Dr. Pepper, Magnolia, and Silos--Oh My!

We decided to take a day trip to Waco for Labor Day, and started the fun at the Dr. Pepper museum.  Can you find all five Ropers in this picture?

PS--notice Benson's chipped front tooth??  Yes--for the fourth time, it broke off.  Applesauce was the culprit.  I think the dentist may need to try something different, because this is obviously not working.  He was smiling weirdly all day, too.

Cool old-school drinking fountain

Did you know that Dr. Pepper started out being advertised as a health drink?

In the old bottling plant they had this well that they would drop broken bottles into, which was kind of fascinating. 

View of Waco from the factory

Enjoying our complimentary sodas

After the museum, we walked over to the Magnolia silos.  We hung out on the lawn for a while, and then found a tent sale, where we found a lot of good deals on some clothes and other items.

I spy Benson, Emma, and Ben playing corn hole.

It's nice that Waco isn't too far away.  We were home in time for dinner, and then for some soda flavored Jelly Belly tasting.  Yum!

 

September Sky

 

Rise All Loyal Cougars!

Gracie, Scott, and Kaitlyn went to the first football game of the year together.  Rah, rah, rah rah rah!

They also found each other on the first day of classes in the library, where this living wall is growing.

I'm glad they're having such a good time.

 

Last Week of August

Look--a "cold" front came through and broke our streak of over 100 degree days!  HALLELUJAH!

Tessa's biology class sent home an at-home lab, so she had to time how long a mini marshmallow and a peanut would burn, and figure out why there was a difference.

Why is Benson holding up a 3?  Because the repaired chip on his front tooth came off AGAIN and we had to get it repaired AGAIN.  Three times in one month.  I think the culprit was a Fig Newton this time.  Thankfully the dentist wasn't charging us for all of these extra visits.

Gracie made it to her apartment!  Scott helped her with getting supplies, since she doesn't have a car, but she was able to get settled in and go to her new job orientation.  She found work at the cafe in the Tanner building.

Ben traded a plane for a model battleship, which he will use to shoot bb's at other model battleships.  It needs a lot of work before it's seaworthy though, so he's had fun in the garage with this new project.  The dust he's making, though, is a little over the top.

We had a second full moon at the end of the month, making it a Blue Moon, and it was a supermoon, meaning the moon's orbit was as closer to the earth than usual--and this one was the closest it would get in 2023.  This is the picture Ben got with his camera:

This is the one I got. ☺

Gracie got to enjoy Freshman Orientation, which included making the big blue Y.  Let me know if you can find her in the picture...

Tessa's band started playing at football games.  She may not be marching, but she has to push her heavy synth back and forth for practices and games, so she's still working hard for her PE credit. ☺  She's the last one on the right of the front ensemble.

We're back into the school routine--now it's about time for the summer to end. ☺

 

Youth-Led Program

We had a youth-led Sacrament Meeting.  The youth planned and prepared the speakers and musical numbers, and it turned out beautifully.  Caytie was part of a small group singing "I Believe in Christ," and Tessa transposed and arranged (and played in) a two clarinet and one French horn trio, which played "I Need Thee Every Hour."  They also participated in the Young Women's and the whole group choirs.  I accompanied Tessa's number, as well as a song two brothers sang, called "I Will Go and Do."  The whole thing was so lovely.  

Caytie created the art used in the announcement flyer and the front of the program.

They included a sheet with testimonies written by the youth in the program, as well.

My friend grabbed a sneaky shot of the trio as they were playing. ☺

The youth know that their Savior loves them, and that will carry them far.  They are also quite talented.  We can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us!

A Day of Joy and Sadness

Gracie and Scott decided that they'd rather follow their dreams and go to school at BYU than stay at home forever, and while there's nothing I rather they be doing, it's still hard to have holes left when they go.  So, with joy and sadness, I made them some BYU mint brownies as a farewell gift.

With joy and sadness, I took a final picture of all the kids together.

With joy and sadness, Caytie, Benson, and Tessa checked out Scott's fully packed car.

With joy and sadness, we watched them drive away--first to Farmington, NM (12 hours away) and then up to Provo/Orem (six more hours) the next day.

Hold your family extra close today.  With joy and sadness, they grow up and move away.

 

EFYSA in Nauvoo

Last fall we heard that there was going to be a first-ever EFY for young single adults in Nauvoo this year, so we looked into it, and there were only three spots left!  So we jumped in and got a spot for Emma, and she was super excited to be able to go.  She didn't feel comfortable driving there alone, so Scott agreed to go along with his friend Adam, and we got them a hotel room nearby so they could have their own adventures while Emma was with her group.  Emma said she had a great time--except for being a little  nauseous one day and there was a lot of walking.  But Nauvoo is always a wonderful place to visit.

Scott and Adam, however, didn't have the greatest time.  They were more than nauseous--they both got downright sick (maybe food poisoning??), and spent the three days in bed at their hotel, with a trip or two to the store for medication.  Poor guys.  Thankfully they were recovered enough for the drive home, and we were glad to have them back for a bit before the Utah treks began.