Travel Log

We have travelled more this year than ever.  I did a quick tally, and these are all the places we've been this year.

Phoenix=over 20 (honestly, this is probably one of our lowest compare to other years as Aiden didn't do club soccer in the spring.  I would guess we have gone to Phoenix close to 50 times in a year before.

Korea=1

Boston=3

Utah=4

Flagstaff=4

Georgia=2

Texas=2

California=1

Mexico=1

Alabama=1

Ohio=1

Iowa=1

Spain=1

A lot of these trips are Brent travelling for work.  At one point this year, he was out of town every other week for almost three months.

If our family was younger, this would have been impossible but we all just rolled with it and adjusted as needed. Although I definitely missed my bed a few times.

Choosing a College

In an effort to help Aiden form some kind of opinion about where he wants to go to college, we drove up to Utah during our fall break and took come college tours.  The struggle with Aiden has been that he doesn't really feel strongly about anything, except that he wants to go out of state.  So, I was hoping that showing him some options would help him decide what matters to him.  I am not sure it was a huge help.  But, talking/hearing about it did make him realize that he needs to get on this whole application process.  We toured Utah State, Utah Valley University, and Southern Utah University.  It is hard for me to know how to help him with the applications and decision making without micromanaging.  That is always a fine line with teens.  So, where he will end up is a mystery at this point.

But, our trip wasn't all college tours.  We went to conference, the temple, ice skating, a haunted house/corn maze and took a long Sunday drive up the canyon in the back of Grandpa's truck (this was probably a highlight.  The teens just laughed and joked and had a great time and Grandma and I got to listen and enjoy them).  

Also, last week Taylor went to homecoming with her (new) boyfriend Isaiah.  Taylor and Isaiah have been 'talking' for months.  He is very respectful (calls me ma'am), kind and supportive to Taylor, plays club soccer, and is a Sophomore at Walden. 

This is a first for all of us.  I am trying to help Taylor navigate all the social implications of having a boyfriend (stay connected to your girlfriends, not too much alone time with him, get to know him and let him get to know our family, how to have good casual "dates" etc)  Its a bit bumpy, but I am also grateful we can help her with all of this while she is still at home.  

Teenager decisions are questionable

 One 24 hour period at our house consisted of the following events:

Aiden decided to chug an entire 2 liter of soda while cleaning up from a party at Tyler's house.  He could hardly walk home and felt sick for the entire next day.

Taylor decided to drink a small cup of tabasco sauce while at a football game with Isaiah.  Her lips were burning for hours and she couldn't get enough water.

We found the following items in the trunk of Aiden's car:

 -our tow hitch

-a thick rope

-our furniture dollie

I never run with scissors (those last two words were unecessary)

That title sums up how I feel about running.  Fortunately, my kids don't share that sentiment.  They're busy, but both Aiden and Taylor chose to add cross country to their schedules.  Aiden does it mostly to be with his friends.  Taylor does it to get in better shape for soccer (apparently her practices 3s/week don't do that).  Both had improved on their times (Aiden even got under 20 mins.) and are having "fun".  Is it possible to call running fun?

Meanwhile, Sydney ran in a half marathon race.  She spent all summer training and had to really battle injuries and time constraints.  By the time race day came, she was excited but unsure how her body was going to perform.  She finished the race with huge blood blisters on the bottoms of her feet, soreness that prevented her from walking normally for days (which made getting to class a challenge).  But, she said it was nice to be able to say she has done it.  

So proud of my runners!

Progress in life and in our home

First day of school is probably the day of the year with the most mixed emotions from me.  I love the stability and schedule and seeing my kids start new adventures.   But, I am so so sad knowing they're that much closer to leaving the house.

How is it possible Aiden is a Senior????

A few weeks after school started, Brent took Aiden and a car load of his friends down to Rocky Point for the weekend for Aiden's birthday celebration.  It was hot a humid, and they ended up sleeping in shorts on towels on the sand because the tent was too hot.  It was a quick trip, but they all had a great time.  I know I've said it before, but I am so grateful for this group of friends.  What a blessing!

We also started our master bathroom remodel this month.  It is a bit of a splurge, for sure, but we are loving our new shower!!!  The whole bathroom feels so luxurious.  Here are some photos, but just know that there was at least 2 months between the before and afters. 

July

After Girls Camp, we had a few more week of busyness until things calmed down.  I took Taylor up to Utah to attend FSY with Hannah at BYU.  We flew up with Londyn and Jameson in tow so they could attend Grandma Camp at Grandma's house.

I helped my mom a bit with camp while Taylor was gone and I also got to hang out with Sydney since she had the week off between her camp counseling jobs. Shara came to hang out for the 4th of July weekend and we all went to a rodeo.

Meanwhile, Emma was working like crazy at her camp counseling jobs (she got 84 hour in one week) and Aiden was trying to get max hours at his job at Firehouse Subs.

With all three kids working, I was grateful to notice that they're all great employees.  Their bosses say wonderful things about them (to us and to them).  Sydney was even offered a long term job in the camp office because she impressed her boss.  I am so glad my kids can be functional adults in the workforce.  I realize that's not the case with some teens/young adults and that makes their lives very difficult.  This is partly why I am insistent on my teens having summer jobs.  I think there is a life skill in getting and keeping a job that you must have before you can be an adult.  I am proud that my kids have this skill set.  Plus, all sorts of lessons get learned once you have money to spend.

Girls Camp

 About 8 months ago, I was called to be the ward girls camp director.  For the first time in over ten years (thanks for COVID), we were having a ward girls camp.  So, that meant I was in charge of everything.  I needed to find a location, plan the food, find a theme, make t shirts, plan activities, create spiritual opportunities etc. for over 30 girls.  I'm not going to lie, it was a big job.  I think the food took 80 % of my time.  But, I had lots of advance notice, and I have plenty of free time to devote to the planning. 

The goal is to have the YCLs (the 16-18 year old girls) do the majority of the planning and then the leaders execute/support as much as needed.  Thankfully, I had a group of amazing YCLs who came to meetings and had lots of great ideas.  I was so impressed with these girls and their desire to make camp fun for everyone.  They were dependable, hilarious, thoughtful, fun and....I didn't get a single photo of them.

Our camp theme came from Alma 26:12 "I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things"  We used the euphemism "when pigs fly" as a theme.  With God, anything is possible-even flying pigs. Each girls deocrated a piggy bank with wings as a "mailbox", we had a stuffed pig that "flew" (on a fishing line) for our closing devotional.  I gave a devotional about how our trials or weaknesses (pigs) can become miracles (flying pigs) when we allow our Heavenly Father to work in our lives.  

For our adventures, we went to slide rock, hikes, did mountain biking (again some bike/injury drama), archery (so so fun!), a service project (we planted some plants for the homeowner who was giving us a great deal on their rental), had an amazing race night, dance party, spa night, testimony meeting, and lots of crafts.  I think it was a smashing success.  

I was really proud of how all the girls were helpful and kind to one another.  I started the week fully expecting some drama and we had none (except when the fire dept. showed up and told us we couldn't have a fire in the firepit).  The girls were willing to have great spiritual discussions.  They were fun and cooperative.  I made it a point to not dictate phones or clothing rules and camp was proof to me that we can let the girls make their own decisions and it is not a detriment to their spiritual experiences.  

Honestly, it was a busy and hard week (I had a headache for 4 straight days because I couldn't sleep) and I wish I had been able to enjoy it a little more.  But, it was so satisfying seeing months of planning come together to create a wonderful experience for these girls.  I was filled with love for them as I planned and as we hung out at camp.  They are wonderful teenagers!  I want to hug them all whenever I see them. Also, the leaders were pretty great too.

We are a-traveling

May 2025 was a traveling month for the Jackmans!  

Emma went to Korea for two weeks for a study abroad program.  She really enjoyed seeing all the art and architecture and eating all the yummy food.  She even got to visit a film special effects studio and was chosen to try out their flying apparatus and fly around the room like the movies.  She loved all the experiences and had so much fun!  She did say she got tired of all the old people hating on her and how staring was socially acceptable so everyone stared at her all the time. lol  so grateful she got to have that experience!

Brent and I took a couples trip to Savannah, Georgia.  A few years ago, we decided we would like to take more long weekend, domestic trips.  So, the south was somewhere we've never been and we wanted to check it out.  We had a really good time walking around the city and eating lots of good food.  We went to an alligator preserve and a dolphin "cruise".  We kayaked through marshes and ate at the oldest restaurant in Georgia (The Pink House).  It was really fun to have some adventures together.

I also took some time during May to go to Utah.  Robyn and I needed to pick up Sydney and Mia after their first year at BYU (how is that possible?!).  So, we did a sis-in law road trip.  While there, we were able to attend Women's Conference.  Doris and Denise fly in to join us and we had a fun girls weekend attending classes and hanging out.  We left most of Sydney's stuff at my parents house. Robyn, Mia, Sydney and I drove a packed car back home.

        

I hiked "Y" mountain for the first time ever?!

We also took a quick weekend trip to Flagstaff (told you we were busy!) as a recon/prep trip for the upcoming girls camp I was in charge of.  At the last minute, Brent had to stay home, so we brought Tyler Hogge and Anna Huber with us instead.  It was a little stressful being in charge of everyone/everything but I knew that outdoor adventures were important and fun, so I powered through.  We went to Slide Rock, did some mountain biking at Ft. Tuthill (with lots of bike/injury drama), did several hikes and hung out.  It was exhausting and fun all at the same time.

Future track stars?

 Once school soccer was over, the kids jumped right into track. Because they're both athletes, and used to hard work, they were able to pick things up pretty quickly.  However, we did learn that "track shape" is not the same as "soccer shape".  They were so sore after nearly every practice.

  It was really fun learning all about the track events.  The track team at Walden is pretty chill and allows the kids to compete in whatever events they would like to try.  Aiden spent most of his time running the 300 meter hurdles and then tried long jump and triple jump a few times.  Taylor is one of the fastest girls, so she was put on the 4 x 100 meter relay team, the 100 meter, and had some success on the long jump.  Taylor is naturally a fast runner and the coaches have been very encouraging to her.  They told her she has the natural talent and, if she works hard, will be able to run track in college.  They was exciting to think about.  We will see if she sticks with it and is able to juggle track and soccer over the next three years.

Aiden and Taylor both qualified to go to the state meet.  Aiden qualified in the triple jump and Taylor qualified for the and long jump and the relay. They both did okay at state and I am proud of their success having never done track before.  

This month, we also spent a day in Phoenix attending the Mesa Easter Pageant.  Spring is always busy so we've never been able to go before.  I am glad we made the effort to go.  We met Tanner and his kids and the Clarks came.  Emma even drove down with her friend Athena.  It was really fun to hang out with everyone all day.  We went to an aquarium and played at a park. The pageant was amazing. It was really fun. I am so grateful for family time!

The Mesa temple has a new visitors center which is awesome!  These kids dressed up as Book of Mormon characters while we waited for the pageant to start. (we randomly saw the Hubers there so they hung out too)

Spring also means Prom.  Aiden went to Mormon Prom with Alissa Spear.  They had a good time.  It was fun to see him all dressed up.

For Aiden, 3 down and 1 to go. For Taylor, 1 down and 3 to go

 The High School soccer season ended a few weeks ago.  The boys made it to the semi finals after getting an unexpected and highly emotional win against Ironwood in the quarter finals.  They lost to Salpointe in the semis.  Salpointe has won the state title for the past 5-6 years and are nearly impossible to beat.

While the Walden boy's program is a bit of a chaotic mess, Aiden had a really good time playing this season.  He is comfortable and confident on the back line and enjoyed having some other strong players back there to help carry the load.  Because he wasn't stressed about his play time, he was able to just enjoy playing the game and being part of the team.  The team's skill level is a great fit for Aiden.  It was fun to see him enjoy it so much.  With that, though, came some emotional losses.  I've never seen Aiden get so upset about a loss.  He was nearly inconsolable, thinking the score was his fault.  It was hard to see him so upset, and we had to remind him that this is a team sport, he doesn't carry the load himself, and that he can play a great game and still lose.  The score isn't the whole story.  We are so proud of the player he has become.  He is a smart player who makes quick and accurate decisions.  Most of all, he has a love for the game that has enriched his teen years immensely.  Can't believe there's only one more year of soccer for him.

Taylor's season ended the same way Aiden's did, with a loss against Salpointe in the semifinals.  The trouble was that Walden girls had beat Salpointe last year to claim the state title.  So, this loss felt like a let down and was pretty heart breaking for the team.  But, the season has been an incredibly positive and motivating experience for Taylor.  She saw the upperclassmen playing and was inspired to work towards that level.  At the end of the year banquet, she was awarded MVP of the JV team, which was very flattering.  Coach Jose, said he wants her to work on her technical abilities during the off season (especially working the ball under pressure) and she is creating a plan to make it happen.  It's so fun to see her work hard.  She's pretty disciplined and self motivated.

Amidst all that soccer, Taylor worked to prepare for the piano ensemble concert.  I'm not going to lie, it was rough trying to get that song learned when she really had no time to practice.  Teri, her teacher, was so good about giving her extra lessons when Taylor was available in order to make sure she made some progress each week.  When ensemble weekend came, she had it learned and enjoyed playing with her two besties again.  I am not sure she will be able to do piano again this next year.  To be honest, I'm very concerned about the amount of commitments she's got her Sophomore year, but we will see.  She is a multi-talented girl with lost of passions and drive, so it's hard to hold her back.  

Emma also performed in the ensemble.  They have an alumni piece and she decided to learn it in Flagstaff and come down to perform.  I am proud of her willingness to learn new songs in the middle of all the college stuff she's got going on.  It was really fun to see her play.

More Sports with a very exciting announcement!

This month, my sports watching reached an all time high during one 24 hour period in which I watched:

 Aiden play in the 4A Boys soccer tournament (they won that game but ended up losing to Salpointe in the Semifinals).  

Then I watched Taylor get a few minutes in the 4A Girls soccer tournament (they also won but also ended up losing the Semifinals to Salpointe-their nemesis).  

That night, I went to a BYU/U of A basketball game with Brent (BYU won and the U of A fans weren't very nice about it).  

The next morning, we all drove up to Phoenix to watch the US Women's Soccer team play in a tournament (we also won lol).  It was a busy 24 hours!

A week or two later, I got an important phone call from Sydney.  She has been admitted into the MDT program at BYU!!!  I can't put enough exclamation points after that sentence.  I immediately started crying happy tears.  I am so proud and grateful!  Not only has she worked so hard over the years and continued to work toward this goal even while feeling discouraged and overlooked.  But, she is one of the few people who will get to live her dream.  She has wanted to be in the MDT program every since she heard about it.  She has dreamed about how awesome that would be.  And now, she gets to live that dream.  

Mia decorated her dorm door to celebrate.  So fun that these girls have had each other this year

This is the latest photo I have of Sydney.  All dressed warm and ready for a fun in January.  

I have been telling people that I had a list of worries/concerns as a mother if she wasn't accepted into the program.  I also said there was a separate list of worries/concerns if she did get in.  Now I just know which list I can toss and which one will stay on my radar for the next four years.  I pray that her experience is all she has dreamed about.  I pray she feels encouraged and challenged at the same time.  I pray she has to most fun ever!  I pray she is surrounded by good people who lift her and see her for all she is, both on and off the stage.

Love Me

 I was talking to Taylor the other day about how weird its going to be when the girls start getting married.

 "We're going to have complete strangers join our family," I said.  "They're suddenly going to be my son-in law and you'll have a brother in-law."

"That's not weird to me," she said.  "What's weird to me, is the fact that someday Emma and Sydney are going to love someone else more than they love me."

Happy 50th Anniversary!!

To celebrate Grandma and Gramps' 50th anniversary coming up, they took all of us on a big trip.  The only way to get all of us together, was to go over Christmas.  It's amazing to me that, besides Wyatt who is serving his mission in Nashville, every other person was there.  Of course, that means we have to take a photo to document it!

You'd never know, but Grandma was sick and passed out minutes before we took this photo.

We went to an all-inclusive resort in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.  Endless food, just feet from the ocean, nightly entertainment, and lots of Pina Coladas made for an excellent week. 



 Honestly, I didn't have my phone a lot of time because we were in and out of the water so much.  So, photos are a bit scarce.  But, here are some highlights: We explored a nearby city a few times and got lots of steps in. We ordered a ton of virgin drinks at all hours of the day. I got so sick for about 36 hours and missed some of the fun while I was in bed.



 We went to an adventure park called Xplor and swam/rafted in underwater caves, drove ATV's, ziplined (Taylor was sick and threw up in line for the ziplines.  The paramedics were called and she got checked out.  After a sitting for a while, she felt better and we finished the circuit). 

Brent was able to secure a 14 foot Catamaran and take us all sailing.  This was kind of a bucket list item for me and I really enjoyed going out on the turquoise water. We went on a snorkeling adventure and saw sharks, lobsters, star fish and hung out in crystal clear water while sting rays swam around us. 







 We went to a neon themed dance party and discovered that Aiden loves dances and is happy to stay late to the party after everyone else has left. 



Emma took the guitar from a local street band and played/sang a solo in Spanish!  It was pretty cool. 



 We learned that coconut water isn't that great. 



We all agreed that the resort food was "quantity over quality" with a few exceptions. 



 After 7 days, we were all anxious to get out of the humidity so our clothes could finally get dry and all the kids learned that 7 day trips do actually require more packing that our typical 5 day trips.

These three girls are the best.  I love that they've grown up together!

There was a lot of family time with our small family of six.  We occasionally did larger group activities too.  It was wonderful being able to have a trip with my adult children.  I'm really enjoying this stage in our family.  I can only hope that when Brent and I have our 50th anniversary, we will get to celebrate with all our favorite people too.