Random August

I wanted to upload a few pictures since my last post, but they have disappeared on my camera.  Who knows where they are?  If I had them, I would show you a picture of one of the baby quail that hatched a few weeks ago.  I would share a photo of Willie on his first day of school at the U.  I have a couple of pictures of the grandkids and others.  Oh well, just imagine what they might look like.

Willie started school at the U of U on Monday.  The first two days were a little rough.  He's basically been the "big man on campus" in high school for the past year; knowing everyone and everyone knowing him.  This summer, he has gradually moved from being number 1 to one of 30,000+ student at the U.  Sure, he knows a few U students -- Jesus, Natalie, Emily, Preston, Travis, Ahmud, Mason, Adam, some kid named Allen from orientation, Stephanie, Arob, and a few others.  But the first two days he was basically a little fish lost in a very big pond.  Once Wednesday came, however, he was back in his element.  He couldn't say enough about the classes, the professors/instructors, the people, and the university environment.  He picked up his scholarship check, signed up for ASUU first year council and tennis intramural, and has become a master at TRAX.  He's mentioned thinking is a big part of his new school experience (imagine that) -- no more worksheets and extra credit.  It's serious learning.

A week ago, I went with Willie and Jesus on TRAX to the U to make sure we knew it would be efficient and get them where they needed to go.  It was fun!  I don't know if they liked hanging out with an older person, but they didn't complain.  We TRAXed it to the U, walked all of the classes, bought some stuff at the bookstore, and headed back to TRAX.  Because if was the week before classes there were booths and things around campus luring students: join the University Credit Union, set up an account with Wells Fargo, etc., and they all offered prizes.  We walked away with a tee shirt, chap stick, pens, popcorn, and Otterpops.

Dinner with Grandpa has been fun this summer.  Some Wednesday nights we (the children and grandchildren) have all met at Grandpa's for swimming and a BBQ.  The kids have had a blast and they have shown off their sweet swimming skills. One night we all met at Mountain Mike's Pizza for dinner in honor of Shavy Jones.  Another Wednesday, we did Village Inn (free pie Wednesday).  And, this past Wednesday, all 13 of us went to Crown Burgers.  It's fun getting together to do what we know best -- eat.

Willie is getting ready to meet with the Stake President as part of the LDS mission call process.  He hit the "send" button to the Bishop on August 19 (the whole process is now online).  The Bishop interviewed him on Sunday, August 25, and he just needed the medical paper work (held up at Dr. Havlik's office for an immunization update) in order to hit the "send" button to the Stake President.  Hopefully, that will happen this week.  My baby boy is ready to give a semester of school his best and then leave for a yet to be determined mission assignment.  Getting the dental exam, medical exam, patriarchal blessing, and everything done has been fun.  We are anxiously excited at what the future holds for Willie.