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3rd Grade - 7th Grade - 9th Grade - 11th Grade

This is the first year April is at school all by her self. That's just so sad to me. Callie started Jr High and Noah's first year at Mesa High!

Callie's good friend Savanna is on the same bus stop. I'm so glad they have each other! :)

Mesa Water Polo Summer Rec League

Mesa Manta Rays Water Polo finished the season with 2nd place in the City of Mesa. I’m so proud of Noah he has been working really hard this summer. He is taking Spanish II online school, swimming for Mesa Aquatics Club, swimming @ MHS Rec swim team, and played Rec water polo (Mesa Manta Rays). He set his alarm every morning around 5:30am got himself up and ready for swim. I think he has really enjoyed his water time tracking his swim times and playing polo/swim with some of his good friends. Mason even got to referee a few of Noah’s games this season. That was really fun for me to witness. Especially when Noah would voice his annoyance at Mason ignoring some obvious calls… Mason’s response “Noah. I play with you. I know you were drawing that foul” 🤣 The club swim schedule did not offer very many morning workouts (a little frustrating 🙄) and Noah asked if he could join the MHS rec team which why he was in 2 different swim teams). I’m so glad we did the Rec swim schedule was every morning at 6am. He got more swim time and got to swim with his friends. Win. Win. We didn’t let him compete in the divisional swim meet this year because he was in MAC (that gives him a small advantage) but it’s been really fun to watch him improve his swim times and work so hard. We are pumped and excited for him to join Mason @ MHS swim team. Gooooooo Mesa!

Noah came up with the idea for all the water polo players to paint their toe nails before the championship game. LOL That kid. Not sure where he comes up with this stuff. 

Artistic swimming

Dancing queens in the water. Both my girls crushed it this year in “Artistic swimming” April tried Synchro for the first time and absolutely loved it. April's duo team won 3rd place in the city duo/trio meet and placed 2nd in the team city meet. 

Callie’s trio group won 1st place as they danced to “Let’s Get Loud” by J Lo 😍 Their salsa dancing costumes were really fun putting together. For the team meet Callie’s team placed 3rd. Medal or no medal I would have been super proud of my girls but I’m happy all their hard work paid off. 

Their coaches always had such nice things to say about them. Coach Tali sent me a text after the last meet labeling both my girls as “total leaders” and amazing at synchro. 😍 

We had a lot of fun coordinating costumes and making props. Callie was super helpful with her sewing skills and costume ideas. 

I’m not sure where they get it or how I even produced such little fish for children. I’m a runner. Never been a swimmer at all. Haha But I sure do love watching them do something they enjoy.  All that said and after sitting in 115 weather for 4-5 hours (at both meets)… I’m ok with the summer sports coming to an end. 

Callie has such good friends. They came to support and watch her compete. :)

Surf Camp

This summer the boys and Ron got to attend Stake Surf Camp. While I'm a little jealous Ron got to experience this with the boys I'm really happy they all had a good time. They drove to California set up camp on a rocky beach and spent the week filled with surfing lessons, out door games and evening firesides. Both boys came home happy and enthused. 

For weeks after surf camp I would bump into men from the stake that had attended the camp and they would go on and on about how amazing our boys were at surfing and how athletic they were. I was very surprised because they have never been surfing before but so happy they seemed to pick it up quickly and enjoy it. 

Mason spoke in church a couple weeks later and recounted his experience at surf camp. He really surprised me up on the stand. He didn't seem nervous at all, he got really vulnerable and teary eyed talking about his personal spiritual experience up at camp. He spoke about how one of the fireside exercises they were asked to go down to the beach find a spot to be alone and pick up a rock. They were told to look at that rock and think about all the things in life that are weighing you down, get the weight off your shoulders the things you have done in the past and what you're holding onto, just get rid of your feelings. Put all those feelings in the rock and throw it into the ocean as hard as you can. Mason spoke about how he felt about his swim coach dying. He didn't like that he didn't get to say good bye. He felt a little silly but he talked to the rock and said his good bye. "Until I see you again. Good Bye Coach" Mason then said immediately he felt this heavy presence leave and felt really good like a weight had been lifted. He acknowledged feeling the Spirit and said that he likes to think he felt his swim coach there on the beach with him. 

That was a good Sunday. Mom heart full.