September 2026

We went to the cabin over Labor Day weekend. Luckily, the weather was warm enough to enjoy the lake and beach one last time. We were less active than I had anticipated because Gemma and Todd were both sick, but Hazel's friend Max, who coincidentally owns a cabin a few doors down from us, was also up there and kept her entertained when she got restless.  

Noah invited Hazel to Homecoming with a Twilight-themed poster. She read all the books this summer, and then watched all the movies. 

Gemma rocked her final cross country season. She had four meets this month and consistently ran about a six-and-a-half-minute mile. Her running opp, Maggie, was much faster than last year, and they were never neck and neck at the finish line, but it was still a fun season. 

Erika invited Gemma, Hazel, and I to sign up for a Mudgirl Run in Elk Grove with her. It was a 5K run with 17 obstacles, many of which were in mud. None of it was overwhelmingly challenging; it was meant to be a fun girls' weekend event, and it hit the mark. We drove up Friday night and slept at a hotel, had a great time pretending we were a tribe in a Survivor challenge as we experienced the run, and then went and got manicures and pedicures afterward. I'd do it again. 

Hazel and Jack both enjoyed their Homecoming dates. Hazel's group made dinner together, and after the dance, they went bowling and played drinking games with chocolate milk. 

Jack's group ordered Panda Express at the park, went to the dance, and for their after-party, went to the Becerra's backyard for wood-fired pizza and an outdoor movie. 

I started my birthday celebrations a day early, on Sunday, so I could spend more time being spoiled by Todd and the kids. They made my lasagna and cake, played loads of games with me, and even went for a Sunday stroll after dinner all together. The highlight of my Monday birthday was getting a massage. 

The high school spirit week included a "Bring anything but a backpack" day and my kids got creative! Jack brought a cart from Todd's shop, and Hazel borrowed a preschool toy shopping cart from a family in our ward. 

Gemma and her young women's group had an activity at the skate park. I enjoyed watching them and talking with the other leaders. 

Every Tuesday and Thursday night of the month we've been at a volleyball game, cheering Hazel on. They are obviously the most fun when she gets a lot of play time and does well. 

The girl Hazel is facing in the below picture is her Granada opp, Abby. She is a member of our church, so she sometimes smack-talks Hazel at seminary during volleyball season. We must have a picture so we can always remember this special rivalry. 

Joleen, Katie, Karrie, and Elaine went out to lunch at The Press with me to celebrate my birthday later in the week. I felt especially loved because we had to figure out a time that worked around Katie and Karrie's work schedules, and everyone made it work and was happy to gather. 

I'm starting to panic, thinking of all the life skills I've got to make sure Hazel has before she moves away from home. We definitely need to work on her hair braiding abilities! 

Todd and the kids all went to a stake youth campout at Mt Madonna and really loved it. There were so many positive reports, about the simple to plan and fun to participate in activities and meals. I binge-watched The Other Bennet Sister while I was home alone and volunteered at the Frosbman volleyball tournament. 

August 2026

We wrapped up our last week of summer with doctor checkups, school orientations, and Jabecca's Japanese. There was supposed to be a stake youth boating trip, but it got cancelled because there was a fire in the area. Although it was sad to not have the trip, it did feel nice to have an empty weekend. 

Gemma got together with her friends from the ward and Elaine caught them giving each other makeovers. What a perfect thing for a batch of 12-14 year old girls to do! It was not on Gemma's dream activity list, but she had fun. 

Hazel tried out for the school volleyball team and was put on the Varsity team as "oppo," which means she hits the third touch from the right side of the court and also blocks at the net. It's been a fun start to the season watching her play. They've won a few games and already had a couple of tournaments. 

Sometimes I find treasures like this on my phone camera. Life with teens! 

Gemma's cut foot healed well. Sadly, we had to keep her home from a couple of pool parties (and she would have missed the boating trip) to keep her cut clean as it healed. She was a really good sport about it, but that still must have been disappointing. 

Todd lent our ping pong table to the young men for an activity, and it came back broken. Imagining living without one now that we've had a taste broke my heart. I ordered a new one on Amazon that night. This one lives in the backyard. So far, so good. 

Todd took the stitches out of Gemma's foot the day before school started. It looks like it's going to heal really well. Whether or not she has a noticeable Frankenstein scar on her foot for the rest of her life will depend a lot on how dedicated she is to wearing sunscreen when barefoot and vitamin E otherwise. 

School started. Hazel and Noah went up to Brushy Peak with their graduating class for Senior Sunrise and then came home for breakfast before school. Hazel is super excited about her Chicken Joe senior backpack. 

Gemma had fun imitating Hazel's backpack pose. She nailed it. 

Gemma is an 8th grader this year, queen of the campus. She's heard a lot of good advice about enjoying this year because it is lots of fun. So far, so good. Her schedule is a good one. She is taking Yearbook as her elective and is enjoying learning about photography, graphic design, and marketing. 

Jack is in 10th grade. His biggest life highlight so far is that he has a driver's permit that he loves to use. He is, for the most part, a very safe and responsible new driver. 

Hazel has a super boring English class so that she could fit in Chamber Orchestra one more year as well as AP Psychology. Good idea to try that out and see if she likes it before committing to a Social Work degree. She has been working on college applications and looking up scholarships, too, this summer. 

Of course the kids got their giant, face-sized first day of school cookies. They each told me all about Day One as they ate them. That has been a favorite tradition. 

This is Hazel literally crying like her life is over telling us how much she hates the new uniforms her coach picked out for volleyball. The shorts are not only ugly, but also sheer, so, with the backing of almost all her teammates, she was able to veto the shorts. The also ugly but not as bad top stays. 

Jack had friends over for games at the end of week one. Hazel had a picnic at Del Valle with hers. 

More in the life with teens series: Jack with a suave, homemade, blanket wrap in the morning. Not pictured: him running back in and out of the house to grab something forgotten and the blanket turning into a cape. 

I don't know how to stop the wedgie-giving. It is out of control, but at least they are both perpetrators and not just victims. 

I have no words ...

Jack, Gemma, and Jane Harrison went to 6 Flags on a Saturday. They said they had a good time, but they also said they only got to go on three or four rides because the lines were long. 

I met up with Chrissy on her birthday for a walk and lunch. It was a really good catch-up conversation. 

Jack asked his friend Bianca to Homecoming. Hazel helped him make the poster and was so excited for him. 

Hazel and Noah went to the Train concert at Shoreline. I was pretty jealous of Noah. 

Hazel and her friends Katherine and Elsa went to In N Out in costume. Hazel got together with her already-graduated friends several times in August as they wanted to spend as much time together as they could before leaving for college. Hazel made these friends through church. It has been hard for her to have them all gradate and leave without her. 

Jack is taking an Intro to Health Careers class. He has been learning to take blood pressure and check other vital signs. 

We had an area youth fireside with Elder Neil L. Anderson down in San Jose. It was good to see so many kids from our ward attend. 

Hazel got Noah to do a spa night with her. They did facials and meditated, then watched a nature documentary to appease Noah. 

Katie and I hiked Brushy Peak and had lunch together one more time before she starts her job at the lab. 

And now we go to volleyball games on Tuesday and Thursday nights. It's fun to cheer Hazel on.