Last Full Week of School!

This last week has been fun with all of the end of school activities.  Last Monday Lauren got to go on a field trip to Hee Haw Farms in Pleasant Grove.  It was kind of a cooler rainy day, but she said they didn't get too wet and had a fun time.  The rest of the day was pretty normal Monday routine.

Tuesday was another fun day for Lauren.  All the kindergarteners (morning and afternoon) went in the morning.  They got to practice the jello dance for the last day of school dance festival.  They also got to meet the first grade teachers and eat lunch in the cafeteria.  Jared also choose to have school lunch that day.  In the afternoon we played outside for along time.  We did squeeze in homework too, but we are looking forward to not having some soon.

Wednesday Alan and I went and juggled for Lauren's class (Bradley and Connor got to come too).  We had a fun time.  The kids always get really into it.  The next day one little boy told me he really liked our tricks and some of them he had never seen before.  Lauren also got to celebrate 2 birthdays in her class.  Between all of the fun things I'm not sure she had to do much of real school.  Bradley Connor and I also went to the library to return Harry Potter 4 and to check out some new books for Jared and Lauren.  They have been working on reading Harry Potter 4 at bedtime for several months and they finally finished it!  It was another nice day and we played outside.  That evening we went to a little marriage class that someone here in Wymount has to do for their capstone project.

Planting a few flowers in the evening.

Helping and being cute!

Thursday we just got some things done around here in the morning.  Lauren got to have circus day.  They dressed up in costumes and performed a little act for their class.  Lauren's act was walking on stilts....she dressed up like a clown.  It is a pretty fun day.  Mrs. Porter also dressed like a clown (complete with wig) and they got popcorn and everyone got to bring home a balloon.  I loved seeing all the kindergarteners come out to leave all dressed up.  One of my favorites was a girl in bib type snow pants (no shirt?) and huge flippers.  There were lots of good ones.  Jared and Lauren both had early release.  We played outside in the afternoon.  Then in the evening we went to the Computer Science Barbeque.  It is for faculty, alumni, and grad students.  It is always a fun little party.  Jared, Lauren, and Bradley were looking forward to the ice cream bars and pinata.  Alan went back to work after the party that night.

Lauren the clown

Bradley got to make a perler bead creation at a friend's house in the quad....pretty good for a 3 year old.

Friday was field day.  Bradley, Connor, and I went to help out.  We got to be at the parachute station with 3 other parents.  There were 2 parachutes and 2 classes would come at a time and get to play for 10-15 minutes then they would blow a horn and everyone would rotate.  There were also relays, obstacle courses, musical chairs, and a few others I can't remember right off.  Bradley wore a red shirt just like the adults helping, so he felt like he was a big helper.  He was good at throwing the balls back on the parachute when they fell off and making sure Connor didn't wander too far away.  It was sunny and warm!  We were all happy to get our otter pops when it was over.  Since Lauren was almost done with school then we just waited for her.  We came home and had lunch then went back for Jared.  We walked home (like most days this week) and it seemed like most people were already gone on vacation.  Several families around here went places for the weekend too, so the quad seemed quieter than normal that afternoon.  Alan got home around 8, just as we were finishing dinner.

over under

Saturday we cleaned up in the morning and went shopping.  Then in the afternoon Jared and Lauren went to a birthday party at a martial arts studio.  They had fun trying some new things.  They gave the birthday boy some marshmallow shooters and a bag of marshmallows.  (We really should have a huge war at the reunion this summer.)  We were able to make 10 simple marshmallow guns for under 5 dollars.  After the party we played outside some and Alan cleaned the bathroom for us.  Brett came up to play for a bit and had dinner with us.  I love when it is warm enough to eat outside.  I think partly just because it is nice, but partly because we are all eating at a table...or in the grass.  We watched a little more of Bedknobs and Broom Sticks (started it the night before).

Today was just a normal Sunday.  Alan did sub in primary and taught Jared's class.  There were only 3 of them today (so better than the 15 he taught a year ago).  I also did singing time.  We learned the 3rd verse of We Thank Thee, O God, For A Prophet.  We also learned a little about William Fowler (the composer).  Then we played a game with a cootie catcher...some review, some name that tune fun songs.  It was a fun day.  This afternoon we enjoyed eating outside again. Alan went home teaching and the rest of us talked to Ashley and Will for while he was gone.

We are excited for the holiday tomorrow!  And we are really looking forward to later in the week when school's out for the Summer!

No school week for Lauren

Last Monday Lauren just had to go to school for her walking assessment.  Which meant we went with her and went to some centers with her while she showed us what she has been learning all year.  Jeff came and babysat Bradley and Connor so Alan and I were both able to go with her.  She got to come home right after that.  We walked down to pick up Jared (and some neighbor kids we were also picking up that day).  It was super hot!  Over 90.  It was our first day over 90 for the year.  Our first day over 80 was just on the Friday before.  The weather man said that there are usually 38 days between the first 80 degree day and the first 90 degree day.  This year is just weird.  It did feel really hot.  We had snow cones and a water fight when we got home that afternoon.

Lauren didn't have normal school at all last week because of the assessment and testing.  Tuesday was a testing day, but not hers.  She just got to be home all day.  We played and cleaned.  In the morning we also took Brett to the social security office so he could get another card so he can work on campus.  Watch out library custodial crew here he comes!  It was another warm day, but only high 80s :)  In the evening we went to Tate's baseball game at Pleasant Grove High School.  They won.  It was a nice evening for sitting out at a game.

Fields full of dandelions at Tate's baseball game.

Wednesday Lauren did have her testing first thing in the morning.  I went and waited at the school while she did it.  Alan was still home to be with Bradley and Connor.  Mid-day we went to the meeting before ready to learn and got to have pizza lunch there and then stayed for ready to learn.  It was a substitute lady teaching this time (She used to teach several years ago).  She is from Kanab and her dad was Great-Grandma McAllister's home teacher for years.  She also kept chickens in Great Grandma's back yard for a long time.  We walked down to get Jared then played outside and ate popsicles.

Guacamole and black bean and corn salsa for dinner, but no one would sit still enough for a picture!  (Alan tried to take several!)

Thursday our day was totally open (except for Jared's school).  We cleaned up around here, and played outside.  It was nice to eat munch outside almost every day last week.  After school we took the ice shaver outside and shared snow cones with friends.  I thought I had enough ice blocks and I would have for the kids that were out there, but when kids see it from their windows they come out of the woodwork.  I made them for 45 minutes, but of course ran out in the end.  Next time I need more ice and smaller cups.  I think Thursday was the day...you know just one of those days...some how Connor punctured a soda can the spilled in the kitchen, Connor spilled bubbles Bradley had left open in a place Connor could reach, and Lauren and Connor spilled smoothie on the floor.  I don't remember right off which days, but Brett came up to visit several times during the week too.  We always love it when he stops by to say hi.

Friday was another wide open day.  It was a little cooler, so we didn't play outside until after school.  But Jared gets done early every Friday.  Brett came up in the evening and after dinner I cut his hair while the filthy other guys piled into the tub.  It was a good day.

I don't know what I'll do if this kid stops dressing up!

Saturday morning we were able to sleep in a bit.  Alan went running and Jared, Lauren, and Bradley cleaned their room with a little help (ok really a lot of help) from me.  Then we went to the children's book festival at the Provo library.  There was a midevil theme.  They had tons of fun activities for everyone to do.  Making crowns, making other hats, ribbon wands, a maypole, artist to watch drawing, jugglers, cookies, games, puppet shows, and a free book for each child.  From the library we picked up Brett and went to Winco.  After dropping Brett off and our groceries and having a little snack of apples and peanut butter we went to home depot to look at some plants.  Alan let me get some fun ones to have on the balcony this summer.  Mostly flowers, but we did get a dwarf cherry tomato plant (Jeff and Elizabeth gave us a regular tomato plant that had been started at Elizabeth's work) and a few little okra to try to grow too.  When we got home from home depot I noticed the Moore's car in the parking lot and saw some of their kids running in the stairwells up in quad 2.  I said we could go up and say hi.  They were having a ward barbecue to say bye to bishop.  He got released today.  We played for about an hour, but then came home and ate dinner and watched Wall-E.  Brett stopped by about half way through and stayed until the end.

The second time doing the maypole Jared and Lauren were joined by a gorilla.

Several fun characters were there too.

Today was a good day.  I just played piano in primary and Alan wandered the halls with a sleepy Connor.  For singing time we learned more of We Thank Thee O God For A Prophet using Sister  Linton's time machine which all the kids love!  The stake was also visiting in primary today too.  I stayed for just a few minutes after church for a visiting teaching interview and then our home teachers made a quick stop by.  Jared and I worked on 100 piece 3D puzzle.  It took us a while...3D puzzles are hard!  Then Alan pulled out a 1000 piece puzzle we have never done.  We got the border put together, but that's as far as we got.  Jeff and Elizabeth stopped by and told our kids their exciting news.  They were all super excited.  Lauren giggled uncontrollably for quite awhile.  We got a new family scripture today (Alma 32:21).  It has been a year since we started doing a family scripture.  (We have a scripture that we memorize each month as a family.  We say it all together before we read family scriptures and by the end of the month we have it memorized.) I'm not sure we know 12 scriptures since some months we were a little slow about changing, but we know more than we did a year a go.  There have been times in meeting like sacrament meeting and conference when someone uses one of our family scriptures in their talk and the kids get a knowing look in their eye and just smile.  Learning these scriptures has blessed our lives.  We are looking forward to this coming week and warming back up just a little (to the low 80s) since it dropped into the 50s at the end of last week.  There are also a lot of fun things coming up too since the end of school is getting so close.

After church Alan was giving me a piece of chocolate.  Connor walked up and said please...so he got one too.  (We've been trying to get him to say it recently when he wants something, but he doesn't always.  This time it came out very clear though.  He must have really wanted some.)

dress up dress up dress up

Monday morning while Lauren was still at school we went to some fun stores.  Bradley liked shopping with Grandma so much he wanted to go to more.  Monday afternoon we just played around here.  Monday night we went to Jeff and Elizabeth's house and had haystacks.  We had a fun time visiting one last evening.

Tuesday I took Connor to his 15 month well child check at the doctor.  His weight was up to 18 lbs 4 oz and his height is going up too.  We took in a new food diary that we did the week before and the doctor said it was the best most detailed one she had ever seen.  We even did daily calorie totals, so she didn't have to send it to the dietician.  She said since Connor is gaining we didn't have to go back to the pediatric GI.  I am really glad about that.  She said just keep doing what we are doing and he should be getting 1000 calories a day.  I wanted to say do you know how hard it was that day to cram all that food in him, but I didn't I just said ok.  I really didn't want to go back to the other doctor.  Bradley stayed home and played with Grandma.  After the doctor we went to one more fun store before getting Lauren.  After getting Lauren (and running through the art show at the school with Grandma) we just had to hurry and pack a lunch and take Grandma to the airport.  We had a few minutes to walk her in and see her part way through security.  A few people in line liked seeing the 3 of them wave (Connor was really into waving bye) and yell "Bye Grandma."  Jared got to go on a field trip that day at school too.  He went to Thanksgiving point (the farm part), Cabela's, and Discovery Park (in Pleasant Grove)  It sounded like he had a really fun day seeing the animals and playing at the park.  That night we went and saw the art show at Wastach.  They spend a lot of time putting up 3 or 4 pieces of art from each student.  The gym and hall are covered floor to ceiling with art.

Lauren with her snow princess.

Jared and his picture of a mom and child.  It is the one closest to his arm.

Wednesday was a pretty normal day.  I did a lot of dishes to catch up on all the ones that I hadn't done for a long while. (It kept feeling like a monday to me for that reason.)  After school we stopped by the library to return some books that were due.  In the evening I went and watched some kids so their parents could go spend time with their little brother who is in the NICU.  They were asleep when I got there (except for the oldest one, but she didn't come out of her room the whole time...I thought she had gone to sleep, but she was waiting up to see her dad who had been gone for a few days) and didn't wake up.  I just got to read.

Thursday we got to play outside for a lot of the day.  Lauren's teacher didn't need us to come in and help so we just hung out around home and tried to get things done.  That was the day that I've been home from my mission for 10 years!  Crazy how fast the time has gone.  Thursday afternoon I also went around and recorded lots of moms singing for Sunday.

The building where Alan stayed with his family some summers when he was about 6.  It is one of the next to be torn down.

My little dress up man!  He cracks me up!

He changed his costume just a little and said "Now I look like I'm ready for Women's Conference with this tag on."  I just like that he is also wearing a football jersey.

Buddies!  Bradley helped Connor up.

Friday morning Bradley helped my make a salad to take to a potluck lunch.  We walked down to get Lauren and then went to the PAWS potluck lunch.  From there we went to a nice fun Mother's day program that all the first graders did for their moms.  It was about 30 minutes long and lots of fun.  Jared asked if I was going and I told him yes...If I remember.  I was just having a hard time remembering it.  That morning when he said family prayer he prayed I would remember to go...and I did.  He gave me a wink when the program was over :)  We walked home from school with some friends and played outside most of the afternoon.

Helping make pistachio salad.  Bradley is carefully measuring out the marshmallows (measuring cup behind the toaster) while Connor shoves them into his mouth as fast as possible.

A fun picture Jared drew.  Complete with sun and birds.

Before it started.

A special monkey part Jared had.

Saturday morning our ward had a fun run at Vivian Park.  They had kid runs separated by age.  Bradley fell in his, but got up and kept going and Connor wasn't last in that one.  Jared (Mr. Competitive) won the 5 and up age group, but I think he might have been the oldest one there.  Lauren had fun running too.   Alan and I did the 5K, but it was more of a speed walk than a jog.  The kids had a fun time playing on the playground while we did it.  They had a lunch when it was all over.  We saw Wayne, Jen, Katie Jo, and Brock at the park too...just by chance.  We came home for just a few minutes then went over to the block party they were having at the museum of Peoples and Cultures.  We had fun finding arrowheads, rolling marbles, making corn husk dolls, playing other games, and learning at all the fun booths set up.  From there we went straight over to the new Provo City Recreation Center.  They were having a grand opening celebration and open house.  We toured the whole place and had fun playing and seeing the new gyms, equipment, and pools.  It looks like a ton of fun!  Lauren won a giant tennis ball in a prize drawing.  We had planned to go to winco after, but everyone was so tired that we just went home and had dinner.  I went to winco by myself while the others watched Chicken Run.

Getting ready

You can tell he means business.

Connor kept wedging his face between the bars funny.

Searching for arrowheads beads, and shells

Making corn husk dolls.

Jared and Lauren competing.  You run and see how far you can get your marker...then a cord pulls you back.

Alan making a good effort, but going against a guy several pounds heavier!

And pulled back!

Sunday was Mother's Day.  These guys let me sleep in.  Alan made some carrot nut muffins that I have been wanting to make for several weeks.  Lauren got to give the scripture in Primary and did great.  She only forgot it in one little spot.  At church for singing time we picked flowers and then sang the song that went with each flower.  Mostly just reviewing, but then just some fun songs too.  After each song we sang I played 2 moms singing their favorite song and the kids had to guess who it was.  All the kids could recognize their mom's voices.  It was really fun.  They kept saying "play more moms."  I also played the moms singing in nursery and all the nursery kids could recognize their mom's voices too.  All the moms weren't super excited about it, but they all did it and all the kids loved it!  One mom told me that her son never tells her about what they learned, but she didn't even need to ask and he was telling her about her singing sunbeam.  It turned out to be a really fun singing time.  After church Alan barbecued some pork and we had yummy sides with it.  Brett came up and ate with us too.  After dinner we skyped with Grandma and Grandpa for just a few minutes, but Brett had to run off to ward prayer and I had to go babysit again.  It was a good Mother's Day and a good week.

Connor took a short nap on the floor in elders quorum. 

Gandma, Ashley, and Women's Conference

Monday Jared had soccer practice again.  His coach was there and it looked like they had a good fun practice.  We just stayed for the whole thing.  Construction has started again on 9th east and it makes getting to the front of the school hard...especially in the afternoon.  We do usually just go to the back of the school, but for soccer we would pick Jared up at the front.  We just walked around this last day.  We had a good family home evening that evening.  We also started Connor's 3 day food diaries this day.

Tuesday morning I had an appointment I needed to go to, so Alan watched Bradley and Connor for a little bit.  Then in the afternoon it was nice enough to play outside for a while.  Jared had his last  soccer game of the season that night.  It was a team he had played before and had lots of friends from school and previous teams on it.  It was a fun evening.  We hurried home after it to eat dinner.

Wednesday we played outside more and got ready for Grandma and Ashley to come.  Brett went up with me to pick  them up from the airport.  We had a fun time parking in the economy lot and riding the bus in to get them.  Grandma was there waiting for us when we got there. (Riding the bus took longer than I thought it might.)  Ashley's flight was delayed so we waited and waited and waited.  Then we figured out we were waiting in terminal 2 and she was coming to terminal 1 (like several other people we saw picking people up while we were there)  So Ashley was there waiting for us when we got there too.  We got back home close to midnight.

We had pancakes with strawberry jam for dinner.  Part way through dinner Brad said "Do you want whipped cream with that?"  We just happened to have some in the fridge...that's probably almost a year old.  Alan said Sure!  This is after dinner.  Connor is just getting squirts in the mouth.  We were very glad this was the last day of food diaries!

Thursday was Women's Conference.  I dropped Lauren and Jared off at school and then got to go with Mom and Ashely to Women's Conference.  We had a good day full of inspiring classes.  We came home at 5 for a quick dinner and to see Lauren's soccer game.  Brett went with Alan and the kids to Lauren's game and Mom, Ash, and I walked since we wouldn't  all fit in the car.  Lauren had a good last game too.  Mom, Ash, Alan, Connor, and I rode home and Brett walked with the other guys.  When we got Mom, Ash and I went back to Women's Conference for the evening activities.  There were some service projects going on and sharing stations.  Then when those were finished we went to the concert.  It was a fun long day!  Alan said they had a good day at home too.  Alan went in and helped in Lauren's class.

Friday was more Women's Conference.  We had fun going to more great classes.  I think maybe my favorite one from the whole conference was a class we went to about the temple that day.  It got over at 5 and we came home to a great dinner Alan had made, soy chicken and yummy veggies.  That night we just relaxed and visited with everyone.  Alan went and helped in Jared's class Friday too.

A sign Alan must have seen in the hall (and thought was funny) when he went to help in Jared's class.

Connor got to have mac and cheese for lunch...and loved it!

Grandma brought some fun presents with her! Some of my old play make-up.

They all had to try it out!

Connor wanted a mug shot since the other guys got one.

We had to cover our faces while they got ready for their show!

They went all out!  They put on a great show with fantastic make-up.  They all had a really great time until I had to scrub it off of them in the bathtub!  That deterred them from doing another one...at least for a short time.  I think they might be getting an itch for it again.

Saturday morning we got up and went to the baptism of a girl who lives up stairs.  It was a nice baptism.  Another boy who lives in our quad got baptized too.  Mom and Ashley came with us and walked home with Jared, Lauren, and Bradley.  We went by the Wymount yard sale and after we changed a picnic out in our quad for after the baptism.  We enjoyed the picnic and Jeff and Brett and Elizabeth all made it over eventually.  In the afternoon we walked down to campus (Alan stayed home to get some work done) and saw Jeff's labs and some posters that he had up in the halls of some of the buildings.  We all played outside a little more.  Mom, Brett and I went to winco for some things.  Ash went and had dinner with Will's family.  When we got back from the store Alan had started yummy pizza.  After dinner we played a little more and Alan went down to the creamery and got Woosh Cecil (ice cream flavor) for us to try when Ashley got back.

Bradley brought out a full costume complete with saddle fur to entertain us.  He is saying Yee Haw.

YUM!!!

Sunday I had to take Ashley up to the airport.  Jared, Lauren, and Bradley all rode along.  When we got to the airport we found out that Ashley's flight was delayed 4 hours (or more?).  We just had to leave her to hurry back for church.  We made it back just in time.  Bradley got to give is first talk in primary about prophets.  He did a pretty good job, but I don't think anyone was able to hear him.  It was nice to have Grandma there 2 weeks in a row to hold Connor during the 2nd and 3rd hours.  That night we got to go eat dinner at Jeff and Elizabeth.  We had yummy fajitas, horchata, and tres leches cake to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.  We had a fun time visiting that night.

Connor licking the cilantro lime ranch container clean! (After I did :)

Dessert!

Playing for a few minutes before it got too windy.  It was raining Spring! (pollen)