Friday was an Exciting Day

Friday was the day the kids got to see who their teachers were and who was going to be in their class. I took them right before lunch time. They were so eager that the car barely stopped before they were out the door and running up to the window. Emma got the teacher she wanted. Too bad for me she didn't get Mr. Nelson, the teacher I wanted her to have. Who wouldn't want a teacher that dresses up like Willy Wonka at Halloween and a 6'4" long-haired elf at Christmas? Apparently Emma. Andrew got a brand new male teacher. We don't know anything about him but this will be the first time that he has a "boy teacher".

That afternoon Emma went shoe shopping with Jenna and her mom and Andrew played here with Max and Nick. They were heading outside to play when they heard the ice-cream truck. They began chasing it but it was down the hill. By the time they all got their money the truck was on it's way to other destinations. I was ready to drive them around and chase it down when it started working its way back up the mountain. My fatal error of the day was to give Andrew $5. I neglected to tell him I expected change. He bought two ice-creams and I got $1 back. Boo! When he saw that I was a little peeved he said he had gotten it for me. Uh, riiight. Then he said he had gotten it for Emma. When I gave him the stink eye for that story he gave up and asked if he could just have both. I said no and we gave it to Emma when she got home. He did get some bites.

Shoes? Who need shoes? Not these three.

Doesn't he look so satisfied with all his loot?
He's not the only one.

What is better than Back to School shopping?

This year we have tried so hard not to go overboard with back to school shopping. Today we got a few supplies like colored pencils, mechanical pencils, folders, notebooks and socks. Emma said "this isn't as much as last year." Yes, I know but we didn't need all that stuff that we bought last year. We have tried to scale down everything. I did splurge by getting them some post it notes. I seriously have the hardest time staying away from back to school supplies.

With the exception of clothes (More to come on that later. We are still waiting for an online order before we can do a complete inventory and the annual picture of all their outfits.) we have done quite well. We only bought them two pairs of Crocs and one pair of tennis shoes. Last year I had different shoes to match all the different outfits and that was a waste. They always wore the easy to slip on shoes because we were rushed to get out the door every morning.

Andrew needs to learn that Crayola is where it's at. He wanted generic. He can't be my child.

I even got myself a thing or two. I was going to buy a planner online, at a price that I won't mention, to help me juggle work, kids and activities. I just couldn't spend the money. I found a cheapy one today and it even has a pocket in the cover where I can personalize it with pictures or a little scrapbook page. Now I won't feel guilty if I don't use it regularly.

I am getting excited and maybe starting to count down the days a little until they go back to school and we are back in a routine.

Some More Hawaii Pages

I want it known before I get any smart comments about how pineapples aren't flowers that these were ornamental, tiny, pineapples that were planted around a hotel lobby like...flowers. So there.



I still want to do pages for sunsets, our Luau, the road to Hana, the food and just some of our favorite shots. Once I get everything done I will order a photobook. If all goes well I will be done before 2010 ;)

We're Keeping Busy 'Round These Parts

This week has had us running here and there. Monday I went into find out some details on what I would be doing for Paul's company. After that I took my camera in while Emma and Paul got some food at Taco Amigo. I met them there, ate lunch super duper fast and hurried home so I could get Andrew from his primary class party. The rest of the day was a lot more relaxed. 

Tuesday the kids had a second craft class at Robert's. We had signed them up to make T-shirts and door signs. I think the door sign class went a little smother than the other class, but not much. All that matters is they had fun, right? 

That afternoon we had reservations for the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house. We got to South Jordan just in time. This open house was a lot better than Draper because they didn't bus you in. We walked right up and got in a tent for the movie on the importance of temples. I loved the movie they played. It talked about our ancestors who helped build up that part of Utah. The testimonies that were shared, especially Elder Holland's, were very touching. 

After the movie we got to do the shuffle through the temple. I hate that it is so crowded and slow going. I don't let it bother me though because I know how important it is for the kids to be there and to see the beauty. Here is a link to some photos of the interior.

We loved the chandeliers that they had all throughout the temple. It was breathtaking. I also love all the beautiful art that is in the temples. 

After we were done with the tour we got our cookies, took some pictures and headed to the Texas Roadhouse for dinner. Dang that was good.   

Family Fun at Seven Peaks

This past school year the kids earned free passes to Seven Peaks for being a Peak Readers. Paul took the day off so we could have a nice family day. Of course we chose to go on what I am pretty sure is the last valid day for the pass. We ran into Rees and Kari there and saw one other family from our ward so apparently we aren't the only procrastinators LOL!

We started pricing everything out and we were shocked that Seven Peak's website boasts about affordable family fun. Good grief. They nickel and dime you to death. They charge an arm and a leg for the day ticket, they charge for parking, they charge for tube rentals, they charge you for shade and the food is expensive. Luckily the kids were free, we had a buy one get one half off coupon for Paul and I and then at the entrance we signed up to listen to a time share presentation over the weekend and got a gift card that paid for about half of our entrance fee. Plus we will get a mini-getaway, gas money and $100 restaurant gift card. We love getting free gifts from time share presentations. We have gotten really good at saying, "no, we just want the gifts."

Back to the important stuff. The kids were so excited to go. So excited! See, that's excited.

I was pretty overwhelmed by the whole thing. Paul and I hadn't been there since the 90's and didn't know what to expect. I wanted to know where the kids were but also wanted them to feel like they had some freedom. I think we did that pretty successfully.

We rented a cabana because we wanted to make sure we had some shade but it was so far away (thus the surprisingly reasonable rate) that we hardly used it. It was also much bigger than we expected.

I think the kids managed to go on just about everything big and scary at least once. They are such dare devils. It blows my mind that they want to try the biggest and craziest slides.

Both kids did the blue slide on the right and Emma did the yellow slide.

Emma and Paul getting ready to go on the Boomerang while Andrew and I waited for the "Toilet Bowl"

This is what we call the toilet bowl.

Andrew picking out his wedgie.

That is Emma way. up. there.
Yes those are her feet.
Pretty excited that she did it.
Andrew in the wave pool.
Andrew coming down the big slide. Great splash little buddy.

Here goes Emma for round two. I did better with the camera this time.
This is the Boomerang. Who thought this was a good idea? I missed Paul and Emma going down it for the first time. Andrew and I were in line waiting for the "Toilet Bowl" slide and we didn't make it in time to catch them.

Here goes Emma on her second trip down. She went three times today.

Andrew and I decided to go too. We were both really nervous. The first drop is a doozy.

We were both glad when it was over.
Can you spot Emma? Here's a hint. She is on the yellow slide.

Toward late afternoon all the sport camp kids from BYU came by the bus loads. As a matter of fact a herd of boys had taken over our cabana while we were away even though our neighbors had told them is was rented and our stuff was still there. Idiots! We kicked them out then ended up leaving shortly after since it was getting so crowded.

It was fun and we will do it again next year if they offer the same Peak Reader program. I guess we better start saving now ;)

You Could Win a $50 Gift Certificate

Hey Readers. Do you want a chance to win a $50 from Fat Quarter Shop? Rachel from p.s. I Quilt has a giveaway on her blog. Click the link so you can sign up for your chance to win. You can earn up to three entries. Good luck!

I know what you've been thinking...

Her pictures just get crappier and crappier. Okay probably not, but that is what I have been thinking. I was missing shots left and right. The majority of the pictures I took were out of focus. (Notice Emma's picture above. It looks like poop.) I was struggling to find usable shots. The camera would pause, not be able to focus, or just not take the picture at all. I thought that I had managed to kill my D80 in just two years. (Super big sad face here) I have shot about 30,000 pictures in that time! I took it in to a local camera shop and it was diagnosed as having some obvious dust on it's sensor. I am so excited to have that taken care of. Maybe now I will have more pictures to blog ;)

Pages for Week 29

Wow these are ginormous!!! Perhaps I will use Photobucket more often.

Summer Storms

We get some pretty good summer storms around here. They consist of thunder, lightning and even rain at times. Since we are perched so far up it is easy to see the lightning striking all over the valley. Saturday night there was a wicked electrical storm west of the lake. Some looked like bolts and other strikes would make the whole sky light up.

I have always wanted to try to photograph lightning but the storms are pretty short. Saturdays storm kept going and going and going... I actually managed to catch some but it looks nothing like what I had hoped it would look like. It's pretty sad actually. But I did it. I managed to catch lightning. Woot. (Mock enthusiasm)

Emma Cracks Me Up!

Some day she will kill me for this. Friday night we spent most of the day shopping in Park City. We also ate out twice. When we got home Emma "had to take care of business." I was busy doing something when Paul said, "you have to see this".

We do have a lock on the bathroom door, and it works, sometimes a little too well. Kids have been known to get locked in. My kids chose not to use it for that very reason. I guess this sign was a better warning than "Stay Out" or "Occupied". I mean really, if you know for sure that pooping is in progress aren't you going to stay far far away?