Jonas' Army Basic Training Graduation

Well the four of us, plus friend Abby (one of Emmy's best-friends and a sort of girlfriend of Jonas' - although only thru this weekend's homecoming dance....), went to South Carolina to celebrate Jonas' graduation from Basic Training, i.e., boot camp.

Since we were sort of in their neck of the woods, Erin and Everett and Oliver joined us! It was awesome having them all there - even if our kids our awkward teens.... It was super great to see them and have a few days together.

We Coloradans arrived Tuesday night/Wednesday morning - like 1am or something. We got our rental car, dropped off Kolter's mom (Kandace) at her hotel, and then checked in to our hotel in Columbia, SC. We didn't get much sleep as we had to get up and out by like 6am Wednesday morning (4am our time!).

We met my sister and kids at the breakfast at the hotel and it was fun to see them! We then drove to the Fort Jackson base and really had no trouble or lines getting in - which meant we were quite early and had a lot of time to wait. . . 

Wednesday was Family Day. That meant we got to see Jonas and hang out with him for the day - all on base. It was actually a really cool presentation when the soldiers came out. They were hiding behind the field in the trees (for 2 hours we later found out from Jonas). At 9am they had these green and yellow smoke bombs and the soldiers all came out of the trees, through the smoke, and lined up. It was awesome and kind of emotional. Emmy was in tears. :) Then words were spoken, etc. It was a total Where's Waldo scenario, but Lucy found Jonas among the 600+ graduates! I wasn't sure at first when she pointed him out, but when he started smirking/smiling (he can't hold a serious face for long!), I totally knew it was Jonas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iedBJqpges&ab_channel=EmilyMaxwell (link to video of the new soldiers coming out of the trees)

We finally got to go down to the field and "tap him out," meaning we got to release him or something. It was good to finally see him and he looked really good and happy - even though he quickly told us he was "dying to get out of there." Haha.

We didn't know exactly what to do on base, but we did go to the mini golf course there and it was super fun. We grabbed lunch from some food trucks, drove around the base and Jonas showed us some things, met up with Kandace and Kolter at a park and had a good chat, etc. It was a good day and fun seeing Jonas and his home for those 10+ weeks of his summer.

That night, we had to return Jonas by about 5:30, we met back up with my sister and her boys (they spent most of the day with us, but left after lunch to chill at the hotel) for a tasty dinner at Tacos Nayarit and then went to the movie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Weirdly (or not, ha) we were the only ones in the theater.

Thursday was the official graduation day. The soldiers all marched out and chants, songs, and honors were all done. Then it was over! Jonas was finally done! He was thrilled. We parked while Jonas and Ben grabbed all of Jonas' stuff and then we left Fort Jackson - freedom for Jonas!

 

Cute group of new Army Soldiers! On Jonas' right is Kolter and on his left is one of the boys Jonas baptized. Cool.

We drove to Charleston - about a two-hour drive. Erin and her boys were a bit behind us (they stopped at a state park/national park on their way). Charleston was such an adorable town! I loved it. The homes were gorgeous and I always adore me a cute cobblestone street. :) We split up from the kids and let them walk around by themselves. Ben and I walked to the ocean and then up the famous "Rainbow Row" street. We came to some museum and they had a tour, of course. As it would have been torture for me, I let Ben go alone and I just walked up and down the pretty town. Besides the heat and humidity, it was lovely. I caught up with Erin and crew and we walked around for a bit together. 

After everyone was done, we went and checked in to our AirBnB. We enjoyed some downtime and then met up with my sister for dinner later that evening. We had a good and fun dinner, enjoyed a walk on the beach (Folly Beach) at sunset, and then back to our places for the night. 

On Friday morning Ben and I got up early and went for a run. We decided to do a unique but must-do run for the area: up and over and then back again on the Arthur Ravenel Bridge. It was awesome and awful all at the same time! The bridge is 2.5 miles long - so it made for a good 5-mile run. But it was just so hard! It started off with some good incline, but really it was just the humidity, I think, that made it so difficult. I was ready to get that amazing feeling of running at zero altitude, but the humidity crushed that feeling for me, ha. But it was still fun to do and to do with Ben.

Afterwards, we got ready for our beach day at Folly Beach. I had signed up Ben and Jonas for surf lessons . . . because I thought Jonas would like it. He totally did not want to do it! Mostly (solely?) because he was afraid of us (but probably just Abby) watching him and him doing poorly. I told him we wouldn't watch him and that the girls would just be enjoying boogie-boarding, etc. He ended up having a good time and both he and Ben did great - the instructor was super-impressed with how many rides they each got up on. She said she usually has to spend the full 2-hour lesson just helping the rider get up once. Both Jonas and Ben got up, I would say, about 8 times . . . Not that I was watching or anything. . .

Erin and her boys seemed to have a lot of fun in the water - mostly wave-jumping. We got to use their boogie-boards and the AirBnB's boards and my girls had a blast in the water as well. Abby was super awesome at boggie-boarding! It was a hot day and so that made it perfect for the beach, I guess! We took a lunch break and walked into the town of Folly Beach and enjoyed some lunch. Erin and her boys headed out at that point. Our kids plus Abby walked around and went in to a few shops. Then we met them back up at the beach and Emmy and Lucy and Ben enjoyed some more water-time in the warm beach, plus some sand football tossing. It was a really great day.

That night we just ordered pizza and had everyone over at our place for dinner. We talked and had a good time and then were pretty tired and had to get up at like 4am (2am our time!) to get to the airport the next day. . . So we said goodbye to our Huband family (Chuck started work that week and so he was unable to come - we missed him!) and went to bed. We got up not-bright (still super-dark) & early and headed to the airport. We got out of Charleston just fine, but man was it a mess at the Dallas airport. Four airplanes and four terminals later and 6-hours later than planned, we made it back home to Montrose. 

Home Sweet Home for Jonas for sure!

Dear Sweet 16 Emmy,

Happy 16th birthday Emmy! Just like your sister's letter, this one is a bit late . . . we've been a bit busy, especially this past week. We flew out Tuesday afternoon to South Carolina and just arrived back home yesterday evening. So that's my excuse . . . 

Well another year and now your 16th birthday. It's kind of big one, but, unfortunately, is also kind of lame. . . Sunday birthdays just aren't the best, sorry! In fact, you're extra-grumpy today because there's not much excitement happening. Which you knew about and I talked to you about and you were like totally fine about. But now, today, you are a bit bummed of the boringness of the day. I've tried to engage you - go for a drive (with you driving), etc., but nope. Sadly, this is kind of how birthdays go as you get older - they aren't all that different than a normal day.

But one fun thing about your day: Micaela, a past YW leader and current bishop's wife and one of your favorite people, had her baby today - just like you were hoping she would! You were quite ecstatic to tell me today at church. You were hoping that would happen - even though Micaela was due on the 22nd and probably, herself, wasn't hoping for the 27th. We know so many people who share your birthday - fun.

You did just get to spend four days in South Carolina: seeing Jonas, Erin, and cousins; having a sleep-over with your best-friend Abby x four nights; playing at the beach, etc. So I told you that was a pretty great pre-birthday party. You agreed earlier. :)

Last year, your first year in high school, was a bit rough. You hated it in the beginning. I was helping you navigate lunch quite a bit in those first few weeks/months. As a freshman, you weren't allowed to leave campus - including for lunch. Most (all?) of your friends those first couple of months were in older grades, including Jonas, and would leave for lunch. So you were left with either trying to sneak off and not get caught or with staying on campus and eating lunch alone. Which you did a lot of and it was hard on you, of course. You got used to lunch and would either be semi-okay with eating alone, or you would actually find some people that you could eat with. By the end of the year you had your lunch group (Layla, Drew, and Landon) and lunchtime wasn't so dreaded. Hallelujah. School was kind of like lunch, too - you hated it in the beginning, but it got better as the quarters came and went. You kind of stopped caring and it was both good and bad. It was good to be confident and okay with the situation, but not good to be apathetic about it. I think you fell somewhere in the middle.

But school is a bit better this year. You have more friends in your classes. You can leave, legally (!), for lunch. Etc. Let's hope this year just gets better and better for you, too.

You found great friendship in Abby - who also is in some type of relationship with Jonas. Girlfriend? I am not sure at this point and not sure if they are sure either. Haha. But you two became close (she's in gym with you, too, so that's fun) and hung out a lot - especially during the summer. Abby is Jonas' grade and she has a sister your grade - Layla. You and Layla became good friends, too. They spoil you with taking you to Starbucks, plus out to dinner quite a bit. Lucky you.

You were part of the high school cross country team and so that a good experience for you. You hated every race as soon as you finished (tears of hard work and frustration always), but give it a good 30 minutes or more and you were *usually* better. You loved being a part of the team and having "sleepovers" and bus rides and missing school, etc. You just didn't love the practices or races haha. You even secured a spot for your team to make it to state last year and so that was pretty darn awesome. You are doing cross-country again this year and are a bit bummed because you are slower than you were last year. But, as I've told you: you want it real bad at the end of the races, but you don't want it bad enough all the other times. Meaning, you could try harder and push yourself harder. But you are doing great and are still doing gymnastics, too, so I don't blame you! It's just I get to deal with you after your races and it's a bit rough on me girl . . . :) But I'll still come to every race I can and love and support you, even knowing that you'll be upset and frustrated with your time and physically exhausted - which makes most of us, but definitely you, grumpy.

Yep, I've mentioned grumpy quite a few times huh?! You've been a bit of a grump this past year. Partly because you're a teenager. But, also, partly because you're wanting an amazing social life full of friends, exciting weekend activities, a closet full of the cutest clothes, boyfriends, all the teen works. And, like most teenagers, you find it mostly lacking in your life. Just hang in there - one day you, too, will realize those things weren't as important as they seem now.

You're a good girl and you make good choices. You want to choose the right and you do. You don't shy away from your beliefs or your standards. You have a testimony of the gospel. You desire to marry in the temple. You want to become a wife and mother. You do hard things - both physically and socially. For all your grumpiness and other junk we get from you, I am proud of the girl you are and the beautiful woman you are becoming. You will get there - one lousy, perhaps, semester at a time. Hang in there. Life does get better as we continue to make those tough but righteous choices.

I love you,

mom

Back to School 2023 and Lucy Turns 13!

The girls both started their first day of school on August 16th - Lucy's birthday. I think it was actually fun for Lucy - to see all her friends, etc. 

Lucy, 8th grader at Centennial Middle School.

Emmy, 10th grader at Montrose High School.

Cute sisters, 2023-2024 school year.

The girls had a pretty good day at school. Emmy was bummed to not have more friends in her classes, but the next day (and different classes) she ended up having some and so that was better.

Once Emmy got home from cross-country practice, Lucy's birthday celebrations started. We ate dinner (chicken salad sandwiches with Olathe Sweet Corn), opened up gifts, and then watched the movie, "Are You There God..." It was cute and we girls really liked it! I am not sure what Ben thought of it . . . Halfway through the movie we stopped for cake (avocado cake - weird texture but not bad) and ice cream - avocado of course.

(Lucy bumped the cake and messed it up a bit... Oh well. It didn't affect the taste and I already had taken a picture, ha.)

A fun day for a fun girl!

Sister Hardy, AKA Blythe

Sister Hardy served in the Black Canyon ward for 8 1/2 months. We adored her, to put it lightly. Like all of us. She's just the best and most fun and wonderfully spiritual and super fun and just everything. We've tried to get together a few times post-mission, but it's never worked out. Until last weekend! She made it over to our home (she's in Provo now attending UVU) Friday night. Miles was busy with his MTC stuff, but we visited for a bit and then she grabbed the girls and took them out for ice cream. 

On Saturday, my friend Molly joined us (myself and girls) as we took Blythe on the Ouray Via Ferrata. She loved it and it was fun to do it again! We ate some lunch at Maggie's Kitchen (a Ouray classic) and then made our way home. She hung out at Taviwach that evening with Lucy, while Emmy was at a party. She and Lucy went out front on hammocks while Blythe read to Lucy. :) Blythe took Lucy and they picked up Emmy from her party. They then went to the Black Canyon to get pictures and had a good time doing that.

Blythe, who stayed in Emmy's room, came to church with us that Sunday and got to hear Ben and Miles speak. Then, right after church, she headed out to Vail - where she practically spent the rest of her mission at.

We were so lucky to know Sister Hardy and even luckier to have Blythe come and stay with us. She's a beautiful gal - inside and out. She's a great example to not only my girls, but to all of us. We love her tons.

Elder Maxwell

We got back from our Idaho trip on Saturday, and the following day Miles was set apart as a missionary. 

That's President Yost towering behind the Maxwells. :) The tag looks good on Miles! 

The next day, Monday, Miles started his home-MTC experience. It was awesome for Miles - he really loved it. He was happy and engaged. My only critique: he had class from 6-9pm every evening. Boohoo. I was expecting to at least have the evenings to do things with him, but no. So I was pretty bummed about that. But Miles never complained and was just engaged with it all!

In his few minutes of free time here and there, Miles did some painting. He painted two awesome tiny canvas magnets - this one for Melody. She is going to Japan on her mission and is on the same timing as Miles - well starting off at the same time. He made another one, this time with a Mexican theme, for his friend Aiden. Finally, he painted an awesome picture of Brigham for Lucy's birthday present. So cool.

The following Sunday was Miles' "farewell." Both he and Ben spoke and both did an excellent job.

My parents were able to make it out and we had a good time with them here in Montrose - it's been awhile since they've been here! Jim and Diana were able to watch the meeting via Zoom, that was great they were able to catch it, too!

Miles was originally going to go to the Mexico MTC, but due to his Visa not coming in, he was reassigned to the Provo MTC. No hard feelings as Provo is so iconic and just awesome. Plus, Melody was going to be there and so maybe, must maybe, he could hand-deliver his painting (spoiler: he does!).

So Tuesday was his day to fly from Montrose to Denver to SLC. The four of us took him to the airport...

Yep, that's kind of how we all felt. Sadness. But joy, too!

Nice Miles. Our last goodbyes and hugs were pretty rough. Miles held it together, but the rest of us couldn't speak - we were too choked up. Oh it was sad. Tears still fell as we drove away, but now it's all good. Honestly, I think it was harder for me when we dropped him off at college. That was our first, big separation and it was rough. This time was a little easier. I am still sad and miss him and would love him home, but there is no other place I want him to be right now than on a mission serving God. 

I got to Facetime him via Facebook on my lunch break this past Friday. He was doing well and was happy. One of the first people he saw on Wednesday was .... Melody! Crazy. Crazy because there were like 600 new missionaries there that day. Every missionary got to meet with someone from the MTC presidency and Miles lucked out in getting the president's wife, Sister Calderwood. She is from Montrose (which we knew) and so Miles told her where he was from of course, and she was all excited. In a "Get to Know Us" presentation to all the new missionaries, I guess she stated that she was from Montrose, "just like Elder Maxwell." So that was cool!

Miles sent me two pictures:

Godspeed Miles!

Where's Waldo, Jonas style

I follow all the Facebook pages from Fort Jackson. They post a lot of pictures, but with a lot of trainees there, they can't get everyone! But I have been able to catch a few with Jonas. So fun!

Jonas is all done and we fly out this week for his graduation! Wow! We are proud of him and he did really excellent out there. We usually heard from him on Sundays. Once he had gotten through the awful "reception" week, he was upbeat and pretty positive about what he was doing. He was successful in each and every challenge they had every week. He, personally, got in trouble twice while there: once, for not having his utensils in the proper setting (or something) during a meal his first week or two there - one of the sergeants got mad, took his utensils, and chucked them across the lunchroom (hehe); second, he fell asleep when they were doing absolutely nothing and got yelled at. Otherwise, nothing personally was directed at him - but constantly yelling at his platoon because of some trainee not following orders. He definitely was in the top in all that he did - from his physicals to his shooting skills. He attended the branch there and apparently baptized two boys last Sunday (yes, we were all shocked as well). I think these boys were already meeting with the missionaries before coming out to boot camp, but had befriended Jonas at church and asked him to baptize them. Pretty darn cool.

We are excited to honor and celebrate him this week! Yay!