Samuel's 15th Birthday

The oldest child turned 15!! Holy cow! The in between year. He's one year away from driving, dating, all the scary stuff. 

We celebrated when it was convenient for most of the family a few days before his actual birthday since it was on a weekday. Lucky for him, he didn't have school this Friday so he had a pretty chill day. We celebrated with both sides of the family. He requested tacos, so we had an above average taco bar and Costco sheet cake. Because.....his cake of choice is not longer made!!! He wanted the All-American giant chocolate cake of goodness from Costco. I went to purchase it only to learn they no longer sell it!! Oh, so many memories related to that cake. He was bummed but was satisfied with this cake instead. 

Love looking at each individuals reaction to singing and blowing out candles. 

He's in 9th grade this year and High School is harder than he thought it would be. But he's enjoying it. He's working hard on achieving his Eagle Scout. Still playing tons of video games, watching and listening to way too much music on YouTube, he's helpful around the house and at babysitting and loves his new weighted blanket. He is now taller than I am (I am 5'9" ) and wears the same size shoe as Tyler (13). He got his learners permit...on his birthday. He's a little intimated by driving but we made him go, on his birthday, to get his learners permit. I want him to be able to taxi, I mean, help drive his siblings, and himself around. We sold the $600 Oldsmobile that was planned for him because it needed more work than it was worth. So instead we sold it for $600 and bought a Honda, newer, better condition and more $ so Sam will have to save up more over the next year. In the meantime, he's pretty proud of it and drives it for now. He's actually a pretty decent driver for starting out. He took drivers Ed back in May. Took the permit test twice before passing and he's on his way! Look out Arvada! lol. 

Grandma Furber's Birthday

On Labor Day, we labored and then celebrated Grandma Furber's 89th birthday. Actually, I think Tyler labored on the never ending chicken coop and I shopped and cleaned. Or something. I can't actually remember. And then we celebrated the life of Grandma.

Grandma Furber, Tyler's maternal Grandmother, has lived a wonderful life so far. We feel so blessed to live 5 minutes from her. She is optimistic, compassionate, service oriented and goal orientated. A cheerful and nonjudgmental mother, wife, grandmother and great grandmother. She is a reader, writer, gardener, swimmer, pianist, teacher, hostess, cook, and my kids prefer her canned applesauce to mine.

Happy Birthday Grandma! We hope to spend many more years with you!

We love finding her falling asleep at the most random times and places. This is at the Stoehr reunion 2019. 

 She is so supportive of her children and great-grandchildren, this was after Jocelyn's Ballet recital in June. 

Here she is in the garden, a daily occurrence. In May, she tediously and carefully pruned her blackberry bushes of which we are now enjoying in homemade jelly.