Jorja went to Ben Richard's farewell early this morning. She also went to Dylan Mismash's farewell. Dylan's dad was one of Mike's best friends when he was growing up. Small world. I think Ben is going to somewhere in Africa. Dylan is going to Colorado.
Ben & Jorja
Jorja was about to leave to go back to Logan when we got a notification that Matt and Sam have arrived. The gate has started letting you know when people are coming to your house. (or use your name) I thought it was pointless, but it has actually been quite awesome. Jorja decided to wait a few extra minutes to say hi to her cousins. It's also hilarious when we see who uses our name to get into Pepperwood. Jorja's good friend Brenton used our name all the time. I didn't mind at all. He's awesome and half of our ward is in Pepperwood. It would be annoying to live one street out. Anyway, Jorja gave quick hugs to the kids before she headed back to college.
Anne & Jorja
Sisters saying goodbye...Jorja & Maysen
Mike and I ended up randomly buying a cotton candy machine yesterday. We went out to get a few things for the Whoville party and came back with a cotton candy machine. Hahaha. (We also met with the ward council about the party this morning. Luckily most of them loved the idea and are willing to help. There was one older gentleman that was worried about it and that the older people in the ward won't like it.) Anyway, my dad brought dinner we were able to eat with Matt's family. It was later than they wanted because Matt's family got stuck in traffic. Stopped for an hour around Lagoon. Glad they weren't in the accident though! They ended up being so late that we talked them into sleeping over. Their plan was to sleep at their condo in Park City. I hurried and put new sheets on Maysen's bed for Matt and Sam. Maysen slept on Jorja's bed. Preston always sleeps on Maysen's old bed. Matt & Sam's kids all slept in the boys' room. Matt taught his last Chinese middle of the night class tonight. Jorja made it back to Logan safely. Everything went well.
Jorja came home today! Ben's farewell is tomorrow, which is why she is home. She played games with us tonight. We played Jackbox while the BYU/Virginia game was on. BYU won in a high scoring game. It was so fun. BYU football and games with my family? Can't beat that!
Jorja made Preston a hot chocolate because he wasn't feeling well.
Tyler Allgeier has been so fun to watch. These two pictures capture what it has been like.
Jorja went back to Logan this morning. Both Jorja and Stockton went to the Howl tonight. Jorja had fun, Stockton did not. Too many people for Stockton. Mike and Preston bought Jack Box Party Pack 8. We played it until we got a message from Stockton. Then we played it with Stockton and Alyssa. Preston set up a zoom so we could see and hear them too. It was pretty fun. (Jorja said she had fun, but the picture she sent looks so sad. Weird.)
Jorja surprised me and came home today. She wanted to get a costume. Haha, no way would I have ever driven almost two hours for a costume. We were able to get other things done too. Jorja was able to get her car back. We went to the fabric store and got material for her to make a pillow. She needs to make one to give to her 'big' at the sorority. We also went out to dinner at Gourmandise. It was delicious. Jorja was planning on driving back tonight, but we talked her into sleeping over. I'm so glad we did. It was nice to have her back and Preston loved it.
I went to Alta today for Preston's CCR. They had all of the freshman together in the new auditorium. Didn't learn much, but I chatted with Preston's counselor for a bit after. A few days ago we got a call that the pandemic was still hard on the teachers and they were planning on giving the teachers six Fridays during the school year where the kids would work from home. The first one is February 5th. I asked his counselor about that. Just wondering if it is on zoom where we would have to be near internet access or not. Turns out that it isn't a zoom thing, but the teachers are supposed to have an assignment on Canvas. So, probably an extra day off. Perfect timing for us because I wanted to go to Idaho on Friday for Matt & Tamara's baby shower.
This is random, but I have never seen a milk lid do this before
Preston stayed after school to do esports with Jack. He is loving that. He was home for a bit when Jack called and asked if he would like to go to Cornbelly's with him. Awesome! I soon got a text from Jack's mom. I had asked her at the start of the school year if Jack would like to come over once a week like they did last year. I never heard back. His mom replied today, "Having Preston with us made me think whatever happened with that conversation Stephanie and I had about a month ago?... So, I pulled up our text thread and realized to my embarrassment I only responded to your text in my head!" Hahahahaha I have done that before. We are hoping the kids can get together on most Wednesdays. It worked really well last year.
Preston got his braces tightened today. That was not fun for him. Jorja turned 19 today! That was fun for her! Stockton gave Jorja this creature for her birthday. I have no idea what it is, but I'm glad he remembered her.
Jorja
Jorja sent me this text of her birthday dinner with some ambassadors
Random pictures Jorja sent me. I don't know which days they belong to, so here they are!
Jorja & Jayme
I have this picture of Jorja on my nightstand. Years ago I was asked to sent a baby picture of Jorja to the young women for an activity. I have had this picture on my nightstand ever since. She was six months old here. The sweetest little thing. I posted about her on instagram and used this picture first. This was my caption. "It has been such a pleasure to have a front row seat to Jorja's life. Hard to believe my baby is 19. To know her is to love her. She is brave, determined, hilarious, kind and smart. Happy birthday Jorja! I'll love you forever!"
My Porge
Also I came across this hilarious picture of Maysen. Man, I love my girls!
Stockton sent us this picture of Jorja at lunch. He was proud of his carne asada fries. Mike sent him a picture later in the day of his dinner. Preston had chosen to make carne asada fries for dinner. Haha. Nice timing!
Jorja
Mike's dinner
Jorja sent us a picture of her air fryer. Glad it found a good home!
Jorja's roommate Beth gave Jorja this elephant for her birthday. Love it!
I saw Mr. Packer at church today. He sat right behind us. He is here for Darby's mission homecoming. I totally forgot it was Darby's homecoming or I might have tried to get Jorja here. She was exhausted though and sound asleep when we left. I asked him what his mission tag was for. He said it is because he plays the organ in the Jordan River Temple and has done so for the last 15 years. Wow. I did not know that.
Stephanie & Mr. Packer
Jorja got plenty of church today. She went to Bode's farewell first. He is going to Riverside California, Mandarin speaking. Bode was in Jorja's Chinese immersion class for years. He stopped with the Chinese program for the last three years of high school. They were in student government together all four years. He has been such a great friend to Jorja.
Jorja & Bode
Jorja also went to Ben Fairborn's farewell. Ben went to Jordan High School and did the Spanish immersion program there. Ben and Jorja did drivers ed together at Corner Canyon. That wasn't planned, but random and they loved it.
Jorja & Ben
We made dinner in a pumpkin today. While Jorja was at all the farewells we also made her a birthday cake. I know we gave her her present yesterday, but just in case she doesn't get a cake on her actual birthday, at least she will have one this year. It wasn't fancy, but it still tasted good.
Jorja's cake
Jorja helped Mike clean out her frog's tank. Enjoy these random pictures.
Jorja
Jorja took the pilot back to Utah State. The engine light came on in her bug so we wanted to get it checked out. She will be coming back next Sunday and will be able to pick up her car then. It was great to have her here! Sure love that girl!
Today was such a fun day! It was also kind of crazy. We got up early and dropped off Bear at my dad's house. We were going to be gone all day and thought that was too long for him to be home alone. My dad said he could come over for a play date with Phineas and Miles. That was super nice of him. We drove up to Logan in the rain. We got there in plenty of time if things were normal. We did not account for the parade blocking Main Street which sent us on a long windy trafficy way. (Jorja was supposed to be in the parade but got locked out of her room the night before and couldn't make it in time.) We made it to Angie's later then we wanted. It still would have been okay, but there were SO MANY PEOPLE! We waited for Stockton and Jorja to arrive and were trying to figure out where we should go instead when Mike heard my name called. Lots of people on the list before us had left and we got in earlier than expected. Hooray! The server was so nice. I guessed what Stockton and Jorja would want. She let us changed Jorja's order because I guessed wrong. We also brought Jorja's birthday presents to Angie's. Maysen's present is an open when you want to type present. Her other present was an air fryer. I knew she really wanted one before she left. She used the one at home all the time. Hope she likes this one! Anyway, it worked out just great timing wise. We left Angie's and hurried over to Locked In. We love escape rooms, but I don't think we have been to one since Stockton left on his mission. So it has been a looooong time. This one was so much fun. Everything just clicked. The puzzles weren't super easy, we just figured them out fast. For example, Mike or Stockton found a puzzle and thought they needed to look in a mirror. They did and saw that there were markings on the mirror that they needed to match to unlock something. It wasn't easy to see and they just figured it out so fast. There were many things that happened that way. In this escape room they have a worker in with you. She mostly sat in the corner, but she is there if we need any hints. When we finished and she could break character she said, "I can't believe it! I have never seen anything like it. You guys work so well together!" Or things along those lines. It was true. Someone would find a puzzle and recognize it would be part of a clue someone else was working on. The girl said that usually there is a clear leader that tries to run the show, or the other people just don't know what to do. She said with us there was no clear leader, everyone was just solving puzzles and working together. We finished in a crazy fast time. It was awesome.
Preston, Stockton, Jorja ~ before... watching the explanation video
We said goodbye to Jorja. Who had sorority stuff the rest of the day. We went over to the Maverick Center for Maysen's graduation. I think it is really cool that Utah State wanted to let the 2020 graduates have this experience. The even flew in the valedictorian who now lives in Tennessee. She gave a great speech too. Scoop and Cori also came. It ended up being so great.
Maysen
Stockton (he had to take three quizzes before midnight) & Preston
President Crockett, Maysen, and I can't remember the other guy's name
Maysen: Major in Psychology and English (although it sounds like England)
Maysen
Mike & Maysen
Preston, Stockton, Mike, Maysen, Stephanie
Scoop, Maysen, Cori
We went to a pizza place Maysen had picked out before we had ever heard of covid. It was pretty good.
While we were doing graduation and dinner, Jorja was finding out who her 'big' in their sorority would be. Her 'big' ended up being her roommate Jayme. That should be fun for the two of them.
Jayme & Jorja
Bear was happy to see Mike. I'm glad he behaved himself for my dad.
Bear & Mike
With Miles and Phineas
Bear, Mike & Phineas
Mike took the tv out of the downstairs room in the cabin since we now can use the projector. He hung it up in Preston's room. Preston likes to sleep in Jorja's room so he can fall asleep to the tv. Mike thought Preston would want to sleep back in his room. When it came time for bed Preston told Mike that he likes to sleep on the Beddy's that is on Maysen's bed. Haha. Best laid plans.
Mike, Bear, Preston
Jorja came home late tonight for some farewells tomorrow. I love having her here! She's quite exhausted though.
