2025, September 8-14

We had an eventful week between Eliza getting into a new program, Landon attending HoCo, and the parents (Hallie especially) just trying to keep up.

On the way to ALA on Monday, the girls spied this rainbow in Spanish Fork. 

Riley sent Hallie an Instagram reel from the Dugout, a local convenience store, about amazing cinnamon rolls. They did not disappoint.  Hallie had to see if the ladies claims were true.

Landon came home from school and fell asleep on the couch. Ferg took advantage of the warm body. It is hard being a teenager. He slept for most of the afternoon.

On Wednesday morning, Landon mentioned to Hallie that Eliza was sleeping outside Hallie's bedroom. Eliza said she was trying to make it to Hallie's bed but just didn't make it. 

Here is Mike at his office with his new 'do. Hallie likes it when she sees selfies of Mike, especially with his great smile.

He got a standing desk. 

We took Eliza to do an assessment at Summit Counseling Solutions on Wednesday.  Eliza will now be attending this Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for the next few months. Later in the day, she graduated to a senior brown belt in Taekwondo. 

As of Thursday, Landon was fully insured and can now drive himself to school. He took the Ghost, which is now his car apparently. Landon was so excited to drive the first day he left the house an hour early to get to school. Hallie can't usually get him out of bed. Day two wasn't as exciting; he didn't get out of bed.

After doing part of her day at Summit on Thursday, Eliza went to take care of Leslie's horses.  

Fergus chose Hallie not once, but twice. 

Hallie and Eliza went to the Hobble Creek Barn Boutique. They had some yummy Dubai Chocolate Strawberries.

Landon got his senior pictures. They actually look decent! We may actually buy some this year.

Up at UM, Big Dipper had an ice cream social at the Lodge. Mike indulged in some huckleberry ice cream and scored some stickers too!

Later, he set to work on the dinosaur-themed LEGO set he brought up from Utah. 

From Thursday-Saturday, UM had a Military Reunion, and the Grizzlies played the Military Appreciation Game against North Dakota. As part of the celebration, a Black Hawk helicopter landed on the Oval on Saturday morning. Mike went down to take a look. 

Later, he attended the first Viva Montana Latin Heritage Festival. 

The festival was a little slow getting started, so he went walking around the farmers markets and to the Missoula Art Museum.

   

Landon and Jocie went to Homecoming on Saturday. Eliza went with Hallie to get the corsage and boutonniere at a place called Foxglove Flowers in Provo. The store had a pretty kitty.   

When Mike got back to Viva Montana, the festivities had gotten quite a bit more lively.

On his way over and the football game was getting ready to start, a couple of Warthogs flew over.  

At the festival, he had to make sure to see that Argentina was represented. 

After a while of listening to music, he went back to campus to see if he could catch any of the game. The Grizzlies were losing for most of it but kept fighting and came back to lead with less than two minutes remaining. They went on to win, and the crowd went wild! 

After going for a bike ride, Mike went back one more time to listen to more entertainment as the sun went down.

 

Beautiful sunset skies over the Clark Fork River. 

Here are the fancy flowers Landon and Jocie got for HoCo. 

While driving, Hallie got some of her own dramatic skies. Second rainbow in a week! 

Here is the happy couple getting ready for the dance. Later, Landon reported that he was underwhelmed by the dance but they otherwise had a good time.  

On Sunday, Mike finished his set and took it to the office. 

Later, he attended the Grizzlies Fight Back Rally. The photo below belies the healthy attendance for the event once people came up to the stage area. 

While we haven't shied away from politics on the blog, we typically have avoided writing about violence done either at schools or for political reasons here. We condemn violence done in schools or other public venues regardless of target. Right now, someone is sitting vigil and planning a funeral that should never have happened. Unless we wake up and demand better, someone else will be doing the same for similar reasons all too soon.  

The neighbors had the Sunday Social in the back alley, but someone forgot that the fire pit should not be set over tinder-dry grass. 🫢 We are always glad when Lisa comes to our Sunday Social but even more so tonight. Lisa put her Girl Scout knowledge to the test when she used a 2x4 to pat out the fire. Good thing grass grows back! 

Priscilla sent Mike this picture of Ferg chilling out in the aftermath.