Greg goes to the MTC

Last Monday was President's Day.  It was nice to have everyone home.  I worked on cleaning up some more. Made an I-spy bag, and patched a hole in my jeans. These other guys just played...and did not clean up.  We got to go to a fun little birthday party for a girl who was turning one.  Then we came home and had family home evening.  I talked to Grandma, Grandpa, and Greg for a little while.

Eating lunch

Just having a snack

Hitting hard

Tuesday I tried to clean up a little in the morning before preschool.  Bradley had a fun time at preschool like always.  Lauren got to go on a field trip to a fire station during school.  She said it was fun to see the station, but she didn't get to see where they sleep or eat.   After getting Lauren we made a quick lunch for them to eat in the car, put some white bean chicken chili in the crock pot and hurried up to the airport to get Greg.  We were a couple minutes late so Greg was at the baggage pickup area already, but we beat his bags...which were some of the first off the plane.  We got back in time to pick up Jared.  We worked on homework and Greg called the Jones.  These guys played games with Greg all afternoon and evening. They took a little break to eat dinner when Jeff and Elizabeth came over, but then jumped right back in.  Some of their favorites were uno and war, but Alan and Jared taught Greg how to play Carcassonne too. Greg went to sleep at Jeff and Elizabeth's.

Getting the homework done

Starting with the games

Wednesday we took Greg to do some of our usual things. We went to story time at the library and the to get Lauren. We had a quick lunch here and then went to ready to learn. It was a fun one this time and just had activities and crafts...and books :) Then we had just enough time for a bathroom break and loading Greg's luggage into the car. We went down and checked Jared out of school so he could go with us to drop Greg off at the MTC.  The first missionary we talked to asked if we were there to drop off the missionary in the back (Jared). I said luckily we had a few more years before that.  He told us to go left down the hill. We followed the directions of the Elders in reflective yellow coats (they looked like fireman coats) down the hill by the flag roundabout. Greg recognized one of them which helped put him at ease a little. We pulled in at number 22 and a friendly Elder helped Greg get his bags out of the car. I gave him a quick hug, he said bye to the guys still in the car, and he was off down the sidewalk with the friendly Elder showing him the way.  I buckled Bradley back in (he had to get out to get Greg's bag out of the car).  Then we just pulled out going out a gate at the south side that lets you into the parking lot right to the East of the university press building.  We took Jared back to school.  I got him out at 1:30 and he was back by1:50 and all he really missed was recess.  That night I had a Stake Primary training meeting. It was a good meeting, but got kind of long.  I got to talk to mom and dad a little to tell them how the day went.  Like I told them it was awesome to get to drop Greg off.  The excitement and spirit at the MTC are amazing.   I would gladly drop someone off every week if I could.

Look out Mozambique here he comes!

Thursday Bradley, Connor, and I went and helped in Lauren's class.  We helped write more letters and helped in the hospital center. My visiting teachers came in the afternoon.  The rest of the day was just normal.  We did spend a little time getting ready for the talent show and doing homework.

Friday was the school talent show.  Jared and Lauren did it together.  Jared rode his unicycle and Lauren twirled baton.  They did a great job!  One little girl told me that if it had been a contest they would have won.  When I told these guys they were both beaming. Bradley wanted to stay for the older grades' show, so we did.  It got over right about the time to get Lauren. We met Jared after his school again at the library for another storytelling workshop.  They played some fun games this time and really enjoyed themselves.  Friday night they got to watch the first half of Toy Story 3.

They came up with what to wear all on their own.  I love that they had the idea to match.

Waiting for it to start

Saturday we just had a slow morning. Alan went to work for several hours.  We got to go to the baptism of the little boy who lives across from us.  I got to play the piano.  It has been a long time since I have been to a baptism.  There was a really sweet spirit there.  They had some snacks in the basement when it was over.  I was starting to not feel so great.  Everyone was pretty tired so I ran to Winco so some other guys could take naps. When I got home these guys had cleaned up and were finishing Toy Story 3. I had to hurry and get dinner going. We had a couple from our ward coming over for dinner.   That was our ward activity for the month.  You signed up and they paired you with another family and you were supposed to get together Friday or Saturday for dinner.  We had Hawaiian haystacks. They were yummy...or so everyone else says.  It was all I could do to keep from throwing up while they were here. If they hadn't been here I probably would have just thrown up and gotten it over with.


Today I woke up and stuff is moving through me really fast.  I decided I could go to church, but I think I spent about half the morning in the bathroom. In singing time today we played "scratch and sing" Alan helped me make some scratch off cards.  There were two things to scratch off on each card...a song to sing and a location to find the next card.  It was a fun singing time. (to make the cards you just put packing tape over the part you want covered, then use 1part dish soap and 2 parts paint and paint thin layers over it until you can't see through it...about 4 layers.  I just used white paint, but if you use metallic it looks like a real scratch off ticket) Bradley got to do the scripture for the first time in Primary today too.  Our home teacher stopped by and I took some treats to the ones I visit and stayed for a few minutes. We had chicken noodle soup for dinner.  It was yummy, but didn't sit well.  Hopefully I'll be doing better tomorrow.

Even though these came last week we just took these pictures today.

 "I can't wait!"

"Grandma these are the best!"

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Last Monday our usual little friends came to play.  We got out the geotrax and played that the whole time.   Connor went to the doctor for a well child check.  He is around the 50th percentile for his head and 10 or 15th for height and way off the bottom of the chart for his weight.  He weighed 17lbs 2oz.  The doctor we usually see is just a family practice doctor and he wanted him to see a pediatrician since he is so small.

Tuesday Bradley had preschool. He got to have a Valentine's party.  They did all their usual stuff, but for craft they got to make Valentine holders and everyone took Valentines for everyone else.  I had our in house graphic designer work up a little something and they turned out great!!!  They had a cute monster that we glued a wiggly eye to and they said I have my eye on you.  They were double sided too. He had a really fun time exchanging Valentines with everyone.  Alan taught class for his advisor again that morning.  In the afternoon Connor went back to the doctor.  Lauren and Bradley were really good the day before, but had a harder time Tuesday.  It was also a longer appointment.  They did several blood tests on the poor little guy.   They didn't get enough from the first arm so they had to poke his other one too.  He did get his first dum dum, but it did help him much.  He also had to have a urine test done too.  It wore both of us out!  After getting Jared, I started making Valentine cookies.  We all went to juggling club that night.  Jared got to be interviewed for BYU Weekly.  A show they do on BYU tv.  He has a fun little interview and it shows him riding his unicycle. I made more cookies when we got home.

Working on his Valentines

Alan made them double sided.  It's hard to tell in this picture but the heart on the outside has a monster bite out of it. :)

Connor likes to color Bradley's papers when Brad is done.

His little carrier is stuffed!

Wednesday Bradley, Connor, and I went to the library for story time...and no one got lost.  When we got home I made one more double batch of cookies and then started frosting them.  I just worked on cookies all day...as much as Connor would let me.  Jared and Lauren finished up their Valentines for their classes.  I went to a Relief Society meeting in the evening.  I stayed up a little late, but I got all of the cookies done.

Here are the Valentines Jared and Lauren took.  I forgot to get a picture of them working on them, but they worked hard and colored them real nice.

Thursday was Valentine's Day.  Jared and Lauren had a fun time delivering cookies to their teachers and other people around the school. We dropped Alan off so he could take cookies to his lab and advisor.  Then we headed over to help in Lauren's class. We got to help at the cookie decorating station.  They had little heart cookies and 3 different flavors of pink frosting to choose from.  I'm not sure the last time I looked at all the frosting flavors at the store....if ever.  I had no idea they made pink lemonade frosting ...which was the most popular (other choices were cherry and strawberry).  We worked on packaging the cookies up and delivered as many as we could.  After Jared got home we delivered a few more. We saved a few for Alan to deliver when he got home.  We had a simple dinner of spaghetti and broccoli.  It was a good fun day!

Part of the cookies I made.

Friday I went and helped in Jared class and Brad and Connor went to a friend's.  We met Jared at the library after school for another storytelling workshop.  There were also talent show tryouts after school too.  By the time we got home it was about Jared's regular get home from school time.  We were excited it was the start of a long weekend!  That night these guys worked hard and earned some fun tickets.  We watched Ratatouille and had yummy homemade pizza and popcorn.   It was kind of a late night but we had a lot of fun.


A train track they were proud of.

Saturday morning we got to go to a baptismal preview.  There were 4 kids (there would be one more but they decided to switch to the family ward already) there who will get baptized this year.  It seems like a lot for our ward.   I did some cleaning up in the back bedroom that is mostly storage.  It was so nice outside that these other guys were able to play out there for quite a while. Almost the whole time the laundry was going.  We all went to winco and hurried home and ate dinner. We went to the men's basketball game that night.  They played Portland.

Bradley sleeping in a banana box...He isn't really sleeping, but he wanted to take a nap in it.

They were making all kinds of things!

Do these look familiar?

 Outside!!!!

Look what finally fits!

Saturday night Jared had a fever after we got home from the game. He still wasn't feeling well Sunday morning and even threw up a little.  Alan wasn't feeling well either so they both stayed home.  We had planned on cooking a turkey and since it was defrosted we cooked it anyway.  Jeff and Elisabeth came over to eat with us too.  Jared was feeling better and ate 2 plates of food. I was glad we had saved a turkey ( and a bag of cranberries) in the freezer, but I'm glad to have that freezer space now.

Connor is 1!!!!

Last Monday after getting those guys to school I came back for long enough to do the dishes then Alan dropped me off at the dentist.  I got all the fillings on my left side done..all 10.  Alan was just going to come get me after getting Lauren...that was how long they said it would take.  I got done and hurried down stairs and waited and waited . ...for about 20 minutes.  I decided I better go check and see if I had missed them in the elevator.  Sure enough there they were sitting in the waiting room, watching the birds and making themselves at home...Bradley at least had his shoes off...maybe Lauren too.  They hit a nerve in my cheek while numbing me and it hurt super bad...I almost jumped.out of the chair.  They had to give me a minute or two to recover. I had uncontrollable tears coming out of my eye .  I was glad to be out of there.  The rest of the day was pretty normal.  We did all the usual homework and had family home evening.

Tuesday after dropping those guys off at school I went straight to the dentist. They did the right side of my face ...I had 9 fillings for that side.  I saw a different dentist and I was glad since the one the day before had hurt so bad. Tuesday hurt a lot less and was faster. . I got back home in time to go down to preschool where Alan and Brad and Connor were.  Alan said they had been having a good time.  I got there just in time for playdough.  Alan hurried down to work.  After getting Lauren we came home and I tried to get feeling back to my face.  Tuesday was a lot warmer and we were able to walk down and get Jared.  Lauren rode her bike down and Jared rode it most of the way home.  That evening we went to honks to get some parts for their valentines and then hurried home, ate dinner, squeezed in a hair cut for Jared, and went to juggling club.

Wednesday was Connor's Birthday!!!!! I can't believe this little guy is 1.  Even Jared said wow that went fast.  I baked a cake in the morning.  Connor and Alan slept in and I almost had it all baked and dishes done by the time they got up.  We went to story time at the library.  I had to renew my library card since it had expired and they were having a book sale upstairs.  I figured we could go look quick before getting Lauren. I was looking at all the books and had a pile that I was going to get and when I turned to tell Brad it was time to go he was gone. I searched the whole ballroom for him and couldn't find him anywhere...even calling his name.  I told my friend who was there I couldn't find him. All my books plus Connor were getting heavy and unmanageable...and if I was going out I would have to put them down.  I ran through the whole library and didn't find him anywhere.  I decided he probably really was still in the ballroom since it is not like him to wander.  I went back up there and he was standing by my friend.  I was really glad to find him.  He was pretty upset.  We were late to get Lauren by this time, but I felt like I had to buy the kid a book after all that, so we got him the one he was holding and hurried to get Lauren.  She had been taken to the office to call, but we met her and Mrs.Porter in the hall on their way back out.  It was an exciting morning.  Luckily all we had to do in the afternoon was decorate the cake and wrap a few presents and blow up a few balloons. Bradley wrapped the book he had gotten for Connor.  Jeff and Elizabeth came over for dinner.  We had pancakes with applesauce...they yummy stuff we canned. We also had eggs and bacon.  It was a yummy dinner and Connor loved it.  We skyped with Lindsay, Alan,  and Alyanne and we were able to skype with grandma and grandpa Schachterle and Greg too.  Connor had a fun time opening his presents, but he was pretty tired by cake time.  I'm not sure he would have really enjoyed it anyway,  but he didn't want to touch it. He got his forearm in it and that was pretty upsetting.  He was happy to get a bath after it though. Connor had a pretty fun birthday.

See that little bit of frosting on his pointer...yep that's about all he did.

He accidentally fell and got his forearm in the cake and got really upset about it.

He did a little better with a piece and spoon

But I think he was just tired and really wanted a drink

Turning 1 is hard work!

Thursday Alan taught a couple of.classes for his advisor.  Bradley, Connor, and I got to go help in Lauren's class.  We helped them write letters to classmates, address,  and then send then...by putting them in the right numbered box. It seemed like a pretty fun activity. Some of the kids were really into it and in their 10 minutes or so wrote 4 or 5. Some of the boys were not so thrilled about it and barely made it through one.  Thursday was another really nice warm day and we were able to walk down and get Jared again...it was 46 when we left.  When we got home there were a ton of kids outside.  We were able to play outside for about an hour. It was really nice.

Connor got a really cool play house that goes over our card table.  Alan made it.  These guys have been playing with it nonstop it seems.  You can see tent cities were popular!  There are several cute faces peeking out the window

Better pictures of the awesome play house.

Friday I went to Jared's class and Bradley and Connor went to a friend's.  Part of the time I was timing kids to see how far they could get on a list of 100 words in 1 minute.   The ones who got to do that had a fun time with it.   After school Jared and Lauren had a storytelling workshop, so they can be in the storytelling festival. I was supposed to go the first time too.  Right when we were getting to the school it started snowing...and snowing hard. We had to scrape the car before we left.  When we got home we played for a little while and then made dinner and peanut butter squares and went and meet Alan at his lab.  They were having a game night.  I mostly walked around the Talmage building with Connor, Bradley,  and Lauren. We did play one round of uno.  Alan and Jared had a fun time playing a round of another card game that was there.

Smoothie face!

Saturday we woke up to more snow...but only a couple of inches.  We had a slow morning and got some things done here that needed worked on.  Then we went to Trafalga in Lehi. It has been a few months since we've been there.  We had fun mini golfing, doing the climbing wall, playing in the tunnels, and Alan, Jared, and Lauren laser tag.  We spent a lot longer there than we thought we would. On the way home we stopped at winco.   We were trying hurry fast to get back to make it to a BYU hockey game.  As we got closer to home it had snowed more.  We almost didn't go to the game, but we ended up going and I'm glad.we.did. We had a lot of fun and BYU beat Boise 11 to 1.  It was a really fun day.

Getting rides...and loving it!

Having fun taking apart a router.

We wore him out!

Bradley got a hair cut before church...which was much needed. Alan got released from primary today, so he and Connor got to go to sunday school and priesthood. They both haven't been in quite a while, but seems like they survived.  I did singing time today.  We started learning My Heavenly Father Loves Me.  We talked about our senses a little then I had a lilac candle for them to smell, bird sounds to hear, a picture of blue sky to see (there is no blue sky around here...hasn't been for days..maybe weeks) then I took a spry bottle so they could feel rain I thought that some of them might not like to be sprayed, but they all wanted to, I had a fan to make wind, and a fabric velvety rose for them to touch.  It was a pretty fun singing time. We also sang do as I'm doing 3 times and once there was a snowman For do as I'm doing we tip toes, rubbed or tummies and patted our heads and rode race horses.  When we sang they were all over the room and on their race horses they made a track around the room which was funny and fun.  This evening we made Chinese dumplings to celebrate Chinese New Year. It was fun and they turned out yummy although some of the kids weren't too thrilled with them.  Alan worked on making the valentines tonight.  It was a good day and a good week.

Connor is walking a ton now and he has 4 teeth on the top now to go with his 2 on the bottom.  They all keep growing and getting bigger and smarter.  Jared and Lauren brought home report cards this week and they are doing great.