September 2025

September 28, 2025

This week brought a mix of new experiences and challenges. Hinckley had additional surgery after the chains came out of his gums. It seemed quite painful, but he handled it well. To keep him from being too bored during recovery, I made him watch Cast Away. I visited Kassie at her work and got to see her doctor’s office and meet some of her colleagues. She seems to be doing well and is enjoying learning new skills like giving shots and doing blood draws.

Happy guy (photo by Abi)

Desmond has been keeping us entertained with his wobbly walking, which takes him everywhere—around the neighborhood, at church, in our backyard, and even on BYU campus when we met up with Mom and Dad to visit the Bean Museum and grab lunch at the Cougar Eat. His favorite spot at home is still the strawberry patch, where he happily eats berries—even though the season is winding down.

Desi examines a hungry lion next to a random picture at the Bean

Desi kicks a soccer ball as Greyson coaches/taunts

Addie has been navigating some friendship challenges but seems to be learning a lot about communication and patience through the process. We also had our first junior high parent-teacher conference for Hinckley, and his teachers spoke glowingly about his progress and performance.

We enjoyed a visit from John and Naomi Burnside this week, and together with Hinckley and Addie, we cooked dinner at the Ronald McDonald House at the new Primary Children’s Hospital in Lehi. It was a great experience to serve together. Greyson, meanwhile, has declared a new obsession: biking. He wants us to take him to a park in Saratoga Springs all the time so he can ride, and he told me it’s serious enough now that he needs to get some books at the library about it.

Biking man

Finished meal ready to serve

Cooks in the kitchen

Near the new BYU arts building

Cougar Eat with Cosmo

September 21, 2025

This week was abnormal in that I went with some friends (most of them guys I met in graduate school) on a brief trip of 2 nights to Lava Hot Springs ID. It was very relaxing and rejuvenating and I'm grateful to them for the invite and Kassie for supporting with the kids at home. We had a fun/full time roasting hot dogs and marshmallows in AF canyon today with Abi's family. Desmond was like a wind up toy, just walking in every direction and nearly meeting his doom in countless ways. He was a handful! (though a very cute handful). Kassie took the kids to the zoo on Saturday morning and it sounds like it was a success. It had been about 12 years since she'd been there last, when Hinckley was about Desi's age! Time sure flies. 

Zoo kids

More zoo kids

Hinckley gets homemade "frosted tips"

Fall time trail in Lava Hot Springs ID

September 13, 2025

This week felt like we settled into a good rhythm with school, work, and activities. Addie had her first official cross-country meet. It went fine, but she hasn’t seemed very excited about cross-country this year and has even made some strong threats about quitting. We’ll see how that plays out. She was extremely excited to have her friend Brooke over for a movie night on Saturday to watch...Demon Hunters, again haha. 

Ready for a movie night

Kassie and I went to see a play called Something Rotten, a comedy about Shakespeare and a rival playwright. It was hilarious and made for a fun night out. On Saturday, Hinkley and I, along with cousin Logan, hiked Mount Timpanogos. We managed to finish three to four hours faster than last year, which was exciting progress. We also brought swimsuits and jumped into the Emerald Pools for a polar plunge, which was invigorating. While we were out, Kassie took the younger three to a service project activity for 9/11 service that was a success at Lehi High School. Addie went on a field trip this week to Spanish Fork for 9/11 remembrance and there was a bunch of info about Grandpa H and she reveled in the attention that brought. 

Greyson's epic hot wheels track

Addie running

Desi on the go

All done plunging

COLD

In the shack

Early morning

At the top

Greyson is loving basketball, playing every day at recess and often having a couple of friends lined up to play after school as well. Desmond has been very cute and active, with his latest trick being a little gesture where he holds out his hands as if asking “why.” It always makes us laugh.

It has also been a strange week with the events at UVU, especially since it happened so close to us. Hopefully, those affected can find resolution and healing soon. In other news, we sold the bunnies. While sort of sad (they were cute) everyone is happy with no longer having "bunny chores". So we are petless again, and perhaps will stay this way for many years to come.