Hyrum!

I’ve been taking my sweet time and saving the best few kids for last 😉.  Time for a long overdue Hyrum brag! 

Dear Hyrum, second born, and coming up in the chill of Faith’s shadow, only to welcome in a multitude of other siblings, including another older brother and five additional younger ones after I came into his life, is a titan of talent in his own right.

Great looking, engaging and fun, but also intelligent, introspective and discerning, it has been a privilege to call him my son lo these many years.

He had many insecurities moving from El Camino high to John Adams Academy as a junior, but it turned out he thrived there.  He was well suited to the classical approach, was scholarly and impressive during Socratic discussions, and presented so well his finely crafted required speeches during his senior year, including defending his senior thesis, which highlighted the importance of personal virtue and integrity and made us so proud.  He also bonded with wonderful, exemplary friends.




We absolutely love that he has involved himself in the performing arts, excelling in band, choir, swing dancing, comedy improv and theatre.  He also has wonderful taste in music.
Alas, I did not get a picture of this him in his Hamlet costume for this TNT performance (SO MANY MOM FAILS 🤦🏻‍♀️), but I cannot overstate the excellence of his famous soliloquy, nor the fine figure he cut in his Elizabethan apparel.




He has a wonderful sense of humor. He’s always had a way of recapping funny things that have just happened in a way that makes it more fun for everyone and makes Hyrum that much more lovable. His brothers and sisters all love when he’s here, and he can pretty much always get a smile from the little ones.







The sweetest baby...

The friendliest boy...





The coolest dude...

Last summer he and Faith both worked at McDonald’s, and it’s among the sorrows of my life that I never got a picture of the two of them together in their adorable uniforms.  We were proud that they worked hard and made themselves useful there.  Now Hyrum is developing his strong sales skills working for Aptive Pest Control and doing very well for himself. 

Hyrum really values kindness and quality interactions.  He holds himself to a high standard of behavior, and I’ve been moved to tears by his sincere apologies and his hugs.  He’s also among the few kids who have exceeded two sentences in composing me birthday or Mother’s Day tributes and you other moms know what a true treasure that is.

He was just eleven when we met and I was always struck by his gentleness, good listening skills and appreciation for others. He was quiet and private in his grief over his mother’s passing, and I felt honored anytime he opened up with a tender feeling I could listen to and affirm.



He has an amazing sense of logic, and is so great at figuring out or creating any kind of organizational systems. At work he’s called the “facts guy” because he’s the best at running the numbers.

He loves friendship, family, babies and truth, and we are delighted that he’s preparing to serve a mission.  Because he’s willing to admit mistakes, he’s on an ideal trajectory for growth.





I love you forever Hyrum, and I can’t wait to observe the dawning wonderfulness that’s sure to arise when you truly make your mark on this world!

Back to School 2019

It’s been almost two years since my last post. Time to let go of perfectionism and  slap up whatever the latest news is I can think of- um... Back to School!

This new school year we have Vilate and Sophie as seniors! 

These beauties both do independent study at Visions Charter School. They’re doing great on their grades so far, both drive, V works at Rockin’ Jump Trampoline Park as a party host, and Sophie is actively job seeking and interviewing!

Helaman is a sophomore at John Adams Academy and Nephi just started 7th grade there- out of Elementary School and into the big leagues!

That’s their back to school pic but let’s put up some more of them, especially since Nephi looks slightly discomfited 🥰.

Here’s Nephi building bionicles with Ammon.  He’s an academic standout. He even won the prestigious Forman award at school last year and has a knack for Latin.


Here’s Helaman the cutie in his grandpa’s race car!  He’s a super fun and popular kid and his dimples are certainly the object of many girl scholars’ adoration 😂.

Next we have Gloria who started high school! She’s doing homeschooling with South Sutter Charter School which allows her to take voice and piano lessons and take theatre class at TNT!

I’m so excited to see her talents blossom in the performing arts!

Our next school kids are Gideon and Ammon. They started afternoon kindergarten and TK at our neighborhood Carlin C. Coppin Elementary School. Gideon was sick on the first day so they couldn’t show up in their matching Harry Potter shirts.

Ammon was a wreck when I tried to leave 😞.

Fortunately the good principal took him in hand and made sure he had a happy first day.  She sent me this picture later that one of the faculty took ❤️:
Here’s to a fabulous school year, Cox kids! Team Joy!

Pumpkin Patch 2017

Fun day with Meema and the three Littles. Look!

Carousel fun!

Feeding the goats 

Ammon adores trains. “Mom, that’s me on the train car!”

 
Thanks, mom! Without you, I never seem to get my rear end in gear to go do things like this!

Halloween

Major mom fail. I didn’t get pictures before the Trunk or Treat. I got a few Halloween shots, but because Nephi went out with his friend, and Gloria did not repeat her ghoulish pale faced, extra wide-mouthed, expertly rendered make-up job, I never got a good shot of that or Nephi’s awesome wolf ears and tail that Grandma Eve created from an old stuffed bunny. Snap. While Sophi, Vilate, Hyrum and Nephi were out with friends, and Gideon and Ammon went out trick-or-treating with my mom, David, Grandma, broken-armed Helaman, Gloria and I enjoyed popcorn, sushi (just me on this), an extra large bag of chocolate favorites, and a great Thriller, Knowing with Nicholas Cage, on the Projector. It was a really great night for everyone in their different places.

Nephi had an awesome time with his friends:

I put up some decorations and candles on the mantle, which made the movie that much more cozy and festive for those of us at home 😊:

The beautiful part was that Hyrum drives now, so after he had his fun he could pick up Nephi and his sisters, while Daddy and I snuggled on the couch and munched popcorn 👍.

And look what fun the little ones had with Meema:

Not a great view of Gideon the monarch butterfly’s majestic wings, but doesn’t Ammon make a handsome train driver?

And I did get a couple of costume shots the morning after the Trunk or Treat, of those who’d crashed in their costumes the night before:

CUTIES!! 😍😍😍

But I’m still salty about not getting a picture of ghoulish Gloria 😞💀👻.

I love all these wonderful people in my life!

Hyrum's Spring Formal!

Hyrum had a wonderful time at his Spring Formal! Just look!

Aren't they adorable?! My mom made her corsage, they had a fine dinner, and then tore up the floor to a live swing band!

John Adams Academy put on a classy event! The best part? Hyrum and Britt are still dancing together and getting awesomer all the time!

Vienna!

Wowsers- so many omissions here, including 3 of my awesome boys who I've not yet featured- and a move to a farm! I'll get to it! But most recent first: announcing my angel baby Vienna Grace Cox!

Born Friday August 5th, 2016 at 7 pm.  8 lbs even and 21 inches long. 

I call her my angel baby not only because she's heaven sent and perfection itself, but because so far she's made it her mission to minimize distress and maximize delight!

From her painless, restful delivery,one day before she was due,  

to her sedate temperament, wonderful eating and sleeping habits and enthralling dimples (no good photo available yet), she has been the sweetest number eleven I could possibly have hoped for.

Tender mercies of the Lord.