soggy!”
-Noelle has been building a lot of rocketships lately. She will find empty toilet paper rolls, stuff tin foil in one end and color all over it. They are super cute & creative!
-Lately, every night, Noelle will take mom by the hand & say “let’s go watch the sunset!” J
-At the breakfast table one day, Noelle said “Mom, I had a dream last night! And I went inside my dream and I had fun” J
-Noelle got sick at the end of the month & puked & was tired for a day or two L
-Noelle enjoys her time at home with mom and our mommy & Noelle times include lots of block building, car playing, coloring, painting, play-doh-ing, and reading. Mom also loves those times she can cuddle with Noelle & actually have her take a nap.
-While mom & dad & older sisters were at Disneyland, Noelle enjoyed her time with Grandma & Grandpa Potts in St. George (and in Cedar). They got to go to the park, and the HUGE sandbox (a volleyboll sandpit) and go on walks and have fun. One time she was playing with grandpa & he asked about his hair. She said it’s just playing hide & seek!
-Noelle is doing so good with her potty-training. She usually doesn’t say she needs to go, though. She’ll say something like “we have a potty!” or “they have a potty here!” or “I’m potty-trained” J
-This girls still refuses to eat dinner 6 times out of 7 L And if I make an egg casserole for breakfast, she will go hungry rather than eat it!
-One day while we were driving, Noelle said “Kezia! Don’t take your seatbelt off or you will fly and die in the sky!”
-We went visiting teaching one day and across from her house was a log cabin-looking home. Noelle pointed excitedly & said “They built their house with sticks!” (She’s been watching the 3 little pigs J)
-One afternoon mom gave grapes & mac n’ cheese for lunch. Noelle said she liked her grapes in her mac & cheese & she did!
-Mom poured Noelle a cup of milk and then gave her some yogurt to eat. She said “But if I eat my yogurt than my milk will get soggy!”
-Noelle has been building a lot of rocketships lately. She will find empty toilet paper rolls, stuff tin foil in one end and color all over it. They are super cute & creative!
-Lately, every night, Noelle will take mom by the hand & say “let’s go watch the sunset!” J
-At the breakfast table one day, Noelle said “Mom, I had a dream last night! And I went inside my dream and I had fun” J
-Noelle got sick at the end of the month & puked & was tired for a day or two L
OAKLYN:
-Our cute 1-year-old girl is everywhere! And she has just started turning the corner of naughtiness to be naughty. She has started doing things she knows she’s not supposed to do. She’s started pinching Noelle, too, and has already been in time-out once L We are sad to lose our innocent girl, but she will learn by testing her boundaries and learning from us.
-Grandma said Oaklyn did really great while we were gone and was a fantastic sleeper (thankfully!!)
-Oaklyn has been pretty accident prone this month L She hit her head once at home, a few days later at the ward dinner party (head first on the concrete L) and once at gym daycare. She is a CLIMBER and wants to get on everything!
-Oaklyn loves it when her sisters get home and she gets to run around with them!
-She still loves the
outside swings and the sandbox.
-Oaklyn has started to try to communicate more what she wants. She hasn’t really learned much signing, but she has started pointing and doing a whiney – give me that! Sound. We’re working on the word please so we’ll see how that goes J
-She enjoys entertaining her sisters and making them laugh – which is very frequently!
-She’s really getting a mullet in back. We are going to miss those sweet curls L
-She’s up to about 8 teeth now – 4 on top & 4 on bottom.
-Oaklyn has started to try to communicate more what she wants. She hasn’t really learned much signing, but she has started pointing and doing a whiney – give me that! Sound. We’re working on the word please so we’ll see how that goes J
-She enjoys entertaining her sisters and making them laugh – which is very frequently!
-She’s really getting a mullet in back. We are going to miss those sweet curls L
-She’s up to about 8 teeth now – 4 on top & 4 on bottom.
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