News from Mom

Dear Family,

When did October sneak in? September just whizzed right by, and now we have two new grandbabies! Congratulations to Becca & Nick for their new baby Elissa, and congratulations to McKay and Keresa for their new baby Jackson! What fun it's been to visit and hold these precious new little spirits. I love to watch little Elissa make those same little princess faces as her big sister, but the real surprise was watching Jackson make the same interesting expressions as McKay. Yep, a couple of chips off the ol' blocks!

It's been fun to carpool to work with Dad at least half the time. We actually get to see more of each other now that we have all that driving time together. This morning the school receptionist interrupted my publications class to tell me my husband was here to see me. At first I thought, oh what a sweet surprise, but then I was quite certain she must have made a mistake and called the wrong teacher. So she continued that he needed to come see me because he'd forgotten his cell phone in my car. Can you believe it? I asked him why he didn't phone me on my cell phone to bring it back. He patiently explained that he didn't know my number because he stores it in his cell phone. Isn't modern technology amazing!

I survived the infamous lock-down on Monday just fine. I worried that the kids might have been traumatized at the thought of some guy with an automatic weapon running around the hood, but they sounded more bored than anything else. Imagine having to stay cooped up all day, and no one even got shot!

What a delight it's been to share news with everyone. We look forward to the next round of visits.

Love & prayers, Mom

Atwood September Synopsis

Dear Family,

I have decided that September is my favorite month. There is plenty I love about summer, and it is sad to see it go: the sunshine, long lazy days, having the kids home, outside bike rides and runs, ice cream, camping and having fun with family. But September is like welcoming in an old dear friend. And my Washington September hasn't let me down. The weather has been absolutely amazing! Clear blue skies: I just open the windows and let in the perfect air. Outside the trees with leaves are changing colors and there is the most amazing smell. It's the kind of pine tree-ish smell that reminds me of reunion time. The kids are adjusting fine to their new school; I think this will be our best year so far with the 3 older kids all going all day to the same school.

Andy had some unforeseen stress earlier in the month, but we seem to have resolved it. He hired 2 new office managers. Darcy, a really capable woman has been working in the dental lab next to our office. This is a great move for her and us, and we already know, trust and love her. And the other girl doesn't have any dental experience other than being married to a dentist, Me!! Andy really had to do some coaxing to convince me to come and work, but I found a part time sitter for Milo, and I am learning all the roads that get me into downtown Bellevue. So for now I am helping out on Tues and Wed. So far so good.

Kambri joined the school choir; they meet on Fri mornings at 8:00. I am so excited for her. I can't remember much about school except for the fun I had in choir, jazz band and doing the plays and musicals. Kambri let me know though, if she ever does join band, she will not be playing the trombone. Oh well.

Michael has been very busy with his new bosom buddy Zach, who is in his school class, primary class, and scouts. He finishes his work and practicing in record time to play with Zach as often as possible.

McKayla just tested at a level 17 in reading. That puts her up at a 2nd grade level. I asked her if 1st grade is too easy for her. She said, "No, I am working on teaching the other kids how to read."

Milo, my little shadow, enjoys a playgroup we started for Milo and 3 other little boys. Milo lives to go to playgroup now, and he talks about his "fweinds" all the time. We really should send some pictures of his b-day soon. I am having some trouble re-sizing. We also have some great pictures from the Seattle Zoo. My good friend Abby and I took the kids on Thursday. Michael got to see a Komodo Dragon, his all-time favorite animal. Kambri liked the penguins. Milo liked the brown bears. Kayla loved the birds. I can't decide which exhibit was my favorite; I just enjoyed chasing after the kids!

We love hearing everyone else's news, congrats on the new babies: Nick and Becca/ McKay and Keresa!!

Love, Andy and Melanie and kids

Martha & Jeremy

Hello Everyone,

September marks the beginnings of the fall season in Philly. In the mornings, the air is cool and crisp. The days are sunny and breezy. It is such a pretty season. The leaves on the trees will soon begin changing colors. Then they will begin to flutter to the ground. Our somewhat crazy but beloved elderly neighbor Alice will be seen outside almost 24/7 picking up leaves one by one and complaining that all the neighborhood leaves blow to her carport (we don't have front yards, just small, hilly patches of grass and a place to park your car). It's such a fun season!

With the perfect weather, we spent our weekends outside enjoying ourselves. We went on some picnics, picked apples in an apple orchard, went to the zoo, and spent a lot of time playing at several parks. It's like we have to hurry and enjoy the outdoors before the weather gets too cold. If we want to go outside, we have to go places since our tiny plot of land is too small for two rambunctious boys.

The apple orchard we visited was huge with rows and rows of different types of apples. I think we ate more apples then we actually walked away with. We were in luck too because when we went to pay for the apples they said all the apples we ate in the orchard were free--so we really got our money's worth! When we finished paying, the farmers offered us a ride in the back of an old flatbed truck filled with hay to other fruit orchards. We got in and began finding spots to sit (there were other people coming on the truck too). Then, a toothless, wild-eyed hillbilly, who was the driver, turned around and shouted (there were no windows in the truck), "hang on and sit down 'cause here we go!" Then he pushed the pedal to the metal and took off down some bumpy dirt road. The time from when he stopped talking and started driving was about .5 seconds, and I had not sat down yet. I had just helped the boys get to the back of the flatbed to sit with Jeremy and was heading back there myself. As he took off, I lost my balance and fell backwards in slow motion with my legs straight up in the air. I was stuck, lying on my back unable to move at all. Unfortunately Jeremy was in the back of the flatbed hanging on to the boys and was not even close to me. Fortunately, a big pregnant woman falling backwards causes a lot of attention, and some guy helped me up, so I could at least sit up. Unfortunately, the driver never noticed and kept the pedal to the metal and raced along the bumpy path until we reached the pear orchard. We hurriedly got off the truck, I yelled at the driver for almost inducing me into labor, and then we enjoyed some pears. We opted out of the return ride and instead walked 25 minutes back to the car.

Besides the fun outdoors, both boys began playgroups. It took Rummy a few times to get over his fear of going somewhere alone. He has never been anywhere without at least Lyle. Now that he's used to school, he loves it. Whenever he talks about school, his voice becomes low and tough. He's a pretty big boy. Lyle enjoys playing with his hyper-hypo friends, and they spend the time running and running. I enjoy the time off and have probably spent too much money going to all the stores I've always wanted to go to without any children!

It's been a fun month and also exciting to think we're one month closer to graduation in May.

Take care,

Love, The Tanners

Becca & Nick

As everyone knows by now, we had a new addition in the family this month. One week from when we moved in, Elissa was born. It took about three weeks to get the internet set up out here, so I'll make sure to send lots of pictures with this article. Hopefully everyone got the picture in the mail. We plan to bless Elissa first Sunday in November.

There is a lot of humor for me in returning to a small town. I didn't realize what a city snob I had become! Everyday I'm reminded of something I used to know when I used to live in a small town. I think it is so funny, but rarely anyone else laughs around here when I tell them all the funny things about small towns. Maybe you'll think it's funny?

The fence around my house is made of barbwire and mesquite branches.

Suddenly I have the inexplicable craving to listen to country music again. The only two stations out here are country music stations, with an emphasis in Willie Nelson.

In relief society, the women in back of me were bragging about who was more closely related to their husbands.

In Sunday school, the size of King Solomon's temple was compared to Wal-Mart.

I live on a one-lane dirt road.

There are big "No Trespassing" and "No Hunting" signs on the entries to my driveway.

The first time I gave someone my phone number the lady giggled at me. Then I remembered that all phone numbers start with the same three digits. Now I know better and only tell people, "2629," when I am asked my phone number.

We don't get any channels with the bunny-ears on our TV set.

There are millions of stars, and crickets each night.

Our closest neighbors are the Branguses. (A cross-bred type of Angus.)

I've already frozen peaches, jarred and dried apples.

There seems to be a family truck parking area in the back of the church parking lot.

Nick bought a truck and we took the family to church in it too.

Whenever I drive Nick's truck, the other cars (and trucks) on the road wave to me.

I drive his truck pretty regularly since a deer ran into my car (while I was driving one night) and my car has been out of commission for a couple weeks.

Living the small town life may be a little quirky, but I'm loving it, or at least getting use to it.

Jonathan tells me regularly that he likes living in St. David. He and Stelli play outside for a few hours every day. I guess it is more interesting for them now. Jonathan and Nick enjoy shooting water jugs with the BB gun. He also likes going for walks, especially with Grandma Whitney.

Estelle just had her second birthday. She had a Cinderella doll cake and got to keep the Cinderella doll. When she saw the cake, she told Nick and me that she wanted to hold that baby, and pointed to the cake. She also got some pink cowgirl boots and a cowgirl hat to match. She stomps around the house in her boots and hat while flying Cinderella. (Jonathan taught her how to fly Cinderella while he was teasing her.)

Elissa has been a little angel so far. We were worried about how the other kids might react (well actually we really only worried about our little princess Stelli) since they have been so overloaded with neglect and change lately. But for Jonathan and Estelle, it was love at first sight. When we brought Elissa home, Jonathan and Estelle really mellowed out. Estelle finally seemed to accept that we live here now, and Jonathan started having fewer problems too. Elissa is smothered in kisses, hugs, and holds from her older siblings. Our house has become much more peaceful since she joined the family.

Well I have lots of pictures this month; some are from last month, so enjoy them all!

Love, The Bryces

McKay & Keresa

Yo yo yo—

See the website for photos and details about the new baby.

With love, mk kgw srw jgw

Matthias

Sorry for the late submission, but let it attest to the way things have been running for me: always just a little pressured and behind. I find it funny that in my Statics and Materials class, we're learning about stress and strain on objects and how much force it takes before members of a structure will give away, break, and fail. But it doesn't say anything about what to do when the members are nearing the break/fail point, it just gives you a good way to analyze and calculate it!

Well, no formulas are needed to analyze all the stress I've been under. I've definitely decided this will be the last time I sign up for 18 credits with 2 labs, 5 institute credits, part-time work, and dating. Well, I guess I haven't officially signed up for dating, not yet anyway. Slowly but surely, I'm getting used to the idea that I will no longer be a straight A student, though I am very grateful for my near straight A freshman year that will probably have to buffer some of the grades I get this semester. Last week, I took a test in my Optics class, and it was the most I'd ever studied for a test, time wise. It was also the lowest grade I've ever received on a test, and yet, I was very greatful just to have not received the lowest grade in the class! But talking to some of my optics major peers, it's nice to know that I'm not the only one who thinks the material is super hard! I'll just keep floating the best I can!

Conference weekend was a blast for me, mainly because I set studies aside to be into conference. Saturday, I had friends over and we put it up on the TV through BYUTV.org. Also frozen pizzas were on special too, so that was a bonus. I didn't realize it 'till later, but it ended up that all the "friends" that I had invited were girls. I could have sworn that I'd invited some guys, but they must have just not shown up. Then Saturday evening I went down toward St. David with a group of friends. The guys in the group watched priesthood at the stake center there, then got together with the rest of the group after the session at one of the parents' house where we had a nice dinner and kinda went camping. I say kinda cause it was just out away from the city and toasting marshmallows under some stars. We spent the night at the girl's parents' house (I planned on staying with Becca, but I fell asleep on their floor, so they let me stay) and in the morning, we had a big breakfast and watched the sessions on their giant TV while playing conference Bingo. I was one square away from blackout; I never heard the word "obey."

I guess I'll just keep trying to pass my classes, do homework at 3AM, and date anyone who will let me!

Have a good month,

--Matthias