Lauren is 5!!!!

Monday we had a fun day running some errands and getting ready for Lauren's birthday.  We also spent a lot of time outside.

Tuesday was Lauren's Birthday!!!!  I think she had a great day.  We didn't do anything too special during the day, but had a fun party in the evening.  I put some apricots in a dehydrator and pureed some others to put in the freezer.  Then when we were headed out to the library Grandma Atherton called to talk to Lauren and wish her Happy Birthday.  They all had a fun time talking to grandma.  Then we hurried to the library to get there in time for story time.  In the afternoon we baked her cake and played outside some.  Lauren wanted hamburgers and hotdogs with corn on the cob, potato salad, and jello for dinner.  Jeff and Elizabeth came over to eat with us.  Then we watch Lauren open her presents and had cake.  We all loved talking to those of you who called!  I think she had a really fun birthday.  Jared sewed some tutus for Lauren's stuffed animals.  They look really awesome.  He had the idea and did most of it all by himself.  Lauren also got a bike for her birthday.

A pink bubble cake!

Several weeks before her birthday we started looking for a bike that would work.  About a week and a half before her birthday we decided that we really needed to find one and we were going to drive around and look at some yard sales and DI and any other place we could think of that would have one her size in our price range.  I said a prayer that morning that we would be able to find one for her (since I knew she really wanted one and would love it).  I had the thought that the Wymount yard sale was that morning (always the first Saturday of the month..so July 7th) and I should go look.  So I went over to look and saw a few friends from quad 2 and stopped and talked for a minute.  They asked what I was looking for and I said a bike for Lauren.  I just needed one sitting there waiting for me with a big bow on it...since it was for her birthday.  At first glance I didn't see anything...but then I notice a little ways down the sidewalk was a bike.  I ran down to see it.  It was just the right size!  I asked the people there if the bike was for sale...not letting my hopes get too high, but they said yes!  There was a girl there about 10 who was selling it.  I asked how much she wanted for it and she said well...the bike was $6 and the helmet was $3, but no one was buying either so it was $3 for both of them.  I told her I would take it...but I didn't need the helmet (Lauren already has one) so I would just pay her 6 dollars for the bike...unless she didn't have change and then it would be 10.  She assured me that she did have change.  The girl was just as happy that someone wanted to buy her bike as I was to buy it.  I told her she had made my day.  It may not have come with a bow (we did put one on it) but it came as a huge blessing and tender mercy from heaven.

Wednesday we got up and played with birthday toys.  We went to Ready to Learn.  We spent the afternoon riding bikes and playing outside.  That evening we ate quick when Alan got home and then went to Seven Peaks for a couple of hours.  Everyone loved it and can't wait until we can go again.

Thursday we played outside for a lot of the morning.  Then we went to the library to do the craft.  We had missed it on Tuesday.  We got lots of fun books that day too.  Then we hurried home and ate lunch and waited for Eden to come play.  The Browns came from Spanish Fork for the afternoon to play.  We had tons of fun playing in quad 2. 

Friday we were planning on going to the outdoor movie.  But Wendy called that evening and said that Keegan had a show that night on campus (that started at the same time as the movie) as part of a Young Ambassadors' camp that he went to.  We let Jared and Lauren decide what they wanted to do and the wanted to go to Keegan's show.  It was a bunch of show tunes and Keegan had a couple of solos.  When that show was over we stopped at the outdoor movie which was How to Train Your Dragon.  We had to walk right past it to go to the car.  At first Jared didn't want to stay but Lauren did.  After about 10 minutes Lauren was ready to go but Jared wanted to stay...we ended up staying for the end.  It was probably only 10 more minutes or so.

Saturday Lauren went to a mermaid birthday party in the morning for Marigold and in the afternoon everyone went to a Mickey Mouse party for Landon.  Both were fun.  Between the parties Bradley, Connor, and I  squeezed in a trip to Winco.  I found a penny in the parking lot and gave it to Bradley.  He got so excited..."A money for me!  Jeff gave me a money one time."  It's tough being number 3...the older ones always find all the pennies.  After Landon's party we all went to the trafalga in Lehi.  We had a really fun time.  I even tried rock climbing...but was too scared to go too high...so was Lauren.  She did go a little higher than I did and she was too light to make herself come back down.  We all got soaked on bumper boats and loved it.  It was a super fun time.

Sunday was just a nice relaxing day.  We had stuffed peppers for dinner...they were delicious.  Ashley and Will stopped by around 8 and stayed for a couple of hours.  Lauren had fun running around saving baby dinosaurs with Ashley while the boys played in the sand box.  We are glad that they were coming back later in the week.  No one wanted to let them go.  It was a good fun happy week.

Lauren trying out Ashley's glasses

Lauren's Friend Party

Another fun week has come and gone.  I can't believe it is already the middle of July.  Last Monday we went to an activity at the Museum of Peoples and Cultures.  It was a passport thing where you visited different stations and learned about a different country at each one.  It was a fun thing to go to...it's been awhile since we have been there and the exhibit has changed since we were last there.

Monday morning breakfast...Connor is just hoping.

Lauren writing her name on papyrus 

Tuesday was a HOT day!!!  It was over 100 degrees....and so were several of the other days this week. Our ward had a ward walk at 6:00...the hottest part of the day.   It was mostly a primary activity.  We walked up to the temple, then to the MTC, then home.  When we got back we had snow cones.  They were super yummy.  They had tons of ice, so everyone had all they wanted.  We also went to the library earlier in the day and I made 2 batches of apricot freezer jam.


There were enough people and strollers we could have been a parade.

enjoying snow cones on our steps while talking to the sister missionaries

Wednesday was another hot day.  We spent all day trying to keep cool.  Connor and I had a spray bottle outside to help keep us cool.  Jared lost his first tooth on the bottom...and the first one that he wiggled out (instead of dentist pulling it).  It came loose while eating an apple at the library on Tuesday and then he worked on it until it came out Wednesday night.  He left it for the tooth fairy and she brought 2 quarters....I need to make a tooth fairy pillow soon!

Thursday we worked on even more things to get ready for Lauren's birthday party.  In the evening we went to a barbecue out in the quad...and had more snow cones...then we rushed off to a play at the Scera shell.  It was All Shook Up.  Jared really liked all the Elvis music in it.  While there Alan and I realized that we were there 9 years ago to the day for our first date (ok really the second date, but they were both the same day ).  I think in the 9 years we have only been to one other thing at the outdoor stage.  It was really fun to relax outside into the evening on such a hot day.


Friday we had a pretty slow morning since we all had been up so late.  It was a lot cooler a thunderstorm had blown in and it felt so nice.  It rained in the afternoon...but not too bad.  It felt really nice to be out in it.  There was supposed to be an outdoor movie on campus but it got postponed until next week because of the weather.  We finished watching the Lion King here instead....We had started it last week.   We are slowly making it through the Disney movies...slowly being the key word.  I think they have read more of them in books than they have seen in movies.

All the bags of pop corn before they got the cute tags across the top that said Thanks for Popping by!

Saturday we spent most of the day doing the finishing touches for Lauren's party.  We were grateful that it didn't rain too hard.  We were still able to have it outside.  We have only had a handful of wet days this summer, so we really needed the rain.  It was good for the bubbles too.  The theme for the party was bubbles.  We did bubble painting, blow bubbles with different kitchen utensils, make your own wand with pipe cleaners, ghost bubbles, and tried giant bubbles (we'll have to tweak our solution), had a pinata, bubble gum bubble blowing contest (and marshmallow eating for those who couldn't blow a bubble with gum), over under game with a balloon, and bubble bubble bubble pop (duck duck goose), we had cupcakes, red punch, presents, and everyone took home a bag of jello pop corn and a small bottle of bubbles. Everyone had a great time. I never did get a good head count, but there were close to 35 kids there...maybe a few more.  I made 44 pop corn bags and there were only 3 left over...and 31 bubble bottles got taken, but I don't think everyone took one of those.  I also made 5 1/2 dozen cupcakes and there were about 10 of those left.  It was lots of good crazy fun.  A big thanks to Jeff and Elizabeth for coming and helping...everything went a lot smoother with them there.  One of the funniest things that more than 1 person said was come here and I'll teach you how to blow a marshmallow....obviously they meant blow a bubble with gum.  Lauren was all smiles and giggles the whole time...I think she loved it.  After the party we just relaxed the rest of he day.  I did go to a baby shower for a little bit but it was nice to just be home for the most part.  While I was gone Alan and Jared worked on their never ending monopoly game and Lauren and Brad watched some bob the builder.

Bubble painting

Using fun kitchen utensils... 

ghost bubbles....there is dry ice fog in the middle of the bubble...and did you know you can catch a bubble on a dry glove

the ones who wanted to try blowing bubbles with gum

Lauren and the pinata...that didn't last long enough for everyone to hit it...but probably long enough...they all just wanted the candy

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

More ghost bubbles

Today was a good day.  President Samuelson was in our sacrament meeting, but he just sat on the back row of the chapel.  I played piano in primary and Alan taught.  He had 10 in his class today (21 total in primary)...I think it went okay.  People keep moving out...several more families moved last week and more will move this week.  Now we just need some new people to move in...our ward is getting pretty small.

Connor has some very well timed ooos and aahhs.  His pitch and timber of his voice always match the conversation well.  It always cracks Alan and me up.  He is a pretty good little communicator.

I guess I'm the one who was saying funny things tonight...Alan kept laughing...but I'm too tired to remember what any of them are!  I guess I could blame my poor spelling and grammar on being tired, but you would know that it's normal...

Happy 4th of July

This last week has felt like several weeks at least.  Last Monday we just relaxed and made sure that everyone was feeling better.  It was a super nice day and we spent lots of time outside playing.

Tuesday we went to the library in the Morning and got to make fun patriotic hats.  Then story time was inside since they had a fence up around the library property to protect it from damage from over night campers for the parade.  It was pretty crazy inside...tons and tons of people, but lots cooler.  We came home and had some lunch.  Then we went down to the Freedom Days booths down on center street.  They had lots of fun crafts for the kids and we got some free ice cream.  I think they had the same crafts last year, but they all loved getting to do them again.  They were all super excited because they got visors. :) We had to hurry and leave there so we could come home and grab a snack for dinner and pick up Alan.  Then we went over to the Scera Park to see the play Cries of Freedom' and walk around the Colonial Days things they had.  They got to go to school, make rope, grind some corn, and learn about making candles, and watch a blacksmith.  It was getting late and we were tired and hungry, but Brad was the only one who would dress up.  Tuesday morning Ira Fulton visited Alan's lab on campus and they got to do some demos for him.

Alan thought this was really funny...if you can't read it the paper says "This is NOT a garbage can"

At School

Wednesday we got up early to go see the balloons.  Then came back home for a few minutes before going to stake out our favorite shady spot at the end of the parade route.  We had fun watching the parade and Jeff, Elizabeth and Spencer came and watched with us too.  After the parade we came home and made yummy food!  ...trade wind salad, california chicken salad, and a flag jello...we listened to patriotic music, played outside, and shot off rockets....water rockets.  We had our delicious barbecue on the softball field since our ward was doing something in the quad for those without other plans.  We all got super stuffed!!!...well if anyone didn't it was their own fault.  It looked like we hadn't even eaten any of the 4 salads when we were done.  We cleaned up and had a few minutes before going to the great valley to watch the fireworks.  It was a super fun place to watch from...We were just high enough to see fireworks all over the valley and close enough for the stadium of fire ones to look cool too.

While cutting grapes for the salad I looked over at my pile of cut grapes and one was smiling back at me.

Thursday we had a pretty slow start since we had been up so late.  It was 10 or 10:30 before we checked email and found out about the fire at Grandma and Grandpa Schachterle's house.  We are super glad that Grandma and Grandpa and Greg are all ok.  Jared kept saying how cool the back of the van looks (from the picture in the Columbian) all burned.  When I was trying to describe where the fire was He was remembering the last time we were up there visiting he got to use big (or maybe they were small and Grandpa got the big ones) clippers to help trim some bushes...maybe grapes...on that side of the house.  Not too long after I had read the email twice Ashley started chatting with me.  We chatted for a while....then I decided that I really needed a shower.  It was also raining a ton!!!  Which is super good.  We hadn't had rain in 38 days.  June tied for the driest June ever.  We got .52 inches of rain that day.  It was nice to be able to open the doors and windows and cool the place off and air it out.  Around 1:30 or so Bradley got poked in the eye by a little 10 month old neighbor girl.  He complained a lot about it and wouldn't eat lunch.  Finally he took and nap and when he woke back up he was still complaining about it.  So we went to have it looked at at the health center.  They stained his eye and looked at it with a black light.  Even without the magnifying lens I could see the gouge on his eye.  The doctor kept using the word huge....He thought Brad needed to see an ophthalmologist...but their office was already closed for the day.  Luckily he was able to finally talk to him on the phone other wise he probably would have sent us to the emergency room.  He was worried because of the placement of the flap and he couldn't tell how deep it went.  The ophthalmologist said that it would wait until the next day and they just put him on drops to keep it from getting infected.  He was pretty miserable the rest of the evening.

Friday morning Bradley woke up and didn't complain about his eye at all.  I think he only mentioned it once.  We had an appointment in the afternoon in Lehi.  They called and changed the time once because the doctor was in surgery and it was taking longer than he thought it would.  When we got to the office he still wasn't there and we had to wait over an hour....it got kind of long for all 5 of us!  But the good news was that his eye is all better!  The doctor couldn't see anything wrong.  We are grateful that his little eye was able to heal so quickly.  He only had to have the drops for the rest of the evening.  Jared and Lauren have really been wanting to go to Trafalga in Lehi and since we were already up there for the appointment we were able to go after.  They had a blast.  It has for fun things for smaller kids to do in Lehi than Orem.  They got to go on a little airplane ride (like Dumbo...just lots smaller) and frog hopper and a little pirate ship over and over and over again.  We also mini golfed and played in a little play place.  It was tons of fun, but next time we go we'll have to take Alan with us.  When he got home from work he worked on laundry and it was just about done when we got home.

Saturday I went and looked around at the Wymount yard sale...I was looking for something specific for Lauren's birthday.  I'll have to share the story in a couple of weeks....not that she could read it yet, but just to be safe...We went to the builder workshop at home depot and made moving trucks that they are having a super fun time playing with...they also use them as ambulances.  We spent about an hour walking around looking at parts to use to make our ghost/ fog/ dry ice bubble blower....  Then we came home for lunch.  Later we went out again and looked at Lowes for parts for another little bit.  I think we might have what we need now.  We also got some things for Lauren's party and then to Winco.

I sat down to talk to Alan while he was on the computer and then Jared came and sat on me, Lauren on him...and before I knew it they were all there....

Today was a good day.  I got a call late last night asking if I would play the organ, so I wanted to get to church a little early so I could play through the hymns before the meeting.  I also led singing time.  We did a cute little thing with a seagull and crickets.  There were only 11 kids in all of primary and it was really nice.  Alan said his class was a little crazy during class time, but for the most part they were great today.  We had a good afternoon and made some sugar cookies and played.  We went up to the apricots with Jeff and Elizabeth.  Using a rope and a sheet we were able to get quite a few.  It was pretty fun and there was lots of laughter.  Alan used the rope to shake the branches and apricots would fall.  Two people tried to catch them in the sheet, but usually missed by a couple of inches.  There were lots falling and you would bend over to pick one up and another one would hit your back, shoulder, arm...we had a good time.  We collected all the ones that we could see fall that were good.  Everyone helped although I don't think any of the ones Lauren collected made it home.  She probably ate between 15 and 20.  Every time I looked she was eating another one...but hey what fun is picking fruit if you can't eat a few along the way. :)  When we got home we called Grandma to tell her Happy Birthday.  It was fun to get to talk to them.  I knew a box of things from my mission were in the attic and I had just assumed above the garage.  Dad said they are probably above his room.  So they may just be supper stinky and not ashes!!!!  I am hopeful.

Yesterday I did a fish tail braid in Lauren's hair.  The boys were telling her how cool it looked  while driving in the car...they were saying it looks so cool..it looks awesome. and Lauren crying back says 'I don't want to be cool I don't want to look cool' over and over again.  Then Alan said something about hot and cold and Lauren said no not that kind of cool...you don't know what kind of cool I mean... I wish I could have taped it so I could play it for her when is oh... maybe 15.

Connor is really good at playing peek-a-boo.  Much better than a 5 month old usually is I think.  He will cover his face with a blanket and we'll say where's Connor and he will move the blanket off and have a huge grin.   It is super cute.  Today Connor also got to have rice cereal for the first time.

Seems like I had one more funny thing they have said recently, but I can't remember right now....this is getting super long anyway.  We are happy and loving life...even on the hard days.  We have been very blessed this week!

Manti

Last Monday was a pretty normal Summer day.  Jared's lips were looking tons better....and still are.  We played outside and just had fun.

Tuesday I had a dream about a baby tarantula building a web between the bunk beds and some boxes....and I couldn't go back to sleep, so I got up and went to the Temple.  We went to the library for story time and the craft.  They got to make huge monster masks.  In the afternoon there was a fun summer/ goodbye party for a family that moved on Friday.  Then that night we went down to the Manti Temple Pagent.  The blanket area is getting smaller and smaller.  The blanket area is off to the side, but you can still see fine.  Jared really wanted to sit there and I figured it was probably better for everyone there...They could lay down when they got tired.   Well right when it started Lauren decided that she wanted to sit in the chairs....and she told me she was going to. I thought she was going to sit in the chairs right next to us but she took off running.  She ran all the way up to the front center and found herself 3 chairs and sat down.  Alan went up and got her and they ended up sitting in different chairs, but where Lauren thought they could see better.  All of the boys fell asleep towards the end, but Lauren stayed up for the whole thing.  There is a part where they portray Jesus coming to the Temple in Bountiful.  Bradley kept saying Connor it's Jesus.  Look do you see Him...Remember.  It was super cute.  We had to go through Nephi to get there because hwy 89 was closed because of wild fires.  We got home around 1:15 am.

Smoke from the fire that closed hwy 89

Wednesday was a marathon home teaching and visiting teaching night.  We got home taught and my visiting teacher came too.  Alan and I both had appointments scheduled too, but neither of them were home when we went.

Thursday we played outside here and Connor was starting to have a fever....it never got over 100 or so...so not too high.

Cherry tomatoes from the plant on our balcony

Lauren had a fever on Friday, so we tried to keep her inside as much as possible.  Hand Foot Mouth disease is going around our quad. (You have a fever and blisters in the mouth and down the throat and on the palms of hands and bottoms of feet)  There are several...6 or 7 different families that have had it.  We kept hoping and praying that they wouldn't get it...and all they had were fevers.  Lauren's was a little higher than Connor's.  Jared and Brad didn't get fevers either.... In the Evening while Alan was at the Temple we went to the Bean Museum one last time before it closes for over a year.  We will miss having it as a cool (or warm) place to get out of the house to.

The smoke from the fire in the sunset.  All week it smelled smoky outside...the wind was blowing it our way.

Saturday we went to the Children's Parade.  We all walked along and enjoyed our popsicles at the end.  Even though Lauren didn't feel well she still liked walking for part.  We dropped Alan off on campus so he could get some work done.  We came home and rested a bit and then later in the afternoon after Alan got back we went to Winco.  That night we finished watching Gus (the old Disney movie).  Everyone was laughing super hard in some parts.

Bradley built a block temple while waiting for everyone else to get ready for the parade.

Sunday Lauren, Bradley, Connor, and I stayed home from church because we didn't want to catch or spread hand foot mouth if we had it...or didn't.  Jared and Alan went...Jared thought it was pretty cool that they got to stay together for their whole time at church....I pointed out that they did every week, but some how it was different since they were they only ones who went.  Connor didn't have a fever any more and Lauren's was gone by Monday.  By the time the evening had come we were all ready to get out of the house, so we went to the Patriotic Fireside.  This year they had it at UVU's UCCU Center (because the Marriot Center is getting new chairs)  It was fun to go hear the speakers and the music.