Swiss Days & Hoopes Family Reunion

 Waaaay back in January I applied to be a vendor at Swiss Days - we were still living in SC and I wasn't really sure what I'd do if I got accepted but just felt like I should apply.  And what do you know, I got in! It's a huge, hard show to get into so I was super excited and just decided I'd figure it all out when time got closer.  Well....then we decided we were supposed to come back to Grace and I was going to be able to do Swiss Days.  I spent long days prepping and as always was over-prepared BUT had a great time.  I was grateful we didn't get rained on...but the afternoon sun was no fun to sit through.  My parents came and helped us set up then Brad and Candace came and helped us the last day, it was fun to hang out.  I was super frustrated as my one supplier didn't get my product shipped when he was supposed to then he decided on his own to ship it differently then he ever had so my good sat in customs in SLC for over a week...ugh, they missed the first day of Swiss days but thankfully Brand and Candace were able to pick the stuff up and bring it to me for the second day.  Just a bummer that I didn't have my tree skirts and other things the first day.

All in all it was a fun successful couple of days!

On Saturday evening we got cleaned up then headed to Vernal.  My parents had taken the kids home with them to go to the Hoopes reunion at Stans.  We got in real late Saturday night and got up on Sunday and went over to Stans to spend the day with everyone at the reunion. I'm glad we were able to make it happen as it has been a long time since we've made it to the Hoopes Reunion.  We stayed until Monday morning, went to breakfast with Bo, Aunt Toni and Mom and Dad then headed for home.  Got to Grace, unloaded the uhaul rental trailer then LeGrand took it back to Preston to return it - whew, what a weekend! Tiring but fufilling 

Back to School 2024

It's no joke when they say, 'You'll blink and it'll be over'...here we are!  Senior, Freshman, 6th grade and 4th grade. Man we've had a crazy last few years and it really doesn't seem to be letting up.  For the most part all of the kids are happy to be going 'back to school' in Grace where things are familiar and comfortable. Laexin is happy to be in Grace doing all of the Senior things, Loa was the one who struggled the most in SC and was SO thrilled when we told her we were coming back  BUT  she isn't as confident now.  She is relieved to be where things are easy with friend and people she knows but she misses her SC church friends terribly and often voices her frustration of knowing that she was part of the reason we came back, she isn't so sure it was the best choice.  But the great thing is, everyone is learning lots of good life lessons in all of the change we have experienced.  Like, it isn't always 'greener' on the other side, and that the hard times lead to some of the greatest memories and friends of our lives and that 'coming back' isn't as great and easy as they thought it would be.  All hard lessons, but also good.  The two youngest are once again just going with the flow and happy to be wherever.

 

Laexin High Adventure 17th Birthday

 Laexin's 17th birthday adventure!  It was a memorable time as he and LeGrand were off with Grace 2nd ward YM on a high adventure backpacking trip in the wind-river mountains in WY.  They hauled everything they needed on their backs and spent the whole week doing hard things and making amazing memories!  It was last minute that they needed another adult to join them and asked LeGrand, it worked out perfectly for him to go - I'm so grateful he and Laexin were able to do this together and make these memories!

Lytzi Bday + Fair days

Lytzi turned 11! She is all girl, is the best helper, loves to make friends and is sweet and sassy all in one.  We are so grateful she is part of our family! I have no clue how we already got to 11 years old!  She got a new bike for her birthday but was even more excited to use her birthday money to get her nails professionally done.  She searched Pinterest for months before her birthday picking out the 'perfect nails'!

The week after birthday week was Fair week.  The kids were excited to do all the things they didn't get to do last year.  Lots of friends, food and fun at the fair!