The kids in Utah

At this time last week we were either all weeping as we drove home in the rain...or were off to Kroger to do a snack run for a long road trip. 

The older kids have now been gone for a week and their whirlwind trip to Utah is just about over. Tomorrow is their last full day there (except for Rachel, who will be there for longer). 

Miriam has been enjoying her time at the organ workshop. She had a private lesson with Joseph Peeples (a tabernacle organist), which I assume went well. My mom went with her to that (because Miriam is a minor she was required to have an adult present at her private lesson).

This evening my mom attended the hymn sing evening with Miriam:

We haven't heard much from her. I know that the oldest person at the workshop is 93 years old. Miriam was afraid she would be the youngest person there, but the youngest person is actually 12 years old. There's also a 13-year-old and a 16-year-old. The 16-year-old is also homeschooled and the two have become friends. I'm glad she's not entirely lonely at the workshop, though she is pretty good at getting along with adults it is nice to have some young people there as well.

She sent me pictures of the organ at the music school and at the tabernacle...and that's about it! We'll have to get the full report when she gets home. 

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Rachel finished her onboarding process today, so she'll start work in the library tomorrow, which she's excited about. She did have to call us to help her figure out some questions on the forms she had to fill out to get hired. And then my mom (who has been running my kids all over the place this week) shuttled her over to campus to go through her I-9 process. But she's all legal now and begins tomorrow. 

She'll be working in the library's cataloguing department.

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Benjamin is...having a good time, from what I've heard. I haven't heard a lot. 

He chose a paint colour. And he chose a sheet colour. But hasn't offered any details about his stay so far.

I know Auntie Josie took him to see Superman. I know she's playing Dungeons and Dragons with him right now. My mom even sent me pictures!

I know Auntie Emily and her kids came down for a visit and they went to a splash pad and then went out for ice cream (I believe they got Macey's soft serve ice cream). Benjamin's ice cream was ginormous. 

He finished with aplomb and bravado...using only a fork and his tongue.

Rachel's got a much more sensible portion:

I did manage to have a conversation about "percussive maintenance" with him:

Gary's heat is working, just not his UVB light. But we'll get that sorted out tomorrow while the kids are enjoying their final full day in Utah! They leave from Aunt Linda and Uncle Trevor's bright and early Saturday morning for the long drive home (Grandpa's a hero). 

Miriam drove for a full hour on the way to Utah...we'll see how far she goes on the way back!