Hamilton Newsletter
October 2017
FAMILY: On the 2nd of October, we decided
to go see the temple as the lights came on. It was chilly, but SO SO beautiful!
It was the first time we got to walk around the temple and it was so exciting! The
girls all had their SEPs at the beginning of the month & they are all doing
so well – we are so proud of them! On the 6th, McKinley watched the
girls while Jason & Heidi went to the annual homecoming party. There was
food, a live band, fireworks, and we got to see Truly and Zhane there! On the 7th,
we went over to the lake at the hills & went fishing! Everyone caught
something – Noelle was SO excited! On the 9th, Jason had the day off
for Columbus Day, but the girls didn’t. We surprised them by going out to
breakfast before we took them to school. After school we headed to Paragonah to
go the Judd Pumpkin Patch where the girls picked some HUGE pumpkins & we
had fun petting the goats, pigs, sheep and cows! On the 14th, we had
a fire in the backyard & roasted s’mores and sang songs as a family &
with Truly & Zhane. The 15th was the Primary Program. McKinley
even was nice enough to participate even though she’s officially done with
primary. They all did their parts well (Ireland even had a small talk) and it
was beautiful. October 20-23rd was spent at the Benson cabin and we
had fun riding 4-wheelers, roasting s’mores, playing games (including REALLY
long games of both Lunacy and Phase 10), sliding down a huge slide, eating
yummy food & visiting. On the way home we stopped in Richfield to meet the
newest member of the Devenish family, Sophie, an Australian Shepherd puppy. She
was super cute and the girls loved playing with her. The 26th was Kezia’s 8th
birthday! See her section for details on her birthday AND birthday party on the
28th! On the 30th for FHE, we did our annual pumpkin
carving. They turned out cute and we had fun. Halloween was a bit crazy this
year! McKinley went to her middle school Halloween carnival/dance, then went
trick-or-treating with Micaela, Ireland went trick-or-treating with the Vogts
and some other friends from school, Kezia went with Zhane & Truly &
Truly’s siblings, and Jason took the little ones around the block a couple
times. McKinley was Herminie, Ireland was a Native American princess, Kezia was
a police officer (like her friend Macie), Noelle was a witch and so was little
Oaklyn (though she REFUSED to have her witch hat on). That night mom made mummy man spaghetti bread
and homemade Butterbeer!
JASON: Jason had his performance review this month
and got ABOVE excellent in every category. We are so proud of him and thankful
for all his hard work. They are so lucky to have him J Jason agreed to join Heidi’s
health challenge this month & also joined the gym. He has really gotten
serious getting his workouts in! One night, he even took off at 9pm and walked
almost 6 miles! He is doing awesome!
HEIDI: Heidi continued her hikes in October, hiking
the top of the C and the Alpine Pond. It is getting chilly up there! But the
leaves were sure gorgeous & she LOVES getting outside J Heidi read and
listened to a couple books this month & they were both pretty good. Heidi
spent a lot of October finishing Kezia’s birthday book and her baptism
slideshow. She also was wanting motivation, so she canvassed friends &
family & set up another Healthy Habit Challenge! It’s been really good
& got her moving in the right direction!
McKINLEY:
-McKinley had an atom project due for science. It was a bit procrastinated & she & her dad stayed up till after 11 working on it, but it turned out awesome! She used balloons for the nucleus, wire for the rings & Truly leant her magnets for the electrons.
-McKinley had her last game for volleyball on the 6th of October. She learned a lot doing volleyball, had fun, & made friends!
-Another fun school project – McKinley did a poster about a book. She chose the 5 Kingdoms and made the corners look like swords. It was neat!
-On the 10th, McKinley had an orchestra performance. It was so fun to see her perform and their songs were all creepy Halloween numbers – cool!
-On the 18th, McKinley, Emma Beacham & mom went to the St. George Temple for Baptisms. They got in & out so quickly that they had time to go get something to eat. We headed to Kneaders & it turns out they give free French toast breakfast before 8 on MTW for those that do baptisms at the temple. We were there on Wednesday at 7:58 and had no idea! They were thick & yummy & the girls couldn’t even finish them! What a blessing J
-McKinley was exhausted one morning & not feeling well, so mom let her stay home. She enjoyed spending time with her!
-McKinley finished the entire Book of Mormon! She started when she was 8, so it took a few years, but we are SO proud of her!!! Congratulations McKinley!
-McKinley had an atom project due for science. It was a bit procrastinated & she & her dad stayed up till after 11 working on it, but it turned out awesome! She used balloons for the nucleus, wire for the rings & Truly leant her magnets for the electrons.
-McKinley had her last game for volleyball on the 6th of October. She learned a lot doing volleyball, had fun, & made friends!
-Another fun school project – McKinley did a poster about a book. She chose the 5 Kingdoms and made the corners look like swords. It was neat!
-On the 10th, McKinley had an orchestra performance. It was so fun to see her perform and their songs were all creepy Halloween numbers – cool!
-On the 18th, McKinley, Emma Beacham & mom went to the St. George Temple for Baptisms. They got in & out so quickly that they had time to go get something to eat. We headed to Kneaders & it turns out they give free French toast breakfast before 8 on MTW for those that do baptisms at the temple. We were there on Wednesday at 7:58 and had no idea! They were thick & yummy & the girls couldn’t even finish them! What a blessing J
-McKinley was exhausted one morning & not feeling well, so mom let her stay home. She enjoyed spending time with her!
-McKinley finished the entire Book of Mormon! She started when she was 8, so it took a few years, but we are SO proud of her!!! Congratulations McKinley!
IRELAND:
-Ireland had a really hard night one night L She kept having bad thoughts, even though she came into our room, and even cuddled with mom. Finally dad gave her a blessing & she was able to sleep.
-Ireland got to do her art class this month! Every Wednesday after school she got to learn about how to draw animals, people, and objects. She’s gotten to paint, do chalk, and pastels. She’s learned a lot!
-Ireland got to go on a field trip to the STEM fair at SUU & had a great time!
-Ireland is really into comic books and Harry Potter lately! She has read about 3 comic book-style books and finished the 4th Harry Potter book on Halloween – over 700 pages! She is such a great reader!
-One day Ireland was very upset about mom asking her to clean her room. She was very upset. Mom went in and suggested maybe she should write out her feelings, like how horrible of a mom she has. She replied “You couldn’t even give me enough papers to write that!”
-Ireland had a really hard night one night L She kept having bad thoughts, even though she came into our room, and even cuddled with mom. Finally dad gave her a blessing & she was able to sleep.
-Ireland got to do her art class this month! Every Wednesday after school she got to learn about how to draw animals, people, and objects. She’s gotten to paint, do chalk, and pastels. She’s learned a lot!
-Ireland got to go on a field trip to the STEM fair at SUU & had a great time!
-Ireland is really into comic books and Harry Potter lately! She has read about 3 comic book-style books and finished the 4th Harry Potter book on Halloween – over 700 pages! She is such a great reader!
-One day Ireland was very upset about mom asking her to clean her room. She was very upset. Mom went in and suggested maybe she should write out her feelings, like how horrible of a mom she has. She replied “You couldn’t even give me enough papers to write that!”
KEZIA:
-HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEZIA!! 8 is great! On her birthday, she got Krave cereal, went to IHOP for lunch, and got Indian Fry Bread for dinner. She got a tablet from mom & dad as well as her purse that she picked at the Grand Canyon and best friend necklaces at Disneyland. Grandma Devenish gave her a porcelain doll and Grandma Potts took her shopping where she got flowers and paints and gifts for others J Her costume birthday party was that Saturday, the 28th. There was Macie, Sarah, Adelaide, Sage, Jade, Sunny, Courtney, Devyn, her sisters, Zhane & Truly and Addison Bealer came, too J We made 3 different food crafts – a reeses pb cup/oreo bat, a hoho Frankenstein, and an oreo one-eyed monster. It was messy, but fun! Afterwards, there was musical chairs downstairs to Halloween music, then Halloween Pictionary. Then they watched the Halloween Grinch show, and Halloween Studio Cs. Then it was time for homemade root beer and the Beast pizza!! Yum! Then presents, and cake & ice cream. So much fun!
-Kezia’s other grandmas were unable to make it, so Kezia got to go to her Grandparent breakfast with her adopted grandma, Chris Marx. They had fun together & Chris was so honored to be there with her J
-On the 25th, mom and Kezia went to the Cedar City Temple to take baptism pictures in her new pretty white dress from Grandma Devenish. The sun was going down & we got some really pretty shots. Kezia set her new scriptures on the dash & the window was open. Mom made a u-turn and the scriptures went flying out the window! Thankfully no cars ran them over!
-One day Kezi was sick with a fever & had to stay home L
-We’re so proud of our Kezi. Not only did she get an OUTSTANDING review from her teachers (where one of them informed me she would adopt Kezia in a heartbeat J), she also got the East Elementary Catch the Vision Award! Way to go Kezi!
-HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEZIA!! 8 is great! On her birthday, she got Krave cereal, went to IHOP for lunch, and got Indian Fry Bread for dinner. She got a tablet from mom & dad as well as her purse that she picked at the Grand Canyon and best friend necklaces at Disneyland. Grandma Devenish gave her a porcelain doll and Grandma Potts took her shopping where she got flowers and paints and gifts for others J Her costume birthday party was that Saturday, the 28th. There was Macie, Sarah, Adelaide, Sage, Jade, Sunny, Courtney, Devyn, her sisters, Zhane & Truly and Addison Bealer came, too J We made 3 different food crafts – a reeses pb cup/oreo bat, a hoho Frankenstein, and an oreo one-eyed monster. It was messy, but fun! Afterwards, there was musical chairs downstairs to Halloween music, then Halloween Pictionary. Then they watched the Halloween Grinch show, and Halloween Studio Cs. Then it was time for homemade root beer and the Beast pizza!! Yum! Then presents, and cake & ice cream. So much fun!
-Kezia’s other grandmas were unable to make it, so Kezia got to go to her Grandparent breakfast with her adopted grandma, Chris Marx. They had fun together & Chris was so honored to be there with her J
-On the 25th, mom and Kezia went to the Cedar City Temple to take baptism pictures in her new pretty white dress from Grandma Devenish. The sun was going down & we got some really pretty shots. Kezia set her new scriptures on the dash & the window was open. Mom made a u-turn and the scriptures went flying out the window! Thankfully no cars ran them over!
-One day Kezi was sick with a fever & had to stay home L
-We’re so proud of our Kezi. Not only did she get an OUTSTANDING review from her teachers (where one of them informed me she would adopt Kezia in a heartbeat J), she also got the East Elementary Catch the Vision Award! Way to go Kezi!
LINK: Our sweet, beautiful boy. We missed you SO very
much this month. Mom couldn’t stop the tears as she sat behind the primary
class that you should have been in and watched them sing and do their little
parts. She so wanted to see you with them. But you have sent love notes this
month and we are so grateful for them! The 15th was the annual Wave
of Light and we remembered you, my baby boy and loved seeing your picture in a
slideshow of many other angel babies. We love you, our duder-dude. SO much.
NOELLE:
-Noelle was sick at the beginning of the month for a few days L
-Noelle is so good at potty training & she is proud of it! One day she shouted from the bathroom “MOM! I went a hundred poops!”
-One day mom was on a walk with Carmen Hillstead. Noelle said “Caleb, I have a crush on you!” Caleb said “But I have a crush on my cousin!” Noelle laughed & giggled!
-Noelle keeps saying “Mommy! I’m ready for snow!!” (she’s the only one of us right now!) J
-For the primary program, they had the nursery kids come sing “Wise Man and foolish man.” She was so nervous & giggly and her eyes kept watering, but she did a great job & was so cute!
-One day in the evening we saw a jet in the sky. Noelle pointed & said excitedly “Look mom! A Shooting star!”
-Mom was helping Noelle get dressed one morning & she helped her into some cute pants. Noelle said “Grandma Devenish gave me these pants!” Mom said “yes, she did!” then Noelle said “Because they were too small for her.”
-Lately, Noelle has been trying really hard to speak Spanish like her big sister Kezia. She has come up with some pretty interesting words! J
-We are so proud of Noelle! She can write her own name!!
-Noelle talks so much about Link. She will also say “Link can hear me, right mom?” and she will talk directly to him sometimes <3 br=""> -Mom gave Noelle some chocolate one day & she said “Chocolate is my favorite food!”
-One of our favorite things Noelle is doing lately, whenever guests or Truly or Zhane leave, she follows them out the door (in any state of dress or undress J) and shouts “Have a good day!!”
-Mom was reading the Hungry Caterpillar with Noelle one day and she got to the part that says “Now the caterpillar wasn’t hungry anymore, and he wasn’t a little caterpillar, he was a big fat caterpillar. He built himself a small house, called a…” Noelle said “A Racoon!” J
-Noelle has been SUCH a big helper with mommy! She helps so much when we go shopping to load things onto the conveyor belt, she helps put the bags in the cart & even bring them in the house. Also, she is SO good at taking Oaklyn’s poopy diapers to the outside trash! And she even wipes Oaklyn’s boogers! Such an awesome helper!
-We love how Noelle calls Oaklyn “baby cuteness!”
-Noelle has started sleeping in her own room again with Oaklyn. She’s going to bed pretty well, but just like when she was in Kezia’s room, 5 out of 7 nights, she comes into mom & dad’s room in the middle of the night & sleeps on the floor. She is a loud sleeper too! And often cries in her sleep or calls out.
-Noelle was sick at the beginning of the month for a few days L
-Noelle is so good at potty training & she is proud of it! One day she shouted from the bathroom “MOM! I went a hundred poops!”
-One day mom was on a walk with Carmen Hillstead. Noelle said “Caleb, I have a crush on you!” Caleb said “But I have a crush on my cousin!” Noelle laughed & giggled!
-Noelle keeps saying “Mommy! I’m ready for snow!!” (she’s the only one of us right now!) J
-For the primary program, they had the nursery kids come sing “Wise Man and foolish man.” She was so nervous & giggly and her eyes kept watering, but she did a great job & was so cute!
-One day in the evening we saw a jet in the sky. Noelle pointed & said excitedly “Look mom! A Shooting star!”
-Mom was helping Noelle get dressed one morning & she helped her into some cute pants. Noelle said “Grandma Devenish gave me these pants!” Mom said “yes, she did!” then Noelle said “Because they were too small for her.”
-Lately, Noelle has been trying really hard to speak Spanish like her big sister Kezia. She has come up with some pretty interesting words! J
-We are so proud of Noelle! She can write her own name!!
-Noelle talks so much about Link. She will also say “Link can hear me, right mom?” and she will talk directly to him sometimes <3 br=""> -Mom gave Noelle some chocolate one day & she said “Chocolate is my favorite food!”
-One of our favorite things Noelle is doing lately, whenever guests or Truly or Zhane leave, she follows them out the door (in any state of dress or undress J) and shouts “Have a good day!!”
-Mom was reading the Hungry Caterpillar with Noelle one day and she got to the part that says “Now the caterpillar wasn’t hungry anymore, and he wasn’t a little caterpillar, he was a big fat caterpillar. He built himself a small house, called a…” Noelle said “A Racoon!” J
-Noelle has been SUCH a big helper with mommy! She helps so much when we go shopping to load things onto the conveyor belt, she helps put the bags in the cart & even bring them in the house. Also, she is SO good at taking Oaklyn’s poopy diapers to the outside trash! And she even wipes Oaklyn’s boogers! Such an awesome helper!
-We love how Noelle calls Oaklyn “baby cuteness!”
-Noelle has started sleeping in her own room again with Oaklyn. She’s going to bed pretty well, but just like when she was in Kezia’s room, 5 out of 7 nights, she comes into mom & dad’s room in the middle of the night & sleeps on the floor. She is a loud sleeper too! And often cries in her sleep or calls out.
OAKLYN:
-Oaklyn has been more into getting into shoes lately - she still hates wearing shoes HER size, but any big shoe is fun!
-She has been saying “Book” and “Ball”
-Oaklyn got her very first haircut this month! The top still is sparse, but the back was turning into a mullet. Mommy HATED cutting off those sweet baby curls, but thankfully she still has some curl in the back & it still looks cute!
-Oaklyn’s 1 year molars are coming through. Overall, she’s taken it pretty well, but still had some fussy nights L
-Oaklyn is so cute – folding her arms for prayers!
-Oaklyn is so opposite from Noelle when it comes to strangers. Noelle would not go to anyone but mom & dad, but Oaklyn will go to any random stranger she chooses. She ESPECIALLY loves dads & grandpas & will walk right up to one and reach for them to hold her!
-Noelle has started sleeping in her own room, with Oaklyn. So far Oaklyn has done pretty well with it for the most part!
-Oaklyn had fun on the 4 wheelers!
-Oaklyn likes it when Zhane & Truly come home. Sometimes, she’ll run right up & want to be held!
-There is definitely more of a dynamic with Noelle & Oaklyn. They have started to play together more, but also fight as Noelle does NOT like it when Oaklyn touches her car lineup or colors on her papers. She says “NO OAKLYN!” a lot. But Noelle loves it when Oaklyn goes downstairs and plays with her & even shuts the door so Oaklyn has to stay down there with her J
-Oaklyn has been more into getting into shoes lately - she still hates wearing shoes HER size, but any big shoe is fun!
-She has been saying “Book” and “Ball”
-Oaklyn got her very first haircut this month! The top still is sparse, but the back was turning into a mullet. Mommy HATED cutting off those sweet baby curls, but thankfully she still has some curl in the back & it still looks cute!
-Oaklyn’s 1 year molars are coming through. Overall, she’s taken it pretty well, but still had some fussy nights L
-Oaklyn is so cute – folding her arms for prayers!
-Oaklyn is so opposite from Noelle when it comes to strangers. Noelle would not go to anyone but mom & dad, but Oaklyn will go to any random stranger she chooses. She ESPECIALLY loves dads & grandpas & will walk right up to one and reach for them to hold her!
-Noelle has started sleeping in her own room, with Oaklyn. So far Oaklyn has done pretty well with it for the most part!
-Oaklyn had fun on the 4 wheelers!
-Oaklyn likes it when Zhane & Truly come home. Sometimes, she’ll run right up & want to be held!
-There is definitely more of a dynamic with Noelle & Oaklyn. They have started to play together more, but also fight as Noelle does NOT like it when Oaklyn touches her car lineup or colors on her papers. She says “NO OAKLYN!” a lot. But Noelle loves it when Oaklyn goes downstairs and plays with her & even shuts the door so Oaklyn has to stay down there with her J
