Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

When I think back to last Monday it seems like a long time ago, but this week went all too fast.  Monday morning Alan took Jared and Lauren to school and then went and got the oil changed in the car.   At home we had some friends come and play.  We had a couple of boys come over all morning and the ones that usually come on Mondays too.  It got a little crazy since it was all 3 year old boys and their little siblings, but we had fun. They all left just in time to walk down and get Lauren.   We worked on cleaning up and we played outside in the afternoon.  We also made a quick trip to get some fuzzy white yarn for Santa's beard on Bradley's stocking.

Tuesday Alan took the car again to get fixed some more.  Some cap was leaking oil out.  Jared and Lauren had early release and we walk down both times to pick them up.  In the afternoon we played outside for a little bit and some more friends came over to play.  That night we went to the last home women's volleyball game for this season.  We had a fun time there and saw Jeff and Elizabeth.

Lauren got to bring home her fun costumes on Tuesday.  Her necklace has a really nice pattern.

Goggles for the turkey hunt!

Bradley's turkey headband from nursery.

Wednesday was the first full day of Thanksgiving vacation!!!  We got ready for Grandma and Grandpa Schachterle a little in the morning.  We went to a special thing they were doing at the museum of peoples and cultures.  They had a scavenger hunt which Jared did and then we made masks.  When we were done there we headed down to ready to learn.  After that we made a quick stop at the library.  We had to really hurry home.  Grandma and  Grandpa got there about 5 minute after we got back.  (Alan had stayed home and cleaned up some more...and Greg came up at some point too.)  We had a fun afternoon just hanging out with everyone.  We worked on pies and make stuffing and cranberry relish too.


Jared read all of the first magic tree house book before breakfast in his underwear...I waited until he was on the second book after breakfast to take the picture.  He was pretty excited about being able to check them out from the school library.

Thursday was Thanksgiving.  We watched the parade in the morning and finished making our food.  Jeff and Elizabeth worked on food at their house too.  Around noon the first group of people went up to the multipurpose building to start setting up.   (We went and ate up there just so we would have more space.)  More went around 1 and the rest got there some time after that.   I think we ate a little after 2...maybe.  We had tons of yummy food!!!  It was fun to go up to the other building too.  After cleaning up a few of us walked up to the great valley (some others had gone on Wednesday too.)  We saw deer there both days.  We came home and finished cleaning up and then ate pie.  Lauren kept asking what dinner was and she was pretty excited to find out that pie and ice cream were for dinner :)

Lauren and Grandpa and Greg were the first ones up to the building to set up.

Making punch!!

Yum Yum Yum!!!

broccoli/ cauliflower bake, stuffing, creamed corn, coconut sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, turkey, gravy, green bean casserole, cranberry relish, rolls

playing while the rest of us stuffed!

Alan was good about taking pictures, but he didn't give us any warning.

Having a ride

Up at the great valley

Pie Time! (pumpkin, reeses peanut butter cup, pear, chocolate chip cookie, walnut, coconut, apple...plus a few doubles)...all that is left now are small slices of pumpkin and walnut!

Friday we got up and went to the temple with Greg, Grandma, Grandpa, Jeff, and Elizabeth.  Spencer was nice enough to come watch Jared, Lauren, Bradley, and Connor.  Luckily for all of them Connor slept most of the time.  We just played more in the afternoon.  Lots of people played outside.  Grandma worked on some of her knitting...and I tried to too.  After lunch/dinner we went up to temple square to see the lights up there.  Everyone was pretty tired, but it was still fun to go see them.

Saturday we slept in a little.  Alan changed some lights on the car that needed replacing and I went to Hobby Lobby with Connor and Grandma and Grandpa.  People played outside more and we watched the BYU football game.  After dinner we played some fun games all together and just enjoyed being together.

Everyone dressing up to show Grandma and Grandpa

Getting a Ride

This morning Grandma and Grandpa got up early and had to leave for home.  We were sad to see them go.  There weren't very many people at our ward today.  Everyone must still have been gone on vacation.  It was a good day.  I worked on Brad's stocking more and we had stations and just tried to recover from such a fun Thanksgiving with everyone.  Jeff and Elizabeth did come over to help finish off the pie...and we almost did.

I'm not really looking forward to going back to school this week, but it will be good.  If we go back it will just get us that much closer to our next break...Christmas!!  There are a couple of things to look forward to this week, so our week should be a good one.  Hopefully yours will be an orange-pineapple one too!

Walked and Walked and Walked and Walked (and sang a little too)

Monday everyone had to get up a little earlier than normal so they could put on all their layers to walk to school.  It was 16 degrees out when they left.  I was glad that Alan walked them down and I could wave bye from inside.  I help some people jump their car and the little kids that usually come on mondays came and played.  We walked down to get Lauren and it was still freezing...but warmer than 16.  We got a flat stroller tire on the way there.  Luckily it was on Connor's side and he is still little, but it was hard to push through the piles of snow that we had to go through in spots.  We just tried to get some cleaning done.  Then walked back down to get Jared.  We walked around quad 2 a little after getting mail.  They had a pretty cool Captain Moroni snow statute in their quad and a horse (laying down).  When I went back on Tuesday to take a picture Moroni had melted enough to fall over, but the horse still looked good.  In the evening we had a fun time having family home evening.

Tuesday Alan walked them to school again and I walked to pick them up.  Depending on how fast they walk home it can take us a little while.  I taught Brad's preschool in the morning too.  I worked on apples any chance I got and Alan helped me can 7 more quarts of apple sauce that evening.

Brad is an amazing apple peeler.  He peeled all the ones you can see on the counter.

He couldn't be slowed down a second time for a better picture with the window closed.

The horse from quad 2 (we went back on Tuesday for a picture)

I had made a little rice box that we used a little at preschool.  These guys had fun playing in it that night and the next...see all those milk lids filled up with rice...they are cupcakes.  They said something like the mom gets to have the most.  I hope I'm still the mom in this game, but I think I overheard that Lauren was the mom...and no the rice didn't stay on the sheet and yes Connor did eat some.

 Wednesday was more walking, but it was a little warmer in the morning...almost twice as warm as monday.  We cleaned up more.  Everyone was getting pretty tired from having to walk so much...especially Lauren.  She had to make more trips than Jared and the other 2 rode most of the time.  Wednesday night Grandma and Grandpa Atherton stopped by for just couple of minutes and dropped off some nice warm winter coats for us.

Thursday we went and helped in Lauren's class.  On our way home we poked our heads into the gym to see Jared and the rest of the first graders having their Thanksgiving feast.  I wish I had the camera. They were all dressed up as pilgrims and indians...teachers too.  They had laid butcher paper down on the floor for the tables and they sat and ate.  It looked like a lot of fun.  Jared was super excited about it.  It was also the first time he got to have school lunch...it was their turkey gravy day.  He said it was pretty good.  It was fun to hear all about it on our walk home.  Thursday night I went to a Relief Society visiting teaching conference.  Midday Alan took the car down and got the windshield replaced.    They got it all done and he started to drive away some snow slid forward and water started running down the inside of the window, so Alan too it back and they fixed it...reglued it.  It is nice to be able to drive again.  Alan also worked on some games for a BlackBerry promotion.   At one point on Thursday we were using the toilet paper to wipe off our white boards and it was in the front room when I went into the bathroom.  Asked Lauren if she could get me a new toilet paper because I knew it was almost gone.  She quickly ran and got me the roll then said "I'll get you a new one if that won't be enough".  I laughed so hard!   All that was left on the roll was the less than one square that is stuck to the tube with glue.  Yep not quite enough. She laughed too :)

Friday Jared and Lauren wanted to walk down to school again.  I went and helped in Jared's class and Bradley and Connor went to a friend's.  We walked down to pick up Jared after school...and almost got poured on.   We worked on some fun little Thanksgiving crafts. Vacuumed out the car (there was still some glass inside), went swimming, and watched Garfield's Thanksgiving.

Jared got to have a powwow on Friday and then bring home his costumes.

The Indian name he picked for himself.  He wanted to be Tasmanian devil...but we don't have them here in America, so he went with the next best one?

Saturday Jared and Bradley got hair cuts first thing in the morning.  Jeff and Elizabeth Stopped by while their laundry was going and we talked about food for Thanksgiving.  We made a list and set off for Winco with a couple of other stops too. Outdoors unlimited was doing a grand reopening party since they moved locations.  We drove by on our way to Winco but it was crazy so we stopped back by on our way home.  When we got home we went to a Paw-ty for a girl in our quad.  They had a bunch of fun animal games to play. Everyone had a good time.  Then we had to hurry home and make dinner for a family that recently had a baby...I kind of forgot, but remembered in time.  We just relaxed after dinner. We watched the exciting and stressful second half of the girl's soccer game.  They won it in a shoot out in the 8th or 9th round.  We also watched the football game.  (I'm sure we saw Ashley and Will at some point when they scanned the BYU fans :)

A nice rainbow Alan got to see while he was unloading groceries and the rest of us were at the party.

Today was our primary program in sacrament meeting.  Everyone did great...and I'm pretty sure you could hear them at the back of the chapel (maybe even in Springville).  I played the piano and Alan had to sit on the stand with his class.  Jeff and Elizabeth were nice enough to come sit with Bradley and Connor.  For singing time we did magic water.  I had clear little cups some with water and some with vinegar.  Then there were spoons with a drop of food coloring on it covered up by baking soda.  Someone would come and pick a spoon and cup and see if they would get a reaction.  If there was a reaction they would get to pick the song and if not then I would pick the song.  The colors were just fun,but maybe if I do it in the future they could determine the song too.  It was a good day at church. Alan said his class had some challenges but they played some fun games today that helped.

"I see you didn't get all the groceries put away.  I can help with that" (I did put the most critical ones away...one turkey in the freezer and one in the fridge)

We are looking forward to our company this week and stuffing our bellies so full of food we'll have to roll home (We are planning on eating at the multipurpose building).  We were kind of slow getting our thankful chart up, but now that it has been up for a week or so it is getting full.  It is fun to see the things  Jared and Lauren choose to write since they are able to write their own things on the chart.  They are pretty into it.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!!

Snap, Crackle, Pop tree branch and Happy Birthday Greg!

Last week started out really nice.  The highs were in the high 60s and maybe even a couple of days in the 70s.  Monday we watched the kids that usually come.  We walked down to get Lauren and Jared.  We also spent most of the afternoon outside...until it got dark.  Adjusting to the time change has been hard for a few of us.  For the most part though we do get to bed earlier than before since it gets dark earlier.  Monday night for family home evening we did silly walks for our game.  It was super fun.

Tuesday Bradley had preschool and it was another really nice day.  We played in the leaves again and just enjoyed the warmer outdoors.  In the evening we went to juggling club.

Wednesday Connor went to the doctor in the morning.  He is healthy, but a little on the small side.  He is 27 1/2 inches long which puts him about the 25th percentile and his head circumference is right above the 50th percentile.  His weight on the other hand is 16 lbs 4 oz.  He isn't even on the chart...below the 5th percentile.  He is pretty active so the doctor just said to boost his calorie intake.  He is still gaining weight (he was 15 lbs 5 oz at 6 months)...just not fast enough.  He seems healthy and happy though.  That night Alan and I made 4 quarts of apple sauce.  (I was able to borrow a water bath canner)  We will be making more really soon!

Thursday Jared and Lauren got to have early release for SEP (student Educator Parent) conferences.  We watched a little boy in the morning so his mom could go and then she watched Bradley and Connor in the afternoon so I could go.  Jared and Lauren are both doing great.  Thursday was starting to be just a little cooler, but still a really nice day.  That night we tried to can some apple pie filling.  It went pretty well, but of the 7 jars only 4 sealed.  We just put the other 3 in bags in the freezer and we'll use some for Thanksgiving.

Friday it was a little wet and rain mixed with snow when we got up...and a lot cooler.  I went and helped in Jared's class and it started snowing while I was there (around 10:30) and it just snowed all day.  We did go out and play a little but only lasted about half an hour.  Greg stopped by in the afternoon...right when Jared was getting home (1:30) and we cleaned up a bit.  In the evening we went to a GSS (grad student society) activity.  They had minute to win it games...about 8 or so...and ice cream.  You got a ticket for each game that you played and 2 tickets if you won it.  Then you could trade your tickets in for ice cream toppings.  It was a really fun evening.  Our power went out at about 10:45 that night and came back on around 1:30 and all night we could hear cracking  and branches breaking and falling and the falling snow with it.  The fire alarm was also making a loud whining sound.  (Jeff and Elizabeth lost power too...they said theirs went off around 9 and didn't come back on until 6:45 in the morning.  We are glad that ours wasn't off for very long)


the snow is just getting started

Connor and I conveniently watched from the cover of the stairwell

Jared made this snowman with his friend.

Saturday morning we woke up to beautiful snow outside.  We had opened the blinds on all the windows to let in a little light and Jared had opened his all the way to look out his window at the snow.  The first thing I saw was a branch that was bending so low that it was touching the hood of a car.  I thought wow they are lucky it didn't break on them.  Then Alan said I should look out the window at our car.  Well the branches did break on our car.  We had 2 different branches from 2 different trees down on our car.  One was about 3 inches in diameter at the break spot and that one went right across the windshield and rolled down the front of the car and probably was the one that broke the antenna.  The other branch was about 10 inches in diameter at the break spot.  It was a really big branch.  By the time it got to our car it wasn't that thick.  It took 5 guys to move it off the car and out of the way.  Our windshield has a nice spider web crack in it, the antenna broke and there are a couple dents in the hood.  There was some glass on the inside of the car and Alan tried to vacuum it out more just fell down.  We are still working on getting the windshield replaced.  There were tons and tons of branches down all over wymount (and I would guess everywhere I just didn't go anywhere else)  The snow was really heavy and most of the trees still had  most of their leaves on them.  Alan tagged along to the store with Jeff and Elizabeth.  We had planned on doing a few other things yesterday too, but we didn't end up doing any of them...except celebrating Greg's birthday with him.  We did play outside and enjoy the beautiful surroundings here.  We had planned on going to the volleyball with Greg...and we thought about walking down, but it was so cold...and we didn't end up going.  Greg came up here and spent the afternoon with us and Jeff and Elizabeth too.  After playing outside and getting frozen most people went over to Jeff and Elizabeth's for hot chocolate and warming up.  Alan stayed home with Connor and me while I finished Greg's cake and made dinner.  I will be a little inconvenient to go without a car for a few days, but it was nice to not have to go out and do anything yesterday and just enjoy our day at home.  The BYU game was a late one.  I watched as I worked on Bradley's stocking.  Hopefully Greg had an ok birthday.  I think the rest of us had a pretty great day.


view out the bedroom window...our car is the one you can't see

coming around the corner of the building..still can't see the car

getting closer...it's under there

oh there it is

from the other side

inside before the branches were off

inside after the branches were removed

playing...wait for mmmeeeeeeee

Yummy!

Connor's first ride

Lets go again!!

Getting pulled home

out again later in the afternoon

Greg said he wanted a Y like Y-Mountain...maybe he didn't want the whole mountain, but that's what he got...our a hidden Mickey, or a disguised cougar head with cute ears, or a crazy rectangle hat with two pompoms on top...poppy seed cake with almond butter cream frosting...at least it tasted good (and you should always keep a 7 year old around to tell you how awesome it is and a 5 year old to tell you she wants the same exact cake but with flowers all over it because there are flowers on mountains too...and she is going to have a flower party next year...and miss I only like chocolate liked the flavor too)

Today we practiced the primary program at church (it is next week).  All the kids know the songs super well.  We were just in the primary room, but for the first songs they were yelling at the top of their lungs.  Then for the rest they still sang out, but had nice singing voices.  Some of the kids that never sing were giving it their all.  It was a fun day to see them all be so confident in their singing.  One of my favorites from the day was singing the wise man and and foolish man.  One of the little boys while singing the rain came down and the floods came up (with hand motions) had his eye closed, singing at the top of his lungs, and kind of swaying to the music.  I think they will all do great next week.  (I ready to get to sing something else!)  Today was also fast sunday for us since we had stake conference last week.  This morning we decided to make dinner in a pumpkin for dinner.  Jeff, Elizabeth, and Greg all came over for dinner again.  We ate kind of late, but it was fun to have everyone over again.

Yum!

Ow he's got me!  Connor pulled out the tub and just started playing.  He is really good about playing on his own.  I called his name and he turned and smiled for the picture.  Then he crawled over right after that and wanted to see the camera.

Have A Wonderful Orange-Pineapple week...We will just have to be dreaming of tropical here.