School's Out for Summer!!!!!!

Last week about the time I usually start to blog...I fell asleep.  I had a 10 minute nap or so, then felt like I could write a post, but decided to go to bed.  So this week I have to catch up.

On Monday Molly (Alan's sister) and some of her kids came into town for a visit.  We went and met them at Discovery Park and watched part of Quin's baseball game and played on the playground.  It was a fun visit.

This is a picture from astro fest the Saturday before.  It was published with the story for The Universe.
http://universe.byu.edu/index.php/2012/05/20/astrofest-educated-inspired-and-amazed-children-and-adults/

 

Tuesday we went and helped out at Jared's class store.  It was fun to see what the kids choose to spend their money on....they had been able to earn money in their classroom.  Then at the store they had needs that they had to fill before their wants.  They all had a buy a drink and snack and a school supply to help them over the summer.  Then they could spend the rest of their money on whatever they wanted or save it.  They had a sweet shop, toy store, and school supply store.  We worked at the school supply store.  Lauren got to help me take their money and put it in the 'cash register' and Brad just played.  Tuesday night I went to book club.  The book we read last month was The Giver.  I had never read it before...and I'm still not sure how I feel about it.

Bradley loving a mango pit

We bought the Pass of All Passes on Tuesday night, so on Wednesday we went to Trafalga to pick them up.  It was a pretty cold day so we decided that we would mini golf inside.  It was tons of fun....it took longer than I thought it would, but was fun.  Wednesday Jared got to go on a class picnic.

Thursday was Jared's last real day of school!!!  That night we got together with some friends for a dinner in quad 2.  The Frosts were moving and the Browns came from Spanish Fork for it too.  It was fun to have one last barbecue with everyone.  We made ice cream which was super yummy.

Friday was the all school dance festival.  Each grade had a different dance that they learned and then performed for the rest of the school and parents.  They did it outside in front of the school and it was a rainy cold day...we got a little wet and it was hard to see around umbrellas at times, but Jared did a great job in the jello dance.  It was over by 10:30 and the official start to our summer had begun!!!!  The night before Lauren had told me that her eye was hurting and it was pretty red so we stopped at the health center on the way home from school (we had walked)  The doctor gave her a prescription for eye drops for pink eye...she had to have them for 5 days...and she preferred Alan to put them in.

Jared has a blue J...

Jared and Mrs. Porter

 

Friday night we went ice skating.  Jared has been wanting do all winter and we finally went.  We had a ton of fun.  The ice arena here has little walkers to help them skate and once they got a hold of them they were doing great and by the end Jared was zipping around the rink without one.  We stayed until 9:30 when we had to go...and no one was ready except maybe me.

Brad (after 1 lap) was not very excited about spending his evening ice skating...but he warmed up to the idea. (and Lauren's pink eye)

I don't know if I've ever tried a picture like this before...

The oldies out for an evening stroll 

Saturday was another wet cold day.  We went swimming at the city pool and to winco.  Connor got in too and wet all the way up to his shoulders.  He got cold pretty fast, but he loved it.


Last Sunday was a nice restful day.  Jared helped make a strawberry pie...he did almost the whole crust by himself and putting the strawberries in.

 Jared and Bradley peeling potatoes getting ready for dinner with Jeff.  (Elizabeth was gone)

Who cares?

The second to last week of school was pretty busy.  Monday and Tuesday were normal mostly.  Tuesday evening we went to juggling club.  They have changed the time to a little earlier and it makes it easier for us to go. We had a fun time.

Jared's art work that he got to bring home last Monday.

Lauren has pretty much taught herself how to ride a bike.  A couple of weeks ago I ran around the quad with her once.  She has been really persistent about seeking out bikes around the quad that are small enough that she can put her feet down on...and then just trying it.  She is a pretty good little rider now.   

Wednesday Jared had a class talent show.  For his act he recited Hat by Shel Silverstein...with props. Wednesday was also ready to learn.  We got Chicken Soup with Rice...reminded me of Lindsay's I can read note book.  We also had a quick trip to the library.  That night Jared Lauren and Brad went to Jeff and Elizabeth house for a bit so Jeff and Elizabeth could practice their face painting skills.  Jared came home with a dragon on each cheek and swords, flags, and shields down each arm.  Lauren got flowers one cheek and ...I don't remember on the other.  Brad got stars and other various things on his arms. They were all very sad they had to wash them off that night.

Thursday Jared had to go to kindergarten at the morning time.  They practiced their dance for the last day of school, got to meet a first grade teacher, and have lunch in the cafeteria.  I thought he was going to get to meet the teacher that would be his next year...I think that's how they have done it in the past...but they aren't sure if they will have two or three regular classes next year...so they didn't tell anyone who their teacher will be.   Jared said he had a fun day at school that day.  We made another quick trip to the library too.

Thursday Alan came home a little early and worked on getting bunk beds set up in the room that didn't have any.  It took him most of the evening, but Lauren happily sleeps on the bottom bunk...and boxes fill the top....this is almost done with the set up...we don't have one in it's current state, but Alan says it's not done yet.

Friday morning  was Jared's field day at school.  The rest of us went to help and watch....all week had been really nice, warm, and sunny...Friday was not!!!  It was super blustery and cool.  After about an hour they sent everyone inside...We got in just before the rain...He got to finish doing musical chairs in the music room, but then had to go back to his classroom.  Aside from being cold I think Jared had a good time.  In the afternoon we went to a friend's house to play.  That evening we went to a barbecue up in quad 2... It was fun to see some of our friends there.

Saturday we got a few things around here done in the morning.  Then in the afternoon we went to the astrofest down on campus. It was tons of fun!!!!  There were free planetarium shows (Lauren called it the lambitarion), rocket building and launching, star wheels, solar telescopes, bounce houses (astronaut training) and glasses to see the eclipse tonight.  We had a good time.

Today was a good day.  I did singing time and Alan taught.  We had a nice relaxing day and were able to watch the eclipse tonight.  We were able to see it really well...except for when the sun was  almost totally covered...it got a little cloudy right then..and the sun was so dark it was hard to see with the glasses on.

I don't think I mentioned last week that Jared gave a talk in primary all by himself...he did a great job.

So one day last week the kids were selling newspapers (the ads that come in the mail and copies of The Universe )..or as their sign said nooz papers... On the balcony...there were no takers.  I told them they had to come in and bring in all the papers with them.  They brought them in and dropped them right in the walkway.  Between their coloring earlier in the day and banding the papers the front room floor was totally covered...I said don't just drop them there...We don't live in the garbage dump...to which one of my lovely children said who cares...and it probably isn't the one you are guessing (unless you guessed the red head).

Just one more week of school until SUMMER!!!!!

Happy Mothers Day

This last week was a pretty fun one.  Jared had regular school on Monday but then not for the rest of the week.  On Tuesday Alan and I went to his performance thing in his class.  We got to go around to different stations and he got to show us what he has been learning this year.  Tuesday night there was an art show at Wasatch...each student had at least one piece of art on display.  All the kindergarteners had three.  It was a lot of work for someone to put it all together but it was really fun to go see what everyone had been working on all year.

I wish I could remember what they are playing...but Brad had to have the scorpion down his shirt with the backpack...

Wednesday Jared had his end of the year testing...it was just 20 minutes one on one with his teacher...and it didn't even take the whole time.  The rest of the day we were just able to play.

Thursday my visiting teachers came, we ran a few errands, took dinner to a family who moved Friday....and I'm sure had fun.

Friday was more of the same...We played and played and played...ok Alan helped the family move in the morning and then we went to a plant sale at the new BYU green houses by kiwanis park...Alan let me get a fuchsia....then we dropped Alan off at work.  We went over and played at Jeff's house for a little....and then had to do laundry that night.

Saturday had the potential of being super busy...We had a ward activity, the Provo center street temple ground breaking, a block party at the museum of peoples and cultures, children's book day at the library, and a party at a new convention center on center street.  We went to the ward party...there were hot dogs, pie eating contest, slip and slide, ultimate Frisbee....and tons of fun.  It was hard to pull everyone away...so we only made it to the library...and shopping for the day....Alan made the comment that it was weird to be within walking distance of the new temple and not be in the temple district (that's why we didn't go to the ground breaking...or a broadcast of it).  It was a super fun day!!!!

Boys against girls tug of war...the girls almost won.

Alan sliding

Juggling water balloons

Connor hanging out

Jared mid bite...well he told me he didn't chew...

proud winner of the kid's pie eating contest

Alan's turn

not the winner, but just as messy....Alan had to chew...

Lauren sliding...she did it special for the picture, but then I didn't get a very good one

At the library

Today the primary kids sang in sacrament meeting...They did a great job.  Alan barbecued some pork and veggies for our dinner and it was delish...He also made some cookies tonight...monster with coconut and white chocolate chips...no M and Ms. We went on a walk to the temple and spent lots of time outside...it was a beautiful day.

Flowers up at the Temple...you can tell it's after dinner from the fruit punch mustaches...

Yes monster cookies do fit in our mixer

Unfortunately Jared has to go back to regular school tomorrow but there are only 2 weeks left....and they'll go fast.

A couple of funny things that Lauren says right now that I love!!!!  When she see a slug bug she says ding ding 1 slug bug (then the color)...If they see more than one on a trip the number increases...If you point one out to her she will say you can ding ding it if you want to...it is super cute.  The other thing she said last week was (talking about Connor...he was wobbly standing on my lap ) he's going hippy hippy hippy....so I had to ask what hippy hippy hippy was...it is when you shake your hips...duh mom...she happily showed me how she can to it too...made me laugh.

Mud Man and Soccer ends

Last Monday Grandma was still here.  While Jared was at school we went to several stores and walked around.  Then after school we went to visit and say bye to the Babcocks...they moved to New Mexico.  When we got home we ate dinner and then went to the creamery and got ice cream....We've been collecting coupons for who knows how long, so it was fun to go use them with Grandma and Jeff and Elizabeth.  The girl working let me get 3 flavors on a single cone.

Brad fell asleep like this while waiting for dinner.

Tuesday morning we had to say bye to Alan....He took a shuttle to the airport.  We spent the rest of the morning getting ready for school and taking Grandma to the airport.  We dropped Jared off at school and then had to take his backpack to him since he forgot it.  Then we got gas and were on our way.... Luckily Connor slept there and back.  We dropped Grandma off then came straight back.  We went straight to Jared's school and got there 2 minutes before he got out....pretty good timing.

We survived that night and the next day.   We spent lots of time outside. I waited up for Alan Wednesday night...I guess it was really. Thursday morning...He got back at 12:10am to our house...He took the shuttle again since he was coming in so late. He was really excited and talked for about an hour and a half.  He feels like his interview with Google went well...now he is anxious waiting to hear back.

That's all the muddier Brad and Lauren wanted to get.

Jared, on the other hand...

Thursday Jared took the mini bike for show and tell.  I let him ride it down to school, but picked him up on the way home.  I don't know if he would have made it up the hill.  That evening Jared and Lauren both had soccer games.  It was Jared's last.  He scored 3 goals and Lauren scored one in her game too.

Lauren cheering after her team scored a goal.

Jared throwing in.

Jared's team.

Friday we spent most of the day trying to clean up around here.  In the evening there was a baseball game with fireworks after it. ...we got a second chance.  Jeff and Elizabeth went to more of the game, but we made it for the last inning....and most importantly the fireworks.  They were pretty good ones.  Alan said it was the best small scale show he had ever seen.


Good thing we had a second chance.

Proof that we really did make it.

Saturday Lauren had her last soccer game.  Then we went down to the builder workshop and made some little planter boxes...They have been using theirs for beds for their beanie babies....I think they played hospital for part of yesterday.  While we were at home depot we got some plants....a cherry tomato and some flowers.  We spent the rest of the day cleaning up the balcony (ok..Alan cleaning and Connor and I watching) and planting our plants.  It was a really fun day.

Brad, the faithful cheerleader.

Pumpkins, carrots, tomatoes, oh my!

Today was a nice relaxing day.  Church was good and the other guys played monopoly for a bit.  We made bread and had super yummy open faced sandwiches on it.