One year older and hopefully wiser too

Last Monday was a pretty good day.  Jared got to celebrate his Birthday in his school class, so I went to the store and got creamsicles for him.  I took them to him at his lunch time and they got to eat them sometime in the afternoon while at recess.  Jared's lunch time is right about when Lauren is getting out of school.  I watched a couple little kids for an hour in the morning too (we trade so I can help in Jared's class. ).  But there wasn't much else going on and I chose not to do some of my normal chores either (although I paid for it later in the week...dishes weren't fully caught up until Thursday....and really are they ever).  We spent lots of time playing outside.  In the evening we went up Provo canyon to Bridal Veil Falls and had a picnic.  We had bihon and I sure I liked it more than everyone else...They let me eat the leftovers for lunch most of the week.  It was a lot cooler day and it even rained on us.  It has been awhile since we've been to the falls and there is a new fish area and fish food to feed to them.  We didn't know so we didn't have any quarters, but there was a nice guy there with his FHE group that shared.  It was a good fun Birthday...and I finally got a Y cookie cutter.

Tuesday  Bradley had his preschool in the morning.  In the afternoon I had a doctor's appointment to get my mole removed.  I thought that they were going to take it off that day, but all they wanted to do was talk about it, so I had to go back.

Wednesday our family went to Jared's class and did our family presentation...every student has a week to be the VIP.  Jared took a VIP poster on Monday.  For the presentation we were supposed to just share about our family.  Lauren and Bradley both took things that would tell about them.  Lauren took her swimsuit and a stuffed animal dog that she likes.  Bradley took the unicorn costume.  Alan was able to show pictures and videos of his robot and I showed a picture of one of the cakes I have made.  We also showed on a map where our ancestors are from.  Jared introduced us to his class and his class to us.  When Jared introduced his class to us he just held a pointer over their heads and they said their own first and last names.  It was super hard to understand them and it was fast.  Then for the rest of the time we just juggled.  It was pretty fun.  Brad, Connor and I went to the library story time in the morning too.

Thursday we helped in Lauren's class.  Later in the day I went to the doctor again and this time they really did remove my mole.  I was pretty nervous, but it all went well.  I have 3 stitches and since they are right close to my hair line they are hardly noticeable.  We saw Greg a couple of times on Friday and he didn't notice until the 2nd time we saw him when we were saying bye...and Greg said something like your mole is gone...where is the rest of it.  That's kind of how I feel.  I'll just be left with a line scar right close to my hair line.  I went visiting teaching later in the day and then to Lauren's last soccer game.  She had a fun time, but she made sure to tell me that she wants to do swimming lessons next.

Friday I went and helped in Jared's class (Bradley and Connor went to a friend's)  Then in the afternoon Greg stopped by on his way home from the Temple and a little later we went and juggled at a tailgate party for parent's weekend.  Then we walked over to the tailgate party by the stadium.  It was a really nice day...The week gradually warmed back up.  We had fun at the tailgate party and came home and watched the game.

We had chips and cheese and salsa during the game.  Connor went all the way across the room to get there and then got caught.

Saturday we didn't have much so I decided it was the day I was going to start the great clothes shuffle.  Trade boxes and rebox and sort put small ones away and get out bigger and just get them all organized better.  I worked on it on and off throughout the day...and a little more on it today...and it should be finished by the time I go to bed.  We also went to the Museum of Peoples and Cultures.  They were open and having a few extra things since it was free national parks and museum day.  There weren't too many people there when we were...just the workers at the museum.  It was fun to stop by for a few min.  Then we went to Winco.  On the way home we stopped at the splash pad at the Riverwoods.  I walked through Williams Sonoma while everyone else got soaked.  We hurried and put away our groceries and them went to McDonalds and got ice cream cones with some free cone coupons we had that were expiring.  We came back and I worked on the clothes some more.  Jeff and Elizabeth stopped by and Elizabeth reminded me about the broadcast...which was good.  I was forgetting even though it was on the calendar.  I really enjoyed the broadcast.  Everyone else got lots of outside play time with dad and Jared practiced his unicycle a lot.  It was a great day.

Today I worked on the clothes more and went to church.  In the evening there was a Priesthood meeting and we got a new councilor in the stake presidency.  President and Sister Freestone got called to be MTC presidents at the MTC in the Dominican Republic.  It was a good day.  Jared and I both got sung to for our birthdays in primary.


Lauren rocking out on a guitar she made earlier...see all the boxes

We are looking forward to another fun week!

Jared's 7th Birthday!!!!!

This past week has been super busy!!! Last Monday I guess there really wasn't much, but I think that is the only day.  We just had a fun time playing outside and having Family Home Evening.

Tuesday Bradley had his preschool in the morning and we walked down to pick up Lauren.  Then just getting some stuff done in the afternoon before getting Jared.  After we got Jared he hurried and delivered his invitations to his birthday party.  Then we got Alan and went to Ikea.  Alan wanted to get some things there to build a standing desk.  Kids eat free there on Tuesdays and we had a free dinner coupon from earlier this Summer...so we got to enjoy our dinner there.  They all loved it and had a fun time....too bad it isn't a little closer so we could go there every week.

Here is what Alan made...

Wednesday was the day I think...that I drove 6 kids to school.  When we were headed out to the car our neighbor who drives more neighbors car wouldn't start so we ended up taking them all.  When I got home we took Alan down since he was in a hurry.  Then my visiting teachers came.  Bradley, Connor and I went to story time at the library, got some boxes (for Jared's party) from BYU recycles, brought the boxes home, picked up Lauren, stopped by home really fast and went to ready to learn (which was in the court house building this time...we got to have a self guided tour while trying to find the class).  After ready to learn we came back and I watched some neighbor kids until it was time to pick up Jared.  After getting Jared we went to Winco.  Then hurried home and ate dinner quick (chicken from Winco) and I went to a Relief Society activity....What a day!

Thursday seemed almost as busy.  After dropping everyone off there was a birthday party in the quad for a little girl.  We had to leave early to help in Lauren's class.  We walked down and got a flat tire on the stroller on the front wheel, so the way back I just had to tip it back and they rode on 2 wheels.  We just had time for lunch and then we watched the Stuart kids.  Keith was defending his dissertation...and he passed and is done!  Jessica got back just in time for me to go get Jared.  While I was watching them we went outside and Brad and I were playing and he caught my mole...it started bleeding...luckily someone was out there who could keep an eye on everyone for a minute.  After getting Jared we worked on homework...like every day.  I forgot to go visiting teaching...oops...so I'll go next week.  I remembered I had forgotten on our way out the door to Lauren's soccer game.  Jared had an accident at the game...which made it quite exciting.  When we got home I went to our quad community meeting and Alan got home not too long after that.  He stayed for some info sessions...it was the career fair.  I made a quick trip to walmart and baked some cupcakes.  Alan made the pinata. It was a long crazy day.

Friday I spent most of the day getting ready for Jared's party.  I did go help in Jared's class (Brad and Connor go play at a friend's for it).  I made a few more cupcakes, frosted them all, and 2 batches of jello popcorn...plus a few other getting ready things.  Alan had a couple of preliminary interviews and went to another presentation.  Jared's party was at 3.  Alan made it home in time and Greg came up to help too.  Jared's party was a cardboard box party.  It was one of the funnest parties ever.  We just played with boxes for the first hour and then had a pinata and cupcakes, popcorn, and drinks.  It was simple but tons of fun.  I think everyone loved it.  I passed out 44 bags for the pinata...and that's only for the kids that cared...there were several too small and a couple too big to need bags for candy....it was a huge party!  After the party we went to the fall festival at Wasatch for a few minutes.  When we got home we went up and said bye to the Stuarts (they flew out early Saturday morning)...we sure will miss them.  We are all really good friends with their family...we did Jared's party this day so Nathan could be there...Jared says he is his best friend.  I think Friday night I turned to Alan and said day 1 of crazy weekend down.

Jared and Lauren's pop bottle creations they had to before school Friday morning

all the cupcakes...

toss the balls in the holes

our cardboard city...just getting started

bubble wrap hop scotch

creation 1...

creation 3 or 4...or so...

city from the other side

Lauren in her house/ car

pinata...look at all those kids...

Jeff stopped by right about clean up time and played with Bradley and Connor

and we put Greg to work

Saturday Lauren had a soccer game at 10 (we took the treat).  The Wymount opening social was also at 10 so we hurried over there after.  They changed the set up a little this year and had a few different activities...over all I liked it better.  One of the new ones was rubber ducky races...it was pretty fun...and mine got 3rd.  Greg went with us (to the game too) and his got 1st.  In a different heat Jeff and Elizabeth went 1 and 2.  Jared tried sliding down the duck track too...There was also tug of war...I had never seen a rope break until Saturday...it was pretty entertaining to watch both sides fall over backwards.  At the end we had to hurry to Jared's game (we took the treat).  Then we went to a baby shower for a couple that used to be in quad 2 at Rock Canyon park.  It was fun...and there were a few ice blocks that had been left there, so Jared and Lauren gave it a try.  From there we hurried home to drop some people off and I took Greg to get some dance shoes then hurried back and gave him a hair cut.  He was trying to get to the Folk Dance opening social.  I started working on dinner when I got home and after dinner we went down to Spanish Fork to hear a Piano Guys concert.  They were having sound problems so it started late and then we couldn't hear very well...and we were all tired...so we left before it was over...but I think we got to hear some of our favorite songs.

cake walk at the opening social

ducky slide

jump jump jump

Jared's last soccer game

before the concert started

Today is Jared's birthday.  It was also the Brigham City Temple dedication.  It was broadcast to all the stakes in Utah and some in southern Idaho.  We didn't have regular church.  Jeff and Elizabeth went to the 9:00 session and then watched our kids so we could go to the 12:00 one.  There was also one at 3.  Elder Packer presided and Elder Nelson and Elder Perry were also there.  It was really nice.  Jared wanted barbecue chicken and mashed potatoes for dinner...we also had some broccoli and green salad, and tried some fish that our neighbors left for us.  We had presents and cake and ice cream.  It was just a really nice day spent with family.  We sure are lucky to have Jeff and Elizabeth and Greg here with us right now.

I don't know why the tube kept getting clogged...the frosting was like soup

I'm looking forward to a little less crazy week coming up...at least I hope.

Visit from Great Grandma

Last Monday Alan got his paper all turned in and submitted and everything.  That was really good and nice.  In the evening I took Jared, Lauren, Bradley, and Connor to a city services fair.  I feel like most of this stuff was just usually at the Clark County fair. It had firemen, policemen,  public utilities,  parks and Recreation,  the library...I'm probably forgetting some.  It was pretty fun.  They were letting people spray fire hoses,and giving bucket rides in the bucket truck...We didn't get to ride on it....We did get to go on a bus...and get ten tons of free pencils :)  some were even color changers...like changes as it gets hot...what were those things called...I don't remember just that I thought they were pretty cool.  The weather started getting pretty nasty...really windy...so they started to take everything down.  It turned into a big thunderstorm the lightning was pretty close.  We picked Alan up on the way home and by the time we were getting him it was pouring pretty good.  We came by home for just a couple of minutes and them went to the library for the Provo reads kick off party...I was hoping to win a book, but we didn't get any.  We saw though on our way that lightning had struck Y mountain and started a fire...Luckily it didn't burn too much...it was still smoldering on Tuesday though.  I could see the smoke when I walked down to pick up Lauren.

Connor loving green smoothie

Driving the Bus

Tuesday was a normal day.  Bradley got to go to preschool again...just in the basement here.  Lauren and Jared had good days at school too. They had a special flag ceremony in the morning for the whole school.  Jared just happened to wear red white and blue and was pretty happy about it.  Jared had a soccer game in the evening.

Playing at Jared's soccer game....

Wednesday  was just regular.  I got to talk to Mom and Maggie in the morning.  It was school picture day too.

This pretty much sums up our morning...

Jared wanted one of his own

Thursday Bradley, Connor and I went to story time at the library.  Then walked down to pick up Lauren...like we do every day.  Thursday is show and tell for both Jared and Lauren.  Jared took a picture he drew and Lauren was supposed to take two things that rhyme...she took a doll and ball and a hat and cat.  Lauren had a soccer game after school.  Then there was a Grad student society opening barbecue.  There was food, jumpy things, and balloon animals.  It was fun to see so many friends there....our whole stairwell could have gone, but we only saw 3 of the 5 other families...plus several others from our quad.

Friday afternoon one of Jared's good friends had a birthday party...and a going away party.  They will move on Saturday and our whole family will miss them.  They all have become good friends.   Nathan had a fun party...decorating cupcakes and playing in the quad.  That evening we went and picked apples at Alan's co-worker's house.  He has a green apple tree and he doesn't like apples...and neither does his family.  It had a ton of apples.  Even though we brought home 8 grocery bags full it didn't look like we made a dent.  I'll be busy with apples this coming week.  Brad was picking a cookie to eat and he saw one and said I don't want that one...it is too spongy.  (It was upside down)  I'll have this one (It was right side up).  I thought it was a pretty good description of how the bottom of the cookie really looked...but I have no idea how he knew that...We don't have a sponge....I was surprised.

Saturday morning Grandma Schachterle called and said they were in Ogden and coming to visit..If we were available later in the day.  I said sure.  They came around 1 and stayed until about 4. It was fun to get to see them.  It has been about 2 years since we last saw them.  Jared pulled out marbles. First thing...that is one of his memories of great grandpa's house.  Jared also said that Great Grandpa likes to play more than dad.  He has good memories.  Jeff and Elizabeth and Greg came to visit too.  In the evening we had an adult stake conference meeting.  We took Connor but Greg came over and watched the others.   When we got back from the meeting they were all dressed and ready to go to a wedding reception...we were surprised.  The wedding reception was for a guy that used to work in Alan's lab. Then we hurried home to watch the BYU Utah football game.

Today was regional conference.  We saw a broadcast at our stake center.  It was for all the stakes in Utah county...all 146.  It was broadcast from the Marriott Center and Elder Oaks presided. This afternoon we saw some old friends from quad 2 and walked up to the temple.

Brigham City Temple open house

Last Monday was Labor Day.  We didn't have a plan when we got up, but it didn't take me too long to decide that we were going to go to the Brigham City Temple open house.  I had looked at when tickets were still available for and none of the times worked for us.  I decided that we should just go...and if we were going to just go Monday was the best day.  It took us a little while to get ready but then we were off...I really had to drag everyone else along...but I think in the end they were all glad.   We called Greg after we had already left home to see if he wanted to go along.  He said sure..I'm not sure he knew what he was getting himself into.  The drive was fine, but I guess tons of people decided to go on Monday too.  The line to get in went out and around the whole Temple.  It took about an hour to get into the parking garage...We thought when we got there we would be in, but there was still more line inside.  We watched a video and then waited some more.  Seeing and being in the line outside reminded me of the Portland Temple open house.  The Temple was beautiful inside and outside.  They had little white booties to put on to cover your shoes.  Bradley was really tired, but there was no way he was going to put them on.  He just kept screaming at the top of his lungs No I don't want them!!!!  In the crowded spot with the other people who had waited to go into the Temple.  They said he could just take his shoes off and go through in his socks, but he didn't want to do that either.  He did finally put the white shoe covers on.  The peach blossom is a theme throughout the Temple and it is really pretty.  We got Greg home just after seven (We had left close to noon) so he could eat and hopefully find his family home evening group.  I think everyone enjoyed our trip...even if it was a little long and spur of the moment.

 Trying to hide out in the one little shady spot on that side of the Temple

Tuesday was back to school.   Bradley got to go to a preschool some moms are doing in the basement.  There were 22 kids there.  It was a ton.   It is all the 2 and 3 year olds plus any siblings they have who aren't in school.  It was fun and Brad really liked having something to call his own.  We got done just in time to walk down and pick up Lauren.  Jared had his first day of full long days.  He survived.  We picked Alan up on our way to Jared's soccer game.  Jared did great as always.  Alan came home for dinner and then went back to work.

Wednesday we walked down to pick up Lauren.   She is loving Kindergarten and had a great day.  Jared happened to see us at lunch recess and got really sad and didn't want us to leave.  He was still crying when the bell rang to go back to class.  I sent him in and he had a good rest of the day.  He was still crying in line and all the others in his class wanted to know what happened and he just told them that he was sad.  I guess they talked a little about it in his class and he was fine. We went and walked around campus a little after leaving Jared.  The bell tower was playing Skip to My Lou.  This is the second time I have heard it being played and it is just so fun...it makes me happy.  Alan came home for dinner and the went back to work for a marathon night.  I think he got home around 5 am.

Thursday after dropping Jared and Lauren off we came home and tried to do everything that requires water since ours was getting shut off for most of the day...water plants, dishes, Brad even had a bath.  We woke Alan up just before 10...when they were turning it off.  Then we walked with him down to campus and then over to get Lauren.  After we got Lauren we walked back over to campus.  It was involvapolooza Thursday and Friday.  It is when lots of the clubs around campus try and recruit new members so they have booths and things set up.  It is pretty fun just to walk around and see what some of the clubs are.  We saw Greg on campus too...which is always fun.   Thursday Lauren had a soccer game....then Alan went back to work....but didn't stay as late.

Jared has been having color days at school, but Thursday was the last one and it was rainbow day...  There was a full double rainbow on rainbow day.   It was really vivid you can see how it comes down in front of the mountain.

Friday after we picked up Jared (he always gets early release on Fridays ) we went over to campus.  He wanted to see what was going on.  It was all about over when we got there, but Jared and Lauren both got to try climbing the climbing wall that the Army ROTC had there.  Jared went all the way to the top and rang the buzzer.   Friday night Alan came home for dinner and then we dropped him off at work on our way to the volleyball game.  We played Utah...and won in 3 games.  We all had a fun time.  Brad was a great dancer and you should see Lauren's Y dance!!!!

Saturday morning was our stake breakfast.  It was a yummy breakfast with a few games for kids...like fishing and bean bag toss. Jared had a soccer game.  They won and Jared scored a couple of goals.  Jeff and Elizabeth came to the game...and the breakfast.  It was fun to see them some.  In the afternoon we watched the football game.  Alan worked on some builder workshop kits with them and we went to winco.

Today was a good day.  I did singing time....it was a little crazy!!!!  So were both of the nurseries.  I think later church time is just in the middle of everyone's naps...as opposed to your nap being in the middle of church. :)  For dinner we had mashed potatoes,  corn on the cob, and grilled chicken.  It was all really good.  I also mixed up a can of pink lemonade.  At the end of the meal Brad was drinking his and looked down in the bottom of his glass and said "I don't want fish in it".  I laughed really hard.  Poor guy thought the pulp were fish.  Bradley loves corn!!! He husked 2 of the 3 pieces we had tonight.  I broke them all in half...Jared didn't eat one and Bradley at 2 with dinner.  One got taken back inside after dinner...in the pot with the lid on.  A little while later Brad came along and looked in the pot and said oh I want the last corn.  Lauren said  I want it too.  I told them they could share it.  Bradley started eating it and ate the whole thing except one or two little kernels then gave it to Lauren and said here Lauren you can have it now....to which she said It's gone!!!!

Hey I want your corn

Lets Go!!!

Connor can get wherever he wants to pretty much now.  He will go looking for me and pretty much always heads to the kitchen...even if he saw me go the other way...He is still just scooting, but he is getting faster.  Also one day last week while I was folding laundry on the floor next to him he dropped his toy into the laundry basket and he almost pulled himself to standing to get his toy back.

Alan's paper is due on Monday so hopefully we will see him a little more...and he will be able to sleep a little more too.