Ike has just gotten to that age where he gets into all kinds of trouble.  I mean, he has been getting in trouble as long as he could walk, but now his trouble is just a lot bigger of a mess.  He found some kind of makeup and made sure not only to color all over his own body, but all over the room and the walls.  We never did figure out what it was that he was using.  It was thick like mascara but it didn't have the brush marks so I wasn't sure.

All ready for church is special hand-me-downs.

 Brandon had to go to DC to apply for the State Department and we were all walking on pins and needles until we knew he had passed.  I am so proud of him for making it through one of the toughest interview processes that exist.  It feels good after all the rejections that someone finally recognizes an incredible man when they see one.  Now they are doing the background check so if you know us you will probably hear from the investigator, Mr. McCourt.

After the interview Brandon headed out to Eugene to work at the study abroad office as a temp.  We were glad that he had a job, but we all sure missed having him around.

Movie Night

The girls were so lucky that they got to go to Auntie Judy's Tea Party.  They dressed up in fancy outfits that they picked out themselves and had all kinds of delicious treats.  Auntie Judy sure knows how to throw a great party.  

 We pulled out a box of my old books so that Rocky could pick out something to read.  Ike was immediately caught by this copy of Pollyanna and carried it around for days.  I think that Rocky was interested in reading it, but it wasn't worth trying to pry it from Ike.

 We were still in Utah in mid August when school started.  I anguished for days trying to decide if I should enroll the kids in school or keep holding out for a job.  In the end it seemed that we had no choice but to get them started at Burch Creek.  It is a beautiful new school just up the street from my mom's house.  The girls could even walk there themselves.  I was worried that it would be too stressful but they jumped right in without hesitation.  Kids are so much more chill than adults, at least than the kind of adult that I am.

 Late night Skyping with Daddy made for some silly shenanigans and a lot of escapes from bed.

 The Kool-Aid stand was a lot more fun in theory, just like most jobs.  That boom box played Hamilton and the kids drank their weight in sugar.  All $10 that they made went to help support the Shepherd's Bowl which Oma and Opa help out at feeding the homeless every Wednesday.