August 2025

August and school hit like a ton of bricks! Brian got home from Cambodia bringing Timmy a cool tie. Apparently he needed help trying that tie.

Brian had severe jet lag and literally could not wake up. It took him a few weeks to adjust back to Utah time.

The Student Government school prep began! Welcome poster making day!

SBO parking spot painting nights mornings and days!

Student Government helped with the Freshman BBQ.

Mark made some delicious bread.

And we got to celebrate our favorite dude's 3rd birthday!

August 12th was the first day of school. We helped to give out schedules for those first two days. It is fun to have both boys with me in Student Government this year!

Then we had the big Hello Assembly! It was a great success! Our SBOs this year are amazing along with the rest of Student Government!

The first football game had an awesome turnout! Our Stampede officers work hard to get attendance at games up!

This is Brian's last year to run the flags!

Mark held a stake youth BBQ in our backyard that first weekend after school started. Luckily he and his stake youth leaders take care of it because I am so exhausted the first weekend after school starts.

We took one evening to hang out as a family in the Amis' pool and hot tub.

This is how we felt after the first week of school. Ready to sleep.

And eat.

Thank goodness for beautiful sunsets to bring a little gratitude into my life.

And grateful for the temple to bring me peace.

Looks like we went out for some Pho. Yummy!

The monthly CHOICE Jr Board meetings began. Brian is the president the year.

We had Lifetouch do our Student Gov photos this year. They said they would do them for free.

We went to Itto for the best sushi ever.

Not pictured in August:

-Seminary board meeting for Mark and Brian (Brian is on Seminary Council)

-Campus tour of BYU for Brian to get on the very interested list.

-A week of school meetings for Jenny without the boys.

-Endowed for Life meeting for Brian

-Dentist Appointments

-Sinus infection Dr appointment for Timmy.

-Brian spoke in another ward in the stake

-Brian HXP get together

Brian Cambodia HXP Trip - July 2025

On July 15, 2025 Brian headed off on an HXP Trip to Cambodia for two and a half weeks! It was an incredible experience for him. The group went on some fun excursions and helped to build a school building. 

Brian barely made it on the airplane from SLC to LAX. We now know to pay the extra money when purchasing a ticket to get his seat assignment at the time of purchase. He was flying Delta and I thought he would get his seat assignment when he checked in, but no they said he had to get it at the gate and the flight was overbooked and he didn't get a seat until literally the last second. It was stressful, but all was good and he was off by himself to meet his group in LA. 

After days of traveling through LA and Singapore, they finally made it to Cambodia.

Their first excursion was to Angkor Wat temple complex. I am so jealous! I've always wanted to visit.

They also participated in a pottery making class.

They visited some cool waterfalls.

One of Brian's favorite activities was visiting the elephant sanctuary and feeding and washing the elephants.

These are the rooms they stayed in for two weeks. I am glad they had a nice place to stay. Brian got sick the first few days and had to stay at home in bed on the first day out to the work site.

They were also lucky to have a pool on location.

On Sundays they went to church and then out with missionaries to visit people's homes. 

They decorated their helmets to be ready for building.

Then work on the worksite began. It was a long bus ride out there everyday.

They would have evening devotionals and activities after working all day.

And activities with the ward like soccer.

They went out to shop and visit other tourist sites.

Then back to the build site during the week.

Sometimes they taught the school kids some English.

On one tourist excursion the group got to feed crocodiles.

Then they went out on a boat and Brian did some aura farming.

They went to the Stake President's house for some delicious coconut mango rice and to hear his incredible stories.

Then they had their last day on the work site.

And their last devotional together.

They said their goodbyes to Cambodia and were off to Singapore and Tokyo.

And last of all it was time to say their goodbyes to each other.

What an amazing experience! I'm grateful Brian got to go to Cambodia and for the leaders and kids that went as well. I was very excited to see him though and pick him up at the airport. I really missed him. It made me a bit nervous for how I will miss him when he goes on a mission. My heart aches thinking about it.